26 May 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

17.0°C > 26.0°C: Clear until a few scattered clouds after 08:30. Calm. Very good visibility but hazy early.

Sunrise: 04:58 BST

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

Not an inspired visit as I try to get rid of a nasty cold..

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:55 – 05:55 // 07:05 – 09:15

(122nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings present and correct.
- no Mallard ducklings seen but plenty of adults.
- two drake Tufted Duck were new in. The first for nine days.
- no juvenile Coots seen. The number of adults low: perhaps sheltering in the reeds.
- *an adult Black-headed Gull visited c.08:20: an unusual date.
- a lone adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the football field c.05:45. *Another visited the lake briefly c.08:10. A small passage overhead early only.
- a Lesser Whitethroat was intermittently singing a brief song from the Ricoh hedge area c.05:00 only. This strongly suggests that it has bred here and is now between broods.
- a Common Whitethroat was singing along the South side c.05:10 only. Perhaps it has found a mate and is busy nesting.
- I could not hear any Garden Warbler.
- with less traffic during the school holiday I was able to hear a Skylark singing from the fields to the East while I was on the dam-top.
- a Mistle Thrush was singing by the Teece Drive gate c.05:00. This early-breeding species has normally finished singing by this date.
- no Starlings were on the football field c.05:50 suggesting the juveniles are strong-enough to fly greater distances to feed. A family party of six flew toward the estate c.09:10

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Greylag Geese: one flew East; a trio flew West
- 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese: of these a pair arrived
- 4 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: the third adult throughout; a fourth visited briefly
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen came off the nest for a while
- 24 (20♂) Mallard
- 2 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- no Moorhens
- 12 Coots: only
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Black-headed Gull
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts at c.05:00 only
- 2 Barn Swallows: singles departed to the South
- ? House Martins: heard from over the estate but not seen

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 13 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (7) Reed Warblers
- 13 (13) Blackcaps only
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat: see notes
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat: see notes

Also noted:
I was not disposed to going searching today: seems we were all keeping out of the heat. Apart from plenty of bumblebees and damselflies other things ere scarce.

Butterflies:
- 1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 1 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

Moths:
- none

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
- *Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
- Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
- *possible Burdock Blacklet Cheilosia impressa [Yellow-winged Blacklet]

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- *Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- many damselflies not specifically identified

Other flies:
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- other unidentified fly species

Bugs:
- none

Beetles:
- Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
- *Common (or Red-headed) Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

New flowers for the year:
- *Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
- *Blue Flag Iris Iris versicolor / Blue Iris (Iris sp.)
- *Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas
- White Clover Trifolium repens

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
Staying moth free!

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

A hazy start to the day.

The two drake Tufted Duck. When they look like this it is difficult to imagine that come Autumn it will be hard to tell the sex of many of them.

An adult Black-headed Gull attracted to food.

And flies off with some stale bread courtesy of Paul in the Classic Catering van.

"Any more where that came from?"

Yes. In this photo it is clear that "Black-headed" is wrong on two counts. It has a hood that dark chocolate in colour. Probably too late to change the name...

All gone: sorry.

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. Note there are only seven (eight?) primaries visible meaning that the three (or two) inner primaries have been dropped as it starts its post-breeding moult. Hence the "step" in the trailing edge.

A splendid Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum with the orange "pile" on the thorax and white tail.

This may be my first-ever Burdock Blacklet hoverfly Cheilosia impressa. Obsidentify's name for the species, Yellow-winged Blacklet, may seem appropriate but females (and this is a female) of the common Buttercup Blacklet C. albitarsus also have yellow at the base of their wings. As their scientific name suggests these should show pale on the legs and these look all dark. It is not on a buttercup but Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris and there is a Parsley Blacklet C. pagana... A difficult group....

..and neither Obsidentify or Google Lens would be drawn to identify thus beyond Cheilosia sp.

A freshly-emerged Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum. These develop as larvae in the water and when ready to emerge the larvae climb up anything suitable to enable them to emerge and dry out before taking to the wing. At this stage they are known as tenerals. The colour develops over a few days. This one was on the boxing ring on the dam.

A Common (or Red-headed) Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis. I wonder how it got that name?!

Beginning to appear are the first Common Spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii of the year.

Just opened are a few Blue Flag Iris Iris versicolor. I read that this species is not native to the UK and that all instances are as a result of garden escapes / deliberate planting.

Spiders seem to have been visiting this Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas. The seeds of this species are almost indestructible and can stay in the ground for many years until conditions are suitable. As a result they often emerge after ground has been worked.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 33(!) midges of several species
- *1 cranefly Limnophila schranki [Broad-winged Mottled Longneck]
- *1 cranefly Tipula vittata
- 1 otherwise unidentified Limonid cranefly
- 1 owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 possible Snake-back Spider Segestria senoculata

This seems to be the cranefly Limnophila schranki also known as Broad-winged Mottled Longneck. It is a new species for me.

The cranefly Tipula vittata. Apart from the distinctive wing pattern it is characterised by a pale line down the centre of the abdomen. Or dark lines down the sides of the abdomen, depending on your perspective.

This seems to resemble the Snake-back Spider Segestria senoculata.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:00 – 07:00

(119th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- still five visiting Mute Swans and the presumption of the resident pen on the nest. The cob seems resigned to the presence of the visitors and made no attempt to intimidate them.
- no Canada Goose goslings seen.
- no Greylag Geese.
- *again only two juvenile Coots seen. None of the two broods of four alongside Derwent Drive was seen. Perhaps keeping out of the sun?
- the single adult Great Crested Grebes seen again.
- one or two Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen ferrying to and from the island. Not sure whether they were carrying food there or faecal sacs away.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 59 Canada Geese: of these 23 were seen to depart
- no Greylag Geese
- 7 Mute Swans: assuming the pen is on the hidden nest?
- 22 (20♂) Mallard: where were many of the ducks?
- 4 Moorhens
- *20 + 2 (1 broods) Coots: see notes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

The only juvenile Coots today seemed to want to snuggle up even in the warm weather.

Another sequence of something I have not seen previously. A pair (one hopes!) of mating Song Thrushes.

He seems pleased with himself. Sufficiently so...

...to repeat the process.

Almost in danger of falling off. She seems to be standing in tippy-toes.

Definitely unstable.

Oops.

Something to celebrate? Throughout I heard no song or call from these two.

Third time lucky? She has feet firmly planted on the ground this time.

"Thank you ma'am. I'll be off now".

(Ed Wilson)

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2009
Priorslee Lake
Oystercatcher
Common Sandpiper
2 Common Terns
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)

25 May 26

No sightings in today.

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2012
Nedge Hill
2 Ravens mobbing Kestrel.
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Ringed Plover
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Red Kite
(Ed Wilson)

24 May 26

No sightings in today.

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2007
Priorslee Lake
Cuckoo
(Ed Wilson)

23 May 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

13.0°C > 18.0°C: A clear start. Clouded for a while, then scattered cloud. Light westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:01 BST

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

A slightly delayed start with The Flash first and only one lap of the lake.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 07:05 – 09:50

(121st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings present and correct.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- two broods of juvenile Coots seen. Numbers provisional as they were in and out of the reeds.
- one Great Crested Grebe was seen carrying a small fish, I assume to its partner on a nest hidden in the reeds
- three of the eight Reed Warblers heard were in scrub vegetation rather than in reeds,
- a Garden Warbler was heard singing from the bushes between the lake and the M54 about as far away from the paths as possible.
- juvenile Goldfinches seen being fed by parents.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese: flew East together
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw
That's all folks.

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: of these two pairs departed
- 2 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 16 (12♂) Mallard
- 1 Moorhen only again
- 22 + 5 (2 broods) Coots: see notes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes: see notes

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift sped through

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
Number perhaps incomplete as I was not present for the dawn chorus
- 13 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (8) Reed Warblers: see notes
- 18 (17) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler

Also noted

Butterflies:
- *1 female Large White Pieris brassicae
- *2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

Moths:
- *2 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana: moth species #10 here this year for me.
- *1 Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
My 2026 moth species total moves on to #23.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
- Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum

Hoverflies:
- Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
- Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus [Tiger Marsh Fly; Sun Fly]
- *Blotch-winged Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum [Blotch-winged Whitebelt]

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- *Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]

Other flies:
- root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris
- dagger fly Empis tessellata
- *cranefly Limonia phragmitidis
- Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- other unidentified fly species

Bugs:
- none

Beetles:
- *2 Spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata
- Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- *Soldier beetle Cantharis pellucida
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- *Green Dock Beetle Gastrophysa viridula
- *Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. spectabilis
- *Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens
- *Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
- *Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *wolf spider Pardosa sp.
- *Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

A female Large White Pieris brassicae . It is a female because there are four spots in the wings (just two in a male). And a Large White because the black of the wing-tip significantly extends down both edges.

A Speckled Wood butterfly Pararge aegeria

A Common Nettle-tap moth Anthophila fabriciana.

"Record shot" - just about! A Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata. The dark cross-line on the silvery background identifies this moth. commonly disturbed from vegetation for the next few weeks. I should get a better photo.

A Blotch-winged Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum. For a hoverfly the antennae are unusually long.

The club-shaped mark on the first obvious body segment identifies this as a male Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum.

And a female who may or may not become fully blue.

A different-looking cranefly. This is the cranefly Limonia phragmitidis. It is a female with the ovipositor.

A 2 Spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata. I do not often see this species these days. It is being out-competed by the larger and alien Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis. This species has several forms sometimes with a black-based elytra and four or six spots.

Definitely a beetle morning. Here is a Soldier beetle Cantharis pellucida

On the left is a Green Dock Beetle Gastrophysa viridula. The other one would look more like an Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni apart from the pale green areas. I cannot explain.

A Harlequin Ladybird of the less common spectabilis form (complete with part of a thumb-nail)

And here two Harlequin Ladybirds of the more common form succinea are mating. Mating between the forms is common but the offspring are not hybrids but true to one or other of the forms.

My first Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis of this year. Only the males have the swollen thighs but note how the wing cases (elytra) are held slightly open...

...as they are on the female as shown here.

A well-posed Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus . When freshly emerged they look like this. The green scaling quickly wears away.

A side-elevation view of another.

And a pair mating. As noted above the green scaling is wearing away.

A wolf spider Pardosa sp. is hardly camouflaged in the buttercup!

A Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp. sitting in its web apparently with breakfast in its mouth.

Spiders have been here! The remains of two craneflies.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 14 midges of several species
- 1 caddis fly
- 1 cranefly

Arthropods:
- *1 Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

The only "interesting" occupant of the tunnel was this Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 05:55 – 07:00

(119th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- back to the five visiting Mute Swans and the presumption of the resident pen on the nest.
- only one Canada Goose goslings seen and that seemed to be smaller than any seen recently. A larger number of adults were seen than on recent days.
- just two Greylag Geese departed together,
- only two juvenile Coots seen. However the area where the two broods each of four were in an area where (pre-?) *spawning Common Carp Cyprinus carpio were thrashing about sending birds scattering.
- a single adult Great Crested Grebes seen.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, separately
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on / around the water:
- 51 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese: of these at least eight departed as a pair and two trios
- 2 Greylag Geese: departed together
- 7 Mute Swans: assuming the pen is on the hidden nest?
- 25 (20♂) Mallard
- 3 Moorhens yet again
- 24 + 2 (1 broods) Coots: see notes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps

Notes around the area:

Moths:
- *1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana: moth species #12 for me here in 2026

Bees, wasps etc.:
- none

Flies:
- various other unidentified flies and midges

Beetles:
- none

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *Stout Sac Spiders Clubiona sp.

A pair of Canada Geese with just one gosling. On size the male (gander) is leading.

Not a very good photo of a Common Marble moth Celypha lacunana sitting in full sun. I should see more.

On one of the street lamp poles I noted this Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp. with two of its eight eyes catching eye-shine from the camera flash.

And on the adjacent street lamp poles was another, this one clearly a male.

Common Carp Cyprinus carpio thrashing about in the water and scattering the birds.

(Ed Wilson)

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2006
Priorslee Lake
Mink seen by locals
(Ed Wilson)