13 Jul 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

13.0°C > 15.0°C: A few breaks in the cloud early. By 07:30 overcast. Moderate north-east breeze, gusting fresh at times. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:02 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– 05:50 // 07:05 – 09:25

(158th visit of the year)

Very, very quiet. On my first circuit I head song from just one Chiffchaff, one Blackcap, one Song Thrush and a few Wrens along with ubiquitous calling Wood Pigeons. Not a lot more later.

Bird notes:
- I assume the Greylag Geese goslings have successfully fledges and departed. Just one adult remains (along with five newly-arrived Canada Geese).
- seven Black-headed Gulls, all adults, were on the football field c.05:30. A few others at the lake.
- groups of Swifts kept appearing and disappearing. 15 was maximum count. Probably more birds involved.
- at least two Sand Martins were hawking insects from the water. An unusual date to see this species here.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 102 Wood Pigeons
- 23 Jackdaws
- 6 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 2 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens once again
- 43 Coots
- 4 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 10 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles noted: see notes
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- >15 Swifts
- 2 Sand Martins
- 4 Barn Swallows
where are the House Martins?

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
Very little song now:
- 3 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (1) Reed Warblers
- 3 (2) Blackcaps
- no Common Whitethroats

Also noted:

Butterflies:
- 1 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- 5 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 22+ Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 2 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 2 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
- 1 Peacock Aglais io

Moths:
- >10 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- ! 2 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
very many more "grass moths" got away.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- wasp sp.: either German Wasp Vespula germanica or Common Wasp V. vulgaris

Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
none

True flies:
very few including...
- long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- dagger fly Empis livida
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
a few other unidentified flies

Bugs:
none

Beetles:
- Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva : just one!

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus

Mammals:
- 1 Brown Hare Lepus europaeus

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 3 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]

The sibling trio of Great Crested Grebe juvenile "humbugs". These seem to be doing well.

A butterfly species that I thought was at the end of its flight period. However this Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus looks very fresh.

With no sun this Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta was trying to soak up as much warmth from the path through grass. The lack of sun did mean that for once the camera has rendered the red more accurately than usual.

The underwing pattern of the larger butterflies are distinctive but rarely noticed. Trying to hide is a Painted Lady Vanessa cardui.

v

I must have seen at least fifty grass moths scattering ahead of me as I walked through the grassy areas. Most went unidentified as they dived for cover. This was my first Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella of the year. It can, with a good view, be separated from the currently still more numerous Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella by the absence of the diagonal cross line toward the wing tip.

A delightfully scruffy-looking Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum getting stuck in to Knapweed Centaurea nigra.

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris also tucking in to Knapweed.

I noted several of these Marmalade Hoverflies Episyrphus balteatus.

The only other hoverfly I noted was this Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax.

I am not sure what is going on here. The upper insect is a dagger fly Empis livida. I think it is with prey rather than a mate. I cannot see a "dagger" from the head of the victim and the wings look more transparent.

A male Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria

The only Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva I noted today. None was noted on any of the Common Hogweed flowers Heracleum sphondylium.

One of three Bridge Orb-web Spiders Larinioides sclopetarius eats breakfast from its extensive larder. This shows only a small part of the flies caught in the web!

This Brown Hare Lepus europaeus was an unexpected sighting as it sprinted across the football field c.05:30. I have now seen more hares than rabbits this year here!

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
The wind was blowing straight through the tunnel, probably keeping numbers down.

Moths:
- 1 micromoth to be identified

Flies:
- 7 midges of several species
- 2 mayfly, possibly Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum.
- 3 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: one a day but never in the same place on the wall

Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
- 1 harvestman Phalangium opilio

I am not sure of the ID of this micromoth. Neither of Obsidentify's suggestions nor that of Google Lens look to be correct. I know a man who may be able to help.

Strange: there were two mayflies on the wall of the tunnel today, probably the same species and most likely Pond Olives Cloeon dipterum.

This is the harvestman Phalangium opilio. I see this species here frequently.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 05:55 – 07:00

(155th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- I had expected more of the geese to be flying and have left by now.
- 17 Mute Swans.
- a duck Mallard seen with what appeared to be three smaller birds, presumed well-grown ducklings, in loose convoy..
- a single Great Crested Grebe found.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 140 Canada Geese
- 96 Greylag Geese
- 17 Mute Swans
- 28 (?♂) Mallard: see notes
- 27 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 65 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, arrived
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- no Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcap

Noted around the area:

Butterflies:
- 3 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

Moths:
- 1 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- 1 as yet unidentified micromoth

Hoverflies:
none

True flies:
none identified

Beetles:
- 1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus

Another micromoth I cannot ID. It was a long way up a tall street lamp pole so it is not the clearest of views.

Another unusual underwing view of...

...a Painted Lady butterfly Vanessa cardui. In my experience it is unusual to see this species with its wings closed. That said it would have been easy to overlook had I not seen it fly in and close its wings.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2007
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 drake Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

12 Jul 26

No sightings in today.

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2011
Priorslee Lake
Ruddy Duck
Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

11 Jul 26

No sightings in today.

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2013
Nedge Hill
Redstart
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
5 Shelduck
(Ed Wilson)

10 Jul 26

No sightings in today.

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2009
Priorslee Lake
12 Swifts
1 Lesser Whitethroat
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
3 Great Crested Grebes
201 Canada Geese
4 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
After 29 days the 5 remaining Mute Swan Cygnets are still going strong. Last year, as you may recall, we had 9 but ended up with just 1, after a Mink devastated the family. This year it has been Mink clear and even though we lost 2 within the first two days, these guys I think will do really well.
(Martin Adlam)

9 Jul 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

18.0°C > 24.0°C: Clear skies. A very light and variable breeze. Good visibility with haze.

Sunrise: 04:57 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:50– 06:00 // 07:10 – 09:35

(157th visit of the year)

It is becoming very quiet. For the first time since Winter I heard no bird song or calls as I parked up in Teece Drive.

Bird notes:
- all eleven Greylag Geese (presumably the four adults and seven full-grown goslings though it is impossible to tell) were together on the south-west grass at least some of the time.
- no Mallard ducklings seen. The highest number of adults so far this year noted.
- the warbler update:
a Common Whitethroat alarm called once beside the West end path.
otherwise quiet.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 71 Wood Pigeons
- 10 Jackdaws
- no Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 41 (?♂) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens again
- 51 Coots
- 5 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes yet again
- 7 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles noted
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull: of these nine adults were on the football field 05:35

Hirundines etc. noted:
- no Swifts: [a fisherman reported >25 c.21:00 last night]
- 2 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (4) Reed Warblers
- 8 (6) Blackcaps
- 1 (0) Common Whitethroat

Also noted:
Once again many insects, other than butterflies, seemed to be hiding from the heat.

Butterflies:
The Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii was popular with the larger species today.
- *2 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- 4 Small Skipper-type Thymelicus lineola / sylvestris
- 1 Large White Pieris brassicae
- 16 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 9 "whites" I did not bother to chase to ID
- 5 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 3 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- 31+ Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 29+ Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 9 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 11 Peacock Aglais io
- *3 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus

Moths:
- 7 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella: many more "grass moths" got away.
- *1 ! Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis
- 1 Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata
- 1 Silver Y Autographa gamma

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *$ ichneumon from the Cosmoconus group

Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- *Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii [Common Flower Fly]
- Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis / S. torvus

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
- Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [Blue Emperor]
- Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
- Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
many other dragonflies seen in flight and not identified

True flies:
very few including...
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
other unidentified flies

Bugs:
none

Beetles:
- Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
- Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus

One of only two Small Skipper butterflies Thymelicus sylvestris that stayed long-enough for me to photograph and specifically identify.

"Another chance to see" a Holly Blue butterfly Celastrina argiolus.

My first Pale Straw Pearl moth Udea lutealis of the year. A tricky species to find as when they flush from their unseen location deep in the grass they typically dive for cover on the underside of leaves. The wing-pattern is distinctive.

Typical of an ichneumon wasp this was running around at high speed. The red on the abdomen and the yellow on the legs identify it as being from the Cosmoconus group. To further identify the species would require a better photo and / or a detailed examination. Not a group of parasitic wasps I have noted previously.

For a change a female Syrphus hoverfly showing its hind leg. The yellow femur identifying it as a Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii which Obsidentify calls Common Flower Fly. It probably is but try proving it!

A close-up of a male Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum eating breakfast though I cannot identify what it has caught.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
- *1 ! Common Masoner Blastobasis adustella [was Dingy Dowd]
- *2 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
- 1 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
- 2 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
- *1 Slender Pug Eupithecia tenuiata
- *1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

Flies:
- 4 midges of several species
- 4 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: one a day but never in the same place on the wall
- *1 cranefly Tipula lateralis
- 1 cranefly Tipula sp.

Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]

A new moth for the year: a Common Masoner Blastobasis adustella formerly often called Dingy Dowd until the vernacular names of micro-moth were standardised. I find one or two in the tunnel most years.

Another moth that seems to like the tunnel is Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella. There were two on the wall this morning.

Two of those confusing pug-moths this morning. This is a Slender Pug Eupithecia tenuiata.

And this is a Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata.

This is the cranefly Tipula lateralis. A common species seen from March to November, peaking in the Autumn.

A Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata also known as the Silver-sided Sector Spider. When I visit the tunnel while it is still dark I sometimes see double-figures of this species lurking at the top of the wall. It is unusual to find one out after dawn.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:05 – 07:05

(154th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Some of the geese are now flying again. I saw a group of c.8 leave together. They were too far away to be certain which species. Both species were calling at the time.
- today "only" 16 Mute Swans.
- just one duck Mallard noted with two ducklings.
- no Great Crested Grebe found.
- a Ring-necked Parakeet was heard calling again just as I was arriving. I did not see it and two more short calls were heard, apparently from the island. Nothing seen.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- ? Ring-necked Parakeet: see notes
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 153 Canada Geese
- 99 Greylag Geese
- 16 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 24 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 62 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Black-headed Gull: dropped in briefly

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 Swifts

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

Noted around the area:

Butterflies:
- 4 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta basking in a sunny area at the base of squirrel alley
- 1 Peacock Aglais io

Moths:
- *7 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- *1 Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata [was Little Grey]
- 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata form remutata

Hoverflies:
- 1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus

True flies:
- 1 greenbottle Lucilia sp.

Beetles:
- 1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- no Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva : someone had bent over all the umbels on the Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium they had been feeding on.

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus

Just to prove that not all Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella spend all their time pointing downwards on grass stems.

Another of those pesky "grey" moths. This seems to be a Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata. This species was called Little Grey which confuses me as most of the "greys" look about the same size. Perhaps that is why they changed the vernacular name.

A harvestman that used to be easy to identify until it was realised that there was a species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus involved. Separation of the two species has yet to be worked out. Strangely my first individuals of the second half of the year turned up this morning both here and at the Balancing Lake.

 "Plane" of the day! There have been very few mornings suitable for balloon flights so far this year. Unexpectedly this was not one of the "Virgin Balloons". It is a Cameron Z-120 (the 120 is the cubic capacity of the envelope in MCFs (thousands of cubic feet) [or 3400 m³ if you prefer]). It can take three or four passengers. Oddly the registered owner lives in Middlesex. It will not have flown from there this morning!

(Ed Wilson)

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2012
Priorslee Lake
Grasshopper Warbler reeling
(Ed Wilson)

8 Jul 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

17.0°C > 23.0°C: Almost cloudless. A very light westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:56 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– 06:00 // 07:10 – 09:55

(156th visit of the year)

Note:
A postscript to my discussions with Severn Trent yesterday. The bridge part-way along the North side path (not the Wesley Brook bridge) needs to be replaced soon. Work will be done some time after the holiday season.

Bird notes:
- I managed to see all eleven Greylag Geese (presumably the four adults and seven full-grown goslings though it is impossible to tell). Apart from one on the south-west grass throughout the others "appeared" and then "vanished".
- a single Mallard duckling was noted with its mother: a more well-advanced duckling than yesterday's newbie.
- *the same adult and juvenile Great Crested Grebes as yesterday were noted.
- the warbler update:
a Common Whitethroat sang once as I passed down the West end path.
otherwise quiet.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Greylag Goose: flew West
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 92 Wood Pigeons
- 14 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 34 (?♂) + 1 (1 brood) Mallard again
- 4 Moorhens
- 46 Coots
- *5 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes again: see notes
- 7 Black-headed Gulls: of these one a juvenile
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- no Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift: very high overhead c.05:10
- 3 Barn Swallows: singles flew through c.05:15
- 1+ House Martins: bird(s) heard c.05:30

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 12 (8) Reed Warblers
- 7 (7) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

Also noted:
Many insects, other than butterflies, seemed to be hiding from the heat.

Butterflies:
- 1 Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola
- *5 Small Skipper-type Thymelicus sylvestris
- 6 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 6 "whites" I did not bother to chase to ID
- 3 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 4 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- *27+ Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 31+ Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 2 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 3 Peacock Aglais io
- *1 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus

Moths:
- 10 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella: many more "grass moths" got away.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *ichneumon wasp Amblyteles armatorius

Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
- Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans [Bumblebee Plumehorn]

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- *Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [Blue Emperor]
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
one or two other species of dragonfly seen in flight only

True flies:
a few including...
- dagger fly Empis livida
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
other unidentified flies

Bugs:
- * ! Common Nettle Bug Liocoris tripustulatus

Beetles:
- Rough-haired Lagria Beetle Lagria hirta
- Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
- Spotted Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata [formerly Strangalia maculata]

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
- * 1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa

The sunrise with a few wisps of cloud visible: about all there was all morning.

Happy family. A trio of humbug Great Crested Grebe juveniles with one of their parents.

Not one of my best! The oldest of the three broods of Great Crested Grebes I have seen here this year comprises just the one surviving almost full-grown juvenile. It will be many weeks before it stops pestering its parent to be fed.

A male Small Skipper butterfly Thymelicus sylvestris helpfully showing all the ID features. The antennae tips are not jet black. The scent mark in the forewing is longer than that on Essex Skipper T. lineola and slightly curved. It is also not parallel with the wing edge. It is best to photograph them to allow close inspection.

A worn Meadow Brown butterfly Maniola jurtina.

Another Holly Blue butterfly Celastrina argiolus. The upper-wing differs between the sexes. The species rarely perches with the wings held open and so it is usually impossible to sex most sightings.

An instantly recognisable moth with no confusion species: it is a Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa. I saw one back in May so this is likely from a second generation this year.

An ichneumon wasp Amblyteles armatorius.

Not a patch on yesterday's photo of a male Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator. Difficult when they are in flight.

This is a Common Nettle Bug Liocoris tripustulatus. My first this year though as the name implies it is a common species.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
- 2 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
- *1 ! Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
- *1 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
- 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata form remutata
- *1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata

Flies:
- 6 midges of several species
- 3 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: one a day but never in the same place on the wall
- 1 cranefly Nephrotoma guestfalica
- 1 cranefly Tipula sp.

Arthropods:
- 3 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 possible Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis

After a blank day yesterday there were six moths in the tunnel today. This was one of two Small Fan-footed Waves Idaea biselata.

My first Small Dusty Wave moth Idaea seriata of the year.

My second Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata this year.

At a difficult angle on the far side of the ceiling I found this Common Pug moth Eupithecia vulgata.

This is a possible Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis. Genitalia examination is needed to separate this from similar species, all with very variable markings. This is a male.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:05 – 07:05

(153rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- I am sure there must have been more Canada Geese somewhere. I have seen no evidence that they have regrown their flight feathers as yet. The geese were less stratified today with mixed groups all over the water.
- I could find "only" 17 Mute Swans!
- two duck Mallards were noted each with two ducklings. One brood very new: the other part-grown. Both were keeping close to the reeds and hard to see.
- more Tufted Duck have arrived.
- a Great Crested Grebe was lurking in the reeds at the top end.
- a Ring-necked Parakeet flew over calling (as they do) at 06:10: my second here this year.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet
- 1 Jackdaw yet again

Noted on / around the water:
- 136 Canada Geese only: see notes
- 100 Greylag Geese exactly
- 17 Mute Swans
- 20 (?♂) + 4 (2 broods) Mallard
- 23 (?♂) Tufted Duck again
- 7 Moorhens
- 62 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- no Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 House Martins very briefly

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

Noted around the area:

Butterflies:
- 1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- *5 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta basking in a sunny area at the base of squirrel alley

Moths:
- *1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
- *9 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- *1 White-banded Grass-moth Crambus pascuella [was Inlaid Grass-veneer]

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

True flies:
- 1 greenbottle Lucilia sp.

Beetles:
- 11 Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva

One of five Red Admiral butterflies Vanessa atalanta that were basking (and fighting) in a sunny area at the base of squirrel alley. I can't do much about my camera's apparent inability to render the red colour properly. I have tried to correct it using a photo-editor: that only makes the leaves a strange colour instead.

A Common Nettle-tap moth Anthophila fabriciana. So far this year far from "common" and only about my fifth in the area. Last year I noted dozens. Many insects have boom or bust years.

A "grass moth" primer (though there are many other species to find). A well-marked Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella at a typical angle on a street lamp pole.

And this is a White-banded Grass-moth Crambus pascuella. This species seems less dedicated to resting head-down.

(Ed Wilson)

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2007
Priorslee Lake
A pair of Siskins close to the lake
(Martin Adlam)