20 May 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

13.0°C > 16.0°C: Mostly cloudy with brighter intervals: a very few sunny spells: and a few very light sprinkles. Moderate westerly breeze, gusting fresh at times. Very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 05:06 BST]

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

Another delayed start nowhere near so successful as yesterday!

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:50 – 12:35

(119th visit of the year)

Mostly viewing from the dam-top area and then in an area sheltered from the wind to look for insects.

Bird notes:
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings present and correct.
- no Mallard ducklings seen. Today the model boat club were using the West end of the water so some birds were probably hiding though some do not seen too worried.
- all three usual warbler species heard but no counts taken again.
- a Mistle Thrush was singing from the south-east copse. Seems it is nesting here and is in addition to the birds alongside Teece Drive.
- again I could hear the Reed Bunting singing from along the South side while I was standing on the dam-top.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew West
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair flew East
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull again
- 1 Wood Pigeon only
- 9 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair arrived
- 2 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans (assuming the pen is on the nest, hidden in the reeds)
- 8 (6♂) Mallard only
- 1 Moorhen
- 16 Coots again
- 5 Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 7 Swifts
- no Sand Martins
- no Barn Swallows
- 2 House Martins high over

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

Also noted

Butterflies:
- Green-veined White Pieris napi

Moths:
- *4 Cocksfoot Moths Glyphipterix simpliciella

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- *Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
- *$ Hawthorn Sawfly Trichiosoma tibiale
- *sawfly of the Tenthredo arcuata / brevicornis / notha / schaefferi complex

Hoverflies:
- *Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]

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

Other flies:
- *root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris
- *dagger fly Empis tessellata
- *caddis fly, perhaps Hydropsyche angustipennis
- *Greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *Spotted Cranefly Nephrotoma appendiculata
- *cranefly Nephrotoma quadrifaria
- *other unidentified fly species

Bugs:
- *Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata

Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- *longhorn beetle Grammoptera ruficornis
- Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- *pollen beetle Meligethes sp.
- *False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *unidentified male money spider

An inquisitive Dunnock came to see what I was doing.

Here are three of the four Cocksfoot Moths Glyphipterix simpliciella I noted on an Ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare. This is a very common day-flying moth – if you know where to look for them.

An Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum with slight damage to the trailing edge of the right wing.

This one showing damage on the left wing as it drinks nectar from the flower of Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens.

My "insect of the day" and a new species for me. It is a Hawthorn Sawfly Trichiosoma tibiale.

This is a sawfly of the Tenthredo arcuata / brevicornis / notha / schaefferi complex.

Living up to its name is a Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus. I must have seen twenty of this species of hoverfly today and, strangely, no other hoverflies.

Possibly my best photo of this species to date.

The very distinct black marks on the thorax identifies this as the root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris. It was a hard species to photograph. A number of fly species seem to "see" the focus-assist beam cameras use for their autofocus and fly off before the shutter fires.

Is this dagger fly Empis tessellata after the nectar or has it designs on the pollen beetles Meligethes sp. in the heart of the buttercup flower?

Obsidentify is 100% sure this caddis fly is Hydropsyche angustipennis. I am not entirely convinced. There is no photo of the species in the NatureSpot galleries where the rubric says "A small dark brown unicolorous species". I do not recall it being small – for a caddis fly.

Two Greenbottle flies Lucilia sp. ensuring species continuity.

A Spotted Cranefly Nephrotoma appendiculata missing a few legs.

The wing markings help identify this colourful cranefly as Nephrotoma quadrifaria.

An apparently distinctively-marked fly that I have been unable to identify. The wing shape suggests a Phaonia species of Muscid fly and Obsidentify indeed suggested it as a fly in the Muscid family. Google Lens thought a Root-maggot Fly in the Anthomyiidae family. But...?

A Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata.

One of the smallest longhorn beetles is this Grammoptera ruficornis. No vernacular name I am aware of.

On a dandelion is a False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens. The two species cannot be separated from photos.

Not a very good photo of an unidentified male money spider. It ran off!

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:40

(115th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- still five visiting Mute Swans. The resident pen swan came off the nest for a short while.
- no Canada Geese goslings found.
- eight Greylag Geese seen today. Why are the numbers so variable?
- three groups of juvenile Coots seen: nine youngsters. One of yesterdays groups was a juvenile short today: perhaps hiding.
- two Great Crested Grebes were asleep in close company in the centre of the water. I assume the first brood failed or has been predated. They may try again.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 30 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- 8 Greylag Geese
- 7 Mute Swans: all seven seen
- 15 (11♂) Mallard only
- 3 Moorhens only
- 20 + 9 (3 broods) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
- no Reed Warbler
- 4 (4) Blackcaps

Notes around the area:

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

Flies:
- dagger fly Empis tessellata
- Greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- various other unidentified flies and midges

Beetles:
- *Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- *Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- *pollen beetle Meligethes sp.

Flower:
- *Foxglove Digitalis purpurea

The Blue Tits are still active at the nest box. No sign of any about-to-fledge birds at the entrance today.

An Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum clinging on for dear life on a swaying Cow Parsley plant Anthriscus sylvestris hanging over the water.

A more active Early Bumblebee diving head-first in to the flower of a White Dead-Nettle Lamium album.

 A popular pastime!

This one favours Red Campion Silene dioica.

One of the many different and unidentified species of midge I see in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel. Here is one of them in the open in better light. It does not mean I can identify it.

A confused Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni: that is not an Alder leaf, it is the flower of, probably, a Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris.

My first Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis of the year for me here. This of the most common form succinea.

Two pollen beetles Meligethes sp. enjoying life in a buttercup flower.

Part of a spike of a Foxglove Digitalis purpurea.

(Ed Wilson)

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2012
Priorslee Lake
Black Tern
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

19 May 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

12.0°C > 15.0°C: Low overcast with light drizzle. A heavy shower c.10:15 presaged a partial clearance with a few sunny intervals with a noticeable warmer feeling. Moderate southerly breeze. Moderate visibility becoming very good.

[Sunrise: 05:07 BST]

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

A delayed start to try and avoid the early rain only partially worked. Starting at The Flash. With new birds for the year at both locations perhaps I should make later visits more often!

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:30 – 11:35

(118th visit of the year)

I only had time to view from the dam-top area.

Two new species for my 2026 bird list from here:
- *a drake Red-crested Pochard was in the middle of the lake. My first here since a drake spent several weeks here at the turn of the 2020 into 2021.
- *a trio of Little Egrets flew in c.11:20, staying all of five minutes.
It brings my 2026 bird species total to 86.

Other bird notes:
- *the seven Greylag Geese goslings present and correct.
- no Mallard ducklings seen. Not too surprising as I did not walk around.
- all three usual warbler species heard but no counts taken.
- after several quiet days I could hear the Reed Bunting singing from along the South side while I was standing on the dam-top.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Stock Dove
- 2 Wood Pigeons again
- 5 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- *2 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans (assuming the pen is on the nest, hidden in the reeds)
- 18 (15♂) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) Red-crested Pochard
- 2 Moorhens
- 15 Coots again
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- *3 Little Egrets: briefly, see notes

Hirundines etc. noted:
surprisingly the cloud and rain did not bring many to feed over the water.
- 2 Swifts: perhaps the same two appeared and reappeared several times
- no Sand Martins
- 1 Barn Swallow: flew off toward the farm area to the East
- 2 House Martins high over

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

Also noted

Flies:
- *many Grouse Wing caddis flies Mystacides longicornis dancing over the water-side vegetation.

The Greylag goslings looking good. On #3 from the left the still stubby wings are clearly visible.

An exotic-looking bird. A drake Red-crested Pochard. It is difficult to know whether this is a truly wild bird. This species breeds in the -stans of Central Asia and winters on the Indian sub-Continent. It is a proven vagrant, especially to the South and East of England. There is an introduced and free-flying breeding population in the Cotswold Water Park. It is also widely kept in wildfowl collections from where birds do escape. This one stayed firmly as far away from any of the lakesides as possible suggesting it might not be habituated to people.

The trio of Little Egrets arrive. The yellow feet that identifies this species can be seen clearly on the right hand bird.

Two of them disappearing in to what the fishermen know, with good reason, as "the smelly". All three went here and vanished from my view for about five minutes when...

...they left together. The black bill is the best identification under these lighting conditions.

Many times when I am at the Castle Farm Way end a Common Buzzard will fly out of the copse alongside the Wesley Brook as it runs toward Shifnal.

It is usually, as here, against the light so the photo-editor is called for.

With food in the bill it is reminiscent of the shape of a Carrion Crow's bill. But it is a smaller bird, has a white sclera to the eye and a grey shawl to the plumage identifying it a Jackdaw.

Grouse Wing caddis flies Mystacides longicornis dancing over the water-side vegetation.

Zoomed in on two. On the lower one the long antennae are visible. On the upper one the patterned wing can be seen.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:25 – 10:20

(115th visit of the year)

An additional 2026 species for me here as well:
- a Reed Warbler was intermittently singing from the small reed-bed adjacent to the parking area in Derwent Drive. Surprisingly this is an almost annual occurrence and this is a typical date for a bird to arrive, perhaps because all the better territories nearby have been claimed. Only once have I suspected this species has stayed to breed here.
My species total for here moves on to 68.

Other bird notes:
- *five visiting Mute Swans still. I confirmed that neither bird of the two apparently paired is ringed.
- *the pair of Canada Geese with three young was seen again. Another bird-watcher reported seeing another brood of two. Of the geese counted ten departed and two arrived, all as pairs.
- no Greylag Geese seen
- *three groups of juvenile Coots seen: ten youngsters. One of these groups was a different family from the three seen yesterday.
- I could not find any Great Crested Grebes.
- I have previously noted that Collared Doves are much less common here (and elsewhere) than they were a few years ago. I noted a pair mating on a roof-top in Derwent Drive today.
- there has been no Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming for some days. I saw an adult fly across the water with a beakful of either nesting material or food. Too busy on nest duties to drum?
- an odd record was a Song Thrush singing loudly either on the ground or from a very low perch. Normally this species will sing from at least ten feet up.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- *34 + 3 (1 brood) Canada Geese: but see notes
- no Greylag Geese
- *7 Mute Swans: (assuming the resident pen is hidden on the nest) still
- 20 (16♂) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens again
- *22 + 10 (3 broods) Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler
- 2 (2) Blackcaps

Notes around the area:

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

Family party. Because male geese average larger than females of the same species I am assuming the male (the gander) is on the right.

No rings on this adult Mute Swan.

The other one of the pair. Although only one leg is visible had it been ringed this would either show a large plastic Darvic ring or a smaller metal ring with the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) number.

One of four juvenile Coots from the most advanced brood here. It has lost all trace of the red red feathering on its head it had as a nestling and has the very strange lobed feet well developed.

Blue Tits are still using the nest box where I photographed birds coming and going several days ago. An adult just taking off with food for the brood having checked the coast was clear.

This is a puzzle. What I assume is a soon-to-fledge nestling looking at the outside world. But its bill looks too large. I have no idea why.

A male Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp. probably not looking for a swim.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Curlew
Grasshopper Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Wrekin
5 Tree Pipits
2 Common Redstart
2 Spotted Flycatchers
5 Pied Flycatcher
5 Wood Warblers
Tawny Owl
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Grasshopper Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Wrekin
21 Crossbill
4 Wood Warbler
Pied Flycatcher
Common Redstart
Tree Pipit
(Glenn Bishton)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

18 May 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

7.0°C > 13.0°C: Early light rain shower: then mostly cloudy until c.08:00 when cloud started to break giving good sunny periods. Light / moderate southerly breeze, veering south-westerly. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:09 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 06:20 // 07:25 – 09:55

(117th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings present and correct.
- just the two well-grown and now independent Mallard ducklings seen.
- no Tufted Duck (here or at The Flash)
- an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull briefly on the water c.05:30. Then c.06:00 two first-year and two second-year Herring Gulls were with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull on the football field before flying off together.
- today's warbler update:
nine singing Reed Warblers. *Two others seen: apparently not first-brood juveniles.
no Common Whitethroat seen or heard again and I think we must assume they have all gone and are not breeding here this year.
I thought I heard a brief snatch of Garden Warbler song at a traditional site. I heard no more of usually very vocal species so...?
- no Starlings were on the football field c.06:00. Three adults were seen on the roofs of houses i Teece Drive around this time.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs flew East separately
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Jackdaws
That's all!

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: arrived, staying over an hour before leaving.
- 2 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans (assuming the pen is on the nest, hidden in the reeds)
- 13 (12♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 15 Coots only
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- 4 Herring Gulls: see notes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron: departed

Hirundines etc. noted:
- >20 Swifts
- no Sand Martins
- >6 Barn Swallows
- >4 House Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 12 (12) Chiffchaffs again
- *11 (9) Reed Warblers
- 16 (16) Blackcaps
- 1? (1?) Garden Warbler: see notes

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Nothing during the rain shower

Noted around the area later:
Only partly sunny and still with a cool breeze.

Butterflies:
- none

Moths:
- none

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

Hoverflies:
- *Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
- *$ Shiny-backed Boxer Platycheirus tarsalis [Shiny-backed Sedgesitter]

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- *Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- *Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Other flies:
- *Root-maggot fly, possibly Botanophila fugax
- *dagger fly Empis tessellata
- *Limonid cranefly, perhaps Limonia hercegovinae
- *Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
- Muscid fly, perhaps Phaonia subventa
- Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- *Tachinid fly Tachina fera
- other unidentified species

Bugs:
- *nymph of the Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris
- Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata

Beetles:
- *Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea

Flowers:
- *Ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare

One of two Reed Warblers that flew out of reeds and into the surrounding vegetation. Neither sang and they soon both disappeared. I managed this shot of one of them before they did showing the characteristic head-shape of this species and showing this one, at least, is not a juvenile (no gape line) as I wondered at the time.

The orange "pile" on the thorax, black body and white tail makes this a Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum.

A different individual. This species seems to have very hairy legs.

Unlike yesterday's Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum this shows a significant midriff band of buff hairs.

Against the yellow of the Dandelion it is possible to see reddish colouration on the abdomen of the Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis.

I noted only two species of hoverfly this morning. I must have seen about a dozen of these Buttercup Blacklets Cheilosia albitarsus.

I hope I have correctly solved a puzzle here and added a new hoverfly species to my list. My initial thought was that it was a male Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare showing off its square yellow spots. But the eyes do not meet so it is a female and the female of that species has triangular spots. I believe it is a female Shiny-backed Boxer Platycheirus tarsalis. Obsidentify uses the name Shiny-backed Sedgesitter. Neither "Boxer" nor "Sedgesitter" seem to be entirely appropriate but you have to name them something if scientific names are not your bent.

The marking on the abdomen of this Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella are obscured by the folded wings and it is the pattern of black and pale areas on the thorax that separates this species from Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum.

 A Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula.

A close-up of the "business end".

This is certainly a Root-maggot fly. It may or may not be Botanophila fugax. There are many to choose from mostly with obvious red on some of the legs which this lacks.

Very common today was the dagger fly Empis tessellata.

I am sure this (the remains of) a Limonid cranefly. Obsidentify was certain it is Limonia hercegovinae and it appears a good match with photos on the internet. A small problem is that the distribution maps for this species do not include the UK it having a mostly Central and Southern European distribution – vide the species part of scientific binomial.

Just about the only caddis fly that is easy to identify with its well-marked wings and long, banded antennae. It is a Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis. There is an infrequently seen form with unmarked wings.

Lovely! The Tachinid fly Tachina fera

My best suggestion for this is the marsh fly Tetanocera ferruginea. Another species of fly where hairs fan-out from the lower leg joint. I wonder why.

This photo of a nymph of the Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris is a bit of a mess. So it is in real life.

A Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis of the most common form, succinea.

My first Ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare of the year.

(Ed Wilson)

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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 6 midges of at least three species again
- 1 unidentified cranefly

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:25 – 07:20

(114th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- five visiting Mute Swans still.
- *a pair of Canada Geese with three young: how this relates to the five goslings seen Wednesday and the four seen yesterday is unclear.
- a pair of Greylag Geese without goslings departed. Possibly others inside the island?
- no Tufted Duck seen.
- three groups of juvenile Coots seen: nine youngsters.
- *one adult Great Crested Grebe spent a long while on the water and certainly was not collecting food for any young. Later two adults were seen together and neither appeared likely to be carrying juveniles on its back.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 (2♂) Mallard: these seen coming from far to the West and flying straight over to disappear to the East.

Noted on / around the water:
- *24 + 3 (1 brood) Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Greylag Geese: departed: see notes
- 7 Mute Swans: (assuming the resident pen is hidden on the nest) again
- *16 (11♂) Mallard only
- no Tufted Duck
- *5 Moorhens
- 21 + 9 (3 broods) Coots
- *2 Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

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

Notes around the area:

Flies:
- *1 possible Flat-footed fly of the Platypezidae family
- 2 unidentified midges

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Cucumber Green Orb Spider Araniella sp. either A. cucurbitina or A. opisthographa

A pair of Canada Geese with three goslings. Is this the same as the brood of four yesterday and five last Wednesday?

Looking deep in to the island. A pair of Mallard on the right. A hard-to-see Moorhen dead centre. And some unspecified abandoned eggs to the left. Is one of the eggs broken?

Somewhat unusual for the date a male Blackcap was singing in the open. It was high overhead in squirrel alley.

The two Great Crested Grebes. It does not look possible that either is sheltering juveniles on the back.

A very small fly with, relatively, huge eyes. Obsidentify was 95% sure it is one of the Flat-footed flies of the Platypezidae family. There is no match with any of the species shown in NatureSpot where there is the observation that this group has the "characteristic behaviour of running around quickly on leaves, often in circles". Mine was immobile on a street lamp pole. So...?

Not a very good photo of a Cucumber Green Orb Spider Araniella sp. either A. cucurbitina or A. opisthographa. It was some 15 feet up a street lamp pole, not that a closer specimen would have been easier to specifically identify. It is all down to its genitalia.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Spotted Flycatcher
Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Whimbrel
2 drake Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)