Friends of Priorslee Lake Wildlife Site

2 Jun 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

14.0°C > 16.0°C: Early light rain and then broken cloud with a few sunny intervals. Light westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:52 BST

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

An abbreviated visit today hampered by some early rain and very wet vegetation after yesterday evening's downpour.

I have been out most of the day and the very few photos from today will be incorporated into tomorrow's blog.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:50– 05:45 // 06:40 – 08:45

(129th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- eleven Canada Geese present when I arrived. A single visited and then what I assume were the same eleven returned from the East. All twelve later left to the West.
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings present and correct with another adult present throughout.
- the two independent Mallard ducklings and seven small ducklings with an adult as yesterday.
- a pair of Tufted Duck were here when I arrived. Two birds including at least one drake were seen flying low over the water before heading off South. Later just a drake was seen on the water. Confusing!.
- perhaps the juvenile Coots were sheltering from the rain: just four from three broods noted.
- a single adult Lesser Black-backed Gull fly-over was the only gull seen.
- both the new (South side) and regular (south-west area) Common Whitethroats were noted singing. A surprise was a third bird singing from bushes on the football field side of Teece Drive at 04:55 and then nearby from inside the academy ground at 05:35. It was not heard again.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Canada Geese: a trio flew East.
- 9 Greylag Geese flew West together
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants together
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw only again

Counts from the lake area:
- 12 Canada Geese: see notes
- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swan: the pen assumed to be on the hidden nest
- 18 (15♂) + 9 (2 broods) Mallard
- 3 (2♂)? Tufted Duck: see notes
- 4 Moorhens once again
- 25 + 4 (3 broods) Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.10 Swifts again
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 1+ House Martins heard calling.

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
I did not make my complete early circuit so some of the "dawn chorus", such as it still is, went unrecorded.
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (8) Reed Warblers
- 9 (9) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Common Whitethroats: see notes

Also noted:

Butterflies:
- 1 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

Moths:
- 1 Yellow-barred Longhorn Nemophora degeerella
- 1 Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata
- !1 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
- Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
- Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
- Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum
- Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma naja [Large Redeye]
- Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans

Other flies:
Many flies around, mostly the species I cannot identify. No Black Snipe Flies seen despite being abundant yesterday. Wet vegetation the problem?
- !lacewing Chrysopa perla
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- otherwise many unidentified fly species

Bugs:
none

Beetles:
- Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
This is getting tedious! yet another almost blank day.

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
- !1 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata
- $1 Spectacle Abrostola tripartita

Flies:
- 21 midges of several species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 cranefly

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 05:50 – 06:35

(126th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- I could not locate the Canada Goose gosling.
- eight Greylag Geese all together.
- the Mute Swan numbers as yesterday.
- Mallard more normal today.
- seven juvenile Coots found from four broods. Another brood of begging juveniles heard. More adults on the open water today.
- the two Great Crested Grebes were close together throughout. No display or calls heard.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 60 Canada Geese
- 8 Greylag Geese
- 6 Mute Swans: assuming the pen is on the hidden nest?
- 22 (19♂) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens
- 35+ >7 (>4 broods) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Swifts
- 1 House Martin

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

Noted around the area:
The rain had only recently ceased and it was still overcast. I was slightly earlier than usual and combined with the very wet vegetation I was unable to find even an unidentified fly to report.

(Ed Wilson)

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2006
Priorslee Lake
Cuckoo
(Ed Wilson

1 Jun 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

13.0°C > 17.0°C: Fine ahead of forecast rain. Broken cloud with a few sunny intervals, especially early. Light moderate southerly breeze increasing moderate at times. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:53 BST yet again

* = 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– 05:55 // 07:00 – 09:35

(128th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- six Canada Geese came and went.
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings present and correct with another adult present throughout.
- the two independent Mallard ducklings and seven small ducklings with an adult.
- a pair of Tufted Duck still here.
- a bumper number of juvenile Coots seen: 13 from six broods, two of the broods being very new and both to pairs whose first broods were all predated. It seems there is a lower than usual survival rate albeit second broods tend to fare better.
- single adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls visited the football field at 05:40, 07:05 and 09:30. Another visited the lake briefly at 08:10.
- I usually see a few Feral Pigeons on roofs in Pitchford Drive c.06:00. Today a group of eight had found something to eat on the academy's own playing field alongside a dozen or so Wood Pigeons.
- only the new of the Common Whitethroats was noted singing. None was heard or seen at the original site.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *23 Canada Geese: in six groups flying in a variety of directions.
- *10 Greylag Geese flew West together
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Stock Dove
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw only

Counts from the lake area:
- 6 Canada Geese: see notes
- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swan: the pen assumed to be on the hidden nest
- 13 (8♂) + 9 (2 broods) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck still
- 4 Moorhens again
- 22 + 13 (6 broods) Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes only
- 1 Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 10 Swifts: four arrived c.05:05 again. Ten at the East end by 08:00
- 3 Barn Swallows: seen together over the water / West end. Perhaps including a first=breed juvenile?
- 2 House Martins over the Castle Farm Way end.

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
In general the amount of song is steadily decreasing
- 12 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 10 (10) Reed Warblers
- 12 (11) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

Also noted:
I have resurrected the code
! = a first sighting of the species this year

Butterflies:
- 1 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

Moths:
- 4 Plain Pollen-moth Micropterix calthella [was Plain Gold]
- *9 Yellow-barred Longhorn Nemophora degeerella
- *!2 Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana
- 2 Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata

Bees, wasps etc.:
- *!Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
- Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- wasp sp.: either German Wasp Vespula germanica or Common Wasp V. vulgaris
- *!sawfly Tenthredo mesomela

Hoverflies:
- *Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
- *Figwort Blacklet Cheilosia variabilis
- *Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- *Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus [Tiger Marsh Fly; Sun Fly]
- *Blotch-winged Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum [Blotch-winged Whitebelt]
- *Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- *Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum
- Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans
- *!Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa

Other flies:
- Common Blow Fly Calliphora vicina
- Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus: >>100; no females noted
- *!Common Red-legged Robberfly Dioctria rufipes
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *!presumed Awkward Clusterfly Pollenia rudis
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
- *!$ female gall-fly Common Knapweed Urophora Urophora jaceana
- otherwise many unidentified fly species

Grasshoppers, crickets:
none

Bugs:
- Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata

Beetles:
- *14 Spot Ladybird Propylea quattuordecimpunctata
- Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- *Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
- False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens
- *Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

New flowers for the year:
- *!Common (or Black; or Lesser) Knapweed Centaurea nigra
- *!Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

yet another blank day!

The red sky was fading fast as I arrived and I had no time to scamper down to the lake for a reflection. Here it is as seen across the football field with some of the academy buildings in view.

A skein to confuse. Two Canada Geese were hiding in plain-sight among the Greylag Geese,

One of two Yellow-barred Longhorn moths Nemophora degeerella I had seen flying around in circles for several minutes before they settled back down. There seems to be no sexual difference and there is nothing in the literature to say whether this frequently seen behaviour is battling males or a mating-dance. Once I got my eye in I saw three pairs and a trio at different points around the lake.

One of two Plum Tortrix moths Hedya pruniana this morning: my first of the year.

A two-fer. My first Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum of the year on my first flower of Common (or Black; or Lesser) Knapweed Centaurea nigra.

This is the sawfly Tenthredo mesomela.

A different individual from a different angle.

The only Cheilosia species of hoverfly that isn't (almost) all-black. A Bumblebee Blacklet C. illustrata. Indeed I am not sure why it qualifies for the genus.

Whereas this Figwort Blacklet Cheilosia variabilis is mostly black.

A Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus about to land on a buttercup.

A well-posed Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus [Tiger Marsh Fly; Sun Fly]

A Blotch-winged Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum or, as Obsidentify calls it, Blotch-winged Whitebelt. A strange-looking face.

A female Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare showing her triangular yellow spots and the features of the Obsidentify name of Long-winged Duskyface.

"What blue eyes you have". A male Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella

My first dragonfly of the year – dragonflies perch with their wings held at right angles to their body. This is a Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa: a species I see most years.

My first Common Red-legged Robberfly Dioctria rufipes of the year.

A different view of another individual.

A long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar. The eyes can appear red or green depending on the angle of the light.

The golden hairs on the thorax of this fly confirm it is in the genus Pollenia. It is most likely an Awkward Clusterfly P. rudis, the most abundant of the twenty or so species that are mostly impossible to separate from photos.

This is a female gall-fly and I think it is what Stephen Falk names Common Knapweed Urophora Urophora jaceana. There are many species of these boldly-patterned flies, not easy to separate. A new species for me.

A 14 Spot Ladybird Propylea quattuordecimpunctata. This species is smaller than the familiar red ladybirds.

Two male Swollen-thighed Beetles Oedemera nobilis in the flower of a Dog Rose Rosa canina agg. Hey guys....

...the girls are over here! Identify by the elytra (wing cases) held slightly apart.

A Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus

This is Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum growing on the dam-top.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies:
- 16 midges of several species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

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

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:00 – 06:55

(125th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the Canada Goose gosling present.
- in addition to the gathering number of Canada Geese ahead of their annual moult a skein of 26 (in proper 'V-formation') flew East.
- two single Greylag Geese.
- yesterday's Canada x Greylag Goose not seen.
- the Mute Swan numbers as yesterday.
- another low count of Mallard – all drakes though one was well in to post-breeding moult and hard to recognise as a drake. I will soon pause sexing this species until they moult back in to breeding plumage.
- six juvenile Coots found from four broods. Another brood of begging juveniles heard, tucked up under over-hanging vegetation and not visible.
- a second Great Crested Grebe was present. The two birds were not seen to interact.
- a Pied Wagtail was heard flying over: an unusual date here.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 26 Canada Geese: flew east
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Noted on / around the water:
- 54 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 6 Mute Swans: assuming the pen is on the hidden nest?
- 13 (13♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 26+ >6 (>4 broods) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts again
- 2 House Martins: presumably the same two appeared over the East side on several occasions

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

Noted around the area:
A few sunny spells brought a few insects out early

Moths:
- *1 Yellow-barred Longhorn Nemophora degeerella
- 1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
- *1 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda : same as yesterday

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
- Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Hoverflies:
none

Damsel-/dragon-flies:
- *Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum

Other flies:
- Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus: all males
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- *greenbottle Lucilia sp.

Beetles:
- Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

A moth species that seems to be more common this year: another Yellow-barred Longhorn Nemophora degeerella.

Yesterday's Pale Tussock moth Calliteara pudibunda had moved slightly to provide a slightly clearer view.

An Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella. This is the less common of two species whose males are mainly blue-bodies. I cannot detect any colour-difference between this species and the Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum.

If I got its identity right at the lake yesterday this is the long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus (or similar).

A greenbottle Lucilia sp.

(Ed Wilson)

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2007
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
(Martin Adlam)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
Peregrine
(Ed Wilson)

31 May 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

14.0°C > 17.0°C: Fine. Mostly cloud with a few sunny intervals. Almost calm start with light / moderate south-westerly breeze developing. Excellent visibility.

Sunrise: 04:53 BST again

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:45 – 06:00 // 07:10 – 09:05

(127th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- at least 11 Canada Geese present at various times, to the annoyance of the cob Mute Swan who briefly recruited the pen to help chase them.
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings present and correct. Another adult flew in and later departed.
- the usual trio of almost independent Mallard ducklings seen. What seemed to be a different trio of independent ducklings together with an older duo.
- a pair of Tufted Duck here with none at The Flash.
- no juvenile Coots seen.
- a fly-over Lesser Black-backed Gull was the only gull seen here
- only the new of the Common Whitethroats was noted singing. At the original site one was heard alarm-calling suggesting juveniles nearby.
- no Garden Warbler heard today/

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 27 Canada Geese: 16 flew East in three groups; 11 flew North in two groups.
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- 4 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Canada Geese: see notes
- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 15 (10♂) + 8 (3 broods) Mallard: see notes
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck again
- 4 Moorhens
- 23 Coots
- 6 Great Crested Grebes again
- no Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts arrived c.05:05. Birds visible most of the time in small numbers
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins briefly over the Castle Farm Way end.

Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 16 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (9) Reed Warblers
- 16 (15) Blackcaps
- 2 (1) Common Whitethroats: see notes
- no Garden Warbler

Also noted:

Butterflies:
- 1 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

Moths:
- 1 Yellow-barred Longhorn Nemophora degeerella
- 1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
- Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
fewer bumblebees around
- sawfly of the Tenthredo arcuata / brevicornis / notha / schaefferi complex

Hoverflies:
- Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis / S. torvus

Damsel / Dragon-flies:
none: no sun = no damselflies

Other flies:
- long-legged fly Argyra diaphana
- $ long-legged fly Argyra leucocephala [5 mm]
- Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus: very many: two females noted again
- long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- $ possible lance fly Lonchoptera bifurcata or similar
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- $ possible stretched-foot fly Tanypeza longimana
- otherwise many unidentified fly species

Grasshoppers, crickets:
none

Bugs:
none

Beetles:
- click beetle Athous haemorrhoidalis
- Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: larvae (these cannot be ascribed to the adult form)
- Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- presumed money spider Erigone sp.
- Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

New flowers for the year:
- $ Water-cress agg. Nasturtium officinale agg. [Water-cress N. officinale; Narrow-fruited Water-cress N. microphyllum and hybrids]

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Another blank day: why do I bother!

Deathly quiet on Castle Farm Way at 05:05 with a touch of colour in the dawn. Mostly cloudy later.

I think here are two broods of independent Mallard ducklings. The two almost full-grown escorting a trio. Another trio of well-grown ducklings was seen still with their mother at the other end of the lake.

Not good light at 05:10 as a Great Crested Grebe scoffs a large breakfast!

In a brief sunny interlude this Painted Lady butterfly Vanessa cardui posed well.

A smart Yellow-barred Longhorn moth Nemophora degeerella

A Common Marble moth Celypha lacunana. Very common and easily disturbed during the day but usually flies in to the middle-distance or dives on to the underside of a leaf.

Enough of the markings show through the folded wings to enable this Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus to be identified.

A male (the eyes meet) Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax at rest.

This small red-eyed fly seems to be the long-legged fly Argyra diaphana.

As far as I can determine this 5mm long fly is also a long-legged fly, this time Argyra leucocephala. A new species for me.

A female Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus: very different from the all-black, slim-bodied males.

This is the long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus (or similar).

I am going with the suggestion made by both Obsidentify and Google Lens that this is the lance fly Lonchoptera bifurcata (or similar). According to NatureSpot that illustrates only two species in this family "lance fly" because it has long, narrow wings. Hmm.

Another joint Obsidentify and Google Lens agreement that this is a stretched-foot fly Tanypeza longimana. Nothing in this genus appears in NatureSpot.

This is the click beetle Athous haemorrhoidalis.

Down at the water's-edge in front of the dam I noted this "Water-cress" Nasturtium officinale agg. Three forms, Water-cress N. officinale; Narrow-fruited Water-cress N. microphyllum and hybrids, are not separable until the seed pods can be examined. Strangely and despite its abundance here I have not recorded it here previously.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
- 1 Marbled Minor agg. Oligia strigilis agg.

Flies:
- 1 Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus: male
- 17 midges of several species
- 2 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

A moth from the Marbled Minor aggregate Oligia strigilis agg. There are three species involved and males (only) can be separated by examining the genitalia

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:05 – 07:05

(124th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the Canada Goose gosling seen again.
- no Greylag Geese.
- a Canada x Greylag Goose present: many weeks since I noted any hybrids.
- one of the visiting Mute Swans not seen - the first year bird.
- only four juvenile Coots found from three broods.

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

Noted on / around the water:
- 72 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese: of these a pair departed
- 1 Canada x Greylag Goose
- 6 Mute Swans: assuming the pen is on the hidden nest?
- 18 (16♂) Mallard
- 7 Moorhens
- 33+ 4 (3 broods) Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 2 House Martins: together, briefly, over the East side

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

Noted around the area:
A milder morning with the wind only beginning to pick up:

Moths:
- 1 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda

Hoverflies:
- Spotted Meliscaeva Meliscaeva auricollis [Spotted Thintail]

Damsel-/dragon-flies:
- Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]

Other flies:
- Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus: all males
- $ probable fungus gnat Macrocera sp.
- moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

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

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

The closer goose is a hybrid, mostly Canada but the pale bill and eye-ring suggest a Greylag influence. It is one of the least crosses I can recall over the years - they come and they go. It seems from my records that this is the first hybrid I have seen here this year. The Winter period usually has delivered a few. Moult time - about to start - is another time hybrids tend to appear.

Trying to blend in with an algae-covered sign attached to a street lamp pole was this Pale Tussock moth Calliteara pudibunda.

A sleeping beauty. This is a Spotted Meliscaeva hoverfly Meliscaeva auricollis. In most specimens there is a thin black line down the centre of the abdomen "joining the dots".

The only damselfly I noted today was this Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans. My first at The Flash this year.

A truly odd fly. Both Obsidentify and Google Lens think a fungus gnat Macrocera sp. Note the long antennae and the spurs on the legs. The banded abdomen does not match any species in the NatureSpot gallery.