31 Aug 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

12.0°C > 16.0°C: Some early cloud clearing to good sunny intervals for a while. Cloud building again with a shower starting as I departed. Another almost calm start with a light north-westerly breeze developing. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:18 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:55 – 07:05 // 08:10 – 09:30

(195th visit of the year)

All the muddy margins around the lake have now gone and the exit sluice is running freely. The Wesley Brook alongside Teece Drive is damp but not flowing. All the water seems to have come via the sluices near the Teece Drive gate.

Bird notes:
- again more geese passed below tree-level from wherever I happened to be.
- seven Tufted Duck noted.
- as yesterday Black-headed Gulls were the only gulls seen on the water. The first two arrivals at 05:35 soon departed. c.30 present by 06:00. None was seen on the football field.
- as yesterday 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were noted flying over at various times.
- more than 40 hirundines were very high overhead after 06:30, so high that I was unable to hear them over the noise of the M54. I suspect most were Barn Swallows with a few House Martins among them. Most unexpected was a Swift with them at 06:50. By 09:00 there were at least 20 Barn Swallows low over the water and from time-to-time small groups seemed to be heading off South. A few House Martins heard at that time included calling juvenile(s).
- three Chiffchaffs were noted singing with at least 15 in total seen and heard..

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- Canada Geese: heard only.
- 36 Greylag Geese flew West in three groups; others heard
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 22 Feral Pigeons flew South over the dam area in a tight group. Not from the estate?
- 1 Stock Dove
- 76 Wood Pigeons
- 129 Jackdaws
- 95 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 40 (?♂) Mallard
- 7 (>3♂?) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 37 Coot still
- 14 Great Crested Grebes still
- c.30 Black-headed Gulls
- no Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 *Swift
- >30 *Barn Swallows: see notes
- >10 House Martins: see notes

Warblers noted:
- 15 Chiffchaffs: three in song
- 4 Blackcaps again

Also noted:
The sun had mostly gone behind cloud by the time the insects would have been on the wing

Butterflies:
none

Moths:
none

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
including a nest site!

Hoverflies:
none

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
none

True flies:
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *clusterfly Pollenia sp.
- *flesh fly Sarcophaga sp.
a few other unidentified flies seen.

Bugs:
none

Beetles:
none

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
- 1 *Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
- 4 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]

Flies:
- 1 *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar

Bees, wasps etc.:
- >3 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris

Arthropods:
- 1 *$ millipede Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Common House Spider Eratigena atrica
- 1 *Furrow Orbweaver Larinioides cornutus [Furrow Spider]
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis

The Sturgeon Moon is even more lopsided after another day's waning.

Cloud clearing away to the East and mist over the water. Not much colour.

This Common Buzzard had been sitting on a street lamp pole outside the academy until I started walking up Teece Drive. It reluctantly flew in to the Ricoh copse pursued by a posse of Magpies. The tail of one can be seen hanging down above the buzzards head. What a hooked beak.

Still with the Magpie's tail hanging down it turned to look at me...

...and decided it was time to go [the blue patch is a small area of sky visible through the copse]

I know, I know... Well it was only 06:50. Record shot of the Common Swift. I only have "last dates" for the previous ten years: last year's record on 03 September was my only later date.

If you take enough photos of the flying Barn Swallows one ends up almost acceptable.

A Common Plume moth Emmelina monodactyla

The Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea on the left was climbing up the street lamp pole and about to meet one of our smallest harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis

A Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum at the remnant flowers on the Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii. The bush has not been used by many butterflies of late.

I have not seen a long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar for several weeks. One was on a street lamp pole pre-dawn and this may or may not be the same individual seen later.

A clusterfly from the Pollenia genus.

Another flesh fly from the Sarcophaga genus. Unlike yesterday's example it does not have a tapered abdomen.

A different flesh fly. Looks to be even hairier. Mr. Google's AI tells me "Flies are hairy because their tiny body hairs act as crucial sensory tools for tasting, smelling, feeling, and navigating the world around them". Mankind seems to have lost this capability somewhere along the long evolutionary path though I suppose we occasionally experience our hairs standing on end as a sensory response.

Perhaps a new species for me. This millipede seems to be Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus with an overall brown tone and a pale area behind the head. Perhaps I have assumed this was just a White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger previously.

I think this spider is a Furrow Orbweaver Larinioides cornutus.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

An early visit again c.05:00

Moths:
- 1 ! *Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis
- 3 Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata

Flies:
- 1 midge
- 7 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 cranefly Tipula confusa

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

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

This is my first Rusty-dot Pearl moth Udea ferrugalis for almost exactly 11 years – 01 September 2015 was my previous sighting. This is a migrant moth and therefore appears in variable numbers depending upon the weather. No doubt the hot weather helped. The ground colour of individuals is variable: some are grey, some rusty with many in-between.

One of three Chevron Grass-moths Agriphila geniculea I noted on the ceiling of the tunnel.

Yet another Yellow Shell moth Camptogramma bilineata.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:10 – 08:05

(193rd visit of the year)

Still quiet.

Bird notes:
- 17 Canada Geese flew in together.
- a group of 13 Greylag Geese by the island was unusual these days. Also unusual was that they were completely silent.
- eight Mute Swans with one chased away.
- one adult and two juvenile Great Crested Grebes were at the nest. I did not see any others.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese: of these 17 arrived together
- 13 Greylag Goose
- 8 Mute Swans: one of these departed
- 16 (?♂) *Mallard only
- 3 Moorhens again
- 25 Coot
- 1 + 2 (1 brood) *Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 10 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons

Warblers noted:
- 2 Chiffchaffs: one in song
- 1 Blackcap: in quiet song

Noted around the area:

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

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

For its third year (at least) the "what sex is it Mallard?". Some of the green head colour, the white neck ring, the brown chest and the curled tail feather say it is a drake. The bill colour and the flank markings say it is a duck. I assume it is an aberrant drake.

A Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris was today's duty officer at the Neighbourhood Watch sign by the academy.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Possible Little Ringed Plover
Raven
(John Isherwood)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Nedge Hill
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
Little Grebe
Shoveler
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
58 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)

30 Aug 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

15.0°C > 18.0°C: Cloudy early. Clearing to good sunny spells after 08:00. An almost calm start with a light southerly breeze developing. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:16 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 – 07:05 // 08:00 – 10:00

(195th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- many more geese passed below tree-level from wherever I happened to be.
- just four Tufted Duck noted.
- Black-headed Gulls were the only gulls seen on the water. The first arrivals were at 05:50 and c.100 present by 06:10. 35, probably of these, were on the football field c.06:25.
- just 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were noted flying over at various times.
- only 32 Wood Pigeons responded to the burners of the hot-air balloons from the Telford Balloon Festival. They were not alone. A trio of Grey Herons flew over noisily with another a few minutes later. A group of 41 Feral Pigeons from the local estates went fly-about and 15 Starlings flew East.
- at least a dozen Barn Swallows were feeding over the water after 09:00 with a lone House Martin among them.
- a large party of tits and warblers were in trees between the West end path and Ricoh c.09:45. Among this party were at least two Willow Warblers, one singing; and three Chiffchaffs, two singing. There may well have been more as they were impossible to keep track of.
- a Reed Warbler was glimpsed in flight between patches of reeds along the South side and then two were noted working a patch of sedges nearby.
- a Mistle Thrush was heard calling and then seen "on territory" in trees alongside Teece Drive. I would not have expected the species to return to its breeding site until late October / November.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- >42 Canada Geese: >40 flew East together; a duo flew West later. Others heard.
- 12 Greylag Geese flew West; others heard
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Grey Herons: see notes
- 2 Feral Pigeons [the birds from the local estates are not logged here]
- 63 Wood Pigeons
- 15 Starlings
- 85 Jackdaws
- 128 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 38 (?♂) Mallard
- 4 (>1♂?) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 37 Coot yet again
- 14 Great Crested Grebes again
- c.100 Black-headed Gulls
- no Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
- 1 Kingfisher again

Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.12 *Barn Swallows
- 1 House Martin

Warblers noted:
- 2 Willow Warbler: one in song
- 11 *Chiffchaffs: two in song
- 2 Reed Warblers
- 4 Blackcaps

Also noted:
The sun tempted a few things out

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

Moths:
none

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
including a nest site!

Hoverflies:
singles of each species
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- *Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- *Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- *Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
- unidentified dragonfly in flight only

True flies:
- *blow fly Calliphora sp.
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp.
a few other unidentified flies seen.

Bugs:
none

Beetles:
none

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
- 4 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa
- two others in flight only and unidentified

Flies:
- 1 *male Pond Olive mayfly Cloeon dipterum

Bees, wasps etc.:
- >5 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none

The Sturgeon Moon looking very slightly lopsided as it starts to wane. As a result a few cross-lit craters are evident.

A dozen or so Barn Swallows were hawking insects. This one looks to be a juvenile – the throat looks a very pale colour.

There was a big gaggle of Long-tailed Tits at the West end. This was one.

With the Long-tailed Tits was this Chiffchaff. The berries are not looking appetising as a result of the drought.

Another Chiffchaff looking sad. I suspect a juvenile still with a hint of a gape-line.

One of the four Small White butterflies Pieris rapae I noted.

There were three moths flying around as I checked the West end street lamp poles. This one settled on the ground and I managed a quick photo before it crawled under the leaf to hide. It is a Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa.

A dreadful photo of a small fly a long way up a tall street lamp pole. It is a male Pond Olive mayfly Cloeon dipterum. Note the "turbinate" eyes that allow males to spot females easily among a dancing melee of mayflies.

A close-up of a Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax.

A Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea on the Ivy. To my eyes this is the hoverfly that most closely resembles a wasp when in flight.

A male Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum. It is approaching my previous "last date" for this species. It was the only damselfly I noted today.

A well-camouflaged female Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum.

One of the blow fly species in the Calliphora genus. All are broad-bodied flies.

This Flesh fly from the genus Sarcophaga has a more tapered abdomen than I recall on other specimens. Does not seem to help with any further identification.

The looks to be a disassembled spider! Spiders periodically "shed their skin" as they grow leaving behind what is called an exuvia.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

An early visit again c.04:55

Moths:
- 1 *Orange Swift Triodia sylvina
- 1 *Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

Flies:
- 4 midges
- 5 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

Arthropods:
-1 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 *Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis
- 5 *Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]

My third Orange Swift moth Triodia sylvina in the tunnel this year. Not a species I see every year.

Another Double-striped Pug moth Gymnoscelis rufifasciata I suppose. Both my apps say it is even though I can only see one stripe and it is resting with the wings slightly angled as opposed to held straight-out as they usually seem to.

A Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis. I read their bite is painful. I must remember not to pick one up.

This Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata has reduced my moth count here by one. I cannot ID what it has caught.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 07:10 – 07:55

(192nd visit of the year)

A later visit as I stayed in the Balancing Lake area for the hot-air balloon lift.

Very quiet. I was told that two of the hot-air balloons had dipped a gondola in the water before lifting off, causing panic from which the water had not recovered. Should they do this at a Nature Reserve?

Bird notes:
- eight Mute Swans.
- *the family of Great Crested Grebes was on the open water with four juveniles clearly visible. The immature bird from the top end was not seen.
- two Grey Herons were sparring as they flew toward The Flash as I was approaching. I could not see where they went. Only one (of these?) was seen later on the island,

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Grey Herons: see notes

Noted on / around the water:
- 3 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Goose
- 8 Mute Swans
- 14 (?♂) Mallard only
- 3 Moorhens
- 18 Coot only
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) *Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron

Warblers noted:

None

Noted around the area:

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

At last! The Great Crested Grebe family is on open water and it possible to see that there are four juveniles, here with one of the adults.

A surprised-looking Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea lurking among lichen growing on the Neighbourhood Watch sign near the academy.

(Ed Wilson)

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Telford Balloon Festival

I noted 17 hot-air balloons in this morning's lift. Here are images of nine that launched this morning that I did not photograph yesterday. Apologies for providing limited data for some of them: the Government web site that provides up-to-date data is not working properly.

G-BHDV is a Cameron V-77. It was registered back in 1980. It is the envelope that is registered not the gondola so it must be made of tough material. I can find no information on the "Dorm Ouse" legend.

G-BVPV is a Lindstrand LBL 77B privately owned in Burton-on-Trent. A regular participant here.

G-BVUA is a hard to read Cameron O-105 of unknown provenance.

G-CIDU is a Kubicek BB22E registered to a private owner in Evesham. I first noted this taking part in the 2019 festival.

G-CJXJ is a Cameron Z-105 from the Bristol University Hot Air Ballooning Society and a regular participant at Telford.

G-CMLH is a Diamond P-90L also of unknown provenance.

G-PAID is an Ultramagic M-65C not surprisingly operated on behalf of allpay Ltd. of Bath

an unusual view of it.

G-TVSK is an Ultramagic B-50. No other data available.

G-WYNT is a Cameron N-56 (another hard to read identity!). The inscription translates (thanks to Mr. Google) to "Winds over Wales". No other data is available.

(Ed Wilson)

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2012
Priorslee Lake
Black Tern
(Arthur Harper)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)