25 Jun 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

19.0°C > 25.0°C: A again a few patchy clouds early otherwise followed by wall-to-wall sun. Light easterly breeze. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:46 BST: the mornings drawing in – all downhill to (whisper it) Xmas!

* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:50– 05:55 // 07:00 – 09:20

(147th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- yes: the seven Greylag Geese goslings with two extra adults remain.
- no sign of yesterday's brood of three Mallard ducklings.
- seven juvenile Coots seen from three broods.
- I only noted three adult Great Crested Grebes and no juveniles. Why?
- the daily warbler update:
a Cetti's Warbler was heard calling along the North side.
only the South side Common Whitethroat was noted singing and it was extending its song perches to the West of its usual location. A bird was heard calling at the West end early: nothing later
- Starlings were seen flying over the estate (seven including calling juveniles); also alarm calling from a roof in Everglade Road between the lake and The Flash; and at least one in trees at the bottom end of squirrel alley at The Flash. These all suggest replacement / late broods, possibly from the chilly spells of weather in April and early May

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 24 Feral Pigeons: in three groups, one group of four very high up.
- 25 Wood Pigeons
- 7 Starlings: see notes
- 7 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 26 (?♂) Mallard
- 1 Moorhen only
- 31+ 7 (3 broods) Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes only: see notes
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- no Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3+ Swifts: other(?) birds heard screaming high overhead – too high to see
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 1 House Martin

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (0) Cetti's Warbler
- 11 (11) Chiffchaffs again
- 7 (7) Reed Warblers
- 14 (10) Blackcaps: at least one family party
- 2 (1) Common Whitethroats: see notes

Also noted:

Butterflies:
- 2 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- 2 Large White Pieris brassicae
- *3 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 unidentified "white" butterflies
- 2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- *18+ Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- 2 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 1 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- *4 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

Moths:
- 1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
- 12 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]: others "got away"

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
very many small hoverflies again but no "large" species.
- Broad-banded Epistrophe Epistrophe grossulariae [Black-horned Smoothtail]
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
- Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis / S. torvus

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
most damselflies not checked
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
- *! Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
- *! Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [Blue Emperor]
- at least one other species of dragonfly seen in flight only

Other flies:
Very few flies in the heat
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- semaphore fly Poecilobothrus nobilitatus: a group of displaying males noted
- *! Grass Fly or Yellow Swarming Fly Thaumatomyia notata (or similar)
other unidentified flies

Bugs:
none

Beetles:
- pupa of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
- False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens
- *Spotted Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata [formerly Strangalia maculata]

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
- *1 either Reed Veneer Chilo phragmitella or Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella: to be advised.

The sun is (just) up and a touch of colour in the sky. A few sunbeams radiating up from the sun.

One of the many "white" butterflies I saw today: a Green-veined White Pieris napi. The Large White P. brassicae can often be recognised on size alone. Separation of Green-veined White from Small White P. rapae usually requires seeing them at rest. It is the shape and extent of the black around the wing-tip that is the best guide unless the veins are apparent.

A well-posed Ringlet butterfly Aphantopus hyperantus.

Another Painted Lady butterfly Vanessa cardui. A very good year for this species.

This is a new moth for me. I think it is a Reed Veneer Chilo phragmitella even though Obsidentify was 100% sure it is a Giant Water-veneer Schoenobius gigantella. Neither species is common in our area. The photo is with the Shropshire recorder for adjudication.

I do wonder about Obsidentify. It got this Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum wrong calling it a Keeled Skimmer O. coerulescens. That species lacks the black tail and mainly occurs at heathland ponds.

A male Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator. I do not record this species here every year, probably because it is difficult to identify these fast-moving insects in flight. There are several superficially similar species and males and females of each species differ.

This, at 2.5mm, may look like a (very) small hoverfly but is a Grass Fly or Yellow Swarming Fly Thaumatomyia notata (or similar – there are several species that look identical in photos). Here it is climbing up the stem of a Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium which gives it scale.

Only look after the watershed at this mating pair of Spotted Longhorn Beetles Rutpela maculata. The male is displaying his genitalia for us to admire!

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

A challenge these days: the dreaded childish scribblers have defiled much of the wall.

Moths:
- *2 Slender Pug Eupithecia tenuiata
- *1 pug moth, possibly Eupithecia cocciferata

Flies:
- 33 midges of several species
- 1 cranefly Nephrotoma-type again
- *1 Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
- 1 other cranefly Tipula sp.
- 2 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

There were three moths in the tunnel this morning, all species of pug moth for which I have relied on Obsidentify to ID for me. This on the ceiling it identified as a Slender Pug Eupithecia tenuiata. I have remarked before that one did not look very "slender" but perhaps that relates to the wings and not the abdomen.

This is apparently another Slender Pug on the sidewall with an even less slender abdomen!

This was also on the sidewall and identified by Obsidentify (96%) as Eupithecia cocciferata which is not a species that has been recorded in the UK as far as I can see from the literature. It is an Iberian species that reaches in to France. Climate change and all that? I'll see what the Shropshire recorder makes of it.

A different species of cranefly today. This is a Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea best identified by the pale line down the centre of the abdomen.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:00 – 06:55

(143rd visit of the year)

Note:
The path across the bridges is now most firmly closed with the barriers chained and padlocked to the bridge structures!

Bird notes:
- I did find the Canada Goose gosling: it is now almost adult-sized and apart from lacking the white chin-strap easily passes as an adult.
- due to the position of a large group of the Greylag Geese and the closure of the bridges the count may be incomplete.
- only six Mute Swans noted. I assume from their position they were the visitors. Neither of the residents was visible.
- *a duck Mallard was seen with six partly-grown ducklings. I assume this is the erstwhile brood of nine that the mother has been doing a good job of hiding them. I last saw eight ducklings on 17 June.
- Coot numbers also affected by the bridge closure. Many of the early brood birds are now hard to distinguish from adults and after today I will not report juveniles separately. At least two adults are still sitting on nests and may yet produce more juveniles.
- one Great Crested Grebe again.
- a Grey Heron was at the top end.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 186 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 114 Greylag Geese
- 6 Mute Swans: see notes
- *20 + 6 (1 brood) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 15 + 9 (3 broods) Coots: see notes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 House Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 3 (3) Chiffchaff again
- 5 (5) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- 1 Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata [was Little Grey]
- *8 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- *1 micromoth to be identified

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 4 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
- >10 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- 1 Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- >5 Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- *1 presumed female Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma naja [Large Redeye]

Other flies:
- >3 greenbottle Lucilia sp.

Bugs:
- *2 Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale: mating pair
- *1 Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius

Beetles:
- 1 larva of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis

Mum Mallard with six surviving ducklings clearly well over a week old.

Garden Grass-moths Chrysoteuchia culmella do not always bury themselves deep in the grass. The strength of the pale lines on the folded wings is very variable but the angled cross-line near the wing-tip is almost always present.

This may or may not be a moth. It is certainly none of the species suggested as possibilities by Obsidentify or Google Lens. I'll see what the Shropshire recorder makes of this poor photo of a tiny (<5mm) moth.

I am not 100% positive about this immature female damselfly. Obsidentify and Google Lens both suggested species that do not occur in Shropshire. It is the very dark thorax with a thin pale line (called an ante-humeral stripe) that suggests a female of this species. I have not recorded this species here previously though I see it annually at the Balancing Lake.

A mating pair of Hawthorn Shieldbugs Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale.

A Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius choosing a street lamp pole for a resting place.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Willow Tits
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Probable Grasshopper Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
Peregrine Falcon
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
The water level was the highest I have seen it for many years and the rows of marker buoys just off the south bank had all disappeared under the water. The full effect of Wesley Brook downstream has been devastating for Shifnal, with so much water in the reservoir it was no surprise to hear that many premises alongside the brook were under 2 to 3 feet of water for the second time this month.
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)

24 Jun 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

19.0°C > 26.0°C: A very few and very thin clouds early otherwise wall-to-wall. Light northerly breeze. Hazy. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:45 BST again.

* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:45– 06:00 // 07:05 – 09:50

(146th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings with two extra adults remain.
- *a new brood of three Mallard ducklings. Otherwise the Mallard started at the East end but ended up on the south-west grassy area.
- just four juvenile Coots seen from two broods. Were the others sheltering from the heat?
- *the second pair of Great Crested Grebes have three juveniles all seen in the water. The third pair also have at least three juveniles one of which was briefly in the water.
- two Common Sandpipers were present at 05:00 but not seen later.
- an immature Herring Gull and six adult and two immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the football field c.05:35. Another(?) adult Lesser Black-backed Gull visited the lake (as did an adult Black-headed Gull)
- the daily warbler update:
a Cetti's Warbler was heard calling in the north-west area.
many more Blackcaps were singing today (as they were at The Flash). No idea why.
both the West end and South side Common Whitethroats were singing again

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 7 Feral Pigeons: together
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 11 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- *22 (?♂) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard: see notes
- 2 Moorhens still
- 34+ 4 (2 broods) Coots
- *8 + 6 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 2 Common Sandpipers: early only
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 1 Herring Gull: see notes
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron: departed 05:25

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 3 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (0) Cetti's Warbler again
- 11 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (9) Reed Warblers
- 14 (14) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Common Whitethroats again

Also noted:

Butterflies:
- *2 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- 4 Large White Pieris brassicae
- *4 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 5 unidentified "white" butterflies
- 1 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 19+ Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- 3 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 1 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- *2 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

Moths:
- *1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
- 20 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]: many others "got away"
- *1 ! Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata
- *1 ! caterpillar of Vapourer Orgyia antiqua
These bring my 2026 moth species count for the lake to #44.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
many hoverflies again but no "large" species.
- Broad-banded Epistrophe Epistrophe grossulariae [Black-horned Smoothtail]
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- *Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
- Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
- *Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis / S. torvus
- *Orange-belted Leaf Licker Xylota segnis [Orange-belted Leafwalker]

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
most damselflies not checked
- *Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
- Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
- two other species of dragonfly seen in flight only

Other flies:
many fewer flies sunning themselves in the heat
- Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus: at least one female
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
other unidentified flies

Bugs:
none

Beetles:
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- pupa of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
- Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
- *Spotted Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata [formerly Strangalia maculata]

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

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
none

Beetles:
- *1 Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva

Not much to say about the sunrise when the sky is clear, if somewhat hazy.

Mum Mallard with her three surviving wayward ducklings.

The second breeding pair of Great Crested Grebes have these three young.

The third breeding pair of Great Crested Grebes have at least three young. One in the water with a parent...

...and at least two more on the other parent's back.

A Small Skipper butterfly Thymelicus sylvestris. The mark in the wing looks too feint to be the scent mark shown by males so I opine this is a female.

Against the background this Green-veined White butterfly Pieris napi almost looks green-veined. It isn't: the black veins area dusted yellow when freshly emerged.

After the big influx of Painted Lady butterflies Vanessa cardui during the previous heatwave a few have remained around. Here is one of two I noted today.

Not what I expected: a moth flushed out of the grass at 05:15 turned out to be this Common Marble Celypha lacunana rather than any of the many grass moths.

The annoying shaft of sunlight on its left wing spoils the image of a smart Yellow Shell moth Camptogramma bilineata.

What a bizarre creature! This is a caterpillar of a Vapourer moth Orgyia antiqua, here on the handrail of the boxing ring on the dam. The stranger thing is that I recorded three such caterpillars on the boxing ring last year on widely-separated days. I have only recorded two adults (imagoes) in the area over the last twelve years.

A Migrant Field Syrph hoverfly Eupeodes corollae showing how the yellow on the abdomen wraps around on to the sides which it does not on the similar Common Spotted Field Syrph E. luniger.

This is a female Syrphus hoverfly so of course the hind-leg is not clearly visible to enable positive identification. From what I can see it is most likely a Humming Syrphus S. ribesii which Obsidentify calls Common Flower Fly.

This is an Orange-belted Leaf Licker hoverfly Xylota segnis: or in this instance an Orange-belted Ground Licker!

A female Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans most easily recognised by the pen-nib marking on her pre-penultimate body segment. She may, or may not, acquire stronger blue colouration. Females may be blue or greenish, the later tending to become brown as they mature.

After one yesterday another different species of beetle chose to sit on a street lamp pole around dawn today: a Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva.

Probably the same Spotted Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata as yesterday being more cooperative for a photo...

...or two.

With "boxing glove" palps this must be a male spider: it is a Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

A challenge these days: the dreaded childish scribblers have defiled much of the wall.

Moths:
- *1 Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata [was Little Grey]
- *1 ! Tawny Speckled Pug Eupithecia icterata
These bring my 2026 moth species count for the tunnel to #13.

Flies:
- 42 midges of several species
- 1 cranefly Nephrotoma guestfalica
- *1 other cranefly Nephrotoma-type
- 2 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

A Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata on the side wall of the tunnel.

It is unusual to find any of the pug moth species anywhere other than on the ceiling: this was also on the side-wall. If Obsidentify is to be believed – and it was 100% sure – this is a Tawny Speckled Pug Eupithecia icterata.

The pattern on the thorax indicates this is a cranefly of the Nephrotoma-type. Without being able to see the abdomen pattern a specific identity is not possible.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:05 – 07:00

(142nd visit of the year)

Note:
The footpath was open across the bridges this morning. The closure signs were still present. The fencing used to block access had been pushed aside. I am not sure how "official" the opening is. I was told that the offending bridge has been inspected but that a further inspection is to be undertaken.

Bird notes:
- I could not find the Canada Goose gosling in the throng of geese. With the bridges opened I am more confident of the count of the geese.
- again only six visiting Mute Swans noted at the top end. What I take to be the resident pair were together near the island. It seems that breeding failed here as well as at the Balancing Lake.
- Coot numbers slightly higher than yesterday: still below recent totals. More juveniles noted due to better access with the path available.
- only one Great Crested Grebe noted.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 180 Canada Geese
- 124 Greylag Geese
- 8 Mute Swans: see notes
- 18 Mallard
- 8 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 19 + 10 (6 broods) Coots: see notes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 House Martins

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

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- 9 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- *1 ! Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
- *1 ! Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea
These bring my 2026 moth species count at The Flash to #25.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
- >5 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus

Other flies:
- >2 greenbottle Lucilia sp.

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

Two new-for-the-year moths here this morning. This Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata on one of the street lamp poles...

.....and this Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea I found resting on the vegetation near the academy.

(Ed Wilson)

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2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper - First returning
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper - First returning
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 drake Ruddy Duck
1 Snipe
1 Common Sandpiper - First returning
At least 38 Swifts
(Ed Wilson)

23 Jun 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

18.0°C > 24.0°C: Scattered cloud. Light and variable breeze. Hazy. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:45 BST.

* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:45– 05:55 // 07:00 – 09:55

(145th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings with two extra adults still present
- both Mute Swans were sometimes close to but showed no interest in the geese and goslings.
- there were no Mallard on the south-west grassy area today with 24 congregating at the East end and feeding on the weed.
- eleven juvenile Coots seen from five broods.
- the first pair of Great Crested Grebes seem to have lost their remaining juvenile. The second pair have at least two juveniles seen in the water. A third pair have at least two juveniles on a parent's back. There appeared to be two unattached adults early. I did not see them later.
- the daily warbler update:
a Cetti's Warbler was heard calling in the north-east area.
no Lesser Whitethroat was heard.
the West end and South side Common Whitethroats were singing. This suggest the South side bird is between broods though I have yet to see any others in this area. The West end bird probably has yet to find a mate.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 30 Wood Pigeons
- 22 Jackdaws again
- 5 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) Mallard: see notes
- 2 Moorhens again
- 33+ 11 (5 broods) Coots
- *8 + >4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 10 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (0) Cetti's Warbler
- 13 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 11 (11) Reed Warblers
- 12 (11) Blackcaps
- no Lesser Whitethroat
- 2 (2) Common Whitethroats

Also noted:

Butterflies:
- *2 ! Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- *1 ! Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
- 2 Large White Pieris brassicae
- 1 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- *16+ Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- *1 Comma Polygonia c-album

Moths:
- 14 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]: as least as many "got away"

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- *Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
all bumblebees apparently this species
- *! Yellow-sided Clover Sawfly Tenthredo notha

Hoverflies:
- *>5 ! Broad-banded Epistrophe Epistrophe grossulariae [Black-horned Smoothtail]
- >100 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- *>30 Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
- *1 Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum [Stripe-faced Drone Fly]
- *1 Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *1 $ Common Flatface Pipizella viduata
- 1 male Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
- >30 Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis / S. torvus

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
most damselflies not checked
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
- two species of dragonfly seen in flight only

Other flies:
- Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus: at least one female
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- dagger fly Empis livida
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
plus many unidentified flies

Bugs:
- *Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
- *mirid bug Deraeocoris flavilinea
- *! Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius

Beetles:
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- pupa of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
- *Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
- False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens
- *Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
- *Spotted Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata [formerly Strangalia maculata]

Flowers new for the year (incomplete):
- *Broad-leaved Willowherb Epilobium montanum
- *Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica [Persian Speedwell]

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
- 1 ! Round-winged Muslin Thumatha senex

Beetles:
- *1 $ flower beetle Dasytes plumbeus

A slight stormy-look to the sunrise. There were plenty of overnight storms in some part of England and Wales last night.

This is the third pair of Great Crested Grebes to hatch juveniles. As usual the birds were at a distance. One adult brings food and at least two juveniles are peering from the other adult's back.

A male Small Skipper butterfly Thymelicus sylvestris. A male because of the scent gland (the dark stripe) in the wing. Very similar to Essex Skipper T. lineola which does occur here. The males of that species has the scent mark more parallel to the wing edge and both sexes have an all-black tip to the antennae. Both species have a narrow dark edge to the wings unlike...

...the Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus. This too is a male with a scent mark (and somewhat worn).

I previously noted that a good ID feature of Ringlet butterfly Aphantopus hyperantus was the thin cream line around the edges of the dark wings. Not when the specimen is this worn it isn't!

A Comma butterfly Polygonia c-album identifying itself.

A Honey Bee Apis mellifera tucking in to the flowers of Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria.

Another industrious Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris with a good pollen load.

If this is what I think it is, a Yellow-sided Clover Sawfly Tenthredo notha, then it is good at botany as I am.

With two almost parallel-sided yellow bands this hoverfly is a Broad-banded Epistrophe Epistrophe grossulariae which Obsidentify calls Black-horned Smoothtail.

A well-posed Migrant Field Syrph hoverfly Eupeodes corollae.

The very obvious pale hairs separating the body segments (tergites) of this hoverfly indicate it is a Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum.

A close-up of a male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax apparently wiping its eye.

This is a new species of hoverfly for me: a Common Flatface Pipizella viduata.

My best photo yet of a long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus (or similar!).

The unmistakeable shape of a Dock Bug Coreus marginatus. On a Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius.

I am not sure what this mirid (or plant) bug Deraeocoris flavilinea was doing wandering along the handrail of the boxing ring on the dam.

A Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius. The marking on this species are very variable. This is what emerges from the cuckoo-spit froth that was on many plants a few weeks ago.

I found this on one of the street lamp poles around dawn. It seems it is the flower beetle Dasytes plumbeus. A new species for me.

A well-posed male Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]

A Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva on Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium as usual.

A Spotted Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata not being very cooperative.

These are flowers from Broad-leaved Willowherb Epilobium montanum...

...and these flowers are Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica which Google Lens calls Persian Speedwell (I suppose that is logical from the species' scientific name).

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
- 1 ! Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
- *1 Slender Pug Eupithecia tenuiata

Flies:
- 36 midges of several species
- *1 $ cranefly Nephrotoma guestfalica
- 2 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

The photo of a Slender Pug Eupithecia tenuiata is bombed by one of the many unidentified midges seen today.

A new species of cranefly for me: it is a female Nephrotoma guestfalica that differs from other species in the genus in that it has a very prominent wing marking (the abdomen marks are slightly different but less easy to separate).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:00 – 06:55

(142nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the Canada Goose gosling is still present.
- there seemed to be only six visiting Mute Swans. What I assume to be the resident cob was near the island. No sign of his partner – is she still sitting? Seems unlikely that any cygnets will hatch at this late date.
- no Mallard ducklings found.
- Coot numbers well down. Not always easy to spot among the multitude of geese and the extensive areas of weed on the surface. That said I found the Tufted Duck easily-enough.
- only one Great Crested Grebe confirmed though seen in several locations.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Starling at least: still giving calls as is juveniles present nearby.

Noted on / around the water:
- 168 + 1 Canada Geese
- 100 Greylag Geese
- 8? Mute Swans: see notes
- 21 Mallard
- 7 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 12 + 5 (3 broods) Coots: see notes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 2 (2) Blackcaps again

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- 1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
- 5 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- *2 ! Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata [was Little Grey]

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 2 Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
- >10 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]

Other flies:
- *1 $ caddisfly Leptocerus tineiformis
- >5 greenbottle Lucilia sp.

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

One of two Tawny Grey moths Eudonia lacustrata I found resting on separate street lamp poles. This species used to be known as Little Grey.

At the top of a street lamp pole I found this caddisfly Leptocerus tineiformis. Caddisflies are often hard to ID. This particular caddis fly has narrow, elongated wings with light speckling and particularly long antennae. A new species for me.

(Ed Wilson)

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2012
Priorslee Lake
Plover sp.
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake

Marsh Warbler
Unlikely as it seems I am pretty convinced about this on the basis of the song alone I was walking along the W end path at c.06:15 when a strange song caught my attention: there had been young Reed Warblers flitting about the area away from the reeds and it sound 'Acro-like'. But it was far too fast and I then assumed it was a Sedge Warbler (especially after my bird in the town centre last week). But the sound was all wrong with what seemed more like Garden Warbler tones, though with the characteristic Acro dynamics.
The bird was singing from a small patch of bushes growing in the fence at the W end of the yacht compound and I had the choice of a close view directly in to the bright sun; or going the 'other side' and trying to see between the yachts at some distance. I decided to stay where I was and in response to gentle phishing I got a good-enough glimpse to confirm it was a Reed / Marsh and not Sedge Warbler and certainly an Acro.
The song continued to puzzle and included all manner of oddities, sounding at times like juvenile Great Tit begging, all while singing at full volume.
I decided that the best thing would be to try and record the bird so I dashed back to the car for my digital tape recorder. When I returned the bird was not singing and phishing produced only a Wren and a pair of Bullfinches!
Revisited the area twice more for some 15 minutes on each occasion without success: was not too surprised as it was a small and rather unlikely spot for the bird to stay in.
Worth rechecking - but I went all around the lake twice without hearing anything untoward.
Only my second-ever UK Marsh Warbler - the last was as long ago as when they bred in Worcestershire! But familiar with the birds abroad as recently as May in Poland where I heard maybe 20.
I really cannot see what else it might have been: I am not that confident to say it WAS a Marsh Warbler song, only that I have no idea what else it could have been and it fits the general pattern of song.
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Village
A pair of Siskins
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)