2020: The year at Priorslee Lake

Introduction

Since completion of these tables below, a very small number (five) of duplications have come to light. Please accept my apologies for these. The tables will not be changed here but note:
- the number of bird species I logged at the lake in 2020 was 108, one fewer than 2019 (my highest).
- the number of moth species I logged at the lake in 2020 was 104: my highest.
- the number of bird species I logged at The Flash in 2020 was 76.

BIRDS


This is a rather lengthy report so here is a guide to the sections

- LOOKING FORWARD: changes in the systematic order of birds I will be using in 2021

- REVIEW OF 2020: brief notes on the bird happenings at the lake

- My 2020 Priorslee Lake bird list in current systematic order

- The same list in order of my sighting

- MOTHS: introduction and new species in 2020

- My 2020 moth list in the current systematic order

- My 2020 moth list in date order of first sighting

- BUTTERFLIES: species logged in 2020

- HOVERFLIES: my 2020 list in alphabetic scientific order

- BEES: my 2020 list


- THE FLASH

- Introduction to birds

- BIRDS

- My 2020 list in my current systematic order

- My 2020 list in order of sighting

- MOTHS: introduction and new species in 2020

- My 2020 moth list in the current systematic order

- My 2020 moth list in date order of first sighting

- My 2020 moth list for species seen between the lake and The Flash

- BUTTERFLIES: species logged in 2020


LOOKING FORWARD

In 2021 I will be adopting the latest systematic order as published by the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) in line with latest scientific evidence - mainly recent DNA analysis.

This will all be very confusing as I have barely got used to the previous revision and struggle to think of the order not starting with divers and grebes; and crows near the end with only buntings to follow. There are some dramatic changes and some tinkering.

Major changes include promotion of all game birds (Pheasants and their allies) to the front. Swift is ahead of demoted grebes and followed by cuckoo and pigeons and doves. These are before waders which are now ahead of demoted birds of prey.

Tinkering occurs at several levels. Geese come before swans. Terns have been placed after gulls - where they were 'in my day'. But it is not that simple as within gulls the Great Black-backed Gull now precedes Common, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls rather than being the last of the group.

Also some warbler families have been swapped with 'reed' warblers (Sedge, Marsh, Reed) now preceding 'scrub' warblers (Blackcap, Garden Warbler, and whitethroats).

Other tinkering has Canada Geese promoted over Greylag Geese. Also Willow Warblers are now ahead of Chiffchaffs - again where they used to be.

Will take us a while to get used to this change.

REVIEW OF 2020.

It started rather quiet with nothing unusual in the way of geese, ducks and gulls. There was a Pink-footed Goose at Trench but it never made it here.

Just as a few species were about to move I was away in the USA for ostensibly just over two weeks in mid-March. Covid had other ideas and I returned early only to miss out on much of the Spring passage due to the lockdown

Clarification of lockdown rules allowed me to drive the short distance from Newport for my daily exercise and resume watching. Social Distancing was not hard at 05:30.

Late Spring and early Summer produced a few late passage birds - Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Wheatear. Warblers had set up territories and I was able to get some good photos of birds carrying food and then of barely fledged juveniles. A Yellow Wagtail breeding in the fields to the east was a first for me in the area. No sign of Linnets nest around the lake this year.

Mid-Summer visitors are unusual: I was concentrating on moths around the street lights when a Barn Owl put in an unexpected appearance for just one morning.

Autumn passage allowed me to catch up on a few species missed in Spring - Curlew; Spotted Flycatcher.

Late Autumn produced the usual large parties of Wood Pigeons - I estimated over 9000 on the busiest morning. Winter thrushes - Fieldfare and Redwing - were in low numbers, unlike the East Coast that recorded record numbers. A typically noisy Cetti's Warbler sang for a few days. I missed out on the reportedly brief visit by a Shag while I busy photographing juvenile Bullfinches.

A roost of, mainly, Lesser Black-backed Gulls on roofs in Hortonwood led to an early morning arrival by these for a drink and a bathe before setting off on the day's activity. As usual gulls attract gulls and we were treated to fairly regular visits by some uncommon species that can be a challenge to identify - Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls. A few Great Black-backed Gulls were noted as well.

Possibly the bird of the year was a drake Red-crested Pochard for a few days at the end of November. My first here for 19 years and looking rather too exotic for England.

In the end I managed a tie with last year in the number of bird species personally recorded - 109.

Species seen 2020 but not 2019

Pintail
Red-crested Pochard
Ringed Plover
Green Sandpiper
Snipe
Willow Tit
Cetti's Warbler
Wheatear
Common Crossbill
reported by others but not seen by me
(Shag)

Species seen 2019 but not 2020

Goldeneye
Red-legged Partridge
Red Kite
Golden Plover
Whimbrel
Greenshank
Redshank
Kittiwake
Stonechat
Brambling

I record none of these species regularly and nothing can be read in to their presence or absence.

My 2020 Priorslee Lake bird list in current systematic order (from BTO c.2010) is

Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Gadwall
Mallard
Pintail
Shoveler
Red-crested Pochard
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Goosander
Pheasant
Cormorant
Little Egret
Great White Egret
Grey Heron
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
(Common) Kestrel
Peregrine
Water Rail
Hobby
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
(Common) Ringed Plover
Curlew
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Woodcock
Snipe
Common Tern
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Feral Pigeon
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Ring-necked Parakeet
Barn Owl
Tawny Owl
Swift
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Magpie
Jay
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven
Goldcrest
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Willow Tit
Skylark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Cetti's Warbler
Long-tailed Tit
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Wren
Starling
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Spotted Flycatcher
Robin
Wheatear
Dunnock
House Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Lesser Redpoll
Common Crossbill
Bullfinch
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting

And in order of my sightings

1 01/01/2020 Robin
2 01/01/2020 Song Thrush
3 01/01/2020 Blackbird
4 01/01/2020 Wood Pigeon
5 01/01/2020 Coot
6 01/01/2020 Carrion Crow
7 01/01/2020 Magpie
8 01/01/2020 Great Crested Grebe
9 01/01/2020 Mallard
10 01/01/2020 Redwing
11 01/01/2020 Moorhen
12 01/01/2020 Mute Swan
13 01/01/2020 Tufted Duck
14 01/01/2020 Gadwall
15 01/01/2020 Grey Heron
16 01/01/2020 Shoveler
17 01/01/2020 Wren
18 01/01/2020 Rook
19 01/01/2020 Jackdaw
20 01/01/2020 Blue Tit
21 01/01/2020 Black-headed Gull
22 01/01/2020 Dunnock
23 01/01/2020 Reed Bunting
24 01/01/2020 Greylag Goose
25 01/01/2020 Lesser Black-backed Gull
26 01/01/2020 Pochard
27 01/01/2020 Great Tit
28 01/01/2020 Herring Gull
29 01/01/2020 Stock Dove
30 01/01/2020 Pied Wagtail
31 01/01/2020 Greenfinch
32 01/01/2020 Long-tailed Tit
33 01/01/2020 Chaffinch
34 01/01/2020 Canada Goose
35 01/01/2020 Cormorant
36 01/01/2020 Goldfinch
37 01/01/2020 Nuthatch
38 02/01/2020 Common Buzzard
39 02/01/2020 Goosander
40 02/01/2020 Little Grebe
41 02/01/2020 Grey Wagtail
42 02/01/2020 Jay
43 02/01/2020 Coal Tit
44 02/01/2020 Lapwing
45 02/01/2020 Siskin
46 02/01/2020 Mistle Thrush
47 03/01/2020 Woodcock
48 03/01/2020 Treecreeper
49 03/01/2020 Bullfinch
50 03/01/2020 Linnet
51 03/01/2020 Great Spotted Woodpecker
52 04/01/2020 Feral Pigeon
53 04/01/2020 Starling
54 05/01/2020 Tawny Owl
55 06/01/2020 Collared Dove
56 07/01/2020 Yellow-legged Gull
57 10/01/2020 Kingfisher
58 30/01/2020 Sparrowhawk
59 30/01/2020 Great Black-backed Gull
60 30/01/2020 Goldcrest
61 03/02/2020 Green Woodpecker
62 05/02/2020 Feral Pigeon
63 05/02/2020 Fieldfare
64 06/02/2020 Skylark
65 22/02/2020 Peregrine
66 25/02/2020 (Common) Kestrel
67 01/03/2020 Meadow Pipit
68 04/03/2020 Raven
69 14/03/2020 Chiffchaff
70 22/03/2020 Pheasant
71 25/03/2020 Blackcap
72 20/04/2020 Garden Warbler
73 20/04/2020 Common Whitethroat
74 20/04/2020 Sedge Warbler
75 20/04/2020 Willow Warbler
76 20/04/2020 Reed Warbler
77 20/04/2020 Lesser Whitethroat
78 20/04/2020 Barn Swallow
79 20/04/2020 Sand Martin
80 20/04/2020 Common Sandpiper
81 22/04/2020 Little Ringed Plover
82 22/04/2020 Swift
83 23/04/2020 House Martin
84 27/04/2020 House Sparrow
85 29/04/2020 Wheatear
86 08/05/2020 Oystercatcher
87 18/05/2020 (Common) Ringed Plover
88 24/05/2020 Barn Owl
89 18/06/2020 Common Tern
90 23/06/2020 Great White Egret
91 07/07/2020 Common Crossbill
92 10/07/2020 Curlew
93 18/07/2020 Ring-necked Parakeet
94 18/07/2020 Willow Tit
95 20/07/2020 Hobby
96 03/08/2020 Yellowhammer
97 08/08/2020 Yellow Wagtail
98 25/08/2020 Common Gull
99 26/08/2020 Lesser Redpoll
100 12/09/2020 Spotted Flycatcher
101 17/09/2020 Snipe
102 17/09/2020 Little Egret
103 30/09/2020 Cetti's Warbler
104 02/10/2020 Pintail
105 02/10/2020 Eurasian Wigeon
106 05/10/2020 Water Rail
107 05/10/2020 Green Sandpiper
108 24/10/2020 Caspian Gull
109 26/11/2020 Red-crested Pochard

MOTHS

I made a concerted effort to start early-enough to see as many moths as possible attracted to the street lights along the West end footpath. I was well rewarded with a bumper number of species with many new for me at this site and several that I had never seen before. There is plenty of scope for additions. A portable moth trap would boost the number of common species recorded as well as attract a few more specialities. Time, time ...

Moth species new in 2020

Plain Gold Micropterix calthella
Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella
Willow Ermine Yponomeuta rorrella
Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens
Nut-bud Moth Epinotia tenerana
Treble Brown Spot moth Idaea trigeminata
Blue-bordered Carpet Plemyria rubiginata
Small Seraphim Pterapherapteryx sexalata
Vapourer Orgyia antiqua
Buff Footman Eilema depressa
Small Ranunuculus Hecatera dysodea
Pale Pinion Lithophane socia
Blackneck Lygephila pastinum

Micro moths do not have universally accepted common names. I have adopted those used by the excellent Norfolk Moths web site. I use the 'flying tonight' tab to narrow my search for species I am unfamiliar with.

My 2020 moth list in the current systematic order 
(stable for 10+ years and used by me for the last two years):

1.005 Plain Gold Micropterix calthella
7.006 Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella
7.010 Meadow Long-horn Cauchas rufimitrella
15.089 Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella
16.005 Willow Ermine Yponomeuta rorrella
28.010 Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
35.011 Poplar Sober Anacampsis populella
35.031 Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens
35.058 Meadow Neb Metzneria metzneriella
41.002 Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella
41.003 London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella
45.030 White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla
45.044 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
48.001 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
49.031 Timothy Tortrix Zelotherses paleana
49.065a Tortrix sp. Acleris laterana/comariana agg.
49.070 Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana
49.071 Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana
49.089 Dark-triangle Button sp. Acleris laterana/comariana
49.157 Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana
49.161 Barred Marble Celypha striana
49.166 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
49.214 Common Roller Ancylis badiana
49.237 Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana
49.248 Nut-bud Moth Epinotia tenerana
63.007 Common Purple & Gold Pyrausta purpuralis
63.033 Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis
63.034 Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis
63.038 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis
63.064 Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis
63.064 Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis
63.067 Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata
63.069 Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea
63.080 Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella
63.088 Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella
63.089 Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella
63.092 Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella
63.093 Straw Grass-veneer Agriphila straminella
63.095 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea
70.006 Dwarf Cream Wave Idaea fuscovenosa
70.009 Satin Wave Idaea subsericeata
70.011 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
70.012 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata
70.013 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
70.016 Riband Wave Idaea aversata
70.029 Blood-vein Timandra comae
70.045 Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata
70.049 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata
70.051 Red Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia
70.054 Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
70.055 Large Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata
70.061 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata
70.084 Blue-bordered Carpet Plemyria rubiginata
70.089 Phoenix Eulithis prunata
70.093 Barred Straw Gandaritis pyraliata
70.094 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
70.097 Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata
70.100 Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria
70.106 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata
70.107 November Moth agg. Epirrita sp.
70.154 Marsh Pug Eupithecia pygmaeata
70.173 Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata
70.183 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata
70.199 Small Seraphim Pterapherapteryx sexalata
70.207 Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata
70.218 Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata
70.226 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata
70.234 Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria
70.235 Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria
70.244 Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria
70.254 Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiaria
70.256 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria
70.256 Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria
70.263 Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria
70.265 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata
70.270 Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia
70.282 Early Moth Theria primaria
70.303 Little Emerald Jodis lactearia
71.011 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis
72.002 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis
72.003 Snout Hypena proboscidalis
72.010 Black Arches Lymantria monacha
72.013 Yellow-tail Euproctis similis
72.017 Vapourer Orgyia antiqua
72.019 Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea
72.020 White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda
72.024 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa
72.031 Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
72.037 Round-winged Muslin Thumatha senex
72.043 Buff Footman Eilema depressa f. unicolor
72.045 Common Footman Eilema lurideola
72.063 Blackneck Lygephila pastinum
72.078 Red Underwing Catocala nupta
73.015 Silver Y Autographa gamma
73.069 Early Grey Xylocampa areola
73.096 Uncertain / Rustic agg. Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda
73.169 Lesser Common / Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis agg.
73.182 Sallow Cirrhia icteritia
73.186 Beaded Chestnut Agrochola lychnidis
73.201 Pale Pinion Lithophane socia
73.216 Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina
73.219 Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago
73.280 Small Ranunuculus Hecatera dysodea
73.357 Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa

My 2020 moth list in date order of first sighting

1 02/01/2020 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria
2 04/01/2020 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata
3 08/01/2020 Early Moth Theria primaria
4 19/02/2020 Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria
5 16/03/2020 Early Grey Xylocampa areola
6 27/04/2020 Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis
7 09/05/2020 Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella
8 16/05/2020 Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana
9 17/05/2020 Pale Pinion Lithophane socia
10 17/05/2020 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
11 17/05/2020 Meadow Long-horn Cauchas rufimitrella
12 19/05/2020 Plain Gold Micropterix calthella
13 20/05/2020 Marsh Pug Eupithecia pygmaeata
14 24/05/2020 Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
15 24/05/2020 Common Roller Ancylis badiana
16 26/05/2020 Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
17 27/05/2020 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis
18 30/05/2020 Common Purple & Gold Pyrausta purpuralis
19 30/05/2020 Timothy Tortrix Zelotherses paleana
20 31/05/2020 Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata
21 05/06/2020 Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella
22 07/06/2020 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata
23 08/06/2020 White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda
24 09/06/2020 Satin Wave Idaea subsericeata
25 13/06/2020 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
26 13/06/2020 Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata
27 15/06/2020 Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea
28 15/06/2020 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata
29 15/06/2020 Snout Hypena proboscidalis
30 17/06/2020 Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis
31 17/06/2020 Uncertain / Rustic agg. Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda
32 17/06/2020 Meadow Neb Metzneria metzneriella
33 19/06/2020 Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria
34 19/06/2020 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata
35 20/06/2020 Barred Straw Gandaritis pyraliata
36 20/06/2020 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata
37 22/06/2020 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata
38 22/06/2020 Blackneck Lygephila pastinum
39 23/06/2020 Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata
40 25/06/2020 Riband Wave Idaea aversata
41 26/06/2020 Blood-vein Timandra comae
42 26/06/2020 Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata
43 28/06/2020 Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata
44 29/06/2020 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
45 01/07/2020 Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis
46 01/07/2020 Black-brindled Bell Epinotia signatana
47 03/07/2020 Small Ranunuculus Hecatera dysodea
48 04/07/2020 Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata
49 09/07/2020 Common Footman Eilema lurideola
50 09/07/2020 Little Emerald Jodis lactearia
51 10/07/2020 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata
52 10/07/2020 Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis
53 11/07/2020 Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis
54 12/07/2020 Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella
55 13/07/2020 Orange Crest Helcystogramma rufescens
56 13/07/2020 Large Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata
57 14/07/2020 Barred Marble Celypha striana
58 14/07/2020 Dusky Pearl Udea prunalis
59 14/07/2020 Yellow-tail Euproctis similis
60 16/07/2020 Buff Footman Eilema depressa f. unicolor
61 16/07/2020 Satin Grass-veneer Crambus perlella
62 16/07/2020 Straw Grass-veneer Agriphila straminella
63 18/07/2020 Round-winged Muslin Thumatha senex
64 19/07/2020 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
65 19/07/2020 London Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella
66 22/07/2020 Blue-bordered Carpet Plemyria rubiginata
67 23/07/2020 Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia
68 23/07/2020 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
69 28/07/2020 Phoenix Eulithis prunata
70 29/07/2020 Red Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia
71 29/07/2020 Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata
72 30/07/2020 Dwarf Cream Wave Idaea fuscovenosa
73 30/07/2020 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa
74 30/07/2020 Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella
75 31/07/2020 Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina
76 31/07/2020 Phoenix Eulithis prunata
77 31/07/2020 Small Seraphim Pterapherapteryx sexalata
78 04/08/2020 White Plume Pterophorus pentadactyla
79 05/08/2020 Dingy Dowd Blastobasis adustella
80 05/08/2020 Tortrix sp. Acleris laterana/comariana agg.
81 07/08/2020 Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
82 08/08/2020 Poplar Sober Anacampsis populella
83 09/08/2020 Black Arches Lymantria monacha
84 10/08/2020 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
85 10/08/2020 Nut-bud Moth Epinotia tenerana
86 11/08/2020 Willow Ermine Yponomeuta rorrella
87 11/08/2020 Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa
88 16/08/2020 Lesser Common / Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis agg.
89 18/08/2020 Silver Y Autographa gamma
90 22/08/2020 Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella
91 28/08/2020 Red Underwing Catocala nupta
92 30/08/2020 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea
93 31/08/2020 Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago
94 02/09/2020 Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria
95 09/09/2020 Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria
96 10/09/2020 Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria
97 13/09/2020 Notch-wing Button Acleris emargana
98 13/09/2020 Dark-triangle Button sp. Acleris laterana/comariana
99 15/09/2020 Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea
100 15/09/2020 Vapourer Orgyia antiqua
101 16/09/2020 Sallow Cirrhia icteritia
102 29/09/2020 Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana
103 09/10/2020 November Moth agg. Epirrita sp.
104 09/10/2020 Beaded Chestnut Agrochola lychnidis
105 06/11/2020 Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria
106 15/11/2020 Scarce Umber Agriopis aurantiaria

BUTTERFLIES

A small number so presented in systematic order with first dates appended

57.005 Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola 11/07/2020
57.006 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris 21/05/2020
57.009 Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus 23/06/2020
58.003 Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines 09/05/2020
58.006 Large White Pieris brassicae 25/06/2020
58.007 Small White Pieris rapae 19/05/2020
58.008 Green-veined White Pieris napi 12/05/2020
59.003 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria 02/05/2020
59.009 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus 22/06/2020
59.010 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina 20/06/2020
59.011 Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus 12/07/2020
59.023 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta 07/07/2020
59.026 Peacock Aglais io 09/05/2020
59.027 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae 30/05/2020
59.031 Comma Polygonia c-album 24/06/2020
61.012 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus 28/07/2020
61.018 Common Blue Polyommatus icarus 21/07/2020

Holly Blue was new for the site in 2020

Butterfly species seen 2020 but not 2019

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus

Butterfly species seen 2019 but not 2020

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

HOVERFLIES

Another group that I have tried to get to grips with (ably assisted my friend Leon Truscot in Saltash, Cornwall). I have yet to get to grips with the systematic order - I am not sure where one of available on the web. I record them in scientific name order as not all species have accepted (or indeed any) vernacular name. Not all species can be positively identified by even good photos and not all my photos were that good!

My 2020 list is presented in date order - this was affected by the first lock-down

02/05/2020 Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare
02/05/2020 Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
04/05/2020 Cheilosia albitarsus agg.
07/05/2020 Epistrophe elegans
07/05/2020 Leucozona lucorum
07/05/2020 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
09/05/2020 The Footballer Helophilus pendulus
12/05/2020 Dasysyrphus venustus agg
12/05/2020 Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea
14/05/2020 Cheilosia sp.
14/05/2020 Eupeodes luniger
14/05/2020 Long Hoverfly Sphaerophoria scripta
14/05/2020 Migrant Hoverfly Eupeodes corollae
15/05/2020 Criorhina sp probably floccosa
18/05/2020 Xanthogramma pedissequum sensu lato
19/05/2020 Parhelophilus sp.
21/05/2020 Xylota segnis
23/05/2020 Narcissus Bulb Fly Merodon equestris
27/05/2020 Bumblebee Hoverfly Volucella bombylans
27/05/2020 Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum
02/06/2020 Tropidia scita
07/06/2020 Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
22/06/2020 Cheilosia illustrata
22/06/2020 Chrysotoxum verralli
22/06/2020 Leucozona laternaria
22/06/2020 Pellucid Fly Volucella pellucens
22/06/2020 Xylota sylvarum
28/06/2020 Syrphus ribesii
02/07/2020 Pied Hoverfly Scaeva pyrastri
10/07/2020 Syrphus vitripennis
16/07/2020 Chrysotoxum bicinctum
28/07/2020 Lesser Hornet Hoverfly Volucella inanis
30/07/2020 Bronze Sap Hoverfly Ferdinandea cuprea
05/08/2020 Stripe-backed Dasysyrphus Dasysyrphus albostriatus
11/08/2020 Melanostoma mellinum

BEES

I acquired the latest Bees of Great Britain and Ireland Field Guide rather too late in the season. I then made an effort to get to grips with this group.

In scientific name order:
This must be regarded as a very provisional with a few tentative identifications!

Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Gypsy Cuckoo Bee Bombus bohemicus
Field Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus campestris
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Vestal Cuckoo-Bee Bombus vestalis
Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis

THE FLASH

I spend less time at The Flash than at the lake. This combined with the smaller size of the water and the built-up surroundings necessarily leads to a smaller species list. The island, sadly getting smaller annually, provides a refuge that some species, like the geese and Goosanders utilise.

Highlights this year have included

- A late Christmas present of my first Little Egret for two years.
- My first-ever Red Kite at this location: a fly-over on 16th October.
- A Reed Warbler set up territory alongside Derwent Drive and sang for several weeks. I don't think he attracted a mate. I noted passage birds on 11th May 2015, 28th May 2017 and 24th May 2018 but it is over 6 years since the last breeding attempt in reeds now flattened to create a fishing peg.
- A Reed Bunting also held territory near the top end. I saw a male carrying food so nesting was attempted. No juveniles were seen. In some previous year I have heard birds in early Spring but none has stayed.

BIRDS

Species seen in 2019 but not 2020

Goldeneye
(Common) Kestrel
Oystercatcher
Curlew
Snipe
Common Tern
Yellow-legged Gull
Ring-necked Parakeet
Sedge Warbler
Common Crossbill

Apart from the briefly resident Ring-necked Parakeet all of these were one-off sighting of passing birds. Apart from perhaps the Common Tern I would not expect to see any of these annually.

Species seen in 2020 but not 2019

Little Egret
Red Kite
Hobby
Reed Warbler
Reed Bunting

My 2020 list in current systematic order (from BTO c.2010) is

Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Shoveler
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Goosander
Cormorant
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Hobby
Moorhen
Coot
Common Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Feral Pigeon
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Red Kite
Swift
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Magpie
Jay
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven
Goldcrest
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Skylark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Long-tailed Tit
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Reed Warbler
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Wren
Starling
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Robin
Dunnock
House Sparrow
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch
Reed Bunting

My 2020 list in order of sighting

1 02/01/2020 Blackbird
2 02/01/2020 Black-headed Gull
3 02/01/2020 Tufted Duck
4 02/01/2020 Mallard
5 02/01/2020 Coot
6 02/01/2020 Magpie
7 02/01/2020 Wood Pigeon
8 02/01/2020 Robin
9 02/01/2020 Dunnock
10 02/01/2020 Carrion Crow
11 02/01/2020 House Sparrow
12 02/01/2020 Jackdaw
13 02/01/2020 Blue Tit
14 02/01/2020 Pochard
15 02/01/2020 Canada Goose
16 02/01/2020 Chaffinch
17 02/01/2020 Mute Swan
18 02/01/2020 Great Tit
19 02/01/2020 Song Thrush
20 02/01/2020 Wren
21 02/01/2020 Great Crested Grebe
22 02/01/2020 Moorhen
23 02/01/2020 Greylag Goose
24 03/01/2020 Collared Dove
25 03/01/2020 Goosander
26 03/01/2020 Long-tailed Tit
27 03/01/2020 Goldfinch
28 03/01/2020 Siskin
29 03/01/2020 Starling
30 03/01/2020 Bullfinch
31 03/01/2020 Coal Tit
32 03/01/2020 Cormorant
33 03/01/2020 Kingfisher
34 03/01/2020 Lesser Black-backed Gull
35 04/01/2020 Herring Gull
36 04/01/2020 Goldcrest
37 04/01/2020 Stock Dove
39 04/01/2020 Common Buzzard
40 05/01/2020 Feral Pigeon
41 05/01/2020 Nuthatch
42 06/01/2020 Raven
43 08/01/2020 Sparrowhawk
44 08/01/2020 Greenfinch
45 11/01/2020 Lesser Redpoll
46 13/01/2020 Treecreeper
47 27/01/2020 Grey Heron
48 01/02/2020 Redwing
49 03/02/2020 Gadwall
50 12/02/2020 Jay
51 02/03/2020 Lesser Redpoll
52 04/03/2020 Green Woodpecker
53 04/03/2020 Great Spotted Woodpecker
54 04/03/2020 Mistle Thrush
55 14/03/2020 Chiffchaff
56 16/03/2020 Meadow Pipit
57 21/03/2020 Pied Wagtail
58 27/04/2020 Blackcap
59 27/04/2020 Reed Bunting
60 29/04/2020 Barn Swallow
61 29/04/2020 House Martin
62 29/04/2020 Garden Warbler
63 01/05/2020 Willow Warbler
64 04/05/2020 Swift
65 08/05/2020 Shoveler
66 10/05/2020 Rook
67 10/05/2020 Common Sandpiper
68 14/05/2020 Reed Warbler
69 16/05/2020 Hobby
70 08/08/2020 Little Grebe
71 24/08/2020 Sand Martin
72 07/09/2020 Grey Wagtail
73 17/09/2020 Teal
74 20/09/2020 Skylark
75 16/10/2020 Red Kite
76 19/10/2020 Fieldfare
77 27/12/2020 Little Egret

MOTHS

Mothing at The Flash is quite different from the lake as all sighting are made well after dawn when many individuals will have flown off to hide. So many fewer species are to be expected

Moth species new in 2020

Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella
Blue-bordered Carpet Plemyria rubiginata
Barred Red Hylaea fasciaria
Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica

My 2020 moth list in the current systematic order (stable for 10+ years and used by me for the last two years):

7.006 Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella
15.089 Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella
49.024 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana
63.064 Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis
63.067 Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata
63.080 Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella
63.081 Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella
63.089 Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella
63.092 Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella
63.095 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea
65.010 Figure of Eighty Tethea ocularis
69.003 Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi
70.008 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
70.011 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
70.013 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
70.016 Riband Wave Idaea aversata
70.061 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata
70.084 Blue-bordered Carpet Plemyria rubiginata
70.097 Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata
70.106 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata
70.107 November Moth agg. Epirrita sp.
70.183 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata
70.200 Yellow-barred Brindle Acasis viretata
70.226 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata
70.237 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria
70.256 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria
70.258 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
70.265 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata
70.283 Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria
70.284 Barred Red Hylaea fasciaria
71.012 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromedarius
71.017 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula
72.022 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica
72.045 Common Footman Eilema lurideola
73.096 Uncertain/Rustic agg Hoplodrina sp.
73.216 Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina
73.219 Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago
73.357 Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa

My 2020 moth list in date order of first sighting

1 08/01/2020 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata
2 29/04/2020 Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella
3 01/05/2020 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula
4 13/05/2020 Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica
5 28/05/2020 Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata
6 31/05/2020 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata
7 03/06/2020 Figure of Eighty Tethea ocularis
8 14/06/2020 Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella
9 19/06/2020 Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis
10 23/06/2020 Garden Grass-veneer Chrysoteuchia culmella
11 23/06/2020 Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata
12 26/06/2020 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata
13 27/06/2020 Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria
14 30/06/2020 Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata
15 01/07/2020 Barred Red Hylaea fasciaria
16 01/07/2020 Riband Wave Idaea aversata
17 02/07/2020 Blue-bordered Carpet Plemyria rubiginata
18 02/07/2020 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
19 02/07/2020 Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi
20 11/07/2020 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
21 11/07/2020 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata
22 13/07/2020 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana
23 20/07/2020 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria
24 23/07/2020 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
25 30/07/2020 Yellow-barred Brindle Acasis viretata
26 03/08/2020 Common Footman Eilema lurideola
27 09/08/2020 Iron Prominent Notodonta dromedarius
28 12/08/2020 Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella
29 14/08/2020 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
30 19/08/2020 Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa
31 19/08/2020 Uncertain/Rustic agg Hoplodrina sp.
32 19/08/2020 Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella
33 23/08/2020 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea
34 27/08/2020 Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago
35 27/08/2020 Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina
36 17/09/2020 Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella
37 12/10/2020 November Moth agg. Epirrita sp.
38 11/11/2020 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria

A slight deviation here: between June and September I typically walk between the lake and The Flash and encounter a few moths around the street lamps there. In species order with the sighting order and first dates also shown.

63.064 3 Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis 20/06/2020
63.067 5 Little Grey Eudonia lacustrata 26/06/2020
63.081 6 Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella 27/06/2020
63.092 15 Pale-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila selasella 17/08/2020
70.008 11 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata 25/07/2020
70.011 8 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata 07/07/2020
70.013 7 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata 07/07/2020
70.016 2 Riband Wave Idaea aversata 18/06/2020
70.089 9 Phoenix Eulithis prunata 09/07/2020
70.173 14 Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata 15/08/2020
70.184 1 Mottled Pug Eupithecia exiguata 31/05/2020
70.226 10 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 16/07/2020
70.265 13 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata 29/07/2020
70.283 4 Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria 25/06/2020
72.045 12 Common Footman Eilema lurideola 25/07/2020
73.342 16 Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 27/08/2020

BUTTERFLIES

During the main flight period of butterflies I am rarely at The Flash at the time of day when these insects are on the wing.

Here are my sightings this year with my first sighting date

59.003 1 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria 22/05/2020
59.027 2 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae 15/06/2020
58.006 3 Large White Pieris brassicae 01/08/2020
58.007 4 Small White Pieris rapae 18/08/2020
58.008 5 Green-veined White Pieris napi 18/08/2020
61.012 6 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus 24/08/2020
59.031 7 Comma Polygonia c-album 12/09/2020

(Ed Wilson)

31 December 2020