No sightings in today.
23 Jul 26
Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash
14.0°C > 18.0°C: Clear for about 10 minutes and then cloud which threatened to break after 08:30 but never did. Moderate north-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:14 BST
* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area
Back from a trip South to the trade event at the Farnborough Air Show and then visiting elderly relatives.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:45– 06:05 // 07:15 – 09:45
(164th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- two Tufted Duck flew in: the first of Autumn
- all five juvenile Great Crested Grebes seen: only five adults located.
- at least 25 House Martins were calling while swirling high over Teece Drive c.06:00. Had it been six weeks later I would have suggested it was a group gathering ahead of setting off on their migration. I could not detect any begging juvenile calls. Later four were over the lake, briefly.
- two Common Whitethroats were heard making contact calls at the West end with one of these seen working the scrubby vegetation.
- a group of seven Starlings was noted low over the football field heading toward the estate was perhaps unusual at this date.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: flew East together
- 1 Greylag Goose: flew West
- 1 Herring Gull
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 82 Wood Pigeons
- 115 Jackdaws
- 12 Rooks
- 7 Starlings
Counts from the lake area:
- 32 Canada Geese: of these 31 arrived in three groups
- 11 Greylag Geese: one present early departed; ten arrived together
- 2 Mute Swans
- 52 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 (?♂) Tufted Duck: arrived
- 4 Moorhens
- 49 Coots
- 5 + *5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- *11 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 *Grey Herons: departed separately
Hirundines etc. noted:
- >12 Swifts
- >25 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 5 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (1) Reed Warblers
- 3 (0) Blackcaps
- 2 (0) Common Whitethroats
Also noted:
Not much in the cloudy conditions.
Butterflies:
- 1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 5 *Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
14.0°C > 18.0°C: Clear for about 10 minutes and then cloud which threatened to break after 08:30 but never did. Moderate north-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:14 BST
* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area
Back from a trip South to the trade event at the Farnborough Air Show and then visiting elderly relatives.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:45– 06:05 // 07:15 – 09:45
(164th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- two Tufted Duck flew in: the first of Autumn
- all five juvenile Great Crested Grebes seen: only five adults located.
- at least 25 House Martins were calling while swirling high over Teece Drive c.06:00. Had it been six weeks later I would have suggested it was a group gathering ahead of setting off on their migration. I could not detect any begging juvenile calls. Later four were over the lake, briefly.
- two Common Whitethroats were heard making contact calls at the West end with one of these seen working the scrubby vegetation.
- a group of seven Starlings was noted low over the football field heading toward the estate was perhaps unusual at this date.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: flew East together
- 1 Greylag Goose: flew West
- 1 Herring Gull
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 82 Wood Pigeons
- 115 Jackdaws
- 12 Rooks
- 7 Starlings
Counts from the lake area:
- 32 Canada Geese: of these 31 arrived in three groups
- 11 Greylag Geese: one present early departed; ten arrived together
- 2 Mute Swans
- 52 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 (?♂) Tufted Duck: arrived
- 4 Moorhens
- 49 Coots
- 5 + *5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- *11 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 *Grey Herons: departed separately
Hirundines etc. noted:
- >12 Swifts
- >25 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 5 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (1) Reed Warblers
- 3 (0) Blackcaps
- 2 (0) Common Whitethroats
Also noted:
Not much in the cloudy conditions.
Butterflies:
- 1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 5 *Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
Moths:
- >10 ! *Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella
- >10 *Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
many other unidentified grass moths flying away to hide.
- >10 ! *Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella
- >10 *Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
many other unidentified grass moths flying away to hide.
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
- *Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- *Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria [Hornet Plumehorn]
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- *Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria [Hornet Plumehorn]
Damsel / Dragon-flies:
none
True flies:
even fewer today including...
- *possible $ Dung Fly Cordilura albipes
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus wahlbergi or similar with swollen mid-tarsi
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Awkward Clusterfly Pollenia rudis
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- marsh fly Tetanocera ferruginea
a few unidentified flies
none
True flies:
even fewer today including...
- *possible $ Dung Fly Cordilura albipes
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus wahlbergi or similar with swollen mid-tarsi
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Awkward Clusterfly Pollenia rudis
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- marsh fly Tetanocera ferruginea
a few unidentified flies
Bugs:
none
Beetles:
none
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 female harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
- *1 female harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
none
Beetles:
none
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 female harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
- *1 female harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
Moths:
- *1 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
- *1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
- *1 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
- *1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
Beetles:
- *1 Clover Weevil Sitona hispidulus
- *1 Clover Weevil Sitona hispidulus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
The oldest and single-survivor from the first pair of Great Crested Grebes to hatch young. Still very stripey-headed but with a hint of adult brown feathers appearing.
An adult Black-headed Gull pouncing on a morsel probably dropped when the Magpies raided one of the litter bins. Note this bird is in post-breeding moult with only eight of the normal ten primary feathers showing, the inner two having been dropped prior to regrowing.
...on this dancing couple the left-hand bird is rapidly losing the dark feathers as it moults in to Winter plumage.
A Swift and from the shape of the head one with cheek-pouches full of insects. This species will not be with us much longer. Swifts are the last migrant to arrive and the first to leave. Most will have gone by the end of the month though a few birds may linger to mid-August. Any later sightings will almost certainly be of migrants from Scandinavia passing through.
This tiny moth is a Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella. It is the larvae that make the blotches on the leaves of Horse-chestnut tree Aesculus hippocastanum. The scientific name of the species "ohrid" refers to Lake Ohrid straddling the North Macedonia–Albania border and near where the first specimens were identified c.1985. Subsequent investigations have found affected leaves in herbaria specimens dating back to the 1880s. It is unknown why it has gone through such rapid range-expansion to arrive in the UK in 2002 and to now be present over most of the UK where its food-plant is found.
A Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella at a typical head-down attitude but on a street lamp pole around dawn and not on a grass stem.
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus was the only species of butterfly I noted until a Green-veined White Pieris napi appeared at the very last minute.
A Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria tucking in to another of the few Knapweed flowers. I have seen more of this species this year than I can recall from previous years.
An unusual-looking fly. It is possibly the Dung Fly Cordilura albipes: a species I have not previously recorded.
What I suspect is an unusual sighting. These are both females from the Leiobunum genus of harvestmen but are of different species. The upper individual is L. blackwalli identified by the dark on her body widening posteriorly and then ending abruptly. The lower individual is L. rotundum with the dark on her body parallel-sided. Males of these species have an unmarked and more circular body and are difficult to separate.
This is a male Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata. It has the a long proboscis like the female but he also has very feathered antennae. It is only the female that needs the blood-meal to develop the eggs for the next generation.
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
From bill-colour both these birds are drake Mallard. They are undergoing post-breeding moult.
One cruises by. Note the head still looks to be in breeding plumage whereas....
"I'm coming to get you"!
The second of the two Grey Herons present earlier now leaving.
That's slightly better. On vegetation if not a grass-stem.
A Common Plume moth Emmelina monodactyla. This species in more or less continuously brooded and can be seen flying in almost any month of the year.
A Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum battling to find a way to the Knapweed nectar.
A long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar. Compare with....
...this long-legged fly Dolichopus wahlbergi or similar with swollen mid-tarsi.
This critter is a Clover Weevil Sitona hispidulus.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- *1 Brindled Poplar Tortrix Epinotia nisella [was Grey Poplar Bell]
Flies:
- 6 midges
- *1 male Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- *1 female mayfly, possibly Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum
- *1 fly possibly Heteromyza rotundicornis from the Heleomyzidae family
- 2 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
Arthropods:
none
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- *1 Brindled Poplar Tortrix Epinotia nisella [was Grey Poplar Bell]
Flies:
- 6 midges
- *1 male Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- *1 female mayfly, possibly Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum
- *1 fly possibly Heteromyza rotundicornis from the Heleomyzidae family
- 2 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
Arthropods:
none
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
A Brindled Poplar Tortrix Epinotia nisella one day later than last year's sighting here.
Still here some ten days after I first noted two of these possible Pond Olive mayflies Cloeon dipterum.
On the ceiling of the tunnel was this fly with the striped thorax and banded orange abdomen. The best I can suggest is Heteromyza rotundicornis from the Heleomyzidae family.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:10 – 07:10
(162nd visit of the year)
New bird species:
Another addition to my 2026 bird list at this site: two Little Egrets were seen together on the East side, briefly. Later one was seen flying off West with the other by the island. Species #72 for me here this year.
Bird notes:
- I could find only 17 Mute Swans.
- many fewer Tufted Duck than on my previous visit.
- none of the 26 Coots were on the edge of the island. The new brood of three juveniles was seen again. I read that there are currently over 800 Coots "just down the road" at Belvide Reservoir which may be where our birds have gone. Why: they did not depart last year? How did they know where to gather?
- a Cormorant was noted flying to the island. I am not sure whether it had been fishing in the water and made a short hop or whether it was flying from elsewhere.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 31 Canada Geese: some of these departed and / or repositioned
- *16 Greylag Geese
- 17 Mute Swans
- 17 (?♂) Mallard
- 6 (?♂) Tufted Duck only
- 5 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- *12 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adults, arrived as a duo and single: did not stay
- 1 Cormorant
- *2 Little Egrets: see notes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
Noted around the area:
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:10 – 07:10
(162nd visit of the year)
New bird species:
Another addition to my 2026 bird list at this site: two Little Egrets were seen together on the East side, briefly. Later one was seen flying off West with the other by the island. Species #72 for me here this year.
Bird notes:
- I could find only 17 Mute Swans.
- many fewer Tufted Duck than on my previous visit.
- none of the 26 Coots were on the edge of the island. The new brood of three juveniles was seen again. I read that there are currently over 800 Coots "just down the road" at Belvide Reservoir which may be where our birds have gone. Why: they did not depart last year? How did they know where to gather?
- a Cormorant was noted flying to the island. I am not sure whether it had been fishing in the water and made a short hop or whether it was flying from elsewhere.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 31 Canada Geese: some of these departed and / or repositioned
- *16 Greylag Geese
- 17 Mute Swans
- 17 (?♂) Mallard
- 6 (?♂) Tufted Duck only
- 5 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- *12 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adults, arrived as a duo and single: did not stay
- 1 Cormorant
- *2 Little Egrets: see notes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
Noted around the area:
Moths:
- 2 caterpillars of Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
nothing else!
These two Little Egrets seemed to be having a dispute when I first saw them, here along the East side. Later I saw one (of these, I assume) flying away with...
...this one settling among the Black-headed Gulls with two Greylag Geese looking on. Note the absence of Coots on the edge of the island. Two weeks ago I counted over 40 there.
(Ed Wilson)
- 2 caterpillars of Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
nothing else!
(Ed Wilson)
22 Jul 26
No sightings in today
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011
Priorslee Lake
1 Kingfisher
Female Ruddy Duck
(John Isherwood)
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
A drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake
1 Kingfisher
Female Ruddy Duck
(John Isherwood)
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
A drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
20 Jul 26
No sightings in today.
2009
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Lake
1 Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)
19 Jul 26
No sightings in today.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
Female Ruddy Duck
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
A male Cockatiel
1 drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
Female Ruddy Duck
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
A male Cockatiel
1 drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
18 Jul 26
Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash
13.0°C > 18.0°C: Clear but hazy. Low cloud to the North later did not encroach this far. Light and variable breeze. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:08 BST
* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:45– 05:55 // 07:05 – 09:30
(163rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- initially eight Canada Geese: eventually nineteen. The lone adult Greylag joined by another.
- no Mallard duckling noted. Fewer adults.
- a new brood of three Coots appeared.
- all the Great Crested Grebes behaved themselves and appeared: six adults and five juveniles.
- a tight group of 19 presumed Racing Pigeons flew fast East across the football field c.05:35. None of the local Feral Pigeons seemed interested in joining them. Seems an early time for Racing Pigeons to be about.
- a Willow Warbler was seen along the South side: making an early start on its long journey back to sub-Saharan Africa.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 19 Racing(?) Pigeons
- 84 Wood Pigeons
- 158 Jackdaws
- 69 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 19 Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 32 (?♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 49 Coots: three of these a new party of juveniles
- 6 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 14 Black-headed Gulls
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: heard c.05:20 only
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts again
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (0) Willow Warbler
- 5 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (1) Reed Warblers
- 4 (1) Blackcaps
Also noted:
The vegetation is very dry and flowers are fading fast. Other than butterflies it was a struggle.
I may have had my doubts about several of the "white" butterflies today but not this Green-veined White Pieris napi
Is this Speckled Wood butterfly Pararge aegeria destined to fly around in circles? Of course as a feisty species that is often seen in sparring duos or groups they frequently fly in circles anyway.
Hooray! A Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella actually posing for a photo and not disappearing in the long grass.
Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris have been scarce so far this year. Long may it stay that way? Not really as they are an important predator of very many pest species.
A smart cranefly. It is one of the several species in the "Tiger Cranefly group" though that specific appellation is given to a different species. This, a Nephrotoma flavipalpis, has no vernacular name. The ovipositor identifies it as a female.
One of two spiders that were on the sluice control box inside the boxing ring on the dam. This looks to be a Garden Spider Araneus diadematus.
One of two pug moths I noted on the ceiling of the tunnel. Neither Obsidentify nor Google Lens gave a positive ID and I remain unhappy with any of their suggestions.
(161st visit of the year)
New bird species:
A belated addition to my 2026 bird list at this site when a single Barn Swallow flew South. Species #71.
Bird notes
I did not see either yesterday's moulting drake Common Teal or hear any Ring-necked Parakeet.
Other bird notes:
- 18 Mute Swans remain.
- the decline in geese numbers continues.
- only ten of the 31 Coots were on the edge of the island. A new brood of three juveniles boosted the otherwise low number. Where have they all gone?
- three adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls arrived together from the West and immediately started noisily dive-bombing the Grey Heron that had been minding its own business atop a tree on the island.
13.0°C > 18.0°C: Clear but hazy. Low cloud to the North later did not encroach this far. Light and variable breeze. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:08 BST
* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:45– 05:55 // 07:05 – 09:30
(163rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- initially eight Canada Geese: eventually nineteen. The lone adult Greylag joined by another.
- no Mallard duckling noted. Fewer adults.
- a new brood of three Coots appeared.
- all the Great Crested Grebes behaved themselves and appeared: six adults and five juveniles.
- a tight group of 19 presumed Racing Pigeons flew fast East across the football field c.05:35. None of the local Feral Pigeons seemed interested in joining them. Seems an early time for Racing Pigeons to be about.
- a Willow Warbler was seen along the South side: making an early start on its long journey back to sub-Saharan Africa.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 19 Racing(?) Pigeons
- 84 Wood Pigeons
- 158 Jackdaws
- 69 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 19 Canada Geese: see notes
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 32 (?♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 49 Coots: three of these a new party of juveniles
- 6 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 14 Black-headed Gulls
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: heard c.05:20 only
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts again
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (0) Willow Warbler
- 5 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (1) Reed Warblers
- 4 (1) Blackcaps
Also noted:
The vegetation is very dry and flowers are fading fast. Other than butterflies it was a struggle.
Butterflies:
- *2 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 unidentified "whites" Pieris sp.
- *2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 19 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 39 (!!) Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 7 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 3 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
- *2 Peacock Aglais io
- *1 Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas
- *2 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 unidentified "whites" Pieris sp.
- *2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 19 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 39 (!!) Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 7 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 3 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
- *2 Peacock Aglais io
- *1 Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas
Moths:
- *8 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
many other *unidentified grass moths flying away to hide.
- *1 Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata [was Small Purple & Gold]
- *8 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
many other *unidentified grass moths flying away to hide.
- *1 Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata [was Small Purple & Gold]
Bees, wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
very few!
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Pellucid Fly Volucella pellucens [Pied Plumehorn; Great Pied Hoverfly]
very few!
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Pellucid Fly Volucella pellucens [Pied Plumehorn; Great Pied Hoverfly]
Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [Blue Emperor]
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- *Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
at least one other species of dragonfly seen in flight only
- Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [Blue Emperor]
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- *Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
at least one other species of dragonfly seen in flight only
True flies:
even fewer today including...
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *! cranefly Nephrotoma flavipalpis
- *marsh fly Tetanocera ferruginea
a few unidentified flies
even fewer today including...
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *! cranefly Nephrotoma flavipalpis
- *marsh fly Tetanocera ferruginea
a few unidentified flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
none
none
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 possible Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
- *1 possible Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
A blank morning again
- *1 possible Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
- *1 possible Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
A blank morning again
And some other butterflies have also seen better days. A very ragged Peacock butterfly Aglais io.
A Small Copper butterfly Lycaena phlaeas from the underside.
This grass moth is also posing but is so worn I cannot tell what species it is.
Worth another look: a Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata, formerly known as Small Purple & Gold.
A posing Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum.
The marsh fly Tetanocera ferruginea seems to be especially common at the moment.
Very close-by was this possible Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius dealing with a large fly, apparently a Cluster Fly Pollenia sp. I am more confident about this spider's ID though I have not previously seen this species away from the West end.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
- 1 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
- *2 unidentified pug moths
- *1 ! Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba
- 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
- 1 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
- *2 unidentified pug moths
- *1 ! Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba
Flies:
- 3 midges only
- 1 mayfly, possibly Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 3 midges only
- 1 mayfly, possibly Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
Arthropods:
- 2 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- 2 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 3 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
- 3 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
I was equally unconvinced about any of their suggestions for this one.
My first Large Yellow Underwing moth Noctua pronuba of the year. An abundant species which I rarely see – one a year in the tunnel seems to be the going rate. It is one of the large group of Noctuid moths that seem to come to light early in the night and have presumably hidden away well before dawn.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:00 – 07:00
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:00 – 07:00
(161st visit of the year)
New bird species:
A belated addition to my 2026 bird list at this site when a single Barn Swallow flew South. Species #71.
Bird notes
I did not see either yesterday's moulting drake Common Teal or hear any Ring-necked Parakeet.
Other bird notes:
- 18 Mute Swans remain.
- the decline in geese numbers continues.
- only ten of the 31 Coots were on the edge of the island. A new brood of three juveniles boosted the otherwise low number. Where have they all gone?
- three adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls arrived together from the West and immediately started noisily dive-bombing the Grey Heron that had been minding its own business atop a tree on the island.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 62 Canada Geese
- 59 Greylag Geese
- 18 Mute Swans
- 19 (?♂) Mallard
- 19 (?♂) Tufted Duck only
- 3 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adults, arrived together
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff again
Noted around the area:
Noted on / around the water:
- 62 Canada Geese
- 59 Greylag Geese
- 18 Mute Swans
- 19 (?♂) Mallard
- 19 (?♂) Tufted Duck only
- 3 Moorhens
- 31 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adults, arrived together
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff again
Noted around the area:
Moths:
- 2 Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella
- *1 ! Pale-streak Grass-moth Agriphila selasella [was Pale-streak Grass-veneer]
- *1 ! Black Arches Lymantria monacha
- *1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula
- 8 caterpillars of Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
- 2 Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella
- *1 ! Pale-streak Grass-moth Agriphila selasella [was Pale-streak Grass-veneer]
- *1 ! Black Arches Lymantria monacha
- *1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula
- 8 caterpillars of Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
Bugs:
- NB: yesterday's mirid bug Phytocoris tiliae has been confirmed as such by the Shropshire recorder.
- NB: yesterday's mirid bug Phytocoris tiliae has been confirmed as such by the Shropshire recorder.
Beetles:
- *1 ! Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
Another variation on the grass moth theme. My first Pale-streak Grass-moth Agriphila selasella of the year on one of the street lamp poles alongside the Wesley Brook leading away from The Flash.
A smart moth: a Black Arches Lymantria monacha. I found this at shoulder-height on a street lamp pole at the top end resting in full sun. I used my shadow to get a better contrast. I had taken a "safety shot" in case it flew off. This is a worn individual with no scales remaining on top of its head. A species I record every year: only one or two though.
"Come in #9 your time is up"! A Swallow Prominent moth Pheosia tremula found on one of the shaded street lamp poles at the top end where I usually find a few each year. Presumably a second generation individual. The Field Guide notes April – June for the first generation and August for the second.
New for the year was this Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata, also on one of the street lamp poles alongside the Wesley Brook.
(Ed Wilson)
- *1 ! Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
(Ed Wilson)
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