29 Apr 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 12.0°C: Clear skies. Light easterly breeze, increasing moderate, even fresh. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:42 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 06:25 // 07:25 – 09:30

(104th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pair of Greylag Geese still with seven small goslings.
- three broods of Mallard ducklings: *one very new brood of eight; *a newish brood of three; and another brood of three several day old ducklings.
- no Lesser Black-backed Gulls around dawn. Just two separate adult fly-overs.
- at least eight Swifts screaming overhead. Summer(?) is here.
- a Long-tailed Tit party with very recently fledged juvenile. I nearly trod on a grounded bird, but it flew off!
- only one Sedge Warbler noted.
- six Reed Warblers heard today.
- a Lesser Whitethroat between the lake and the M54 heard c.05:45 only.
- a Common Whitethroat singing where it had been recently.
- no chance of any resolution to the Garden Warbler conundrum. Nothing other than Blackcaps in the area this morning.
- five Starlings seen on food ferrying duty.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair flew West
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs throughout
- 4 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: as yesterday – the resident family: a pair flew in.
- 2 Mute Swans
- *14 (9♂) + 14 (3 broods) Mallard: see notes
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck again
- 6 Moorhens
- 20 Coots
- 7 Great Crested Grebes: I wish they would stop playing submarines
- *2 Grey Herons: at least one departed

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 8 Swifts
- >4 Sand Martins
- >8 Barn Swallows
- no House Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 16 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 6 (6) Reed Warblers
- 22 (20) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
- no Garden Warbler

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Cold again:

Moths:
- *1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula: same place as yesterday
nothing else

Noted around the area later:

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

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *unidentified mining bee Andrena sp
- *Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis

Hoverflies:
- *Early Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
- *Common Pipiza Pipiza noctiluca [Common Pithead]: same date as my first last year which was my earliest
- *Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii [Common Flower Fly]
- *Hairy-eyed Syrphus Syrphus torvus
- Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Other flies:
- plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- *dagger fly Empis tessellata: my first April record of any of the Empis group
- *Muscid fly Phaonia subventa
- other unidentified flies

Beetles:
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *Wolf Spider(?) to be identified – perhaps!

Not an exciting sunrise but much better than yesterday's gloom even if it was only 4.0°C.

At the time I counted seven ducklings. The photo shows I need more fingers: there are eight.

Another new brood? Just three ducklings.

At c.06:00 the two Grey Herons were sparring. This one stood on the dam top and stared at me as I approached.

I gave it a suitable wide berth and it peered over its shoulder at me.

 A Green-veined White butterfly Pieris napi. "In the field" I though this was be a Small White P. rapae. It was only when I edited the photo and reduced the contrast from the bright sun that the "veins" became obvious.

A Speckled Wood butterfly Pararge aegeria camouflaged among the leaf litter.

Still here in the same place as yesterday: the Swallow Prominent moth Pheosia tremula.

An unidentified mining bee Andrena sp. My best guess would be a Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica. The pale hairs are not extensive enough for the Google Lens suggestion of Ashy Mining Bee A. cineria

A smart-looking Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis

Two in one day!

A female Early Epistrophe hoverfly Epistrophe eligans. This one shows why it is sometimes called Spring Smoothtail.

A male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax signalling to turn left. It shows the dark cloud in the wing to better effect than when they are at rest with wings folded over their abdomen.

This is a female Common Pipiza hoverfly Pipiza noctiluca. The female has a more extensive dark cloud in her wings and the small yellow areas at the top of the abdomen. This is the same date as my first last year which was my earliest-ever.

A female Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii.

I think this is a female Hairy-eyed Syrphus Syrphus torvus mainly because of the narrower and straighter yellow band across the middle of the abdomen. Looking at Steven Falk's web site this seems to be a feature only shown by some females. Seeing the hairy eyes is "hard"!

This the dagger fly Empis tessellata:. The "dagger" mouth-piece can be seen. It is my first April record of any of the Empis group of dagger flies.

While I was photographing the Tapered Drone Fly this Muscid fly Phaonia subventa barged in.

I know it is not very clear: but then it is not clear what this spider is doing! It seems to be one of the Wolf Spiders.

(Ed Wilson)

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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 9 midges of several species

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:30 – 07:20

(102nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *the same two visiting Mute Swans (7JSS and 7JXY) made a brief appearance with the resident pen coming off the nest to help chase them away.
- *a new brood of five Mallard ducklings.
- only the Great Crested Grebe on the nest platform noted.
- for the first time for many days I did not hear the Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming (or any calls). The drumming has been particularly persistent this Spring.
- the Long-tailed Tits were still taking food to the nest unlike the fledged family at the lake. The adults were very upset as I arrived as a Magpie was lurking. I chased the Magpie away but for how long?

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew East

Noted on / around the water:
- 14 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese
- *4 Mute Swans: see notes
- *22 (17♂) + 5 (1 brood) Mallard
- 11 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 19 Coots again
- 1 Great Crested Grebes: see notes

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

Noted around the area:

Flies:
- *1 wood gnat, probably Sylvicola punctatus

One of the two visiting Mute Swans. It is just possible to read enough of the ring on the left leg to confirm it is the pen 7JSS

And the cob 7JXV.

Mrs. Mallard had found the darkest and dingiest corner to hide her new brood of five ducklings.

Unlike the fledged (and sadly not photographed) young at the lake the nestlings in Long-tailed Tit nest here were still being fed.

A different adult with food. Where do they find all these insects?

Too small for most craneflies: this is a wood gnat, probably Sylvicola punctatus. It is the only common member of this family that lacks dark marking on the wing-tips.

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Nedge Hill
2 Lesser Whitethroat
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Great Crested Grebes
1 Common Sandpiper
4 Reed Warblers
2 Common Whitethroat
18 Blackcaps
7 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
3 Greylag Goose
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
1 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
4 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Red-legged Partridges
Swallows
7 Wheatear
2 Common Whitethroats
3 Blackcaps
1 Chiffchaffs
4 Bullfinches
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
3 Common Sandpipers
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2010
The Wrekin
1 Wood Warbler
4 Common Redstart
1 Pied Flycatcher
(Paul Rutter)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
1 Sand Martin
2 Swallows
6 Reed Warblers
Common Whitethroat
3 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
3 Reed Buntings
3 Linnets
1 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebe
6 Tufted Duck
2 Ruddy Duck
3 Swifts
2 Sand Martins
4 Swallows
4 Cormorants
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Common Sandpipers
2 Grey Wagtail
6 Blackcap
1 Garden Warbler
2 Sedge Warbler
2 Reed Warblers
5 Chiffchaff
3 Greenfinch
2 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, Martin Adlam)

Nedge Hill
1 Ring Ouzel
Common Whitethroat
2 Swallows
(Martin Adlam)

Priorslee Flash
2 Greylag Geese
1 Grey Wagtail here
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Common Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Swallows
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Sedge Warbler
2 Reed Warblers
4 Blackcaps
2 Garden Warbler
5 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroat
4 Greenfinches
2 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

28 Apr 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

9.0°C: Might I suggest that the Met. men open the door and look outside and do not believe what their AI-powered computers tell them. "Light cloud and gentle breeze" it promised. Not so. Very overcast with a moderate, occasionally fresh, northerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:44 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 06:30 // 07:25 – 09:30

(103rd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pair of Greylag Geese still with seven small goslings.
- two broods of Mallard ducklings one very new brood of four; another brood of three several day old ducklings.
- two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were again bathing by the south-west grass at 05:30. Otherwise a single immature and later an adult flew over.
- two Sedge Warblers but only three Reed Warblers heard today.
- no Lesser Whitethroat again.
- yesterday I thought Common Whitethroats were paired: no sight or sound of any today.
- I am confused about the Garden Warbler. Both the Merlin app and my ears heard it in the usual general area around dawn but the song apparently morphed in to that of a Blackcap. Visual confirmation was needed but it was too dark at the time. I made several visits later without hearing or seeing anything other than Blackcaps. The literature suggests that the songs of these two species are very similar. I normally have no trouble identifying the Garden Warbler's more throaty and flowing, fluty song. One to work on.
- just one Starling seen on food ferrying duty to a nest in the estate. Three is the largest number I have seen so far this year: many fewer than usual.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew East again
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair flew West again
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair throughout harassed by the cob Mute Swan.
- 4 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: the resident family: a pair flew in.
- 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (5♂) + 7 (2 broods) Mallard: see notes
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens only
- 24 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: seen once at c.08:40 only

Hirundines etc. noted:
About 100 birds all wheeling about. Some Barn Swallow seen to leave (and return). Approx. minimum numbers:
- 2 Swifts
- *>>50 Sand Martins
- *>>25 Barn Swallows
- *6 House Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 16 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Sedge Warblers
- 3 (3) Reed Warblers
- 25 (23) Blackcaps
- no Common Whitethroat
- 1? (1) Garden Warbler: see notes

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Breezy again:

Moths:
- *1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 probable Laceweb spider Amaurobius fenestralis
- *2 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Around the area later:
Nothing noted 

I failed to find even a fly in the overcast and breezy conditions

A first year Lesser Black-backed Gull identifiable at long range at this age by the solid dark tail band.

So little light to try and photograph the very many dashing and darting hirundines. But you have to try (well: I do). My best Sand Martin photo of the morning.

A Barn Swallow.

And another. A male judging by the length of the tail streamers.

Even worse: a House Martin. A tubbier body with the white of the rump wrapping around to a white underside.

This is a Swallow Prominent moth Pheosia tremula. It is only my second record of this species here though I see it every year at the top end of The Flash. The larval food plants are Aspen and various poplars.

There is a very similar species, the Lesser Swallow Prominent P. gnoma, that I also see in the area. Size is no help: it is the marking at the top edge of the wing that separates the species which have very similar flight periods. On the Lesser there is a broader, paler wedge at the wing-tip and the other lines are indistinct.

What is probably a Laceweb spider Amaurobius fenestralis. I suspect I see this spider frequently. It either scuttles in to the fold in the lamp pole or the camera is confused by the opening and fails to focus on the spider. The oval pale ring on the spider's abdomen is the identification clue. This species likes hunting from cracks, especially around windows – hence the "fenestralis" part of its scientific name. There is of course a similar species not separable from photos!

The better-marked example of the two Long-jawed Orb-web Spiders Tetragnatha sp. on street lamp poles this morning. At the top of the photo is a plastic tie placed on the pole many years to hold a private advert and never removed.

(Ed Wilson)

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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 1 female plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- 13 smaller midges of several species
- *3 unidentified craneflies

Arthropods
- 1 Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus

There were three craneflies on the wall of the tunnel none of which, like this one, displayed any discernable markings on the wings or the abdomen to aid identification.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:20

(101st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- no Mallard duckling seen.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 11 Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans (the pen still not seen and presumed to be on the island)
- 20 (17♂) Mallard
- 9 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only again
- 19 Coots
- *2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly

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

Noted around the area:

Flies:
- *1 St. Mark's Fly or Hawthorn Fly Bibio marci
- *1 an unidentified midge

You have to look hard at this photo, taken on full zoom and the result edited, to see the Great Crested Grebe asleep / resting on its nesting platform.

This Long-tailed Tit will be in trouble. It is returning to the nest site empty-beaked!

This hairy black fly is a St. Mark's Fly or Hawthorn Fly Bibio marci , so named for its remarkable ability to emerge in large numbers on or around St. Mark's Day (25 April). When flying it is easily recognised as the long back legs dangle under its body.

A midge that I see frequently and for which I can never find an ID. It looks distinctively squat and with a dark spot in each wing. Obsidentify suggested "unidentified non-biting midge". Well done! Google Lens thought a cockroach(!).

(Ed Wilson)

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2014
Nedge Hill
2 Lesser Whitethroat
10 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Cormorants
2 Swans
5 Greylag Geese
1 Common Sandpiper
8 Swallows
1 Swift
2 Reed Warblers
2 Common Whitethroat
17 Blackcaps
8 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
1 Common Redstart
1 Nuthatch
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
3 Greylag Goose
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
1 Pochard
11 Tufted Duck
4 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
5 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
6 Goosanders
6 Greylag Geese
2 Tufted Duck
6 Goosander
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Sedge Warbler
18 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
14 Chiffchaffs
1 Wheatear
1 Swift
Swallow
House Martin
Sand Martin
1 Skylark
1 Yellowhammer
(Ed Wilson, Phil Walters)

Priorslee Flash
4 Greylag Geese
27 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
4 Willow Warblers
3 Chiffchaffs
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
5 Reed Warblers
2 Common Whitethroat
10 Blackcaps
10 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
3 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Reed Warbler
2 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Whinchat
2 Lesser Whitethroat
18+ Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2007
Priorslee Lake
6 Great Crested Grebes
6 Tufted Ducks
Ruddy Duck
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Lesser Whitethroat
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warblers
2 House Sparrows
(Ed Wilson, John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
2 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Kestrel
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Cormorant
1 Stock Dove
3 Sand Martins
10 Swallows
1 Grey Wagtails
5 Sedge Warbler
2 Reed Warblers
7 Blackcaps
1 Garden Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
1 Lesser Whitethroat
3 Reed Buntings
(Martin Adlam)

27 Apr 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

10.0°C > 11.0°C: An area of mid-level cloud clearing to the East around dawn. Clear for a while before mist and low cloud spread from the north-west only beginning to gradually break up after 09:00. Moderate, occasionally fresh, north-westerly breeze. Moderate visibility, poor for a while then good.

Sunrise: 05:46 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 06:30 // 07:20 – 10:00

(102nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *the pair of Greylag Geese still with seven small goslings.
- two broods of Mallard ducklings one of five; *the other of six. Perhaps other broods were hiding in the reeds.
- on my first lap I noted a duck and a drake Tufted Duck together. Later I could only see a drake: a different bird?
- a Common Sandpiper present throughout.
- two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls bathing by the south-west grass at 05:30. Otherwise all the gulls noted flew over.
- no sight or sound of the Cetti's Warbler for the third day. I did wonder whether it might just be busy on nesting duty so I checked my 2025 log. There was no break in its noisy behaviour last year when I know it bred. Has it gone?
- no Sedge Warblers seen or heard.
- five Reed Warblers heard today.
- no song from any Lesser Whitethroat today.
- the singing Common Whitethroat was seen with a companion. Another was heard singing.
- no Garden Warbler again.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew East
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair flew West
- 3 Herring Gulls: together
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: two adult trios and a single immature
- 16 Wood Pigeons

Counts from the lake area:
Some counts probably affected by the mist and murk at the time I did the count
- 4 Canada Geese: a pair throughout; another pair briefly
- *3 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: the resident family: a single flew in staying only a short while
- 2 Mute Swans
- *14 (10♂) + 11 (2 broods) Mallard: see notes
- 3 (2♂)? Tufted Duck: see notes
- 6 Moorhens only
- 18 Coots only
- 3 Great Crested Grebes only
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
A significant number circling around, often high up.
*- >25 Sand Martins
*- >10 Barn Swallows
After the first Swifts on an early date I have seen no others here. They are back in good numbers around their Newport breeding sites.

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 16 (14) Chiffchaffs
- no Sedge Warblers
- 5 (5) Reed Warblers
- 24 (23) Blackcaps
- no Lesser Whitethroats
- 3 (2) Common Whitethroat

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Continuing chilly overnight. Also breezy
See also below: a moth was noted on one of the poles c.09:15

Fly:
- *marsh fly Sepedon sphegea: a new species for me

Noted around the area later:
[numbers only given for moths and butterflies unless exceptional counts noted]

Butterflies:
none

Moths:
- *1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata
- *2 Brindled Pugs Eupithecia abbreviata

Bees, wasps, etc.:
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius

Hoverflies:
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Blotch-winged Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum [Blotch-winged Whitebelt]
- Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
- *Glass-winged Syrphus Syrphus vitripennis
- also Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Other flies:
- *plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- *Muscid fly Phaonia subventa
- *Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- *otherwise unidentified flies.

Bugs:
- *Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
- *Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale

Beetles:
- *Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea

As the medium-level cloud cleared to the East and before the low cloud and mist rolled in.

One of the Greylag Geese with the seven goslings. I fear that the cob Mute Swan will, sooner or later, do the usual behaviour and drown them.

At the time I thought Mrs. Mallard had five ducklings. The photo shows a sixth cuddling up to its mother.

Most of the hirundines stayed up in the air. Here is a Sand Martin.

And a Barn Swallow. Could do with more light!

Sort of apologies about the quality of these two male Bullfinch photo. I had to use electronic zoom to force the camera to focus on the bird and not on any of the myriad branches that were in the way. He seems to have the same foot / leg disease that is especially common among Chaffinches.

Here showing the white rump that often catches the eye as the bird disappears in to the vegetation.

Not strictly at the lake. This was one of two moths high up on a street lamp pole beside the lower of the two pools between the lake and The Flash. They were both Brindled Pugs Eupithecia abbreviata. My photo of the other one was even worse.

I only noticed this moth on a West end street pole c.09:15. Did I overlook it earlier? No matter: it is a Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata for the day's log.

My initial thought for this insect with the furry reddish thorax was a bee. But it does not have long antennae so it is a fly.

From a different angle it is clear it is what Steven Falk names Blotch-winged Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum with Obsidentify using the moniker Blotch-winged Whitebelt. Yet another insect noted on its earliest-ever date over the 12 years I have been noting dates.

A female Syrphus hoverfly on which the hind leg is clearly visible! As the leg is not entirely yellow this has to be a Glass-winged Syrphus Syrphus vitripennis

A better view of a male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus than the flash photos from the street lamp poles pre-dawn.

 A different angle on a different male reveals how hairy the abdomen is.

I photographed one of these flies yesterday. Attractive-enough to show again. It is the Muscid fly Phaonia subventa.

This is also a Muscid fly but I don't know the species.

A much hairier fly and almost certainly one of the many species from the Tachinid group.

The only thing I noted on the street lamp poles pre-dawn was this distinctive fly that with the aid of Google Lens I identified as a marsh fly Sepedon sphegea: a new species for me.

Today's Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria photo: the less-yellow female.

A lone Dock Bug Coreus marginatus today at rest, appropriately, on a leaf of a Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius. A uniquely-shaped species of bug.

A Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale

My first Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis of the year, this of the very variable form succinea which is prone to showing only some of the usual 13 spots. The white on the "face" prevents confusion with many other species.

(Ed Wilson)

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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 12 midges
- *1 cranefly Tipula vittata

Arthropods
- *1 Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus

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

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:15

(99th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- what looked to be the same pair of Greylag Geese flew out, circled around and splashed back down. Twice!
- a single fast-growing Mallard duckling seen. I suspect its sibling(s) and mother were lurking in nearby reeds.
- it was too misty to see whether the other Great Crested Grebes was on the nest platform.
- a Jay was heard calling from the East side wooded area. It is several weeks since I last recorded a Jay here.
- I saw my first spotty juvenile Robin for here this year.

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

Noted on / around the water:
All numbers affected by the poor visibility
- 6 Canada Geese only
- 2? Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans (the pen not seen and presumed to be on the island)
- 14 (12♂) + 1 (1 brood) Mallard: see notes
- 8 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 18 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe: see notes

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
For some reason despite (because of?) the murk and the chill wind there was more song
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (7) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:

Flies:
- 1 female plumed midge

The cranefly Tipula vittata. It would be very helpful if all craneflies rested with wings open allowing both wing and abdomen markings to be seen clearly.

A Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus

This has to remain an unidentified male spider. I am not happy with either of Obsidentify's suggestions.

Today's Long-tailed Tit home delivery service.

A yummy caterpillar for one of the nestlings.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
2 Greylag Geese
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Reed Warblers
1 Common Whitethroat
11 Blackcaps
10 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
Wood Warbler
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Greylag Goose
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
16 Tufted Duck
5 Blackcaps
Wood Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Wrekin
3 Wood Warblers
1 Redstart
5 Pied Flycatchers
2 Tree Pipits
2 Redpolls
1 Siskin
(Ed Wilson, JW Reeves)

2012
Priorslee Lake
6 Tufted Duck
6 Swift
50 Swallow
25 House Martin
2 Sand Martin
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Wheatear
1 Sedge Warbler
6 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood, Martin Grant)

Nedge Hill
1 Lesser Whitethroat
26 Wheatear
1 Greenland Wheatear
1 Fieldfare
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Wood Sandpiper
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Swift
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
1 Lesser Whitethroat
(John Isherwood)

2008
Priorslee Lake
3 Sedge Warblers
6 Reed Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
2 Whitethroats
1 Garden Warbler
9 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Little Grebe
2 Common Sandpipers
c.10 Sand Martins
c.45 Swallows
1 House Martin
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
4 Sand Martins
12 Swallows
2 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The lane to the E of Priorslee
6 Whitethroats
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
2 Linnets
3 Yellowhammers
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
9 Great Crested Grebes
5 Tufted Ducks
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Kestrel
2 Stock Doves
2 Swallows
House Martins
2 Grey Wagtails
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
1 Jay
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
2 Swallows
House Martin
Ring Ouzel
Fieldfare
Common Whitethroat
Blackcaps
Chiffchaff
Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Priorslee Flash
1 Swallow
6 Willow Warbler
Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
3 Greylag Geese
2 Ruddy Ducks
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Stock Dove
7 Swallows
3 Grey Wagtails
26 Wrens
17 Robins
30 Blackbirds
9 Song Thrushes
1 Sedge Warbler
3 Reed Warblers
8 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
5 Greenfinches
5 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)