2 Nov 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

4.0°C > 8.0°C: Clear skies. Just frosty in places sheltered from the moderate northerly breeze. Very good visibility

Sunrise: 07:09 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:45 – 09:00

(244th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
A manic quarter of an hour. Several of the early groups of migrating southbound Wood Pigeons were concurrent with the last of the roost-dispersal Jackdaws and Rooks. At the same time a few Fieldfare and Redwing were passing over, four of the former briefly perching on trees at the West end. While all this was going on a group of Starlings departed their West end roost. I don't think any of this explains the car on its roof in the middle of Castle Farm Way! Numbers best-efforts in the circumstances.

Other bird notes:
- the two Canada Geese throughout again.
- a pair of Mute Swans departed to the West at 07:15.
- yesterday's three Pochard remain.
- still only three Great Crested Grebes.
- c.220 Black-headed Gulls arrived in three groups. I did not check the football field before 08:50 when it was devoid of any birds.
- four Cormorants, all arriving separately.
- Grey Herons were in almost continuous dispute. At least three birds involved, probably more.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- c.1500 Wood Pigeons: almost all in 16 groups flying South
- 1 Skylark again
- c.540 Jackdaws
- 134 Rooks
- 2 Starlings
- 2 Fieldfare
- 10 Redwings
- 1 Pied Wagtail again

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: departed
- 14 (8♂) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Pochard again
- 71 (>31♂) Tufted Duck: still diving in groups and difficult to count
- 3 Moorhens
- 25 Coots again
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- c.220 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls
- c.225 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants
- 3 *Grey Herons

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake:
- 33 Starlings
- 1 Redwing

Later on the Teece Drive fence:

Nothing found. Too cold and breezy.

Elsewhere:

Fungus:
- same yet again including Shaggy Inkcap or *Lawyer's Wig Coprinus comatus

On the West end street lamp poles before dawn:
Too cold for most things?

Moths:
- 3 November Moth type Epirrita sp. again: all on the same pole today

True flies:
- 2 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.

Bugs:
- 1 *Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

A clear and just frosted start today. On the right of the water are some of the early arriving gulls. Just about visible over the vegetation toward the left are some of the many Tufted Duck present.

Autumn colours from the dam-top.

Three Grey Herons were present at various times chasing around. This one made a rare misjudgement and dipped a wing-tip in the water.

And this one just about got away with it – the merest streak on the water says it dipped the extreme tip of one feather.

The only unusual sighting on the dew-covered West end street lamp poles this morning was this Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius.

It looked pristine yesterday. Not much sign of it as a Lawyer's Wig Coprinus comatus today

Plane of the day: this is a seven-seat Diamond Aircraft DA 62 "flying SUV" owned by MAJ Aviation Ltd. of Leominster, Herefordshire [not to be confused with a large operator of a similar name in Singapore!]. It was flying from Leeds East Airfield [RAF Church Fenton as was] back to its home base at Shobdon Airfield, just west of Leominster. The registration prefix "2-" originates from Guernsey. Perhaps registered there for tax reasons?

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Another poor showing

Moths:
none

True flies:
none

Arthropods:
- 2 Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus

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

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:05 – 10:15

(241st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the single Mute Swan gone.
- the two drake Shovelers remain.
- a duck (Common) Teal found.
- no Great Crested Grebe seen.
- no Cormorants either.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese: arrived
- no Mute Swan
- 2 (2♂) *Shoveler
- 37 (25♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) *(Common) Teal
- 22 (11♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 14 Coot
- no Great Crested Grebe
- 55 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Herring Gulls
- no Cormorants
- 3 *Grey Heron

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- 3 November Moth type Epirrita sp. Three of yesterday's four still in the same locations.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1+ *Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
- >100? wasps Vespula sp. Very busy around the sheltered Ivy bank.

Hoverflies:
- 4 *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax [Tapered Drone Fly]
- 1 *Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax [Common Drone Fly]
- 2 *Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

True flies:
- *Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina
- also very many flies not specifically identified including bluebottles, greenbottles etc...

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 *harvestman Opilio canestrinii

 Still here: the two drake Shoveler ducks.

Horrible lighting on this distant duck. About the only identification feature is the all black bill indicating it is a duck (Common, sometimes called Eurasian) Teal. [There is a very similar New World species names Green-winged Teal. But then both species are common and both have green in the wings. Confusing.]

The Grey Herons were chasing here as well as at the Balancing Lake.

I got close to this Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris so you don't have to. There were dozens and dozens of them on the Ivy and it was possible to hear the petals knocked off the flowers as they cascaded through the vegetation to the ground.

A very typical pose with wings held erect, presumably for balance.

 It is always a bonus to log hoverflies in November. They will be around on sunny days just as long as the Ivy blossom holds out. Here is a male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax.

Another with his tongue partially out.

A female: her body is not so tapered as that of the male. I am bemused by the pale bands of hair between the tergites on all these individuals. I do not recall noticing them on individuals of this species seen in the Summer. I cannot find any comment to this effect in the literature.

For a change a male Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax best identified at this angle by the leg markings. The extent of the paler brown areas on the abdomen is not diagnostic and very variable in most droneflies. This one has his tongue out as well.

A female Syrphus sp. Her hind leg is not visible to provide a specific identity.

Another. It is tempting to call the hind leg colour but I am not 100% sure I can see enough of the upper part (tibia) to be certain.

There were also very many flies around today – more so than recently. I did not bother with most of them. This posing Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina was an exception.

There were two harvestmen Opilio canestrinii together on a top end street lamp pole this morning. This one is clearly a male with long palps. The #1 leg on the right side is missing.

(Ed Wilson)

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2012
Priorslee Lake
2 Gadwall
7 Pochard
Kestrel
Little Grebe
Sparrowhawk
(John Isherwood)

2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Yellow legged Gulls
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
36 Pochard
85 Tufted Ducks
4 Lapwings over
c.200 Starlings roosted at W end
53 Wood Pigeons
249 Fieldfare
14 Redwings
7 Siskins
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Little Grebes
17 Pochard
57 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
c.170 Golden Plover
1175 Wood Pigeons
1 Kingfisher
16 Pied Wagtails
22 Wrens
10 Dunnocks
27 Robins
22 Blackbirds
298 Fieldfares
8 Song Thrushes
24 Redwings
1 Mistle Thrush
69 Starlings
12 Chaffinches
33 Greenfinches
11 Goldfinches
1 Redpoll
5 Bullfinches
9 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
Adult Arctic Tern
172 Redwing
9 Pochard
47 Tufted Duck
Siskin
Redpolls
7 Reed Buntings
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)

1 Nov 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

6.0°C > 9.0°C: A morning of at least three halves. An unexpectedly clear start after a misty drive from Newport. Mist / fog soon rolled in for a while. Then lifted to low cloud for a while with some clear blue patches. Then overcast and misty again. A very light north-westerly breeze. Visibility veered from good to poor to very poor to good.

Sunrise: 07:07 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 08:40

(243rd visit of the year)

Significant activity overhead: no significant numbers.

Bird notes:
- two Canada Geese throughout again.
- a pair of Mute Swans was asleep in the water near the West end and stayed in the same general area. Neither appeared to be ringed. Another pair was tucked in the south-east corner before leaving voluntarily to the East at 06:43.
- three Pochard were new arrivals: two adult drakes. My first of this winter-period here.
- a Little Grebe flushed from the North side.
- still only three Great Crested Grebes.
- the gulls must have been spooked by Halloween. Just eight Lesser Black-backs and no more than 150 Black-heads arrived, all after 06:35. Very few later arrivals. 39 Black-heads were found on the football field at 08:30, these seeming to be just standing around rather than feeding on whatever they normally find to eat..
- only one Cormorant visited. A group of five arrived overhead, circled twice and carried on.
- many of the Jackdaws and Rooks were heard only and lost in the low cloud.
- one party of 42 Redwing was seen overhead with a few other singles / pairs.
- my first Fieldfare of this winter-period flew over.
- a lone Starling was seen to leave a roost in reeds by the dam. A single flew over much later.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Herring Gull
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Cormorants: together
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Skylark
- 109 Jackdaws
- 131 Rooks
- 1 Starling
- 7 Fieldfare
- 48 Redwings
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 3 Siskins

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 4 *Mute Swans: two of these departed
- 18 (8♂) Mallard: unusually fewer drakes than ducks
- 3 (2♂) *Pochard
- 61 (>25♂) Tufted Duck: much diving in groups made them difficult to count
- 4 Moorhens again
- 25 Coots
- 1 Little Grebe
- 3 *Great Crested Grebes still
- c.150 Black-headed Gulls
- no Herring Gulls
- 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake:
- 1(!) Starling

Later on the Teece Drive fence:

Nothing found
Slightly cooler and with the breeze blowing on to the fence.

Elsewhere:

Fungus:
- same again including *Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig Coprinus comatus

On the West end street lamp poles before dawn:

Moths:
- 3 *November Moth type Epirrita sp.

True flies:
- 1 male plumed midge, probably Chironomus plumosus
- 1 female Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.

Springtails:
- 1 globular springtail sp., probably Dicyrtomina saundersi
- 1 *springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis

Arthropods:
- 1 *unidentified millipede

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 *unidentified small spider
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

I did not expect it to look like this when I had my first view of the lake. The mist is approaching from the North.

The two (pair?) of Mute Swans that stayed. Neither seems to be ringed on this view. It is just possible there is a BTO ring on one of the legs not visible. If so then there is no Darvic plastic ring.

Record shot at a distance in mist. The trio of Pochard with the two drakes flanking what is either an immature or a duck. Females of this species tend to be scarce so I favour an immature drake. I would need a better view to be sure.

Two of the three Great Crested Grebes that seem to be the only ones present now. The left-most bird is clearly a juvenile with remnant head-stripes. I think the other is an adult that has moulted the head and neck plumes. It could just be a juvenile from an earlier brood beginning to acquire adult plumage.

A puzzle. This seems to be the same very well-marked November Moth type Epirrita sp. in the very same place as I photographed it two days ago. Did I really manage to overlook it yesterday? And I still puzzle as to its true identity. I'll see whether the Shropshire macro moth recorder has any thoughts.

A springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis

Another sighting that has me beaten. Not a brilliant photo as access "round the back" of the street lamp pole was difficult. I am sure it is a millipede. I can find no photos that come close to matching this on the NatureSpot web site. Obsidentify was no help. Google Lens came up with the promising-looking suggestion of Trigoniulus corallinus. That is until you look it up and realise that is a SE Asia species!

On the West end street lamp poles was this small spider I cannot identify.

Day 4 and the Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatus is looking very sad!

Alongside was this fresh fruiting body looking much more like the alternative species name of Lawyer's Wig. Note the collar on the stem: the presence or otherwise of this feature can be useful in identifying certain species of otherwise similar-looking fungi. Behind is some collapsed fruits of Weeping Widow Lacrymaria lacrymabunda.

(Ed Wilson)

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Woodhouse area:

I made a short visit up the concrete road to see whether I could get above the mist. No. While there I noted:
- 19 (12♂) Mallard in the extremely muddy water of the lower storm-pool
- 1 calling Yellowhammer

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
A very poor showing

Moths:
none

True flies:
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.

Arthropods:
none

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 *Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.
- 1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
- 1 *another spider, unidentified

Another spider I cannot identify.

This one I can partially ID. The abdomen shape indicates it is one of the Stout Sac Spiders from the Clubiona genus.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 08:45 – 09:55

(240th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
A party of 12 Wood Pigeons flying South had a lone Fieldfare as company, my first of the year at this site and species #75 for me here. Fieldfare and Redwing arrive, passing over in sometimes sizeable groups, at the start of Winter. They then stay out in more open areas unless forced by hard frost or snow in to towns. They just "fade away" in Spring and are less likely to be seen on return passage.

Other bird notes:
- still just the single adult Mute Swan.
- now two drake Shoveler ducks
- I walked all the way around counting. My Mallard total was 34 birds, 22 of which were drakes. As I was about to leave food was being proffered and 46 birds, 28 drakes, assembled. So where do they hide?
- only a single adult Great Crested Grebe again.
- after yesterday's 14 Cormorant bonanza I noted just three today.
- a Great (White) Egret was present when I arrived. While I was walking through the wooded area I heard a dispute between it and a Grey Heron and did not see the egret again.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 12 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Fieldfare
- 1 Starling

Noted on / around the water:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 1 Mute Swan
- 2 (2♂) *Shoveler
- 46 (28♂) Mallard
- 16 (9♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 15 Coot
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 43 *Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 *Cormorants
- 1 *Grey Heron
- 1 *Great (White) Egret: departed?

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- 4 November Moth type Epirrita sp. All on street lamp poles: one at the top end; two on the same pole in squirrel alley; and one near the step-way to Hickory's.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- >10 wasps Vespula sp. A surprise in the chilly and dull conditions.

True flies:
- 1 *female Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 *harvestman Opilio canestrinii: in a very different location to previous records

Two drake Shoveler today. Is it my eyes or do neither of these look like the one I photographed yesterday?

I certainly did not photograph this one yesterday.

Slight panic. The gull more or less dead-centre looks slightly darker on the back and slightly larger than those alongside it. At first glance I was thinking Common Gull – a rare sight indeed here. But the photo reveals it is "just" an adult-winter Black-headed Gull and I have no idea why it looks darker. Slightly different angle of the light?

An adult-winter Black-headed Gull steps out. Compare the bill and leg colour with this...

...first-winter bird and its dull orange tones. Note also the black tail band.

Compare and contrast a Grey Heron and an immature (white on the belly) Cormorant at similar angles.

The Great (White) Egret in reflective mood.

Other than the moths and the wasps this was the only insect I saw: a female Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria. This species is usually very approachable and often does not fly off until I get very close. Strangely I have only seen the duller females in recent weeks. Where are the men?

Spiders and harvestmen are not insects: today's harvestman Opilio canestrinii, in a very different location, has lost two of its legs.

(Ed Wilson)

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2010
Priorslee Lake
Brambling
3 Fieldfares
12 Redwings
5 Siskins
2 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
Cormorant
14 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
Female Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Willow Tits with the Long-tailed Tits
Kingfisher
Jays
Skylark
Siskin
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)

31 Oct 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

7.0°C > 11.0°C: Low overcast. Visibility at low level was OK but at any height not good. Very light mainly south-easterly breeze.

Sunrise: 07:05 GMT

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 09:10

(242nd visit of the year)

Trusty vehicle operational and back to "normal".

Bird notes:
- two Canada Geese throughout sometimes on the dam-top. Perhaps the pair that nested here last year?
- no sign of any Mute Swans.
- *four Goosanders flew West at 08:00.
- only three Great Crested Grebes again.
- c.300 Black-headed Gulls were on the water c.06:30. When I checked the football field at 09:10 there were 21.
- >350 large gulls were present at 06:30 with some others having already flown off. At least Herring Gulls were noted at this time.
- later gull arrivals were just three Herring and 79 Lesser Black-backs. Small numbers also overhead.
- four Cormorants arrived together at the early time of 07:00. Later a single and then a trio also arrived. A group of five flew over.
- *a Great White Egret flew East at 07:35.
- five small parties of Wood Pigeons totalling 183 birds flew South around 07:30 then no more seen until a large group of at least 270 at 08:10.
- three separate large parties of Jackdaws were part of the roost dispersal flying low overhead and spread-out making in possible only to estimate the number of birds. The total below is likely under-recorded.
- six parties of Redwing seen overhead. Two of these parties were mixed in with departing Jackdaws and Rooks (confusing): and another with one of the Wood Pigeon parties.
- at least 100 Starlings were noted in three groups swirling around as they orientated West after leaving separate(?) roosting sites around the water.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 (0♂?) *Goosander: see notes
- 1 Herring Gull
- 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Cormorants: together
- 1 *Great White Egret
- >450 Wood Pigeons: see notes
- >560 Jackdaws
- 264 Rooks
- 53 Redwings

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 16 (9♂) Mallard
- 51 (29?♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- >300 Black-headed Gulls
- 18 Herring Gulls
- >425 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 8 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons: one of these departed
[I omitted to tabulate the two Mute Swans yesterday: not here today]

Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake:
- c.100 Starlings

Found later on the Teece Drive fence

Moth/Butterfly/Sawfly?:
- 1 *unidentified caterpillar

Beetles:
- 1 *larva of a Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
- 1 *ladybird pupa
- 1 *beetle?

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 *Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica
- 1 *harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus

Elsewhere:

Fungus:
- just the same as yesterday including *Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig Coprinus comatus

On the West end street lamp poles before dawn:

Moths:
- 8 November Moth type Epirrita sp.

True flies:
- 2 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.

Springtails:
- 1 globular springtail sp., probably Dicyrtomina saundersi

Arthropods:
- 1 *White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

One of a group of four Goosanders. This one a brownhead: they probably all were.

A Great White Egret flies over.

An unusual day-time gathering of 12 Magpies (and a Carrion Crow) near the community football pitch. I note groups of Magpies this size when there are many recently-fledged juveniles: this species uses communal roost sites. I cannot recall a daytime sight like this at any other time.

On the Teece Drive fence I found this caterpillar. Obsidentify thought it was a Coypu! Google Lens suggested it was a sawfly larva. These have six or more pairs of prolegs (stubby leg-like structures under the abdomen) and can be distinguished from caterpillars of butterflies and moths which only have five or fewer. Whether Google Lens has resolved my photo or is guessing I have no idea. A scan of all the caterpillar and larvae photos in NatureSpot has not helped.

Also on the Teece Drive fence I found this what I believe to be a ladybird pupa. All attempts to get an ID have failed. If I type "UK ladybird pupae" in to Google all I get are guides to the larvae.

This I do know: the larva of a Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis.

And another unknown. Is it a small beetle or convincing-looking detritus? I am sure that Obsidentify's suggestion (96%) of Smooth Newt is wrong as is Google Lens' idea of a Lapis Lazuli Scarab Beetle (also known as Cerulean Chafer Beetle) Hoplia coerulea native to southern Europe.

The White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger I found on a street lamp pole today.

Yes, well.... Covered in dew, but what is it? Small bright red eyes and long, angled antennae held swept back.

Well hidden in a knot-hole in the Teece Drive fence was this Walnut Orb Weaver spider Nuctenea umbratica.

A harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus and one with only six extant legs. #2 is missing from the left and #4 from the right.

Day three of the Shaggy Inkcap fungus Coprinus comatus. Not yet dripping liquid but looking sad.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
none

True flies:
- 3 midges
- 4 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.

Arthropods:
- 1 Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus
- 2 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

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

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:15 – 10:40

(239th visit of the year)

Bird notes
*A moulting / first-winter drake Shoveler was a new arrival and the first record of this species for me here in 2026. My first recent year when I have not recorded this species during the first-winter period. Bird species #74 here.

Other bird notes:
- still just the single adult Mute Swan. It made several short flights within the confines of the water.
- no Little Grebe seen.
- only a single adult Great Crested Grebe noted. Where have they gone? I have never seen the juveniles flying.
- 14 *Cormorants noted! Some of these flew off.
- more gulls than recently.
- a Sparrowhawk powered through.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Sparrowhawk: sex not determined

Noted on / around the water:
- 4 Canada Geese
- 1 Mute Swan
- 1 (1♂) *Shoveler
- 48 (30♂) *Mallard
- 23 (>12?♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 14 Coot again
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only
- 74 *Black-headed Gulls
- 2 *Herring Gulls
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Grey Herons
- 14 *Cormorants

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- 1 *November Moth type Epirrita sp.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- >30 wasps Vespula sp. A good number in dull conditions.

Beetles:
- 2 *7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii: as yesterday

As I approached the water Mallard seemed to arrive from everywhere. Here is a drake arriving.

And appearing to be standing on thin air!

One smart drake and one not so smart-looking fly-in. Usually the Mallard ignore me as they know I have no food. Today I was wearing a different jacket. Did they not recognise me?

As usual drakes outnumbered ducks.

And it was not only Mallard that were hoping to be fed! 21 Black-headed Gulls.

A distant view of the drake Shoveler. This species seems to attain breeding plumage much later than Mallard. It will have orange flanks and the full-length wing feathers will cover the blue speculum seen here.

No wonder the bridge is falling down. 46 Black-headed Gulls standing on the hand-rails.

A first-winter Herring Gull leaps out of the water. The Cormorant behind is not interested.

Diving back in head-first.

Count them! There are twelve Cormorants in the trees here – the hardest one to recognise is very top left. There were two more standing on tree-roots around the island. The fishermen will be happy!

A November Moth type Epirrita sp. high up on a street lamp pole in squirrel alley.

Friendly 7 Spot Ladybirds Coccinella 7-punctata.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Candles Landfill Site
2nd winter Caspian Gull
8 Yellow-legged Gulls
Great Black-backed Gull
c.700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
(Tom Lowe)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Chiffchaff
Mistle Thrush
29 Fieldfares
32 Redwings
13 Siskins
3 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Shoveler
5 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)

2005
Trench Pool
2 Goosander
10 Shoveler
(John Isherwood)