14.0°C > 18.0°C: Clear with a very few scattered small clouds after 08:00. Light / moderate easterly wind. Very good visibility but hazy at times.
Sunrise: 04:57 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:50 – 06:10 // 07:15 – 09:40
(123rd visit of the year)
New bird species:
An addition to me 2026 bird list from here: a female (on size) Peregrine Falcon was seen cruising around to the North c.05:50. It never came close enough for a photo. My bird species #87 this year.
Other bird notes:
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings present and correct.
- five Mallard ducklings seen: two almost full-grown birds, easily confusable with ducks; and a trio of sizeable ducklings with their mother
- two drake Tufted Duck were accompanied by a duck today.
- again no juvenile Coots seen. Also the number of adults remains low.
- an adult Black-headed Gull visited briefly at 05:1-
- a lone adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was again on the football field c.05:45. Another visited the lake briefly c.08:35.
- for many weeks the football field has played host to a few gulls and the Starlings. Today there were at least 15 Wood Pigeons feeding there, a species not seen on the grass for many weeks.
- no Lesser Whitethroat heard.
- two Common Whitethroats singing: as yesterday one along the South side but today vocal throughout. *Another display flying over the traditional sire. I presume this means that it did stay and has raised brood #1 and is re-establishing the pair bond for brood #2.
- a Garden Warbler was singing in the tall trees to the South of and then in front of the sailing club HQ. Possibly another was in the south-east area: the combination of a close and very loud Song Thrush and Blackcap along with noise from the M54 prevented confirmation.
- the Mistle Thrush was again singing near the Teece Drive gate, today c.07:30.
- no Starlings were on the football field c.06:00. One was on a roof in Teece Drive c.07:15
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 18 Canada Geese: flew West together (and probably among those at The Flash later)
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Wood Pigeons again
- 1 Peregrine
- 4 Jackdaws
- *1 Rook
Counts from the lake area:
- 5 Canada Geese: a pair throughout; a trio arrived and departed
- *3 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: the third adult throughout
- 2 Mute Swans: the pen amused to be on the nest.
- 21 (17♂) + 5 (2 broods) Mallard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens
- 14 Coots: only
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull again
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 1 Grey Heron again
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Swifts: two at c.05:40 and two at 08:50
- 3 Barn Swallows: a single departed to the South: a pair feeding over the West end grass
- 1 House Martin: seen surprisingly over the new estate to the North. I would have doubted there was any suitable nest sites on the new-build housing.
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 10 (9) Chiffchaffs: many of my "regulars" silent
- 11 (10) Reed Warblers
- 17 (16) Blackcaps
- no Lesser Whitethroat
- *2 (2) Common Whitethroat: see notes
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler: perhaps a second: see notes
Also noted:
Butterflies:
- 2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- *1 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 1 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
- 2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- *1 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 1 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
Moths:
- *2 Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
- *1 Silver Y Autographa gamma : moth species #24 for me here this year.
- *2 Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
- *1 Silver Y Autographa gamma : moth species #24 for me here this year.
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee
- Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
- *Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
the bramble flowers were alive with bumblebees many not specifically identified
- European Hornet Vespa crabro : came for a quick drink in the Wesley Brook
- *sawfly Tenthredo mesomela
- *Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee
- Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
- *Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
the bramble flowers were alive with bumblebees many not specifically identified
- European Hornet Vespa crabro : came for a quick drink in the Wesley Brook
- *sawfly Tenthredo mesomela
Hoverflies:
- Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
- *Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
- *Blotch-winged Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum [Blotch-winged Whitebelt]
- *Brush-thighed Stripe-back Parhelophilus versicolor [Marsh Stripeback]
- Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
- *Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
- *Blotch-winged Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum [Blotch-winged Whitebelt]
- *Brush-thighed Stripe-back Parhelophilus versicolor [Marsh Stripeback]
Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
- *Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- *Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
- *Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
many damselflies were not specifically identified: other species are unlikely
- Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
- *Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- *Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
- *Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
many damselflies were not specifically identified: other species are unlikely
Other flies:
- *Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria
- *wood gnat, probably Sylvicola cinctus
- many other unidentified fly species
- *Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria
- *wood gnat, probably Sylvicola cinctus
- many other unidentified fly species
Bugs:
- none
- none
Beetles:
- False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens
beetles were strangely scarce this morning
- False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens
beetles were strangely scarce this morning
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *Cucumber Green Orb Spider Araniella sp. either A. cucurbitina or A. opisthographa
- *running crab spider from the Philodromus group
- *Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
- *Cucumber Green Orb Spider Araniella sp. either A. cucurbitina or A. opisthographa
- *running crab spider from the Philodromus group
- *Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
New flowers for the year:
- *Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
staying almost everything free!
- *Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
staying almost everything free!
Flies:
- 1 plumed midge
Another hazy start to the day though cooler than yesterday. The monsoon rain and hail that affected Shrewsbury yesterday afternoon did not come here.
Three of the seven Greylag Goose goslings. A few wing-feathers are starting to show. So far the cob Mute Swan has shown no interest in these or any Greylag Goose: only Canada Geese. Whether this will change if and when he has cygnets to look after remains to be seen.
A species I have not seen for several day: a Rook. It is disguising its characteristic cone-shaped bill by carrying food. There is no disguising the bare skin at the base of the bill. Other ways to separate from Carrion Crow are more subtle: it is slimmer, the tail longer and the wings often more noticeably "fingered". The call-note is more hoarse.
Can someone explain why when my camera is set to "sports mode" (which it usually is: to "freeze" things in flight) then I can only photograph fairly-Red Admiral butterflies Vanessa atalanta? The colour balance seems all wrong and trying correct with the photo-editor makes things worse.
Buried deep in the long grass and threatening to fly off in to the middle distance if I disturbed it again was my first Silver Y moth Autographa gamma of the year and moth species #24 for me here. At least the silver Y is clear-enough.
An Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa. The "orange tail" is never very extensive and quickly wears / fades.
Most bumblebees were flitting from bramble flower to bramble flower, stopping for seconds, if that. This Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum posed long-enough to pose.
A Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata. The only member of this genus that is easily recognisable with the white and orange hairs to relieve the all-black of most members. Does not look much like a bumblebee to my eyes.
Smart: a Blotch-winged Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum or, as Obsidentify prefers, Blotch-winged Whitebelt.
My initial thought here was a Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus but it has only two stripes on the thorax. Obsidentify was 100% sure it is what Steven Falk records as Brush-thighed Stripe-back Parhelophilus versicolor (Marsh Stripeback in Obsidentify-speak). It is a new species for me but...
...with this view of the same insect Obsidentify would only say Parhelophilus sp. A check of Steven Falk's Flickr pages suggests Obsidentify was right first time.
Here with a "thistle" mark on the first body segment is a male Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum.
A not very sharp photo of a male Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans. The camera seemed to want to focus either on the head; on the tail; or, as here, on the wings with the other parts less clear.
The only fly I bothered with this morning was this splendid Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria.
Looking like a small cranefly this is a wood gnat, probably Sylvicola cinctus. Unusual for me to see a wood gnat other than on street lamp poles pre-dawn. A much clearer view and hence a probable specific identity. Genitalia examination is needed to confirm.
A Cucumber Green Orb Spider Araniella sp. either A. cucurbitina or A. opisthographa strangely walking on the hand-rail of the boxing ring on the dam. As previously noted this species spins a web across a leaf and lies upside down waiting for prey to blunder in. It is out of luck here.
Also on the boxing ring was this running crab spider from the Philodromus group. All members of this genus are very variable in markings and cannot be identified from photos.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(120th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- still five visiting Mute Swans and the presumption of the resident pen on the nest. Three of the visitors made a short flight – all of about 100'!
- a single and growing Canada Goose gosling seen.
- no Greylag Geese again.
- nine juvenile Coots seen from four broods, one of which I had not seen previously.
- at least three Great Crested Grebes seen. A lone bird keeping close to the erstwhile nest site with no suggestion that the site was occupied. Another pair(?) close-by took off together and flew to the top end. These may have been the two birds at the opposite end of the island that I failed to get to grips with.
- a small group of Treecreepers was working the trees near where I photographed a juvenile being fed about a week or go. What I presume was a bird from another family calling from trees around the lower car parks.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 plumed midge
The original Common Whitethroat put in an appearance.
One of two dreadful photos of moths today. The excuse for this photo of a Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata is that it was c.05:30 and the moth was in deep shade. You get the idea of this commonly seen moth that flushes from the undergrowth.
This is the sawfly Tenthredo mesomela
A Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
No visible mean of support for this Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
Another orchid species today: a Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa.
(Ed Wilson)
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Flies:
- 47(!) midges of several species
- 2 unidentified Limonid cranefly
- 1 owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
- 47(!) midges of several species
- 2 unidentified Limonid cranefly
- 1 owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
There were (at least) 47 midges on the easily-accessed wall of the tunnel. The majority of them were of this species. It looks somewhat like Chironomus plumosus though to my eyes it seems too slim with wing/body ration wrong.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:15 – 07:10
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:15 – 07:10
(120th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- still five visiting Mute Swans and the presumption of the resident pen on the nest. Three of the visitors made a short flight – all of about 100'!
- a single and growing Canada Goose gosling seen.
- no Greylag Geese again.
- nine juvenile Coots seen from four broods, one of which I had not seen previously.
- at least three Great Crested Grebes seen. A lone bird keeping close to the erstwhile nest site with no suggestion that the site was occupied. Another pair(?) close-by took off together and flew to the top end. These may have been the two birds at the opposite end of the island that I failed to get to grips with.
- a small group of Treecreepers was working the trees near where I photographed a juvenile being fed about a week or go. What I presume was a bird from another family calling from trees around the lower car parks.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 48 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 7 Mute Swans: assuming the pen is on the hidden nest?
- 25 (22♂) Mallard
- 2 Moorhens only
- 27+ 9 (4 broods) Coots: see notes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, leaving as I arrived.
Hirundines etc. noted:
Noted on / around the water:
- 48 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 7 Mute Swans: assuming the pen is on the hidden nest?
- 25 (22♂) Mallard
- 2 Moorhens only
- 27+ 9 (4 broods) Coots: see notes
- 3 Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: adults, leaving as I arrived.
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Butterflies:
- 1 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
- 1 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
Moths:
- 1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
"I want my mummy". Since goslings cannot fly they seem to have unusually substantial legs. Mum is a Canada Goose of course.
A surprise at 06:15 in the morning was this Painted Lady butterfly Vanessa cardui. With another seen flitting about at the Balancing Lake and a Silver Y moth there it suggests the recent warm weather from the South has led to a substantial influx of insects from the Continent.
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
3 Little Egrets
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Little Ringed Plover
(John Isherwood)
- 1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
(Ed Wilson)
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Priorslee Lake
3 Little Egrets
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Little Ringed Plover
(John Isherwood)
