15 Jul 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

15.0°C > 16.0°C: A diminishing sliver of clear skies to the E replaced by low cloud and some occasional very light drizzle 'in the air'. Moderate, even fresh, NNW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:04 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 04:15 – 05:30 // 06:25 – 08:20

(147th visit of the year)

Unexpected cloud and a brisk wind meant an early departure.

Highlight of the morning was a Red-legged Partridge that half flew and half ran across Castle Farm Way. I almost certainly have the Severn Trent contractors mowing the grass behind the dam to thank for this sighting. Also I was looking in the right place at just the right moment. I suspect that as the mower approached the small copse in the south-east corner that this bird was flushed from cover. My only previous records at the lake were on 14th May 2015; and 27th March 2019 when I flushed one along the N side. I see them from along Woodhouse Lane early in the year when the ground vegetation is short but not often at this time of year. Very welcome as bird species #104 for 2021.

Bird notes:
- The duck Mallard with two well-grown ducklings was seen again. another duck was seen along the dam face apparently without duckling – this is where one has been with the single duckling for the last few days.
- A single Swift flew around briefly at 05:00. None seen thereafter.
- Most of the 51 fly-over Wood Pigeons were flushed out of the fields to the E at the same time.
- Just 12 Black-headed Gulls were at the lake early before heading off: one was a juvenile. At 05:20 there were 21, all adults, on the football field, briefly joined by a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Overhead:
- 2 Stock Doves: together again
- 51 Wood Pigeons
- no Jackdaws
- 13 Rooks

Hirundines etc., noted:
- 1 Swift

Warblers noted (the number in brackets is singing birds):
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Reed Warblers
- 9 (6) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- 2 (2) Common Whitethroats

Count from the lake area
- 2 + 5 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 12 (10♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 Moorhen only
- 34 + 13 (8 broods) Coots
- >22 Black-headed Gulls: one juvenile
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, briefly
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron: departed

On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

Moths:
- 1 female Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli form humuli): just about present, dead in the web.
- 1 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
- 1 Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia)
- 1 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)

And
- 3 unidentified caddis flies
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides cornutus)
- *1 male Labyrinth Spider (Agelena labyrinthica)
- *1 female Leiobunum rotundum-type harvestman

In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:
- *1 Dark Arches moth (Apamea monoglypha)
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides cornutus)
- 1 female Leiobunum rotundum-type harvestman

Other things seen later: not much in cloudy and breezy conditions

Moths:
- Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)
- Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
- Common Marble (Celypha lacunana)

Bees / Wasps:
- *Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)
- *small ichneumon sp., possibly a male Pimpla rufipes

Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

Beetles:
- Common Red Soldier Beetle aka Hogweed Bonking-beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)

Bugs
- *Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)

Amphibians:
- Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

Fish
- Tench (Tinca tinca) were spawning

Molluscs:
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- glass snail sp.

This is part of a Dark Arches moth (Apamea monoglypha) found hiding between overlapping metal sheets forming the sailing club shelter. My first record here since 9th July 2015 and moth species #57 for the year here. There are numerous species of 'arches' moth, not all related. I have drawn a blank on a web search for the origin but most seem to have zig-zag marking toward the wing tip.

Not too well camouflaged on Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) is a presumed male Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) - not all males show an obvious white tail.

A side of view of what seems to be a small ichneumon-type.

And here the top view. It may be a male Pimpla rufipes – a female would show an ovipositor. This is noted as 14mm which Google tells me is half and inch in the old money that I still use. The size seems right.

This seems to be a Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius). This is a very variable species with different colour forms. A gallery of 40 different examples can be found Here

And its other side.

This is a male Labyrinth Spider (Agelena labyrinthica). The female builds a sheet web low to the ground with a retreat that often bifurcates in to a labyrinth- hence the name. This male was probably roaming on the lookout for love. It is related to the Large / Giant House Spider (Eratigena sp.) (thanks to Nigel for the information).

I think this is a female Leiobunum rotundum-type harvestman. Her abdomen is elongated, unlike the rather circular male. The dark saddle and the very long second and fourth pairs of legs confirm though as noted yesterday when I showed a photograph of a male separation from L. blackwalli is only possible by looking at the eye-surround.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

- 1 Chiffchaff again in intermittent song by the upper pool.

(Ed Wilson)

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On the roof of the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

Moths:
- *1 probable Slender Pug (Eupithecia lenuiata)
- *1 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata)
- *1 Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia)

Others:
- 1 cranefly (dead?)
- 2 Spider sps.

This is one of several similar-looking 'wave' moths. On the basis of the curved and irregular cross-lines I believe it to be a Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata).

This is one of the many confusing pug moths. Having taken advice it is probably a Slender Pug (Eupithecia lenuiata) on the basis of the position of a dark spot in the forewing and the hint of lighter brown marks on the leading edge. Not one my advisor (thanks Leon) is too familiar with so always happy for other thoughts.

An altogether easier moth – an Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia).

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 05:35 – 06:15

(132nd visit of the year)

As a matter of interest has anyone seen any of the Terrapins basking anywhere this year?

Bird notes:
- Probably the same four Canada Geese as yesterday took to flight – I did not see whether they left or just repositioned 'up the other end'.
- Very few Mallard visible today.
- A Common Sandpiper heard and then seen in flight low across the water. Not seen to land

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Sparrowhawk, carrying prey

Hirundines etc., noted:
None

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

On /around the water:
- 134 Canada Geese
- 41 Greylag Geese
- 1 Greylag x Canada Goose again
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 12 (?♂) Mallard only
- 18 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 6 juvenile Coots (3 broods)
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Great Crested Grebe still

Also
- *1 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) on a lamp pole

A really easy moth: a Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata). I read that until macro moths names began to be standardised in Victorian times this moth was called Tilmon Bobart's Straw Moth. They don't make names like that any more.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day
2020
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2018
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2016
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here

2015
Priorslee Lake
Today's Sightings Here