17 May 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

7.0°C > 11.0°C: Clear periods early then overcast at medium / high level. Moderate westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:10 BST

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 06:25 // 07:30 – 09:25

(115th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- *the seven Greylag Geese goslings still doing well.
- what seemed to be a trio of Mallard ducklings quickly disappeared in to the reeds.
- two adult Herring Gulls and two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the football field c.06:05. When a first year Lesser Black-back joined them they all immediately flew off.
- today's warbler update:
eight singing Reed Warbler.
no Common Whitethroat seen or heard.
- *at least 22 Starlings, mostly juveniles, were on the football field c.06:05

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew West
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 7 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- *4 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: a pair arrived to annoy the residents
- 2 Mute Swans (assuming the pen is on the nest, hidden in the reeds)
- 12 (9♂) + 3? (1 brood) Mallard: see notes
- 6 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- 19 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Herring Gulls: see notes
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 2 Grey Herons: neither seen later

Hirundines etc. noted:
- >30 Swifts: pair seen mating on the wing
- >2 Sand Martins
- >8 Barn Swallows
- >12 House Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 12 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (8) Reed Warblers
- 19 (17) Blackcaps
- no Common Whitethroats

On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:

Flies:
- 4 midges

Noted around the area later:
cool and overcast conditions

Butterflies:
- none

Moths:
- none

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
- none

Other flies:
- *Balloon Fly Hilara maura or similar
- *Root-maggot fly, perhaps a Leucophora sp.
- *Tachinid fly Lypha dubia
- *Muscid fly, perhaps Phaonia subventa
- Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria
- *Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- many unidentified species

Bugs:
- Dock Bug Coreus marginatus

Beetles:
- *7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

Quite an armful as the adult Greylag Goose keeps the seven goslings warm!

Juvenile Starlings in their overall brown plumage do not look much like their parents. [The fence was angled away from me – honest!]

It only seemed to be the juveniles on the fence. The adults were on the grass gathering food.

An Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum tucks in to nectar from the flower of Ramsons [or Wild Garlic] Allium ursinum.

Tongue extended fully here.

Another at rest. This one showing a very indistinct midriff band of colour.

In a buttercup flower I noted this small fly with swelling on the front legs. It is one of the Balloon Flies Hilara maura or similar. There are several similar species. All the males in the family present prospective partners with a dead fly: the Hilara exude silk from their swollen legs and wrap the present in the silk.

This is a Root-maggot fly the banded brown abdomen suggesting one of the Leucophora species.

This brassy-looking fly is the Tachinid fly Lypha dubia.

Obsidentify was certain this is the Muscid fly Phaonia subventa. Normally I would record it as Phaonia subventa/rufiventris as I do not know how to separate the species in photographs.

A Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria

A male Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria

Another feeding from the flowers in an umbel of Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris

As it turns slightly something I have never noticed before: the abdomen appears banded. It is the separation of the abdomen segments that gives this appearance. There are 11 segments, called urites, in flies though many can be much reduced and not normally visible.

One many unidentified fly species today (and every day!).

And another.

A 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata demonstrates its water-repellent properties.

(Ed Wilson)

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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 9 midges of at least three species again

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:30 – 07:25

(112th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- five visiting Mute Swans remain
- *a pair of Canada Geese with four young: how this relates to the five goslings seen Wednesday is unknown. Six of the adults departed as separate pairs.
- *a pair of Greylag Geese with three goslings.
- a lone drake Tufted Duck again.
- juvenile Coots heard only.
- no sign of either Great Crested Grebe and a Coot seen standing on the nest platform.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- *22 + 4 (1 brood) Canada Geese: see notes
- *2 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 7 Mute Swans: (assuming the resident pen is hidden on the nest): see notes
- 19 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 18 + ?H (2 broods) Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps

Notes around the area:

Moths:
- *1 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata

Flies:
- 1 wood gnat, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis
- 1 unidentified midge

The pair of Canada Geese with four goslings.

A proud Greylag Goose parent with its trio of goslings.

A Blue Tit feeding in one of the mane Willow trees.

Not what it might seem at first glance with its black cap. The very short stubby bill provides a clue. It is a juvenile Long-tailed Tit. At this age the pattern of dark and light feathers on the head differs markedly from adult plumage.

Here is an adult...

...looking ecstatic after having a good scratch.

Yes you!

 "No publicity please".

Here is another juvenile. This one does not show a black cap. I am not sure why. Is it because the crown feathers are raised? Or perhaps just started moulting in to adult plumage earlier?

In close-up...

...again.

Close up and personal with a Dunnock.

A Common Marbled Carpet moth Chloroclysta truncata: my moth species #9 here this year

(Ed Wilson)

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2012
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
Grasshopper Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Wheatear
1 Ruddy Duck
(Malcolm Thompson/Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Cuckoo
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

15 May 26

No sightings in today.

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2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Wrekin
Wood Warbler
3 Spotted Flycatchers
(Andy Latham)

16 May 26

No sightings in today.

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2012
Nedge Hill
10 Northern Wheatears
(Richard Camp)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Ringed Plover
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
Cuckoo
(Ed Wilson)

14 May 26

No sightings in today.

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Black-tailed Godwit
3 Whimbrel
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
5 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

13 May 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

9.0°C > 8.0°C: Sunny intervals between passing showers, one with hail. Fresh westerly breeze gusting strong in showers. Very good visibility except in showers.

[Sunrise: 05:17 BST]

* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area

A later start in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid the showers!

I will be away again for a few days watching aircraft (weather permitting)

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 09:20 – 10:00

(115th visit of the year)

Note the later time and a single walk around only.

Bird notes:
- still the seven Greylag Geese goslings doing well.
- the wingbeats of over-flying Mute Swan(s) heard: my view was obscured by trees at the time.
- the pen Mute Swan of the resident pair in no longer visible on her chosen nest site in the reeds. I assume she is still here otherwise I would expect the cob to have departed.
- three broods of Mallard ducklings seen: a single; the well-grown twosome; and a trio. Another of the duck Mallard seen mating.
- just a pair of Tufted Duck.
- no gulls.
- no Grey Heron.
- I did not count the warblers as at the time of my visit many would not have been singing. However:
no Garden Warbler heard.
no Common Whitethroat either though at the time I was near its territory there was a sharp hail shower.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1? Mute Swan: see notes
- 1 Jackdaw
- 1 Rook

Counts from the lake area:
No doubt some things were sheltering unseen in the reeds
- 2 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: see notes
- *19 (12♂) + 6 (3 broods) Mallard: see notes
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- no Moorhens
- 15 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes only
- no Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- >15 Swifts
- >6 Sand Martins
- *>15 Barn Swallows including a partial leucistic bird
- *>10 House Martins

Warblers not counted
- Chiffchaffs heard
- Reed Warblers heard
- Blackcaps heard
- no Common Whitethroat heard
- no Garden Warbler heard

Noted around the area later:
Spells of sun brought out a few things

Butterflies:
none: surprising in view of the sunny spells

Moths:
none

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Grey-patched Mining Bee Andrena nitida
- *Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- *Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
- *unidentified ichneumon wasp

Hoverflies:
- Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus
- *Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- *Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]

Damsel-/dragon-flies:
- *female Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]

Other flies:
- *root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris
- *dagger fly Empis tessellata
- Green Bottle Fly Lucilia sp.
- *Muscid fly Phaonia subventa
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- cranefly Tipula varipennis
- many, many unidentified species

Bugs:
none

Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- *Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea

Flower:
- *Dog Rose Rosa canina agg.

A brood of three Mallard ducklings with their parents. These look at least a week old.

A single duckling with parents. Perhaps slightly younger than the trio?

A very strange-looking Barn Swallow with much white feathering including the tail. Many bird species have a few individuals that show the results of leucism with loss of pigmentation in some feathers. Blackbirds and Carrion Crows are particularly prone to showing white feathers. I do not recall seeing a Barn Swallow like this previously.

Another view.

The may, just may, be the same bird from below. There was a lot happening!

A puzzle: is this the same bird? It show white in the left wing but the tail appears black.

This is that same black-tailed bird (with unusually long streamers) with some pale feathering on the rump.

And again.

A decent count of House Martins today. The last of the true hirundines to arrive in any numbers (Swifts are a completely different family).

 A soggy-looking Long-tailed Tit. I could sympathise.

Looking perkier here.

Trying to hide from the hail-shower (as was I) is what I believe to be a Grey-patched Mining Bee Andrena nitida.

A delightfully scruffy species: an Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum.

Was it something I said?

A different individual.

It would not come out in to the open. The orange "pile" of hair on the thorax is sufficient to identify this as my first Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum of the year.

An unidentified ichneumon wasp

My first Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus of the year and the only one I saw today.

It does not look very "grey spotted" but I am certain this is a Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus. The spots (six in the male, four in the female - as I discovered yesterday) are too well-separated for the square yellow spots on a male Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare.

This a female Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum . She is successfully hiding the identification mark on the top abdomen segment and it is the layout of the dark and pale areas on the thorax that best identifies her. She may be an immature (teneral) though some females never acquire the blue colouration.

The distinctive pattern on the thorax makes this root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris the easiest of this confusing group to identify.

One of many dagger flies Empis tessellata today, this one signalling its intention to turn right. I am told you do not have to do this on a car driving test any more!

This is the Muscid fly Phaonia subventa

0513-24-3427p A Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis of the form succinea. Quite what it was doing ten feet up a street lamp pole is unclear.

A Dog Rose Rosa canina agg.: the "agg." is short for "aggregate". Wild roses freely hybridise and identification of any specimen is hard for specialists.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 10:10 – 11:50

(112th visit of the year)

A quick canter around ahead of an incoming shower.

Bird notes:
- a pair of the Canada Geese seen with six small goslings
- just the trio of visiting Mute Swans remain.
- no Tufted Duck seen.
- the same two pairs of Coots as yesterday noted were each noted with four well-grown juveniles.
- both Great Crested Grebes were away from the nest platform and staying together. I was unable to determine whether one of them was carrying juveniles on its back.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- *16 + 6 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 4 Greylag Geese
- 5 Mute Swans: (assuming the resident pen is hidden on the nest): see notes
- 26 (23♂) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 19 + 8 (2 broods) Coots
- *2 Great Crested Grebes: see notes

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 House Martins

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- no Blackcaps

Notes around the area:

Moths:
- *1 Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula

Flies:
- unidentified midges

Paddling too fast in to the distance is the pair of Canada Geese with their six goslings.

It is possible this Great Crested Grebe is sheltering juvenile(s) under the slightly fluffed up feathers on the back.

This Song Thrush was feeding on the ground as I approached and jumped up on the branch.

I stopped and stayed still and it decided I was harmless and carried on.

Different street lamp pole; similar unhelpful position. Another Chocolate-tip moth Clostera curtula

(Ed Wilson)

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2009
Priorslee Lake
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)