31 Aug 20

Priorslee Lake, The Flash, Trench Lock Pool and Trench Middle Pool

6.0°C > 14.0°C: Persistent area of medium-level cloud, beginning to clear by 10:15. Very light, mainly SE, breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:20 BST

* = a photo today.

Priorslee Lake: 04:50 – 06:45 // 08:00 – 09:23

(179th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- Now apparently eight 'spare' adult Great Crested Grebes. All the others present and correct. The new inhabitants of the NE area are not being welcomed by a non-breeding pair that have been in the location throughout the summer.

- A trio of Swifts flew S at 06:25

- No large early arrival of House Martins – two at 06:15 and a single at 06:20. By 08:30 there were birds all around the lake with a few feeding along the dam, these joined by at least one Sand Martin (again) and two Barn Swallows. A number of birds seemed to be perching on the top branches of a large Willow tree in the SW area. I could not make up my mind whether they were resting or perhaps perched on the branches to feed, perhaps on aphids. At one point they were spooked and at least 75 birds shot out of the area to join others around the lake.

Birds noted flying over / near here:

- 50 Canada Geese (48 outbound in single group; duo inbound).
- 1 Common Buzzard again
- 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Stock Dove
- 12 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 3 Swifts
- 1+ Sand Martin again
- 2 Barn Swallows
- *>80 House Martins (see notes)

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 11 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (0) Blackcaps
- 3 (0) Reed Warblers

Counts from the lake area:

- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 11 (?♂) Mallard
- 4 Cormorants: single and trio arrived
- 2 Grey Herons
- 18 + 7 (5 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 4 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 76 adult and juvenile Coots
- 13 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: immature, briefly

Gulls on the football and academy playing fields c.06:35:

- 19 Black-headed Gulls on the football fields.
- 114 Black-headed Gulls on the academy playing fields.

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:

Rather chilly and with dew on the poles again.

Moths:

- 1 Pale-streak Grass-veneer (Agriphila selasella)
- 1 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago): my first at this location this year; species #93.

Other things:

- 3 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)
- *1 midge, assumed female Chironomus plumosus (plumed midge)
- *1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman

Insects / other things etc. noted later:

Dull and chilly: all I noted was

- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris): torpid under an umbellifer head
- Common Drone-fly (Eristalis tenax)
- 1 Pipistrelle-type bat again
- 2 Grey Squirrels

Just an inkling here that there might be a worthwhile sunrise despite the large amount of cloud cover.

And so it turned out. Not spectacular.

As good as it got. Note there appears to be a golden arch (no: not McD's). Perhaps a natural halo effect from the cloud? Perhaps a function of the camera lens? I did not notice it 'in real life'.

A long-range shot of House Martins at the top of a large willow tree. I cannot make out whether they are perched or whether they are feeding, perhaps on aphids. The two on the right in the tree do look as if they might be preening.

A Centre-barred Sallow moth (Atethmia centrago): my first here this year. Surprising how many moth species have turned up at the lake a day or so after I have seen them at The Flash. Different micro-climate?

I took this photo because the midge looked rather larger than the normal plumed midges. However it matches the photo of a female Chironomus plumosus on the Naturespot web site Here. Females do not have plumed antennae. The rubric for this species notes that there is a green form – which probably explains the 'green midges' that I have been seeing.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:50 – 08:00

(164th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- Strange that it was almost all Canada Geese today.

- My highest count of Coots this year. Seems to have been a very successful breeding season with many multiple broods surviving.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:

- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 12 Feral Pigeons (three groups)
- 13 Wood Pigeons

Hirundines etc. logged:

None

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 5 (0) Chiffchaffs
no other warblers seen or heard here

Counts from the water:

- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 26 Greylag Geese: all arrived
- [Greylag x Canada Geese not noted]
- 209 Canada Geese: 201 of these arrived, mostly in three large groups
- 42 (26?♂) Mallard
- 32 (9?♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 7 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 77 adult and juvenile Coots
- 4 Black-headed Gulls

On various lamp poles:

Moths:

- 2 Pale-streak Grass-veneers (Agriphila selasella)

Other things:

- 25 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris): all together. What are they doing?
- 2 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestmen
- 1 Leiobunum rotundum harvestman

Otherwise:

- 2 Grey Squirrels.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

Of Note

- 2 Moorhens on the grass – both immatures from different broods.
- 1 Chiffchaff calling near the upper pool
- 1 Grey Squirrel

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Lock Pool: 09:32 – 09:55 // 10:35 – 10:39

(24th visit of the year)

Very quiet here: many fishermen present

Bird notes:

- Only three of the juvenile Great Crested Grebes located. Two of them were scattered and independent of the adults so the other could have been somewhere.

- Two Bullfinches seen alongside the new houses. My first here since February 2018.

Birds noted flying over / near here:

- 8 Canada Geese: flying N to the far E.

Hirundines etc. logged:

- c.10 House Martins

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 4 (1) Chiffchaffs

Counts from the water:

- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- still no Mallard...
- or Tufted Duck
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 19 adult and juvenile Coots
- 8 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: (near) adult

Nothing else of note – no insects seen

A 'grab shot' - there one second, gone the next. So a bit of the tail missing I am afraid. Long-tailed Tit of course.

(Ed Wilson)

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Trench Middle Pool: 10:00 – 10:30

(24th visit of the year)

Generally very quiet here as well.

Bird notes:

- The Great Crested Grebe second brood is of two juveniles and not one as I thought last week. One was in the water and the other on the parent's back.

- New for me here this year was a Jay calling from the trees.


Birds noted flying over / near here:

- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Hirundines etc. logged:

None

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 4 (0) Chiffchaffs again

Counts from the water:

- 2 Mute Swans
- no Greylag Geese
- 18 Canada Geese: 13 of these arrived
- 1 all-white feral goose
- 11 (7?♂) Mallard only
- 24 (4?♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 7 adult and juvenile Moorhen
- 26 adult and juvenile Coots
- 7 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles

Otherwise, noted as the sun began to emerge:

- Small White butterfly (Pieris rapae)
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Common Drone-fly (Eristalis tenax)

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2017

Priorslee Lake

Today's News Here

2016

Priorslee Lake

Today's News Here

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 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash: 

6.0°C > 13.0°C: Early cloud to far E, otherwise clear. Light NW breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:18 BST

* = a photo today.

Priorslee Lake: 05:01 – 06:45 // 08:10 – 09:45

(178th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- One Grey Heron when I arrived. Another soon afterwards which then flew out NW. Some 10 minutes later one flew in from the SW – the same? It did not stay long either. None by 08:15.
- Now two adult Little Grebes in the NE area.
- One of the family parties of Great Crested Grebes has moved from the SW area to the NE area, causing momentary alarm. There seemed to be two fewer 'spare' adults which did not help.
- Two very new juvenile Moorhens seen.
- Only eight Black-headed Gulls arrived early and soon left for the football/academy fields. Thereafter just 1's and 2's until c.45 arrived after 09:00.
- 2 House Martins were high over at 06:00, moving away W. A lone bird did the same at 06:10. A group of >40 appeared high, just to the N, at 06:15, increasing in number to at least 57 before these too moved away. None was then seen over the estate area. By 08:20 at least 50, possibly the some of the same birds, were feeding in the shelter of the trees along the N side. As yesterday there was at least one Sand Martin with them. Later a single Swift was noted though it did not seem to be joining the group.

Birds noted flying over / near here:

- Greylag Geese heard only
- 38 Canada Geese (all inbound long after I returned from The Flash): others only heard earlier.
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Stock Doves (two duos)
- 14 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw again

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 1 Swift
- 1+ Sand Martin
- >60 House Martins (see notes)

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 13 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
- 2 (0) Reed Warblers

Counts from the lake area:

- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 16 (?♂) Mallard again
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 2 or 3 Grey Herons (see notes)
- 2 Little Grebes
- 16 + 7 (5 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 6 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 81 adult and juvenile Coots
- c.45 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: two adults, one immature, all briefly

Gulls on the football and academy playing fields c.06:30:

- 38 Black-headed Gulls on the football fields.
- 38 Black-headed Gulls – same number at the same time – on the academy playing fields.

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:

Rather chilly and also some of the poles covered in dew.

Moths:

- 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers (Agriphila geniculea): my first at this location this year; species #92 for me.

Other things:

- 5 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)
- 1 plumed midge possibly not the usual Chironomus plumosus as it seemed rather small
- 1 Orb-web spider, presumed Larinioides sclopetarius
- 1 unidentified spider

Insects / other things etc. noted later:

The full list of things noted:

- Small White (Pieris rapae)
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- Tapered Drone-fly (Eristalis pertinax)
- Common Drone-fly (Eristalis tenax)
- The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus)
- Dead-head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
- Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)
- 1 Pipistrelle-type bat only: too cold? too bright a morning?
- 3 Grey Squirrels

There was not a great sunrise this morning as there was very little cloud. I hope you can see what I thought was a rather unusual effect of shafts of light feeding up in to the sky.

Now two Little Grebes, both adults.

Oops. Zoomed in too much. This is one of the pair of Common Buzzards that bred in the Ricoh copse this year. The barring across the chest indicates it is an adult.

I thought this one was calling as if it were the juvenile. In fact it is also an adult and looking in detail at the markings I think it is the same adult. Perhaps the juvenile was calling from a nearby tree.

Not likely to see too many more Blackcaps this year. They will be around a few weeks yet but will mostly stay inside the vegetation. A few do overwinter, though they are birds from Central Europe and seem to frequent bird feeders.

Immature males are noted as beginning to show black in the crown but my books are none to helpful about timing. This shows no hint of black so I guess it is a female. Often young birds of many species have paler eyes. Again my books are not too helpful about Blackcaps. So perhaps an adult female.

Very obliging.

When I saw this bee I noted how dark much of the abdomen was and thought it might be a Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum), the only common bumblebee with a ginger / reddish thorax apart from Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum). It is just a dark variant of a Common Carder Bee. The scruffy pile, as the hair on the thorax is called, is one clue. Had it been a Tree Bumblebee the abdomen would have been unrelieved black with a clear white tail.

An unusual head-on view of a Dead-head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea).

Catching the sun is a Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale). A catchy scientific name!

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:50 – 08:05

(163rd visit of the year)

Much of the weed has now died and is sinking to the bottom. One of the fishermen indicated the small amount of fresh growth.

Many geese arrived back before me and likely some of these were already inside the island before I could count them.

Other bird notes:

- Closer examination of the trio of Greylag x Canada Geese indicates that the face / head pattern of each in now quite distinct.
- Another of the fishermen reported the Kingfisher present earlier.
- Spent a long while trying to photograph the singing Willow Warbler to no avail. Did give me a higher count of Chiffchaffs though as non-calling birds flitted around.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:

- 7 Feral Pigeons (two groups)
- 2 Wood Pigeons

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 2 Sand Martins
- 2 Barn Swallows
- 8 House Martins

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 6 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler again
- 1 (0) Blackcap again

Counts from the water:

- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- >74 Greylag Geese
- 3 Greylag x Canada Geese
- >147 Canada Geese
- 29 (17?♂) Mallard
- 26 (7?♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes again
- 10 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 69 adult and juvenile Coots
- 7 Black-headed Gulls

All on the same lamp pole:

- 10 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)

Otherwise:

- 1 Grey Squirrel once more.

One of those 'name that bird' challenges. Not too hard.

Easier now.

This should erase any doubts – Long-tailed Tit.

A tit two-fer.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

Of note 

- 4 Moorhens on the grass – all immatures from three different broods.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2017

Priorslee Lake

Today's News Here

2016

Priorslee Lake

Today's News Here

2012

Priorslee Lake

Black Tern

(Arthur Harper)

2010

Priorslee Lake

Yellow Wagtail

Kingfisher

(Ed Wilson)

29 Aug 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 13.0°C: Clear except to very far E. A few clouds later. Moderate, fresh at time, NNW breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:16 BST

* = a photo today.

Priorslee Lake: 04:57 – 06:45 // 07:45 – 09:15

(177th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- An adult Little Grebe was seen in the NE area. Recently calls have been from the NW area (but not for the last three days)
- At least 50 Black-headed Gulls had arrived by 06:05 with at least 70 more in flight to the NW. At this time a Kestrel flew through going W and all the birds dived for the water with >220 noted by 06:10. Some moved away very shortly afterwards (see the totals of birds on the foot ball and academy playing fields), although more stayed than recently recorded. 82 were present at 07:50.
- A male Pheasant was flushed from the SW grass at 05:50, An unusual date for a sighting here.
- 37 presumed House Martins seen flying W high and a long way to the N of the lake at 06:15. None was seen over the lake or the estate at this time or shortly afterwards. At least, possibly the some of the same birds, were feeding in the shelter of the trees along the N side by 08:15. There was at least one Sand Martin with these birds.
- Up to 10 Song Thrushes were singing here well in to June and a small number sang until 8th August. I have noted just two non-singing birds since that date. While these are rather shy birds when not singing and often crepuscular their absence is puzzling.
- At least two, probably three and possibly four pairs of Reed Buntings bred here and numerous juveniles were seen. It is now two weeks since I saw or heard one. Where have they gone?

Birds noted flying over / near here:

- >40 Greylag Geese (all together with Canada Geese inbound at 06:35)
- >80 Canada Geese (30 outbound in two groups; >50 together with Greylag Geese inbound at 06:35)
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Common Buzzards
- 1 Common Kestrel
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 6 Feral Pigeons
- 21 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 1 Sand Martin
- >37 House Martins (see notes)

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- *13 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcap
- 4 Reed Warblers

Counts from the lake area:

- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 16 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately again
- 2 Grey Herons: one throughout; the other arrived and chased off
- *1 Little Grebe
- 18 + 7 (5 broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Moorhens only
- 75 adult and juvenile Coots
- >220 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults, separately and briefly again

Gulls on the foot ball and academy playing fields c.06:30:

- 20 Black-headed Gulls on the foot ball fields.
- 41 Black-headed Gulls on the academy playing fields.

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:

Moth:

- *1 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa): different specimen on different lamp from yesterday

Other things:

- 1 Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- 1 Orb-web spider, presumed Larinioides sclopetarius
- *2 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestmen
- *1 probable female Mitopus morio harvestman

Insects / other things etc. noted later:

The full list of things noted:

- *Large White (Pieris brassicae)
- Small White (Pieris rapae)
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- *Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- *Tapered Drone-fly (Eristalis pertinax)
- Common Drone-fly (Eristalis tenax)
- *Lesser Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella inanis)
- *Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
- Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)
- 5 Pipistrelle-type bats

Good to have a sunrise at last.

One sunrise photos deserves another.

And another.

An adult Little Grebe put in a brief appearance. Note the yellow spot at the base of the bill. The chestnut head is catching the sun.

Very many Chiffchaffs around at the moment, mostly gleaning insects from tree-tops. This one came lower. Compare how the supercilium looks when compared with...

..this view from below. Dark legs and the pale base to the lower mandible confirm the identity (it real life it was sub-singing to make it even easier).

I had to conclude this butterfly was a Large White (Pieris brassicae). The inner edge of the black on the wing tip is certainly not almost straight as it would be on a Small White (Pieris rapae). But neither does it curve and extend well down the trailing edge as is normal in Large White. This is a female – the black spot on the hind wing can just be seen through the lower edge of the forewing.

Not the best angle on the best specimen of Square-spot Rustic moth (Xestia xanthographa) to date. Had to shoot upwards to avoid branches.

There were several splendid-looking Common Carder Bees (Bombus pascuorum) this morning. Here is one.

I know how this one feels – a bit thin on top.

And another

The third one from another angle.

Close-up reveals that this Tapered Drone-fly (Eristalis pertinax) is quite hairy – even the legs.

The folded wings don't help but enough of the markings are visible to identify this as a Lesser Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella inanis).

For a change a male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum). Not as red as it will become later in the year.

One of the most distinctive harvestman is this Dicranopalpus ramosus with its long and hooked palps.

Not one of the usual harvestmen that I am seeing at the moment. Scuttling away in the dark does not make for crisp photos. I think a female Mitopus morio.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:50 – 07:40

(162nd visit of the year)

Many geese already present when I arrived (probably the birds seen inbound over the lake earlier). More arriving all the while. Made it difficult to find other birds on the water with the geese moving around and clambering on to the island.

Other bird notes:

- Since Tuesday I have inexplicably reported just five Mute Swan cygnets as present. All seven have been present throughout.
- My first sighting of the trio of Greylag x Canada Geese for several weeks.
- Yesterday I reported a possible hopeful Coot still sitting on a nest. Today there was one very small and very late juvenile around the nest.
- Another Willow Warbler singing. Has been a good Autumn passage for this species.

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:

- 3 Common Buzzards
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 3 Stock Doves
- 7 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 2 House Martins again

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 1 (0) Blackcap

Counts from the water:

- 3 + 7 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- >48 Greylag Geese: 47 of these noted arriving
- 3 Greylag x Canada Geese: arrived
- >178 Canada Geese: 126 of these noted arriving
- *24 (15?♂) Mallard
- 17 (6?♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 9 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 73 adult and juvenile Coots
- 1 Black-headed Gull

On various lamp poles:

Moth:

- 1 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer (Agriphila geniculea)

Other things

- 1 plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus)

Otherwise:

- 1 Grey Squirrel yet again..

The Mallard seem to be celebrating completion of their wing-moult and are now doing much flying around. Here a trio caught by the early sun. Two drakes and (bottom left) a duck with the darker belly.

This drake has yet to get full breeding plumage – the chestnut on the neck is rather patchy.

The neck on this drake is less patchy but there is more pale behind the bill.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

Of note 

- *1 Large Yellow Underwing moth (Noctua pronuba): still more or less in the same place in the tunnel as previously.

The Large Yellow Underwing moth (Noctua pronuba) had moved a bit and was better orientated this morning so it appears for the third day.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Report Here

2018

Priorslee Lake

Today's Report Here

2017

Priorslee Lake

Today's News Here

2016

Priorslee Lake

Today's News Here

2013

Priorslee Lake

Whinchat

(John Isherwood)

2011

Nedge Hill

Peregrine

(John Isherwood)

28 Aug 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash:

12.0°C > 14.0°C: VERY low cloud with tops of trees shrouded. Began to lift and clear after 07:30. Later the sun threatened to shine, but didn't. Light SE breeze. Poor visibility early: later good.

Sunrise: 06:15 BST

* = a photo today.

Priorslee Lake: 04:51 – 06:45 // 07:50 – 09:45

(176th visit of the year)

A van arrived carrying the inscription "Reed Bed Control". As our reeds are still home to the Great Crested Grebes I enquired as to their task. Seems they were about to do the biannual spraying of the vegetation growing on the dam face. This is to prevent any structural damage and avoid a repetition of the Whaley Bridge dam collapse. Seems reasonable though I wish that a better solution was available to avoid putting noxious chemicals in to the environment.

Bird notes:

- Now apparently an additional 'spare' Great Crested Grebe present, though as noted yesterday with parents from the recent broods on the hunt for fish it is increasingly hard to keep track of them all.
- c.35 House Martins appeared briefly very high over the fields to the NNE at 08:45. I had previously neither seen nor heard any over the estate. About five minuted later about 15, I assume of the these, were high over the W end of the water. They too soon moved away and I then saw just two over the estate.

Birds noted flying over / near here:

- 47 Greylag Geese (43 outbound in two groups; four inbound as two duos)
- >42 Canada Geese (all outbound in three groups; one group almost lost in the low cloud; more birds heard only)
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Stock Doves: singles
- 48 Wood Pigeons
- 12 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc. logged:

- >35 House Martins

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 11 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps again

Counts from the lake area:

- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 13 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 Cormorants: arrived separately
- 1 Grey Heron throughout
- 18 + 7 (5 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 6 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 72 adult and juvenile Coots
- 56 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults, separately and briefly
- 1 Kingfisher

Gulls on the academy playing fields c.06:30:

- 209 Black-headed Gulls: one very obvious juvenile.

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:

Moths:

- 4 Pale-streak Grass-veneers (Agriphila selasella)
- 1 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)
- 1 Red Underwing (Catocala nupta): my moth species #91 here in 2020

Other things:

- 1 plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus)
- 2 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)
- 1 Orb-web spider, presumed Larinioides sclopetarius
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman yet again

Insects / other things etc. noted later:

The full list of things noted:

- Small White (Pieris rapae)
- Common Marble moth (Celypha lacunana)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- Common Drone-fly (Eristalis tenax)
- Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)
- Scorpion Fly (Panorpa sp.)
- Mystacides longicornis (caddis)
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- 13 Pipistrelle-type bats: a bumper number!
- 1 Grey Squirrel again

Almost all moth photos on this very misty, moisty morning. Here is a Common Marble moth (Celypha lacunana). This species was common-enough here in June. I cannot recall seeing any in 'Autumn' before but I read that this species is double-brooded and can occur from May until November.

Most definitely a different specimen of Square-spot Rustic moth (Xestia xanthographa), looking very fresh.

This rather large moth is a Red Underwing (Catocala nupta). My first here since 2014. For several years prior to that I found individuals resting on the wall of the Priorslee Avenue tunnel. My moth species this year (this is #91) is almost catching my bird species (standing at 98). There are of course many more moths species (>2500) than birds (c.600) recorded in the UK and many of both have specialised habitats not found here. I could boost the moth count if I ran a moth trap overnight, but that needs electricity or heavy batteries.... And time.

I like these – they are easy to ID: a White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:50 – 07:45

(161st visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- Because I could not double-check by reading the Mute Swan's rings I am not 100% sure... but it seemed to me the cob Mute Swan was associating quite happily with his 2018 daughter leaving the pen on her own. She in turn was doing very little to mind the cygnets that were wandering off in several groups at various points around the water. Quite unlike the family at the lake where they are all staying together as a group.
- At least 60 Greylag Geese departed low over my head as I arrived; another 17 departed later.
- Not sure whether the Grey Heron did arrive. It flew over and seemed to be descending to pitch-in. I did not see it afterwards,
- One Coot still sitting on a nest,

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:

None

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 2 House Martins

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 3 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcap

Counts from the water:

- 3 + 5 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- >77 Greylag Geese: all flew off
- 26 Canada Geese: 19 of these departed
- 35 (20?♂) Mallard
- 23 (7?♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived?
- 3 Great Crested Grebes still
- 6 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 63 adult and juvenile Coots
- no Black-headed Gulls

On various lamp poles:

Moths

- 3 Pale-streak Grass-veneers (Agriphila selasella)
- 3 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers (Agriphila geniculea)
- 1 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago): same moth in exactly the same place as yesterday.

Other things

- another unidentified green midge
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman

Otherwise:

- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)
- 1 Grey Squirrel again..

One day I will find a very close Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer moth (Agriphila geniculea). At least the elbow stripe is just about visible two-thirds of the way along the wing, as is the black mark half way along. Are they being perverse in always resting at the top of lamp poles?

A ventral view of a Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus) in its web.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

Of Note

- 1 Pale-streak Grass-veneer (Agriphila selasella) on a lamp pole.
- 1 Large Yellow Underwing moth (Noctua pronuba): same moth in exactly the same place in the tunnel as yesterday.

After about four years of owning the camera I was using today I realised I could change the intensity of the flash. This may (or may not) be a clearer shot of the Large Yellow Underwing moth (Noctua pronuba) at a ceiling light in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Report Here

2018

Priorslee Lake

Today's Report Here

2013

Priorslee Lake

2 Teal

(Ed Wilson)

2010

Priorslee Lake

Turtle Dove

(Ed Wilson)

2007

Priorslee Lake

Pair Ruddy Duck

(Malcolm Thompson)

27 Aug 20

Priorslee Lake and The Flash: 

11.0°C > 13.0°C: A reasonably promising start with broken medium-high cloud gave way to areas of low cloud after 07:15. Light and variable breeze. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:13 BST

* = a photo today.

Priorslee Lake: 04:48 – 06:45 // 07:55 – 09:45

(175th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- It seemed all the 'spare' Great Crested Grebes were present again, though with one parents from each of the recent broods often far from base to fish it is increasingly hard to be sure.
- Very low numbers of Black-headed Gulls using the lake at the moment

Birds noted flying over / near here:

- 72 Greylag Geese (all outbound in six groups)
- 52 Canada Geese (44 outbound in four groups; eight inbound as two quartets)
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 5 Stock Doves: two duos and a single
- 11 Wood Pigeons only. Why?
- 2 Jackdaws
- 1 Starling
- 1 Pied Wagtail

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 1 Barn Swallow again
- >25 House Martins

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

Surprisingly the first calling warblers were the Reed Warbler and then one of the Blackcaps. Once song ceases I usually hear Chiffchaffs calling first.

- 13 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (1) Willow Warbler
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
- 1 (0) Reed Warblers

Counts from the lake area:

- 2 + 5 Mute Swans
- 15 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 Cormorants: arrived
- *2 Grey Heron: the second arrived and was chased off
- *17 + 7 (5 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 3 adult and juvenile Moorhens again
- 68 adult and juvenile Coots
- 5 Black-headed Gulls only
- *2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: both adults, separately and briefly

Gulls on the football and academy playing fields c.06:30:

- 89 Black-headed Gulls
Initially 17 on the football field and 72 on the academy playing field. They all moved to the latter spot when the dog-walkers arrived.

On / around the street lights etc. pre-sunrise:

Somewhat affected by very heavy dew.

Moths:

- *5 Pale-streak Grass-veneers (Agriphila selasella)

Other things:

- 5 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris)
- 1 Common European Earwig (Forficula auricularia) again
- *1 unidentified caddis fly sp.
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus harvestman again

Insects / other things etc. noted later:

Another poor showing in continuing dull weather. That said there are not too many flowers around and those that are will not be producing much nectar without sun.

The full list of things noted:

- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
- 2 Pipistrelle-type bats only
- 1 Grey Squirrel

A silhouetted Cormorant. I wish my neck would do that easily.

I hope that Great Crested Grebe adults have a Plimsoll line to avoid overload from growing juveniles!

There was a most obliging Grey Heron present this morning. It more or less ignored me. A selection of the far too many images I took. Looks as if it is swallowing something here.

On the look-out for breakfast.

And wading deep if necessary.

In reflective mood.

A real close-up of the business-end. Not something to mess with.

"What's that I see"?

A dog-walker. The dog was on a lead (thank you) but the heron was not taking any chances.

"Good. Its gone I can go back to my favourite spot".

A fine portrait of an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. As I note so often: "are those legs really yellow?" I suspect the large mean-looking bill means it is a male. Note the loose-feathers: like so many birds at the moment it is moulting.

My best photo yet of a Pale-streak Grass-veneer moth (Agriphila selasella). The streak splits in to four and the lower edge of the streak is outlined darker.

Superficially not dissimilar but note the characteristic forward-pointing and de-curved antennae, typical of a caddis fly. Only a small proportion of the UK's c.200 species are illustrated on the web and this does not seem to be included. Caddis fly sp. it will have to stay. [It is resting on the edge of an advert someone has attached to the lamp pole]

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:50 – 07:50

(160th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- Two of the Great Crested Grebes were together by the island with the third tucked up under overhanging willows at the top end.
- 12 House Martins were heading off SW as I arrived. These included calling juveniles. Later four to the E were perhaps different birds.
- After yesterday's fly-over Lesser Redpoll at the lake one over here. A sign of Autumn (as perhaps was the first Pied Wagtail over for many weeks).

Birds noted flying over / near The Flash:

- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Lesser Redpoll

Hirundines etc. logged:

- 12 House Martins at least

Count of warblers logged (singing birds in brackets):

- 4 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps

Counts from the water:

- 3 + 5 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 10 Greylag Geese: four of these arrived
- 23 Canada Geese: 12 of these departed and four arrived
- 38 (22?♂) Mallard
- 35 (13?♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived
- 3 Great Crested Grebes again
- 10 adult and juvenile Moorhens
- 66 adult and juvenile Coots
- 4 Black-headed Gulls

On various lamp poles:

Moths

- 3 Pale-streak Grass-veneers (Agriphila selasella)
- *1 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago): my first here for at least six years
- *1 Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina)

Other things

- 7 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris): what do they all do? six of them on the same post.
- *1 Common Striped Woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum)

Otherwise:

- 1 Grey Squirrel again

Tucked up behind a 'scoop the poop' sign attached to a lamp pole is this Centre-barred Sallow moth (Atethmia centrago). One of a number of yellow-toned 'sallow' moths, all of which fly in late Summer and early Autumn. The larvae of this species feed on Ash trees so this species may become scarce as ash dieback takes hold. My first at this site and moth species #34 for me here this year.

And here is moth species #35 – a Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina). This specimen does not look very 'dun', neither is the wide central and distinctly-shaped 'bar' very obvious.

The bar is perhaps more apparent here?

A rather different-looking woodlouse. It is a Common Striped Woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum).

A plan view shows the stripe running along the centre of the back. Note too it has a has a characteristic 'stepped' outline ("where the pereon changes to the pleon" I read - I am sure that is right!)

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

Of note 

- *1 Large Yellow Underwing moth (Noctua pronuba) at a ceiling light in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel.

A horrible record shot of the Large Yellow Underwing moth (Noctua pronuba) at a ceiling light in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel. This is a large moth with relatively narrow and often well-marked wings. It is a very common and variable species.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day..........

2019

Priorslee Lake

Today's Report Here

2018

Priorslee Lake

Today's Report Here

2016

Priorslee Lake

Today's Sightings Here

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)