14.0°C > 16.0°C: Cloudy with a very few early breaks: later became rather murky with low cloud. Light breeze from N. Good visibility but moderate for a while.
Sunrise: 04:58 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 04:15 – 05:40 // 06:35 – 09:15
(142nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- No Mallard ducklings seen. One duck noted without ducklings.
- The first Swift arrived at 05:05: soon there were five but they had gone by 05:30. Two stormed through going SE at 07:00 – could these have been non-breeders heading off? A lone bird at 07:50.
- One adult Black-headed Gull over the water 05:00 was presumably one of the two adults and a juvenile on the academy playing field at 05:20. Two adults on buoys at 07:00 soon departed. Another adult briefly at 07:50.
- For only the second time this year a singing Yellowhammer could be heard from the dam top singing to the E. This species is one of the last to stop singing – usually around 15th August.
Overhead:
- 1 Stock Dove
- 36 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Collared Doves
- 1 Black-headed Gull: adult
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: age not determined again
- 2 Cormorants: singles
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
Hirundines etc., noted:
- >5 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 8 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds):
- 12 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (1) Sedge Warblers
- 7 (5) Reed Warblers
- 10 (9) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warblers again
- 4 (3) Common Whitethroats again
Count from the lake area
- 2 + 5 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 10 (9♂) Mallard
- 3 Moorhens
- 32 + 12 (6 broods) Coots
- 6 Black-headed Gulls: all briefly – see notes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly again
- 8 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Cormorant: arrived
- 2 Grey Herons: arrived separately; one departed
On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:
No Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli) (or any other moths)
and
- *1 Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- 1 Plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus)
- 1 caddis fly sp.
- 2 Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides cornutus)
- 2 Stretch spider (Tetragnatha sp.)
Other things:
Thanks to Martin Adlam for pointing me to the pollen beetles Meligethes sp. as likely the species I photographed yesterday inside a buttercup. The other small black beetle had very differently-shaped antennae and in still on the pending list. I am currently looking at the possibility of the flea beetle Cryptocephalus labiatus.
Noted later:
Moths:
- Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)
- *Common Marble (Celypha lacunana)
- Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
- Shaded Broad-bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata)
- *unidentified caterpillars
After many weeks of Cormorants only flying over the lake one bird has dropped in occasionally this week. Here is a juvenile with rather brown plumage and pale belly.
Not entirely sure what this worker Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) was doing on a lamp pole at 04:20. It was still there at 09:00!
My clearest-ever shot of a Common Marble moth (Celypha lacunana). For some reason the overall tone of this photo seems rather more creamy than I recall from real life but this species is rather variable in colour and markings.
Not having much luck identifying this small creature. I suspect an Ichneumon wasp. I was unable to look under the wings at the body colour. Amazing hind legs.
Are these caterpillars or larvae? What of? They seem to be stripping just the top surface off the leaves. The black deposit behind goes by the polite name 'frass'. Crap basically!
This looks rather small but in all other respects it matches the Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri) which it has to be. Steven Falk calls this White-clubbed Hoverfly.
This cranefly looks as if it should be easy to identity with a very large and obvious black stigma in he wing. However I cannot match it.
By far my best-ever photo of the very common caddis fly called Grouse Wing (Mystacides longicornis) usually seen dancing in groups over the lakeside vegetation and here resting on a crash barrier alongside Castle Farm Way.
I have not seen any of these before: it is the larva of a 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata). I have seen the adult beetles here – as recently as 3rd June.
Gardeners would probably not agree. This Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum aka Helix aspersa) is rather handsome.
I get very confused with glass snails and separation is easier when someone is home. It will have to be Oxychilus sp.
The Flash: 05:45 – 06:30
(127th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- One Canada Goose seen in flight. Many seem to be some days away from regrowing their flight feathers sufficiently to follow suit. It is several days since I located the juvenile bird.
- Many Mallard were apparently hiding – perhaps some are flightless as they moult and are hiding away?
- Coot juveniles:
- two only juveniles in the nest alongside Derwent Drive
- one well-grown juvenile by the island
- two reasonably small juveniles at the top end
- one juvenile by the northern-most bridge.
- any newly hatched juveniles by the southern-most bridge were still being brooded: number unknown
- One of the House Martins was either in wing moult or had suffered some accident: it was still flying strongly.
- Three Song Thrushes singing in various places: I cannot remember hearing three here previously this year.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 19 Feral Pigeons: one group
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Starling again
Hirundines etc., noted:
- >12 Swifts
- 5 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds):
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
On /around the water:
- 137 Canada Geese
- 45 Greylag Geese
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 13 (9♂) Mallard only
- 22 Tufted Duck: again
- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 6 juvenile Coots (broods): see notes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
Also noted, moths on different lamp posts:
- 1 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) - not on the same lamp post as either of the two previous days.
- *1 Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata)
- *1 Nutmeg (Anarta trifolii)
My first Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata) at this site. Note the single dot in each wing and the line of dots towards the wing edge.
This is very strange. This is a Nutmeg moth (Anarta trifolii) on the same lamp pole as I photographed one on Thursday. I am sure it wasn't there yesterday and it is not in the same position.
(Ed Wilson)
- *1 Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- 1 Plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus)
- 1 caddis fly sp.
- 2 Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides cornutus)
- 2 Stretch spider (Tetragnatha sp.)
Other things:
Thanks to Martin Adlam for pointing me to the pollen beetles Meligethes sp. as likely the species I photographed yesterday inside a buttercup. The other small black beetle had very differently-shaped antennae and in still on the pending list. I am currently looking at the possibility of the flea beetle Cryptocephalus labiatus.
Noted later:
Moths:
- Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)
- *Common Marble (Celypha lacunana)
- Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
- Shaded Broad-bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata)
- *unidentified caterpillars
Bees / Wasps:
- Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)
- *small ichneumon-type
- Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)
- *small ichneumon-type
Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- *Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri)
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- *Pied Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri)
Other Flies:
- Black Snipefly (Chrysopilus cristatus)
- *Grouse Wing (Mystacides longicornis) [caddis fly]
- *unidentified cranefly
- 1 Owl-midge sp.
- Black Snipefly (Chrysopilus cristatus)
- *Grouse Wing (Mystacides longicornis) [caddis fly]
- *unidentified cranefly
- 1 Owl-midge sp.
Beetles:
- *14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata): larva only
- Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis): pupae only
- Common Red Soldier Beetle aka Hogweed Bonking-beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)
- Rough-haired Lagria Beetle (Lagria hirta)
- *14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata): larva only
- Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis): pupae only
- Common Red Soldier Beetle aka Hogweed Bonking-beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)
- Rough-haired Lagria Beetle (Lagria hirta)
Bugs etc.:
- *Common or European Earwig (Forficula dentata)
- Common Green Capsid (Lygocoris pabulinus)
- Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)
- *Common or European Earwig (Forficula dentata)
- Common Green Capsid (Lygocoris pabulinus)
- Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)
Spiders:
- Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides cornutus) in sailing club shelter
- *presumed crab-spider with prey
- Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides cornutus) in sailing club shelter
- *presumed crab-spider with prey
Molluscs:
- *Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum aka Helix aspersa)
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- *Glass Snail Oxychilus sp.
- *Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum aka Helix aspersa)
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- *Glass Snail Oxychilus sp.
Flowers new for the year:
- *Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
- *Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
A juvenile Grey Wagtail with just a yellow wash on the rump and under-tail.
A male Common or European Earwig (Forficula dentata). On females the pincers are not curved.
'Its a jungle out there'. I think a Crab Spider Misumena sp. with a fly as prey.
This looks as if it ought to be an umbellifer with the white multi-flowered head but note the very feathery leaves. It is Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) which is related to Chamomiles and Tansies.
Between the lake and The Flash:
- 1 Chiffchaff was singing by the upper pool
- *1 Small Dusty Wave moth (Idaea seriata) on a lamp pole
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 1 Chiffchaff was singing by the upper pool
- *1 Small Dusty Wave moth (Idaea seriata) on a lamp pole
On the roof of the Priorslee Avenue tunnel
- 1 unidentified spider
- 1 unidentified spider
A very inconspicuous small moth resting on a lamp pole. It is a Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata)
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(127th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- One Canada Goose seen in flight. Many seem to be some days away from regrowing their flight feathers sufficiently to follow suit. It is several days since I located the juvenile bird.
- Many Mallard were apparently hiding – perhaps some are flightless as they moult and are hiding away?
- Coot juveniles:
- two only juveniles in the nest alongside Derwent Drive
- one well-grown juvenile by the island
- two reasonably small juveniles at the top end
- one juvenile by the northern-most bridge.
- any newly hatched juveniles by the southern-most bridge were still being brooded: number unknown
- One of the House Martins was either in wing moult or had suffered some accident: it was still flying strongly.
- Three Song Thrushes singing in various places: I cannot remember hearing three here previously this year.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 19 Feral Pigeons: one group
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Starling again
Hirundines etc., noted:
- >12 Swifts
- 5 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds):
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps
On /around the water:
- 137 Canada Geese
- 45 Greylag Geese
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 13 (9♂) Mallard only
- 22 Tufted Duck: again
- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 6 juvenile Coots (broods): see notes
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still
Also noted, moths on different lamp posts:
- 1 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) - not on the same lamp post as either of the two previous days.
- *1 Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata)
- *1 Nutmeg (Anarta trifolii)
And
- *A cluster of small fungus, probably Trooping Crumble Cap (Coprinus disseminatus)
- *A cluster of small fungus, probably Trooping Crumble Cap (Coprinus disseminatus)
A cluster of small fungus growing on the trunk of a felled tree.
A few in close-up. I think Trooping Crumble Cap (Coprinus disseminatus).
(Ed Wilson)
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On this day
2020Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
Today's Sightings Here
2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here
2009
Priorslee Lake
12 Swifts
1 Lesser Whitethroat
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
3 Great Crested Grebes
201 Canada Geese
4 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
After 29 days the 5 remaining Mute Swan Cygnets are still going strong. Last year, as you may recall, we had 9 but ended up with just 1, after a Mink devastated the family. This year it has been Mink clear and even though we lost 2 within the first two days, these guys I think will do really well.
(Martin Adlam)