29 Aug 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

14.0°C > 15.0°C: Early broken cloud with a red sunrise. Cloud soon rolled in with rain after 08:00. A calm start with a light easterly breeze developing. Very good visibility until the rain when only moderate.

Sunrise: 06:14 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:30 // 07:35 – 09:15

(194th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a few distant geese heard only
- now ten Tufted Duck back: at least four drakes.
- another very thin arrival of all gulls. c.45 were present on the water before they started leaving to the West. I found 30 on the football field c.06:20.
- c.70 Lesser Black-backed Gulls arrived after 05:45, all soon departing. Nine visited much later. Just four were seen flying over.
- I counted 87 Wood Pigeons flying rapidly East over Teece Drive c.06:20. I then heard the burners of the hot-air balloons from the Telford Balloon Festival which no doubt caused their panic.
- c.15 Barn Swallows were feeding over the water in the rain.
- a Willow Warbler was singing alongside Teece Drive at c.09:10. This seems later than usual for this species which normally starts its long journey to sub-Saharan Africa in late July.
- one of the Chiffchaffs was also singing in the rain.
- a Reed Warbler was calling from the West end reeds c.05:30. In previous years there have occasionally been late broods of young still being fed at this date. This year most individuals had departed by the first week in August. This record likely refers to a passing migrant stopping off for the night.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- Canada Geese: heard distantly only.
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 111 Wood Pigeons
- 70 Jackdaws
- 91 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 37 (?♂) Mallard
- 10 (>4♂?) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 37 Coot again
- 14 Great Crested Grebes
- c.45 Black-headed Gulls
- c.80 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Grey Herons
- 1 Kingfisher

Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.15 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted:
- 1 Willow Warbler: in song
- 10 Chiffchaffs: one in song
- 1 Reed Warbler
- 2 Blackcaps yet again

Also noted:
Only the expected wasps from their nest site.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
none

Flies:
none

Bees, wasps etc.:
- >10 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
- 1 White Crab Spider Misumena vatia [Flower Spider]
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

Through thin early cloud the almost full Sturgeon Moon. It is apparently so-named because in North American lakes large numbers of Sturgeon fish are present at this time of year.

A very worthwhile sunrise ahead of the rain. This was early while the street lights were still on.

Starting to colour well.

Very well from a different vantage point.

With reflection in the lake this time.

Someone has caught a fish.

Someone else wants breakfast!

Someone else has snatched the food.

Down the hatch it goes. Soon the adult Great Crested Grebes will not present the fish to their off-spring but drop it in front of them so the youngster learn how to chase and catch them.

Are we happy in the rain? Apparently the Grey Heron is not! It is a good trick being able to balance on a buoy.

Against the backdrop of Holy Trinity Academy (not a photo I would attempt in term-time) is this Wood Pigeon moulting from juvenile plumage (where there is no white neck-patch) in to adult plumage.

One of the fifteen or so Barn Swallows hawking insects in the rain

A Garden Spider Araneus diadematus also known as the Garden Cross Spider due to the marking on the abdomen. This species, often abundant in Autumn, is very variable in colour. The cross marking is a reliable identification feature.

I am not at all sure why this White Crab Spider Misumena vatia, also known as the Flower Spider would be at the very top of the tallest street lamp pole along the West end path. Mind you there are no flowers in the area so needs must perhaps.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

I visited this c.04:55 this morning rather than c.06:15 en route to The Flash to see whether it made any difference to the log. I am not sure!

Moths:
- 1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata

Flies:
- no midges
- 7 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

Arthropods:
-1 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
- 2 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

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

Yet another Yellow Shell moth Camptogramma bilineata. Easily my best year for encountering this species.

The harvestman Opilio canestrinii: a regular sighting here but not at the lake or The Flash.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:30

(191st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- still nine Mute Swans.
- I could only see one juvenile Great Crested Grebe huddled up to a parent at the nest site. Visibility was not good. The immature bird was at the top end again.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Noted on / around the water:
- 4 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Goose
- 9 Mute Swans again
- 20 (?♂) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens
- 25 Coot only
- 3 + 1? (1 brood) Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 13 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron

Warblers noted:
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 1 Blackcap

Around the area:

Nothing of note

Moths:
none

 I could see just one juvenile Great Crested Grebe alongside the adult.

The Grey Heron is not amused by all the balloons.

(Ed Wilson)

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Telford Balloon Festival

Here are images of ten of the hot air balloons launched this morning all taken at The Flash. At least one was too far away for a decent shot. I am sure there are many Facebook photos so I have added some more information that may be interesting.

G-CELM is a Cameron C-80 balloon with a Walsall owner. The balloon model refers to the cubic capacity of the envelope (in cubic feet). Cameron Balloons are based in Bristol, the home of UK ballooning.

G-CJRO is a Cameron Z-105 owned by and advertising BWS Standfast Fire & Security Systems. The company is based in Bath. This is the fourth year this balloon has participated.

G-CLDJ is a Lindstrand Racer 60 privately owned in Tenbury Wells. Lindstrand balloons are made at Morda, Oswestry.

G-CMBJ is an Ultramagic H-77 registered to a Wrexham-based hospice. Ultramagic balloons originate from Spain

G-CNDA is a Kubicek BB22E balloon (made in the Czech Republic) and owned by a company in Radstock.

G-NMOS is another Cameron C-80 privately owned from Wrexham. The "RiverSoft" advert may, or may not, be associated with a water treatment company of that name.

G-RBEB is yet another Cameron C-80 privately owned in Bridgnorth.

G-SNWY, by far the best "special shape" is a Diamond S-77 privately owned from Wotton-under-Edge. Diamond is the most-recent balloon manufacturer in the UK and based not far from Bristol.

G-VBAI is a Cameron A-400 and the largest participating balloon. It is operated by AirXcite Ltd. trading as Virgin Balloon Flights whose offices are in Stafford Park.

G-VBFW is a Cameron Z-77 also operated by AirXcite Ltd. trading as Virgin Balloon Flights

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Whinchat
(John Isherwood)

2011
Nedge Hill
Peregrine
(John Isherwood)

28 Aug 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

14.0°C > 16.0°C: Mostly cloudy. Humid again. A calm start with a light southerly breeze developing. Very good visibility though a short spell with low cloud and murk.

Sunrise: 06:12 BST

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

Very quiet at both locations


Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:50– 06:40 // 07:35 – 09:35

(193rd visit of the year)

The water level had increased to cover most of the recently exposed mud. The Wesley Brook was not running but the sluices by the Teece Drive gate were. They had clearly discharged large amounts of water: the Wesley Brook bridge had twigs and sticks jammed against it and had clearly been over-topped. This often happens when there is a deluge. The footpaths were surprisingly dry and passible in ordinary foot-ware.

Bird notes:
- no Tufted Duck found.
- a very thin arrival of all gulls. A lone Black-headed Gull arrived at 05:31 with the next at 05:46. The first group arrived at 05:55, unusually from the south-east. At most 66 were present before they started leaving to the West where I found 39 on the newly-watered football field.
- also on the football field was a *juvenile Common Gull.
- just three Lesser Black-backed Gulls arrived at 05:30 and promptly departed. Two visited much later. Only a small number were seen flying over.
- a Sparrowhawk shot over at 05:55. A species that is typically elusive during the breeding season and never commonly-seen.
- 4 Barn Swallows were feeding over the water by 09:00. Several food-passes were noted. They stayed around.
- a single House Martin was with the swallows.
- 15 Starlings flew North in a group.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 31 Canada Geese: 22 flew East in five groups; later nine (including a single among Greylags) flew West.
- 61 Greylag Geese: all flew West in three groups.
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 Feral Pigeons: a duo and a quartet
- 4 Stock Doves: a single and a trio
- 65 Wood Pigeons
- 61 Jackdaws
- 103 Rooks
- 15 Starlings: together

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 42 (?♂) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 37 Coot only
- 15 Great Crested Grebes
- 66 *Black-headed Gulls
- 1 *Common Gull (on the football field)
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Grey Herons: one departed

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Barn Swallows
- 1 House Martin

Warblers noted:
- 7 Chiffchaffs
- 2 Blackcaps again

Also noted:
Apart from the expected wasps from their nest site just a single was beetle seen! Not even a fly!

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Beetles:
- *Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
- 3 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla

Flies:
none

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 2 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 *Common House Spider Eratigena atrica
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]

Some colour and a few breaks in the cloud around dawn. Note that apart from Mallard in front of the south-west grass the lake appears devoid of birds.

The nearest gull here is a juvenile Common Gull. At this angle the rounded head is not too obvious but note the dark eye and the thicker, two-tone bill when compared with the smaller adult-winter Black-headed Gull behind. Also note the grey shawl on the nape. Only my second record of this species here this year.

Much to the annoyance of the local Magpies this Grey Heron was lording it from the top of the roof of the academy extension building at c.06:15.

As with most things on the street lamp poles around dawn this Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla was speckled with dew.

Other than a few wasps this Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni was the only insect I saw on my second circuit around the lake.

What is most probably a Common House Spider Eratigena atrica. There are several similar species and this was not near any houses but....

I could not decide whether this was two "insects?" mating or detritus.

I zoomed in from a different angle. I remain none the wiser!

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
- 1 *Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 *unidentified ichneumon wasp

Flies:
- 3 *midges
- 12 *moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 *unidentified cranefly

Arthropods:
none

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

The only moth in the tunnel this morning was this Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata on he ceiling.

At first sight it would seem this ichneumon wasp should be easy to identify with a white segment in the middle of each antenna and a small white patch on the hind legs. Reference to NatureSpot suggests there are several species so-marked, not all in the same genus.

A two-fer. On the left a male plumed midge (species unconfirmed) and on the right one of the twelve moth flies Psychodidae sp. that were on the wall.

A female midge of a different species: larger and more robust.

A very different-looking midge with patterned wings and banded antennae. It may be one of the "gall and forest midges" in the family Cecidomyiidae. It would require a specialist to confirm that and to possibly come up with a better identification. Certainly not an insect I can recall seeing previously.

Not doing well on the identification stakes today. An unidentified cranefly! A small species but that does not help.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:45 – 07:30

(190th visit of the year)

Most of the "beach" has now gone with all the rain. There is not yet enough water to activate the outflow down the Wesley Brook.

Bird notes:
- back to nine Mute Swans.
- *one of the pair of Great Crested Grebe by the island was bringing food to its mate where at least two juveniles were huddled up at the nest site under over-hanging trees. The immature bird was at the top end again.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 5 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Goose
- 9 Mute Swans
- 19 (?♂) Mallard again
- 4 Moorhens
- 28 Coot
- 3 + 2? (1 brood) *Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 12 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron

Warblers noted:
- 3 Chiffchaffs again

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- 9 *Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 3 Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]

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

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 *male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum

Zoomed right in two juvenile Great Crested Grebes are alongside the parent as it sits at the nest site. There may well have been more on the side that is obscured or perhaps under the feathers being held loosely open.

Many of the Common Grass-moths Agriphila tristella are well past pristine condition. Note this one has lost most of the scales from its thorax. Because it is resting with its left wing tightly wrapped around its right wing it is not easy to see their markings from this angle.

A male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum that has lost one of its eight legs. Males of this genus are harder to separate than females as their more-circular bodies have no distinguishing marks. The lack of any white around the eyes identifies it as this species.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Teal
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Turtle Dove
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Pair Ruddy Duck
(Malcolm Thompson)

27 Aug 26

No sightings in today.

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Green Sandpiper
3 eclipse Teal
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Greenshank
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
Black Swan flew over
233 Canada Geese over
11 Greylag Geese over
123 Jackdaws
234 Rooks
143 Greenfinches
1 Willow Warbler
2 Blackcaps
Cormorant flew over
(Ed Wilson)

26 Aug 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

16.0°C > 18.0°C: Low cloud with a light shower c.08:30. Humid with a light easterly breeze. Moderate visibility.

Sunrise: 06:09 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– 06:35 // 07:40 – 09:30

(192nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- fifteen Tufted Duck at the West end c.09:10. At least four of these drakes. In most years this species is more numerous at The Flash where it has been strangely absent for much of the summer months.
- more Black-headed Gulls with c.275 arriving after 05:30.
- three groups of Lesser Black-backed Gulls arrived before 05:50 totalling c.245 birds.
- later just a single immature Lesser Black-back was seen on the water with 17 flying over along with but a single Herring Gull.
- c.30 *Barn Swallows dropped in to feed over the water during the shower. Several food-passes noted before they all headed off South.
- *a juvenile Grey Wagtail seen: the first of this species for many weeks.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 39 Canada Geese: 38 flew East in five groups; later a single flew West.
- 59 Greylag Geese: five flew East in two groups; 54 flew West in four groups.
- 1 Herring Gull
- 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 5 Feral Pigeons: together
- 52 Wood Pigeons
- 82 Jackdaws
- 106 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 40 (?♂) Mallard
- 15 (4+♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 43 Coot only
- 14 Great Crested Grebes only
- c.275 Black-headed Gulls
- c.245 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.30 *Barn Swallows

Warblers noted: fewer noted today
- 9 Chiffchaffs
- 2 Blackcaps

Also noted:

Butterflies:
none

Moths:
none

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
singles of each species
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria [Hornet Plumehorn]

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
none

True flies:
- *root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris
- *greenbottle Lucilia sp.
no other flies seen.

Bugs:
- Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes

Beetles:
none

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
- 1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]
three moths in flight only eluded identification

Flies:
- *1 female midge from the Chironomus group, perhaps C. plumosus
- 1 male Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- 5 *possible flies Dryomyza anilis
- 2 unidentified midges of different species
- *unidentified flies

Bees, wasps etc.:
- many Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris at every pole

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
- 1 *male Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
- 1 female harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
- 2 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

One of the thirty or so Barn Swallows that appeared during the short rain shower.

Another, apparently calling.

A juvenile Grey Wagtail among the debris on the beach in front of the sailing club's locked container by the south-west grass. It is many weeks since I last saw this species here – before the breeding season.

A fly that is easy to identify with the very clean marking on the thorax. It is the root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris.

A female midge from the Chironomus group, perhaps C. plumosus. She would not have the plumed antennae of the male but does have a banded abdomen.

I struggle with these small red flies. There were at least five on the poles this morning and this was my only acceptable photo. I think that the very slight shading on the wing tip suggests they are Dryomyza anilis and not whatever I called them yesterday.

A greenbottle of the Lucilia group gets to work on the just-opening Ivy blossom.

A handsome-looking fly on a street lamp pole pre-dawn. None of my apps is prepared to offer much in the way of positive identity.

Another fly that looks to be distinctive but...

My apps failed again! A male spider and from this angle with conspicuously long front legs.

Then from this angle both apps plumped for Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata also called Silver-sided Sector Spider.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
- 1 $ *Australian Orange-tip Tachystola acroxantha [was Ruddy Streak]
- 1 *Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

Flies:
- 6 midges
- 1 Dull Four-spined Legionnaire Chorisops tibialis
- 2 female and 1 male Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- 18 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 *cranefly Tipula lateralis
- 1 *unknown "winter cranefly?"

Arthropods:
- 2 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

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

A new moth species for me although it is apparently common. It is an Australian Orange-tip Tachystola acroxantha. A small moth that is thought to have been accidentally imported from Australia. It was first recorded in South Devon is 1906. It has now spread throughout England at least.

Yet another Double-striped Pug moth Gymnoscelis rufifasciata I noted on the ceiling.

An easy one: the cranefly Tipula lateralis

A difficult one! Obsidentify was 100% sure it was the winter cranefly Trichocera annulata. The size and banded abdomen fit but the antennae on this individual are much longer than illustrations of that species. Also the flight time is noted as "from September onwards". Climate change? I can't come up with any other suggestion.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:40 – 07:35

(188th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- only eight Mute Swans present when I arrived. A single and a duo later flew out.
- no Little Grebe seen. Probably does not mean much for this often elusive species.
- only one Great Crested Grebe seen and that at extreme range and impossible to age. I did hear what sounded like begging juvenile(s). I hope the family was going the other way around the island and I just failed to catch up with them.
- no Cormorants seen.
- *on my first view of the new beach to the island there were three standing Grey Herons. I did not see or hear any later.
- no Little Egret again.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese yet again
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 8 Mute Swans: of these three departed
- 26 (?♂) Mallard again
- 10 Moorhens
- 34 Coot
- no Little Grebe
- 1? Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 11 Black-headed Gulls
- no Cormorants
- 3 *Grey Herons: see notes

Warblers noted:
- 3 Chiffchaffs
- 1 Blackcap: in quiet song

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- 5 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]

Bugs:
- 1 *Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes

A portrait of a first winter Black-headed Gull. Unusually it seems to have moulted some of the brown immature wing-feathers. This would not normally happen until next year's moult.

For comparison and adult winter Black-headed Gull. The "ear muffs" are typically of variable intensity.

Just to prove there were three Grey Herons. One is on the left with a Coot and two Mute Swans behind it. The other two are one behind the other on the beach to the right of the trees. I did not see these when I next looked.

A Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes trying to climb in to the crack on a street lamp pole.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)