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On this day..........
21 Sep 19
Priorslee Lake and The Flash
Priorslee Lake: 05:45 –08:55
The Flash: 09:00 – 09:40
10.0°C > 13.0°C: A few bits of high cloud, otherwise fine and clear again. Light / moderate SE breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:53 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:45 – 08:55
(228th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today:
The 06:55 ‘football’ field count gave me only 28 Black-headed Gulls, just seven Wood Pigeons, 25(!) Magpies, the usual single Carrion Crow and 65 Pied Wagtails. There were another four Magpies on the academy playing field at this time.
Other notes:
- Two Little Grebes seen in the NE area as they have for the last few days. Another seen and heard at the W end. All looked like immatures, though birds may be mainly in winter plumage by now and therefore not separable.
- A big early arrival of large gulls both from the N and the W. Most (c.275) stopped off briefly with 151 more counted flying straight over.
- Four House Martins seen over the ‘football’ field at 08:50.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 7 (?♂) Mallard
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: seven of these first-winter birds
- 151 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 2 Stock Doves
- 64 Wood Pigeons
- 76 Jackdaws
- 203 Rooks
- 3 Starlings
- 4 Meadow Pipits
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 8 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps again
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 7 (4♂) Mallard
- 4 (0♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Little Grebes (ages?)
- 8 adult + 1 immature + 9 juvenile (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 5 + 2 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 125 Coots
- c.75 Black-headed Gulls
- 85 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 62 of these first-winter birds
- 3 Herring Gulls: 2 of these first-winter birds
- c.275 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID (see notes)
On the lamp poles pre-dawn:
- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)
- 1 unidentified spider.
Very few later sightings:
- 1 Common Darter dragonfly
- 1 Brown Hawker dragonfly
- 1 Grey Squirrel
There was only a single full-grown but still immature Great Crested Grebe remaining today. Here it has a preen.
You have probably had a fill of photos of first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls ..... The sheer number of birds here and the quality of the light to photograph them tempted me again. As winter looms they will become less numerous and getting sharp images of flying birds will become increasingly difficult as light-levels decline. Here is another bird showing some pale on the very tip of the bill. Note also that on both wings the inner primaries are slightly misplaced. I am not sure whether this is a moult effect or whether the bird needs to preen to sort its feathers out.
This adds to my recent comments that while Herring Gulls average larger than Lesser Black-backed Gulls there is considerable variation compounded by males averaging larger than females. This adult Herring Gull seems almost dwarfed by the immature Lesser Black-backed Gull behind it.
Here are two adults helpfully sitting at the same angle. The Herring Gull again seems somewhat smaller than the accompanying adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. It is typical that the Herring Gull’s bill seems more robust.
I know I have seen this species of spider before. I am inclined to think it is a species in the genus Tetragnathidae - Long-jawed orb-weaver spiders, though most photos of these spiders on the web do not shot such prominent palps.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:00 – 09:40
(217th visit of the year)
One of those mornings when it is all happening here:
- Three duck Gadwall were new in and first of the season.
- As I arrived very many Tufted Ducks were flying about and at least 16 of them flew off E not to return, giving a bumper total.
- At the same time three brownhead Goosanders took off and left to the N. About five minutes later what I assume were the same birds were flying N overhead and then a few minutes later approached from the W and appeared to circle to arrive, though I never saw them again. These too the first of the season hear.
- A Cormorant was fishing apparently unfazed by the fishermen and dog-walkers (or my camera). Not seen any here for a while.
- A female (on size) Peregrine shot through from the N end, without anyone apart from one Coot that dived for cover (and me) noticing.
Other notes from here:
- Yet another different hybrid goose with even more white on the face and neck. And a very noisy bird too. The family of five Greylag x Canada Geese again.
- Even more Mallard ‘missing’. Talking with some of the residents they suggest that the notices asking people not to feed bread to the ducks means they no longer get fed at all and have moved away.
also
- 4 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman on their usual lamp pole.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 female Peregrine
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted:
- House Martins heard but not located.
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- >44 Greylag Geese
- 6 Greylag x Canada Geese
- >107 Canada Geese
- 3 (0♂) Gadwall
- 14 (6♂) Mallard only
- 56 (>8♂) Tufted Ducks: 16 of these flew off.
- 3 (0♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 4 Moorhens
- 14 Coots again
- 18 Black-headed Gulls: at least four of these a first-winter birds
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
The noisy hybrid goose having a good honk. The bill and face most closely resemble a juvenile Bar-headed Goose – there are a number of these escapees from collections free-flying in the area. But there the resemblance ends. No recognised species of goose has a white-flecked black neck; neither does any show a neck that become red-brown at the base. The body is rather blacker than most species of geese. Tis a mystery. Should get a sample and see what DNA analysis says? If I could be bothered to fund the result...
One of the three duck Gadwall that were new in today. A more delicate-looking bird than a Mallard but not ‘small-looking’ as a Teal would be. Note the extensive orange edging to the bill, obviously more extensive than on a duck Mallard.
A photo ready to submission to an advanced class in bird recognition. All too often the result of trying to photo ....
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake: 05:45 –08:55
The Flash: 09:00 – 09:40
10.0°C > 13.0°C: A few bits of high cloud, otherwise fine and clear again. Light / moderate SE breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:53 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:45 – 08:55
(228th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today:
The 06:55 ‘football’ field count gave me only 28 Black-headed Gulls, just seven Wood Pigeons, 25(!) Magpies, the usual single Carrion Crow and 65 Pied Wagtails. There were another four Magpies on the academy playing field at this time.
Other notes:
- Two Little Grebes seen in the NE area as they have for the last few days. Another seen and heard at the W end. All looked like immatures, though birds may be mainly in winter plumage by now and therefore not separable.
- A big early arrival of large gulls both from the N and the W. Most (c.275) stopped off briefly with 151 more counted flying straight over.
- Four House Martins seen over the ‘football’ field at 08:50.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 7 (?♂) Mallard
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: seven of these first-winter birds
- 151 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 2 Stock Doves
- 64 Wood Pigeons
- 76 Jackdaws
- 203 Rooks
- 3 Starlings
- 4 Meadow Pipits
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 8 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps again
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 7 (4♂) Mallard
- 4 (0♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 3 Little Grebes (ages?)
- 8 adult + 1 immature + 9 juvenile (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 5 + 2 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 125 Coots
- c.75 Black-headed Gulls
- 85 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 62 of these first-winter birds
- 3 Herring Gulls: 2 of these first-winter birds
- c.275 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID (see notes)
On the lamp poles pre-dawn:
- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)
- 1 unidentified spider.
Very few later sightings:
- 1 Common Darter dragonfly
- 1 Brown Hawker dragonfly
- 1 Grey Squirrel
Too much breeze for any mist this morning. Just a touch of colour to start the day.
Is the innermost primary on the bird’s right wing still rather short? I fancy it is.
A clear shot of the upper-wing pattern also showing the solid tail band of this species at this age.
Better light on this Grey Wagtail today. Not a hint of black on the chin or breast.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:00 – 09:40
(217th visit of the year)
One of those mornings when it is all happening here:
- Three duck Gadwall were new in and first of the season.
- As I arrived very many Tufted Ducks were flying about and at least 16 of them flew off E not to return, giving a bumper total.
- At the same time three brownhead Goosanders took off and left to the N. About five minutes later what I assume were the same birds were flying N overhead and then a few minutes later approached from the W and appeared to circle to arrive, though I never saw them again. These too the first of the season hear.
- A Cormorant was fishing apparently unfazed by the fishermen and dog-walkers (or my camera). Not seen any here for a while.
- A female (on size) Peregrine shot through from the N end, without anyone apart from one Coot that dived for cover (and me) noticing.
Other notes from here:
- Yet another different hybrid goose with even more white on the face and neck. And a very noisy bird too. The family of five Greylag x Canada Geese again.
- Even more Mallard ‘missing’. Talking with some of the residents they suggest that the notices asking people not to feed bread to the ducks means they no longer get fed at all and have moved away.
also
- 4 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman on their usual lamp pole.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 female Peregrine
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted:
- House Martins heard but not located.
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- >44 Greylag Geese
- 6 Greylag x Canada Geese
- >107 Canada Geese
- 3 (0♂) Gadwall
- 14 (6♂) Mallard only
- 56 (>8♂) Tufted Ducks: 16 of these flew off.
- 3 (0♂) Goosanders
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 4 Moorhens
- 14 Coots again
- 18 Black-headed Gulls: at least four of these a first-winter birds
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
.... a fishing Cormorant.
(Ed Wilson)
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20 Sep 19
Priorslee Lake and The Flash
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 –09:00
The Flash: 09:05 – 09:50
9.0°C > 14.0°C: Fine and clear. Slight mist over lake and fields early. Calm start with light SE breeze later. Generally very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:51 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:00
(227th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today:
The 06:55 ‘football’ field count gave me just 48 Black-headed Gulls, 14 Wood Pigeons, five Magpies, the usual single Carrion Crow and 40 Pied Wagtails.
Other notes:
- The Party of Canada Geese was flying N to the far NE – neither obviously outbound or inbound.
- Two Tufted Ducks flew from the W at 06:20, one apparently carrying on; the other landing and presumed part of the group of six seen later.
- The early arriving large gulls all came from the N. Many were flying far to the E. Most of the closer birds stopped off briefly. I logged 89 on the lake and 191 flying non-stop. Numbers probably not 100% correct as many were mixed in with Rooks and Jackdaws leaving their roost and because I am a man I have trouble keeping four counts concurrently. Almost all the gulls had left by 06:40.
- By 07:30 there were at least 250 large gulls on the water and >200 Black-headed Gulls. A later check found a higher proportion of second-winter / adult birds than recently – 77 (near) adults and 85 first-winter birds. Amongst them were at least three Herring Gulls – a single adult and at least two first-winter birds. The gulls seemed to be coming and going all the while and likely many more individuals were involved.
- One or more House Martins heard overhead at 06:35, 06:45 and 07:05 but nothing seen.
- House Sparrows ‘invaded’ my recording area for the first time in several months with at least two birds around the yacht compound.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 12 Canada Geese
- 1 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: one of these first-winter birds
- 191 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID (see notes)
- 1 Stock Dove
- 43 Wood Pigeons
- 34 Jackdaws
- 141 Rooks
- 2 Skylarks
- 1 Starling
- 3 Meadow Pipits
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1+ House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 7 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (2♂) Mallard only
- 6 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes (ages?)
- 7 adult + 2 immature + 9 juvenile (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 3 + 3 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 122 Coots
- >200 Black-headed Gulls
- >250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: >150 of these first-winter birds (see notes)
- >3 Herring Gulls: >2 of these first-winter birds (see notes)
- 89 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID (see notes)
- 1 Kingfisher again
On the lamp poles pre-dawn. A good haul of moths.
- 1 Narrow-winged Grey moth (Eudonia angustea): a new species for me and #72 here this year.
- 1 Sallow moth (Cirrhia icteritia (was Xanthia icteritia)) : exactly the same place as yesterday though gone later.
- 1 unidentified spider.
Very few later sightings:
- 2 Grey Squirrels.
- 1 or 2 presumed Daubenton’s Bats over the water well before dawn.
Am rather disappointed with this shot of the moon. In real life there was enough ‘earth shine’ to see the whole disc. Not bright-enough for the camera to pick up obviously.
Not quite as effective as I hoped: the sun shining through the bush and making streaks in the low-level mist on the ‘football’ field.
A big brutish-looking adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with plenty of winter-plumage head streaks. Wings in moult with several near-outer primaries to finish growing. I am still not sure the legs are yellow as they are supposed to be. Adult Greater Black-backed Gulls have pink legs and look very ‘brutish’ but it cannot be one of those because adult Greaters never show any dark marks in the head. Note too that the feet are sticking out rather more than usual because the tail is also being re-grown.
The lighting none too helpful here. The gull at the back middle is an adult Herring Gull. Just possible to see it is a larger bird than any of the six adult and one first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Herring Gulls average larger than Lesser Black-backed Gulls, males average larger than females. There is considerable variation so that a large male Lesser Black-backed Gull can be bigger than a small female Herring Gull.
You have to be quicker than I was if you want a better photo of a speeding Kingfisher (and its reflection).
One of those pesky ‘grey’ moths. Luckily there is only one species in the group flying at this date so a quick check confirms this as my first-ever Narrow-winged Grey (Eudonia angustea).
“Come in #1 your time is up”. Today’s spider was too dew-covered to make anything of the pattern for even a provisional ID.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:05 – 09:50
(216th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- Another day when some of the Mallard and Coots go ‘missing’!
- More Tufted Ducks today. In their current eclipse plumage sexing each of these birds is on the ‘too hard’ (‘too boring’?) list.
- Most of the Black-headed Gulls arrived in a big group – the lone Lesser Black-backed Gull with them carried on.
- Several Jays were flying to and fro, transporting nuts to wherever they bury them. Have been doing this for some days now.
also
NB: The ivy bank near the Priorslee Academy is still not in flower – it is in my Newport garden. So the few insects that are about are using the remnant buddleia for nectar.
- 1 Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)
- 1 Volucella zonaria hoverfly
- 1 wasp sp.
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman again on the usual lamp pole.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first-winter bird
- 11 Feral Pigeons (2 groups)
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted again.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 4 (1) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- >14 Greylag Geese
- no Greylag x Canada Geese
- >97 Canada Geese
- 20 (11♂) Mallard only
- 46 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 14 Coots only
- 37 Black-headed Gulls: at least nine of these a first-winter bird
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 –09:00
The Flash: 09:05 – 09:50
9.0°C > 14.0°C: Fine and clear. Slight mist over lake and fields early. Calm start with light SE breeze later. Generally very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:51 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:00
(227th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today:
The 06:55 ‘football’ field count gave me just 48 Black-headed Gulls, 14 Wood Pigeons, five Magpies, the usual single Carrion Crow and 40 Pied Wagtails.
Other notes:
- The Party of Canada Geese was flying N to the far NE – neither obviously outbound or inbound.
- Two Tufted Ducks flew from the W at 06:20, one apparently carrying on; the other landing and presumed part of the group of six seen later.
- The early arriving large gulls all came from the N. Many were flying far to the E. Most of the closer birds stopped off briefly. I logged 89 on the lake and 191 flying non-stop. Numbers probably not 100% correct as many were mixed in with Rooks and Jackdaws leaving their roost and because I am a man I have trouble keeping four counts concurrently. Almost all the gulls had left by 06:40.
- By 07:30 there were at least 250 large gulls on the water and >200 Black-headed Gulls. A later check found a higher proportion of second-winter / adult birds than recently – 77 (near) adults and 85 first-winter birds. Amongst them were at least three Herring Gulls – a single adult and at least two first-winter birds. The gulls seemed to be coming and going all the while and likely many more individuals were involved.
- One or more House Martins heard overhead at 06:35, 06:45 and 07:05 but nothing seen.
- House Sparrows ‘invaded’ my recording area for the first time in several months with at least two birds around the yacht compound.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 12 Canada Geese
- 1 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: one of these first-winter birds
- 191 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID (see notes)
- 1 Stock Dove
- 43 Wood Pigeons
- 34 Jackdaws
- 141 Rooks
- 2 Skylarks
- 1 Starling
- 3 Meadow Pipits
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1+ House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 7 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (2♂) Mallard only
- 6 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebes (ages?)
- 7 adult + 2 immature + 9 juvenile (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 3 + 3 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 122 Coots
- >200 Black-headed Gulls
- >250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: >150 of these first-winter birds (see notes)
- >3 Herring Gulls: >2 of these first-winter birds (see notes)
- 89 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID (see notes)
- 1 Kingfisher again
On the lamp poles pre-dawn. A good haul of moths.
- 1 Narrow-winged Grey moth (Eudonia angustea): a new species for me and #72 here this year.
- 1 Sallow moth (Cirrhia icteritia (was Xanthia icteritia)) : exactly the same place as yesterday though gone later.
- 1 unidentified spider.
Very few later sightings:
- 2 Grey Squirrels.
- 1 or 2 presumed Daubenton’s Bats over the water well before dawn.
Yet another misty sunrise.
Colour quickly fading.
In this view it is just possible to make out some of the early-arriving large gulls still on the water.
As the sun rose the colour returned with the sky streaked with the remains of contrails.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:05 – 09:50
(216th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- Another day when some of the Mallard and Coots go ‘missing’!
- More Tufted Ducks today. In their current eclipse plumage sexing each of these birds is on the ‘too hard’ (‘too boring’?) list.
- Most of the Black-headed Gulls arrived in a big group – the lone Lesser Black-backed Gull with them carried on.
- Several Jays were flying to and fro, transporting nuts to wherever they bury them. Have been doing this for some days now.
also
NB: The ivy bank near the Priorslee Academy is still not in flower – it is in my Newport garden. So the few insects that are about are using the remnant buddleia for nectar.
- 1 Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)
- 1 Volucella zonaria hoverfly
- 1 wasp sp.
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman again on the usual lamp pole.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first-winter bird
- 11 Feral Pigeons (2 groups)
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted again.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 4 (1) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- >14 Greylag Geese
- no Greylag x Canada Geese
- >97 Canada Geese
- 20 (11♂) Mallard only
- 46 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Moorhens
- 14 Coots only
- 37 Black-headed Gulls: at least nine of these a first-winter bird
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On this day..........
2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Scaup
(Richard Vernon)
The Flash
Scaup
(Stuart Edmunds)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Tawny Owl
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2017
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Scaup
(Richard Vernon)
The Flash
Scaup
(Stuart Edmunds)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Tawny Owl
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
19 Sep 19
Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 –09:05
The Flash: 09:10 – 09:50
Trench Lock Pool: 10:00 – 10:10 // 10:55 – 11:10
Trench Middle Pool: 10:15 – 10:40
9.0°C > 15.0°C: Fine and clear. Slight mist over lake early. Almost calm. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:50 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:05
(226th visit of the year)
Two highlights today
- I heard what sounded like a Eurasian Wigeon call at 06:00 but could see nothing. Then at 07:15 when I returned from the ‘football’ field area I flushed a pair from the NW area whilst I was otherwise occupied ....
- ... taking a ‘record shot’ of a Little Egret on the SW shore. When I looked back from watching the departing wigeon the egret had also flown off and I could not see to where it departed. At 08:50 the same, or another, Little Egret flew N, high overhead the Ricoh factory.
Bird notes from today:
The 06:55 ‘football’ field count gave me 168 Black-headed Gulls, 1 first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, just six Wood Pigeons, eight Magpies, the usual single Carrion Crow and 65 Pied Wagtails.
Other notes:
- Initially only three duck Tufted Ducks noted. Later five counted, all ducks. By 08:45 they seemed to have gone.
- Three of the well-grown juvenile Great Crested Grebes not seen.
- The first Black-headed Gulls arrived, unusually from the NE – I guess all the usual birds from the W had gone straight to the ‘football’ field.
- Not sure where the first of the large gulls came from – they were seen spiralling down from a great height. Many fewer gulls today: still mainly first-winter birds.
- >100 additional Wood Pigeons were noted flying around the fields and trees to the N / NE again.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 7 (?♂) Mallard: perhaps flying off rather than over?
- 1 Little Egret
- c.25 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: three of these first-winter birds
- 13 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 101 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove again
- 56 Jackdaws
- 151 Rooks
- 1 Skylark
- 3 Starlings
- 2 Meadow Pipits
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 6 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (1) Blackcaps again: one in sub-song again
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Wigeon: flew off
- 5 (3♂) Mallard
- 5 (0♂) Tufted Ducks: flew off
- 1 Little Egret: flew off
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 immature Little Grebe again
- 8 adult + 1 immature + 9 juvenile (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 6 + 4 (3 broods) Moorhens
- 106 Coots
- c.200 Black-headed Gulls
- 54 Lesser Black-backed Gulls : 51 of these first-winter birds
- 68 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 1 Kingfisher
On the lamp poles pre-dawn. A good haul of moths.
- 1 Common Marble moth (Celypha lacunana)
- 1 Common Marbled Carpet moth (Dysstroma truncata): moth species #70 here this year
- 1 Sallow moth (Cirrhia icteritia (was Xanthia icteritia)) : moth species #71 here this year
- 1 springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis
- 1 Earwig (Forficula auricularia)
- 2 Garden Spiders (Arameus diadematus)
- 1 spider –unknown species
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman
- 1 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestman
- 1 Grey Squirrel
No much logged later as still very cool
- 1 Common Crane-fly (Tipula oleracea)
- 1 wasp sp.
A ‘record shot’ of the drake Eurasian Wigeon as it departs. The distinctive pattern of white in the wing is sufficient to ID the bird from this dreadful photo.
Another ‘record shot’, here of the soon to depart Little Egret. The black bill prevents confusion with any other egret species.
Now is this a ‘record shot’ of the same Little Egret flying over some 90 minutes later? Could be, though this species is common-enough these days for it to be as likely to be a different bird. Even in this poor shot we can see the diagnostic yellow feet.
Typical behaviour of Dunnock, shuffling about on the ground amongst leaf litter and hedge cuttings provided by the council contractors clearing the footpath at the W end.
After a prolonged absence during the breeding season Grey Wagtails are now a frequent sight around the dam-face. Sexes are almost identical in winter, losing all the black on the throat and bib.
This Common Marble moth (Celypha lacunana) had better watch out – there is a Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus) looking for breakfast. I had to wait until the dew had dispersed before I could identify the moth .....
... as here where we can see it is a Common Marble moth. The moth evidently survived any attention from the spider – perhaps the spider did not fancy a soggy meal.
This Common Marbled Carpet moth (Dysstroma truncata) stayed until well after daylight and did not need ‘flash’ photography. This is a very variable species and some forms can be hard to separate from other carpet moth. This common rufous form is quite distinctive and cannot be confused with any other species.
Also all covered in dew is this Sallow moth (Cirrhia icteritia (was Xanthia icteritia)). A number of broadly similar yellow-toned moths occur at this time of year and portend Autumn.
All the moths were amazingly cooperative in staying. This Sallow moth had shuffled slightly but was still present in full sun. The pattern is now clear and any confusion species can be eliminated.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:10 – 09:50
(215th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- The same family party of five Greylag x Canada Geese again with their Greylag parent. The rather different hybrid bird in amongst Canada Geese.
- 1 Grey Wagtail.
also
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman on the usual lamp pole.
- 1 Rufous-toned spider sp. on a different lamp pole.
- 1 Terrapin sp. (presumed Yellow-bellied Slider) yet again.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: (near?) adult
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted again.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- >39 Greylag Geese
- 6 Greylag x Canada Geese again
- >102 Canada Geese
- 37 (20♂) Mallard
- 31 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes as ever
- 2 Moorhens
- 22 Coots
- 9 Black-headed Gulls: none of these a first-winter bird
- 1 Kingfisher
This is a very distinctive spider the like of which I have not seen before. A search through all the photos of spiders in the Naturespot web site and a Google search of ‘spiders with red legs’ has failed to provide any clue to its identity.
The Yellow-bellied Slider Terrapin was rather better positioned for a photo this morning – no distracting background.
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool: 10:00 – 10:10 // 10:55 – 11:10
(41st visit of the year)
I spent a while talking with the fishermen who have camper vans to stay in around the water. They tell me that c.300 ‘gulls’ roost here, arriving more or less at dark and leaving before first light. Very few visit during the day.
Other notes from here:
- The drake Pochard apparently arrived while I was at Middle Pool.
- No idea where all the Coots could be hanging out. Have so many really departed? Are they at Middle Pool and if so why?
- One of the first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls was in a poor state. Seemed unable to fly and when in attempted to do so the wing-feathers looked shredded.
Also
- 1 wasp sp.
Birds noted flying over / near here [other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws].
- 4 (0♂) Goosanders
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 1 (0) Chiffchaff
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens again
- 7 Coots only
- 3 Black-headed Gulls: none of these first winter birds
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all first winter birds
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Middle Pool: 10:15 – 10:40
(41st visit of the year)
Work on the N-side embankment continues. No workers within hailing distance to ask and none of the locals I met knew how much longer work might take to complete.
Notes from here:
- The first Teal of the winter.
- The first Goosander of the winter – then four more over Trench Lock later.
- Perhaps all the Coots missing from Trench Lock are here?!
- The calling Blackcap was a surprise.
- Two Grey Wagtails.
also
- 1 Common Darter dragonfly
- 4 Terrapin sp. (presumed Yellow-bellied Slider)
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: one of these a first winter
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 1 (0) Blackcap
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 18 Canada Geese
- 2 (0♂) Teal
- 23 (16♂) Mallard
- 13 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 45 Coots
- 3 Black-headed Gulls: none of these first winter birds
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first winter
The first Common Teal of the season here. This is an eclipse or juvenile drake as there is no white in the side of the tail. A slight pale area from the bill to below the eye and the hint of orange-yellow at the bill-base both suggest a juvenile.
The first Goosander of the season is also back. My guidebook tells me the white patch behind the bill indicates a juvenile but I have to say the extent of the crest and the white area in the wing suggest otherwise to me.
One of the local Common Buzzards overhead. Missing one tail-feather at least – likely just part of the annual moult.
This is a Cyclamen flower. In the UK this family are all semi-naturalised garden escapes, though there are no gardens in this area. The flower most closely resembles Ivy-leafed Sowbread (Cyclamen hederifolium) though, as I recall, the leaves of the plants were not ivy-shaped.
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 –09:05
The Flash: 09:10 – 09:50
Trench Lock Pool: 10:00 – 10:10 // 10:55 – 11:10
Trench Middle Pool: 10:15 – 10:40
9.0°C > 15.0°C: Fine and clear. Slight mist over lake early. Almost calm. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:50 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:05
(226th visit of the year)
Two highlights today
- I heard what sounded like a Eurasian Wigeon call at 06:00 but could see nothing. Then at 07:15 when I returned from the ‘football’ field area I flushed a pair from the NW area whilst I was otherwise occupied ....
- ... taking a ‘record shot’ of a Little Egret on the SW shore. When I looked back from watching the departing wigeon the egret had also flown off and I could not see to where it departed. At 08:50 the same, or another, Little Egret flew N, high overhead the Ricoh factory.
Bird notes from today:
The 06:55 ‘football’ field count gave me 168 Black-headed Gulls, 1 first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, just six Wood Pigeons, eight Magpies, the usual single Carrion Crow and 65 Pied Wagtails.
Other notes:
- Initially only three duck Tufted Ducks noted. Later five counted, all ducks. By 08:45 they seemed to have gone.
- Three of the well-grown juvenile Great Crested Grebes not seen.
- The first Black-headed Gulls arrived, unusually from the NE – I guess all the usual birds from the W had gone straight to the ‘football’ field.
- Not sure where the first of the large gulls came from – they were seen spiralling down from a great height. Many fewer gulls today: still mainly first-winter birds.
- >100 additional Wood Pigeons were noted flying around the fields and trees to the N / NE again.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 7 (?♂) Mallard: perhaps flying off rather than over?
- 1 Little Egret
- c.25 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: three of these first-winter birds
- 13 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 101 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove again
- 56 Jackdaws
- 151 Rooks
- 1 Skylark
- 3 Starlings
- 2 Meadow Pipits
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 House Martins
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 6 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (1) Blackcaps again: one in sub-song again
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Wigeon: flew off
- 5 (3♂) Mallard
- 5 (0♂) Tufted Ducks: flew off
- 1 Little Egret: flew off
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 immature Little Grebe again
- 8 adult + 1 immature + 9 juvenile (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 6 + 4 (3 broods) Moorhens
- 106 Coots
- c.200 Black-headed Gulls
- 54 Lesser Black-backed Gulls : 51 of these first-winter birds
- 68 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 1 Kingfisher
On the lamp poles pre-dawn. A good haul of moths.
- 1 Common Marble moth (Celypha lacunana)
- 1 Common Marbled Carpet moth (Dysstroma truncata): moth species #70 here this year
- 1 Sallow moth (Cirrhia icteritia (was Xanthia icteritia)) : moth species #71 here this year
- 1 springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis
- 1 Earwig (Forficula auricularia)
- 2 Garden Spiders (Arameus diadematus)
- 1 spider –unknown species
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman
- 1 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestman
- 1 Grey Squirrel
No much logged later as still very cool
- 1 Common Crane-fly (Tipula oleracea)
- 1 wasp sp.
Another day; another sunrise. Reflections in the water always enhance the view.
Slightly later and as mist formed over the lake it prompted the sky to colour up before ....
... the colour quickly faded as the sun was about to pop over the horizon.
Another Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus), this one already wrapping up another meal.
Some hours later what is probably the same Garden Spider is after another meal ...
... but I cannot work out what the prey might have been.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:10 – 09:50
(215th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- The same family party of five Greylag x Canada Geese again with their Greylag parent. The rather different hybrid bird in amongst Canada Geese.
- 1 Grey Wagtail.
also
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman on the usual lamp pole.
- 1 Rufous-toned spider sp. on a different lamp pole.
- 1 Terrapin sp. (presumed Yellow-bellied Slider) yet again.
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: (near?) adult
- 3 Feral Pigeons
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted again.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- >39 Greylag Geese
- 6 Greylag x Canada Geese again
- >102 Canada Geese
- 37 (20♂) Mallard
- 31 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes as ever
- 2 Moorhens
- 22 Coots
- 9 Black-headed Gulls: none of these a first-winter bird
- 1 Kingfisher
Here is its passport photo.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Lock Pool: 10:00 – 10:10 // 10:55 – 11:10
(41st visit of the year)
I spent a while talking with the fishermen who have camper vans to stay in around the water. They tell me that c.300 ‘gulls’ roost here, arriving more or less at dark and leaving before first light. Very few visit during the day.
Other notes from here:
- The drake Pochard apparently arrived while I was at Middle Pool.
- No idea where all the Coots could be hanging out. Have so many really departed? Are they at Middle Pool and if so why?
- One of the first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls was in a poor state. Seemed unable to fly and when in attempted to do so the wing-feathers looked shredded.
Also
- 1 wasp sp.
Birds noted flying over / near here [other than local Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws].
- 4 (0♂) Goosanders
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 1 (0) Chiffchaff
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (2♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Pochard
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens again
- 7 Coots only
- 3 Black-headed Gulls: none of these first winter birds
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all first winter birds
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trench Middle Pool: 10:15 – 10:40
(41st visit of the year)
Work on the N-side embankment continues. No workers within hailing distance to ask and none of the locals I met knew how much longer work might take to complete.
Notes from here:
- The first Teal of the winter.
- The first Goosander of the winter – then four more over Trench Lock later.
- Perhaps all the Coots missing from Trench Lock are here?!
- The calling Blackcap was a surprise.
- Two Grey Wagtails.
also
- 1 Common Darter dragonfly
- 4 Terrapin sp. (presumed Yellow-bellied Slider)
Birds noted flying over / near here:
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: one of these a first winter
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 1 (0) Blackcap
Counts from the water:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 18 Canada Geese
- 2 (0♂) Teal
- 23 (16♂) Mallard
- 13 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 (0♂) Goosander
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 45 Coots
- 3 Black-headed Gulls: none of these first winter birds
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: first winter
A juvenile Moorhen has found a sunny spot to rest up.
A group of four Yellow-bellied Slider Terrapins basking here. All good friends apparently.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail
129 Greenfinches leaving roost
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
2 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Black-tailed Godwit
(Martin Adlam)
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Water Rail
129 Greenfinches leaving roost
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
2 Redwings
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Black-tailed Godwit
(Martin Adlam)
18 Sep 19
Priorslee Lake and The Flash
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:20
The Flash: 09:25 – 10:15
6.0°C > 12.0°C: Cloudless start: layer of cloud from N after c.09:30 encroached overhead by 09:55. Calm / light variable wind. Good visibility with some mist over the water early.
Sunrise: 06:48 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:20
(225th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today:
The 06:55 ‘football’ field count gave me 101 Black-headed Gulls, 12 Wood Pigeons, three Magpies, one Carrion Crow again and 61 Pied Wagtails. The gulls were very ‘jumpy’ this morning, arriving and then all flying around. Number is the instantaneous highest count – may have been more birds involved.
(Partial) explanation of gull counts:
As in recent days large gulls were arriving (and over flying) on the same line as (and mixed in with) the Rooks on roost dispersal. Concurrently at least 80 large gulls arrived low from the W ahead of the usual early arrival of Black-headed Gulls. I counted 119 large gulls (species not determined) using the water before I left the lake area at 06:35 to look at the ‘football’ field. Most of these early arrivals seemed to be moving on
By the time I returned from the ‘football’ field area there were >250 large gulls on the water, mostly Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the majority immatures. There were no adult Herring Gulls. These were put up on several occasions by Grey Herons or Common Buzzards flying over, and on each occasion many birds left to the E. Meanwhile a continual flow of more gulls, this time mainly Black-heads, continued to arrive from the W, mostly passing straight over. Suffice to say I rather lost track of where and how many birds there were.
Other notes
- The outbound Greylag Geese were well-late at 08:35.
- >100 additional Wood Pigeons were noted flying around the fields and trees to the N / NE.
- A smaller Rook count probably because I was distracted by the gull arrivals and overlooked the main group.
- Again some of the Pied Wagtails stayed around with 19 still on the ‘football’ field at 09:10.
- There were likely many more Meadow Pipits overhead than I recorded. Their flight-calls can be easily confused with tit-calls when drowned out by vehicle noise from the M54. The clear sky made finding flying Meadow Pipit-sized birds of a ‘challenge’.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 23 Greylag Geese (22 outbound in one group; single inbound)
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 2 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Common Buzzard
***see notes regarding all gull numbers
- >100 Black-headed Gulls
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: seven of these first-winter birds
- 22 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 5 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Stock Doves again
- 62 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 17 Jackdaws
- 74 Rooks
- >3 Meadow Pipits (see notes)
Hirundines etc. noted again.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 8 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (1) Blackcaps: sub-song
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 4 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants again
- 2 Grey Herons again
- 1 immature Little Grebe
- 8 adult + 4 immature + 9 juvenile (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 3 + 4 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 103 Coots
***see notes regarding all gull numbers
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- >230 Lesser Black-backed Gulls : >200 of these first-winter birds
- >20 Herring Gulls: all(?) of these first-winter birds
- 119 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
On the lamp poles pre-dawn.
- 1 Common stretch-spider (Tetragnatha extensa)
- 2 other spiders – different unknown species
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman
Nothing logged later – the insects were as cold as I felt
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:25 – 10:15
(214th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- The family party of five very similar Greylag x Canada Geese again with their Greylag parent. Another very similar bird in amongst Canada Geese.
also
- 4 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestmen back on their usual lamp pole
- 1 Terrapin sp. (presumed Yellow-bellied Slider) again
- 1 Grey Squirrel
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 3 Jackdaws again
- 2 Meadow Pipits again
Hirundines etc. noted again.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 4 (2) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- >19 Greylag Geese
- 6 Greylag x Canada Geese
- >105 Canada Geese
- 27 (12♂) Mallard
- 25 (4♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 6 Black-headed Gulls: none of these a first-winter bird
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:20
The Flash: 09:25 – 10:15
6.0°C > 12.0°C: Cloudless start: layer of cloud from N after c.09:30 encroached overhead by 09:55. Calm / light variable wind. Good visibility with some mist over the water early.
Sunrise: 06:48 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:20
(225th visit of the year)
Bird notes from today:
The 06:55 ‘football’ field count gave me 101 Black-headed Gulls, 12 Wood Pigeons, three Magpies, one Carrion Crow again and 61 Pied Wagtails. The gulls were very ‘jumpy’ this morning, arriving and then all flying around. Number is the instantaneous highest count – may have been more birds involved.
(Partial) explanation of gull counts:
As in recent days large gulls were arriving (and over flying) on the same line as (and mixed in with) the Rooks on roost dispersal. Concurrently at least 80 large gulls arrived low from the W ahead of the usual early arrival of Black-headed Gulls. I counted 119 large gulls (species not determined) using the water before I left the lake area at 06:35 to look at the ‘football’ field. Most of these early arrivals seemed to be moving on
By the time I returned from the ‘football’ field area there were >250 large gulls on the water, mostly Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the majority immatures. There were no adult Herring Gulls. These were put up on several occasions by Grey Herons or Common Buzzards flying over, and on each occasion many birds left to the E. Meanwhile a continual flow of more gulls, this time mainly Black-heads, continued to arrive from the W, mostly passing straight over. Suffice to say I rather lost track of where and how many birds there were.
Other notes
- The outbound Greylag Geese were well-late at 08:35.
- >100 additional Wood Pigeons were noted flying around the fields and trees to the N / NE.
- A smaller Rook count probably because I was distracted by the gull arrivals and overlooked the main group.
- Again some of the Pied Wagtails stayed around with 19 still on the ‘football’ field at 09:10.
- There were likely many more Meadow Pipits overhead than I recorded. Their flight-calls can be easily confused with tit-calls when drowned out by vehicle noise from the M54. The clear sky made finding flying Meadow Pipit-sized birds of a ‘challenge’.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- 23 Greylag Geese (22 outbound in one group; single inbound)
- 3 (2♂) Mallard
- 2 (?♂) Tufted Ducks
- 1 Common Buzzard
***see notes regarding all gull numbers
- >100 Black-headed Gulls
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: seven of these first-winter birds
- 22 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 5 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Stock Doves again
- 62 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 17 Jackdaws
- 74 Rooks
- >3 Meadow Pipits (see notes)
Hirundines etc. noted again.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 8 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (1) Blackcaps: sub-song
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 4 (1♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants again
- 2 Grey Herons again
- 1 immature Little Grebe
- 8 adult + 4 immature + 9 juvenile (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 3 + 4 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 103 Coots
***see notes regarding all gull numbers
- >150 Black-headed Gulls
- >230 Lesser Black-backed Gulls : >200 of these first-winter birds
- >20 Herring Gulls: all(?) of these first-winter birds
- 119 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
On the lamp poles pre-dawn.
- 1 Common stretch-spider (Tetragnatha extensa)
- 2 other spiders – different unknown species
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman
Nothing logged later – the insects were as cold as I felt
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:25 – 10:15
(214th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- The family party of five very similar Greylag x Canada Geese again with their Greylag parent. Another very similar bird in amongst Canada Geese.
also
- 4 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestmen back on their usual lamp pole
- 1 Terrapin sp. (presumed Yellow-bellied Slider) again
- 1 Grey Squirrel
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 1 Wood Pigeon
- 3 Jackdaws again
- 2 Meadow Pipits again
Hirundines etc. noted again.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 4 (2) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans
- >19 Greylag Geese
- 6 Greylag x Canada Geese
- >105 Canada Geese
- 27 (12♂) Mallard
- 25 (4♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 6 Black-headed Gulls: none of these a first-winter bird
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17 Sep 19
Priorslee Lake and The Flash
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:10
The Flash: 09:15 – 10:05
10.0°C > 12.0°C: Much cloud at times with some clear intervals especially 09:00 – 10:00. Light / moderate W wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:46 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:10
(224th visit of the year)
Best today was the first-winter Common Gull seen briefly with the Black-headed Gulls on the ‘football’ field. When the first dogs arrived it left with some of the Black-heads and was not seen again.
Bird notes from today:
- The 06:55 ‘football’ field count gave me 105 Black-headed Gulls, 1 first winter Common Gull, just seven Wood Pigeons, 12 Magpies, one Carrion Crow and 55 Pied Wagtails. 28 Black-headed Gulls on the academy playing field had most likely been flushed off by dogs and were in my earlier count.
- Several of the Moorhens were seen ‘against the light’ and their ages could not be determined – at least 3 adults and 2 juveniles: 5 unassigned.
- Both of the single surviving juveniles from the last two broods of Coots were seen. Both are just about indistinguishable from (sub)adults and will not be identified separately any longer.
- The first group of large gulls passed overhead along with the outbound Rooks. Later birds spiralled down and landed on the lake. Against the light it was impossible to specifically identify them. Many of these birds soon left. Some of them may have stayed around a while and been ‘double-counted’ as specifically identified birds on the lake. I think the vast majority of the ‘lake birds’ were new arrivals.
- No hirundines today. There are still a few House Martins near my Newport address, though most seem to have left in the last few days.
- Some of the Pied Wagtails stayed around longer than usual and 10 were still on the ‘football’ field at 09:00.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- >20 Black-headed Gulls
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: two of these first-winter birds
- 17 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Stock Doves
- 71 Wood Pigeons
- 29 Jackdaws
- 134 Rooks
- 6 Starlings
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 10 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (0) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Little Grebe
- 8 adult + 4 immature + 9 juvenile (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens: at least 2 juveniles
- 98 + 2 (2 broods) Coots
- >110 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Common Gull
- 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls : 20 of these first-winter birds
- 5 Herring Gulls: all of these first-winter birds yet again
- 51 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 1 Kingfisher
Nothing at all on the lamp poles pre-dawn.
The following logged later:
Mainly cloudy with cool breeze
- 1 Brown Hawker Dragonfly
- 1 Grey Squirrel
This immature Cormorant finished fishing for its breakfast and was looking for somewhere secure to digest the food. This does not look too secure.
There are three dependent broods of Great Crested Grebes here. I have shown the latest trio recently. Here are a quartet, the oldest of the broods, with one of the parents. They had strayed along the N side enabling me to get closer ....
These two juvenile Great Crested Grebes seem to be doing well despite there being only one parent to look after them. I do not know where the other parent went. Indeed it may have not gone anywhere as there were two broods hatched close together in the NW area and there only ever seemed to be three adults – could one male have had two females? These are particularly noisy individuals and I can hear them already begging for breakfast no matter how early I arrive.
A motley collection of large gulls. Counting from the left #6 is an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. #2 looks a candidate for being an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with a very dark back, but the bill is all dark so it must be a second (even a third?) winter bird. #4 has some pale at the base of the bill and is therefore also a (very different) second winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. Note the much whiter head on these two birds. Bird #7 is less coarsely marked and slightly paler and is a first winter Herring Gull. The others are first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Young gulls fighting over weed. The front left-hand bird, that may or may not have the weed – whose head is it? – is a first-winter Herring Gull with paler inner primaries. The bird charging in from the right is a classic first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull with no obvious pale to the inner primaries and dark secondary coverts.
Whoever had the weed before it is the first-winter Herring Gull making off with it leaving two first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls behind.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:15 – 10:05
(213th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- The family party of five very similar Greylag x Canada Geese were with the Greylag parent again. None of the other hybrid geese was noted.
- Canada Geese continued to arrive in small groups throughout my visit.
also
- 2 Speckled Wood butterflies (Pararge aegeria)
- 2 Red Admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta)
- >10 Common Drone-flies (Eristalis tenax)
- 1 Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- 1 Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus)
- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestmen on a very different lamp pole
- 1 Terrapin sp. (presumed Yellow-bellied Slider)
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 3 Jackdaws
- 2 Meadow Pipits
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans as usual
- >14 Greylag Geese
- 5 Greylag x Canada Geese
- >117 Canada Geese
- 41 (20♂) Mallard only
- 17 (5♂) Tufted Ducks again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 4 Moorhens
- 18 Coots
- 12 Black-headed Gulls: just one of these a first-winter bird
- 1 Kingfisher
It all looked so neat as they arrived in formation. Now they are looking for a touch-down point they have to start making contortions to avoid each other and those already on the water.
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:10
The Flash: 09:15 – 10:05
10.0°C > 12.0°C: Much cloud at times with some clear intervals especially 09:00 – 10:00. Light / moderate W wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:46 BST
Priorslee Lake: 05:40 – 09:10
(224th visit of the year)
Best today was the first-winter Common Gull seen briefly with the Black-headed Gulls on the ‘football’ field. When the first dogs arrived it left with some of the Black-heads and was not seen again.
Bird notes from today:
- The 06:55 ‘football’ field count gave me 105 Black-headed Gulls, 1 first winter Common Gull, just seven Wood Pigeons, 12 Magpies, one Carrion Crow and 55 Pied Wagtails. 28 Black-headed Gulls on the academy playing field had most likely been flushed off by dogs and were in my earlier count.
- Several of the Moorhens were seen ‘against the light’ and their ages could not be determined – at least 3 adults and 2 juveniles: 5 unassigned.
- Both of the single surviving juveniles from the last two broods of Coots were seen. Both are just about indistinguishable from (sub)adults and will not be identified separately any longer.
- The first group of large gulls passed overhead along with the outbound Rooks. Later birds spiralled down and landed on the lake. Against the light it was impossible to specifically identify them. Many of these birds soon left. Some of them may have stayed around a while and been ‘double-counted’ as specifically identified birds on the lake. I think the vast majority of the ‘lake birds’ were new arrivals.
- No hirundines today. There are still a few House Martins near my Newport address, though most seem to have left in the last few days.
- Some of the Pied Wagtails stayed around longer than usual and 10 were still on the ‘football’ field at 09:00.
Bird totals:
Birds noted flying over or flying near the lake:
- >20 Black-headed Gulls
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: two of these first-winter birds
- 17 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 4 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Stock Doves
- 71 Wood Pigeons
- 29 Jackdaws
- 134 Rooks
- 6 Starlings
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 10 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (0) Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 10 (7♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Ducks
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Little Grebe
- 8 adult + 4 immature + 9 juvenile (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Moorhens: at least 2 juveniles
- 98 + 2 (2 broods) Coots
- >110 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Common Gull
- 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls : 20 of these first-winter birds
- 5 Herring Gulls: all of these first-winter birds yet again
- 51 unidentified large gulls: too dark to ID
- 1 Kingfisher
Nothing at all on the lamp poles pre-dawn.
The following logged later:
Mainly cloudy with cool breeze
- 1 Brown Hawker Dragonfly
- 1 Grey Squirrel
A rather lop-sided moon already, just a few days after full-moon.
Dark clouds overhead made the early spotting difficult. Just a touch of colour in the clear area to the E.
Ooops!
Try again.
Ooops again!
I really don’t think it is going to work.
.... and putting the other adult in conflict with the NW residents. Here in a ‘threat’ posture.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:15 – 10:05
(213th visit of the year)
Notes from here:
- The family party of five very similar Greylag x Canada Geese were with the Greylag parent again. None of the other hybrid geese was noted.
- Canada Geese continued to arrive in small groups throughout my visit.
also
- 2 Speckled Wood butterflies (Pararge aegeria)
- 2 Red Admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta)
- >10 Common Drone-flies (Eristalis tenax)
- 1 Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- 1 Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus)
- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestmen on a very different lamp pole
- 1 Terrapin sp. (presumed Yellow-bellied Slider)
Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 3 Jackdaws
- 2 Meadow Pipits
Hirundines etc. noted.
None
Warblers noted (singing birds):
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
Counts from the water:
- 3 Mute Swans as usual
- >14 Greylag Geese
- 5 Greylag x Canada Geese
- >117 Canada Geese
- 41 (20♂) Mallard only
- 17 (5♂) Tufted Ducks again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes still
- 4 Moorhens
- 18 Coots
- 12 Black-headed Gulls: just one of these a first-winter bird
- 1 Kingfisher
A flight of 11 Canada Geese comes back from the fields.
This seems to be a new insect for me – a Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus).
The underside of a Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus).
I could not quite make it to get a ‘square-on’ topside view.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day..........
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Ravens
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
6 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Snipe
3 Common Sandpipers
149 Greenfinch roost
89 Pied Wagtails
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Pintail
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Ravens
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
6 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Snipe
3 Common Sandpipers
149 Greenfinch roost
89 Pied Wagtails
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Pintail
(Ed Wilson)
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