31 Aug 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

12.0°C > 13.0°C: Often low cloud and mainly light drizzle. Occasional bright, even sunny, moments. Light N wind. Very good visibility but moderate in drizzle.

Sunrise: 06:18 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 04:45 – 06:30 // 07:30 – 09:15

(191st visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- All four Mute Swan cygnets seen again.

- There now seem to be two pairs of Great Crested Grebes without young as well as the three pairs with a total of five juveniles. No longer as easy as it was as the juveniles are being taken all around the water and the families are getting somewhat mixed up at times.

- Where have all he Reed Buntings gone? There were five (perhaps six) breeding pairs and they all seemed to have had two broods. Since the last male stopped singing about two weeks ago I have not seen any.

Overhead:

- 24 Canada Geese: 10 outbound in four groups; 14 inbound n two groups

- c.50 Greylag Geese: outbound together far to N

- 4 Stock Doves: single and trio

- 207 Wood Pigeons

- 2 Collared Doves: singles

- 1 Black-headed Gull again

- 1 Herring Gull

- 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

- no Jackdaws or Rooks

Hirundines etc., noted:

- 11 House Martins high over 08:50 only

Warblers noted:

- 9 Chiffchaffs: none in song

- 2 Blackcaps again

- 1 Reed Warbler: in occasional hesitant song

Count from the lake area:

- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans again

- 16 (12♂) Mallard

- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck [also yesterday – omission!]

- 5 Moorhens

- 66 Coots

- *10 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes

- 80 Black-headed Gulls

- 4 Herring Gull: two adults, two juveniles, all briefly

- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; all briefly

- 1 Grey Heron: departed

On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

With the wing blowing on to the lamps there was very little about

Moths:

- *1 Dingy Dowd (Blastobasis adustella)

- *1 macro moth still to be identified

- *1 Red Underwing (Catocala nupta)

and

- 1 Common or European Earwig (Forficula dentata)

- 1 Cucumber Green Orb Spider (possibly Araniella cucurbitina)

- 1 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestman

In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:

Spiders etc.:

- Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)

Other things:

- Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis)

Very little seen later:

Bees / Wasps etc.:

- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)

Hoverflies:

- *Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare) again

Molluscs:

- White-lipped Snails (Cepaea hortensis) as ever

Mammals:

- 1 Grey Squirrel again

Feeding time for the juvenile Great Crested Grebe.

Most uncharacteristically it seemed disinterested. A Black-headed Gull keeps careful watch to try and snatch the fish. The adult ate it when the gull pounced.

I think this small moth is a Dingy Dowd (Blastobasis adustella).

I'll have to take advice on this moth. It let me pick it up from the under the vegetation but I then had a problem. I had the moth in one hand, the camera in the other and where did I hold the torch? I dared not try and put the moth on vegetation in case it flew off. As a result the moth is not well lit. When homo sapiens evolved how come we discarded the prehensile tail of our ancestors. It would be so useful!

It has been a bumper year for this moth species both here, at The Flash and, where I usually find one per year, in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel. This is a Red Underwing (Catocala nupta).

Just about the only insect vaguely active this morning was this Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare). Here it is sitting on the edge of a petal of Larger Bindweed [or Bellvine] (Calystegia Sepium) which has water droplets from the morning's drizzle. The triangular shape to the yellow marks indicate this is a female as does the fact that her eyes do not meet.

This seems to me to be a typical Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis). There is a form without any markings on the wings, but yesterday I saw...

.. which looks to be very similar but different. I cannot track anything else down on the web. However most of the 200 species known from the UK are not illustrated.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

- 1 Chiffchaff calling at the lower pool

Noted on lamp poles:

- *1 probable Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata)

A challenge to spot this moth against the moss growing on the lamp pole. At the time I assumed it was a pug moth sp. but looking at the photo I am inclined to the view that it is a Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata).

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

- 1 pug moth sp.: flew off before I could ID it

- 1 presumed Common Marbled Carpet (Dysstroma truncata): as yesterday

- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)

- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus) at least

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:25

(174th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- Now four Shoveler: two drakes and two ducks in only loose company

- It is always hard to be certain as they always move around quickly and often underwater but there did seem to be two extra adult Great Crested Grebes.

- Grey Wagtail present again

Birds noted flying over here:

- 5 Feral Pigeons: together

- 7 Wood Pigeons

- 5 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc., noted:

None

Warblers noted:

- 2 Willow Warblers

- 9 Chiffchaffs: five in song! Excited at the thought of going to a sunnier clime?

On /around the water:

- 7 Canada Geese

- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan

- *4 (2♂) Shoveler

- 47 (?♂) Mallard

- 33 Tufted Duck

- 8 Moorhens

- 38 Coots

- 4 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes

- 18 Black-headed Gulls

- 2 Grey Herons again

On various lamp poles:

Moths:

- 1 Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.): same lamp as yesterday, but shuffled slightly

Other things:

- 1 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestman

Also

- 1 Grey Squirrel

Four Shovelers today, all some way away in the drizzle and all well apart. Here is #1: a duck

#2: a drake.

 #3: another duck.

#4: another drake

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

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 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

13.0°C > 14.0°C:  Medium overcast. Light NE wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise:  06:16 BST

Photos will be added to tomorrow's log.

A very quiet morning with few people about and very little traffic on the roads. Not many birds either!

Priorslee Lake:  04:45 – 06:35 // 07:40 – 09:20

(190th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- All four Mute Swan cygnets seen with the cob chasing the fourth in to the reeds.

- A low number of Black-headed Gulls arrived first thing to feed on the football field. To add some confusion a few decided to use the academy playing field instead.

- A Hobby shot across the football field just as I was climbing in the car to leave.

Overhead:

- 25 Canada Geese: all outbound in three groups

- 115 Wood Pigeons

- 1 Collared Dove

- 1 Hobby

- 1 Black-headed Gull

- 34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

- 4 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc., noted:

- 1 Barn Swallow flew NW at 08:20

Warblers noted:

- 7 Chiffchaffs: two noted in song

- 2 Blackcaps

Count from the lake area:

- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans

- 16 (11♂) Mallard

- 8 Moorhens

- 63 Coots

- 9 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes

- 62 Black-headed Gulls only

- 1 Herring Gull: adult, briefly

- 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 20 of these (near) adults; all stopped only briefly

- 1 Cormorant: arrived

- 1 Grey Heron: departed

On / around the street lamps pre-dawn: 

With the wing blowing on to the lamps there was very little about

Moths:

- 1 micro moth still to be identified

and

- 1 Plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus)

- 3 different spider sps.

- 3 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestman

In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:

Spiders etc.:

- Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)

- Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica)

- Noble False Widow (Steatoda nobilis)

Other things:

- gnat sp.

- possible Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis)

Later:

Very little seen:

Bees / Wasps etc.:

- [not even a Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris) collecting nesting material from the Priorslee Avenue fence]

Hoverflies:

- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)

Molluscs:

- White-lipped Snails (Cepaea hortensis) as ever

Mammals:

- 1 Grey Squirrel

I might get a better chance of showing this moult effect better in the next few weeks but in case I don't.... Look at the centre of the left wing of this adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. There is a white streaking which is created by the moulted secondary coverts exposing the shafts of the secondary feathers. Until the coverts regrow these birds will show variable amounts of white.

The same feature is evident on the right wing of this bird. The moulted coverts mean that the light shines between the shafts of the secondaries. This bird has also lost most of its inner primaries. Its identity as a Lesser Black-backed Gull is confirmed by the wide white trailing edge to the secondaries – it is noticeably narrower on Herring Gulls.

Still working on this small moth. The back of the wings reminds me of a grass moth but the palps seem to curve over the face so it must be another family entirely.

This Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius) was posing particularly well. It is not typical of many that I see which have much more contrasting black and white markings (as opposed to dark and light brown as seen here).

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

- 1 Chiffchaff calling between the pools

- 1 Blackcap calling at the lower pool

Noted on lamp poles:

- 1 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)

- 1 Square-spot Rustic moth (Xestia xanthographa)

At a convenient height on a lamp pole was this Square-spot Rustic moth (Xestia xanthographa) for the best view this year.

Round the back of the same pose was this Garden Carpet moth (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

- 1 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

- 1 presumed Common Marbled Carpet (Dysstroma truncata): Common Marbled and Dark Marbled Carpets only separable by the markings underwing.

- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus) at least

- 2 Leiobunum rotundum harvestmen

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash:  06:40 – 07:35

(173rd visit of the year)

Firstly an important omission from Saturday's log from here. I heard and then saw a Kingfisher which was remarkably my first here in 2021. It is species #75 for me here this year and my first addition to the year list for over two months.

Bird notes:

- Best bird here today was a duck Shoveler. For some weeks now the Mallard have been behaving rather like Shovelers, feeding by sifting from the surface while swimming in circles to bring vegetation to the surface. As I approached the group alongside Derwent Drive I heard the characteristic wingbeat of a Shoveler taking to the air. This bird was obviously less trusting of humans than the resident Mallards. It did not fly far.

- Today it was the turn of the Tufted Duck to be in rather low numbers than recently.

Birds noted flying over here:

- 4 Wood Pigeons

- 5 Black-headed Gulls

- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Hirundines etc., noted:

None

Warblers noted:

- 6 Chiffchaffs: one heard in song

On /around the water:

- 5 Canada Geese

- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan

- 1 (0♂) Shoveler

- 53 (?♂) Mallard

- 39 Tufted Duck

- 10 Moorhens

- 40 Coots again

- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes

- 24 Black-headed Gulls

- 2 Grey Herons

On various lamp poles:

Moths: a bumper haul

- 1 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)

- 2 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata)

- 1 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)

- 1 Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria)

- 1 Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) [what was 'Common Rustic' moth has now been identified as three separate species: Common, Lesser Common and Remm's Rustic; they are separable only by genitalia examination]

Other things:

- 3 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestmen

- 2 Leiobunum rotundum harvestmen

One of the Grey Herons standing on one of the bridge hand-rails.

Surly not thinking of diving off for a fish?

Walking carefully along with toes wrapped around the hand-rail.

And now on the other side of the bridge.

For some reason the orange Neighbourhood Watch sign on a lamp pole seems to attract moths. Here is a Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) keeping guard.

My first-ever Flame Carpet moth (Xanthorhoe designata) here. There was another on the next lamp down. You wait years and two come along together: typical.

I logged this moth yesterday as a Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) but it somehow seemed wrong. It is too orange-looking and typically the front of the thorax of that species is a mass of yellow hairs. There are two other thorn moths active at this date – the August Thorn (E. quercinaria) and September Thorn (E. erosaria). The latter has the cross-lines coming much closer together near the body. On the former the front cross-line sharply bends as it nears the very wing edge and it is not obvious on this specimen. All thorns moths typically rest with their wings held partly closed. Looking at all the photos on the Norfolk Moths site I have concluded that this is an August Thorn (my first). For me the clinching feature is the shape of the wing trailing edge: all the other thorn moths have a projection much closer to the wing-tip than this specimen.

One of the Common Rustic group of moths (Mesapamea secalis agg.) that need genitalia examination to specifically identify. I do not see this common and widespread species very often.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2012
Priorslee Lake
Black Tern
(Arthur Harper)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)

29 Aug 21

Priorslee Lake only

13.0°C > 15.0°C: Initially thin low cloud with the moon visible; soon more extensive low cloud; a few breaks after 07:15 but very hazy and they did not last. Light 'N' wind. Good visibility at best.

Sunrise: 06:15 BST

* = a photo today

Only visited the lake today, the idea being to see the balloons lift from the Telford Town Park. Thwarted by low cloud and they did not fly!

Priorslee Lake: 04:45 – 09:00

(189th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- The Mute Swans are still behaving oddly. One of the adults was asleep well apart from the others. Later the two adults were seen some way apart with the three cygnets well away. The fourth cygnet joined it siblings from somewhere and then disappeared again. Later the adults and three cygnets were all together on the concrete ramp.

- A drake Tufted Duck has been present for about 10 days in the NE area. I failed to find it yesterday but it was back in its usual location this morning. There was another (of indeterminate sex) at the W end later.

- Another large number of Wood Pigeons, today in both directions.

- No Grey Heron seen for the first day in a long while.

Overhead:

- 31 Canada Geese: all outbound in three groups

- Greylag Geese heard only

** All the geese went out early, low and to the N where I could not see them

- 1 Feral Pigeon again

- 237 Wood Pigeons

- 2 Herring Gulls

- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

- 1 Jackdaw

- 1 Starling

Hirundines etc., noted:

- 2 Barn Swallows flew S 08:25

Warblers noted:

- *9 Chiffchaffs: one noted in spluttering song

- 1 Reed Warbler

- 5 Blackcaps again

Count from the lake area:

- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans

- 12 (8♂) Mallard

- 2 (1♂) Tufted Ducks

- 8 Moorhens again

- 69 Coots

- 9 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes

- 105 Black-headed Gulls only

- *3 Herring Gulls: adult, third summer, first summer

- *14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all stopped only briefly: included a juvenile

On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

Moths

- 2 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata)

- 1 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)

And

- 1 cranefly Tipula lateralis

- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)

- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)

- 3 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestman

In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:

Spiders etc.:

- *2 unidentified spiders sps. amongst all the usual suspects

Things seen later: back to mainly dull weather: a few things sunning in a brief brighter spell

Bees / Wasps etc.:

- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)

- *Knopper Gall created by the Knopper Oak Gall Wasp (Andricus quercuscalicis) on an Oak tree

Hoverflies:

- *Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

- Tiger Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus)

- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)

Bugs:

- *Anthocoris sp., perhaps Common Flower Bug (Anthocoris nemorum)

Spiders etc.:

- 1 Leiobunum rotundum harvestman

Molluscs:

- White-lipped Snails (Cepaea hortensis) as ever

Mammals:

- 1 Grey Squirrel

- [Pipistrelle-type bats not looked for]

Herring Gulls of different ages here. On the left a very worn third summer bird: the mantle looks like an adult but the wings that were moulted last winter are now very much the worse for wear. On the right a first summer with some signs on the mantle of moulting in to second winter plumage. Large gull area a challenge with eight distinct plumages until they are full adults, but of course much of the time they are in transition anyway.

A juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull. It is darker overall than a same-age Herring Gull but the clinching plumage feature is that the tertials (the feathers immediately in front of the black tail) are evenly edged white. On a Herring Gull these feathers have the black notched with white. It is a very strikingly-marked bird with neat white edges to the dark-centred feathers. [Adult winter Black-headed Gulls lurk in the foreground]

Makes a change to find a Chiffchaff out in the open – albeit briefly.

A Knopper Gall created by the Knopper Oak Gall Wasp (Andricus quercuscalicis) on an Oak tree. The wasp oviposits it the bud and the gall distorts the acorn. The wasp is rarely seen. Wikipedia suggests this only occurs on Pedunculate Oaks but the NatureSpot web site suggests all oaks are affected. Anyway Pedunculate Oak freely hybridise with Sessile Oaks (and I can't tell the difference anyway!)

I did a double-take on this rather chunky-looking hoverfly. It is 'only' a Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) but it is unusual in that it is a female. The vast majority of the hoverflies I see are males (the eyes meet). Its bulk is in part due to the angle leading to foreshortening but it seems from photos on the web that females do look broader than males.

One of the Anthocoris sp. of flower bugs, perhaps Common Flower Bug (Anthocoris nemorum). The members of the genus cannot be separated from photos.

A yet to be identified spider that was in the sailing club shelter.

And another. The legs are covering the markings on the back of the abdomen but the white crescent on the side might be enough of a clue. I suspect it is a Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius).

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

- 1 presumed Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea) again

- 3 different caddis flies of unknown species.

- *1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)

- *1 other unidentified spiders

- 1 Leiobunum rotundum harvestman

This is a spider I can identify. The cross at the top of the abdomen identifies it as a Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus).

Whereas this isn't!

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2013
Priorslee Lake
Whinchat
(John Isherwood)

2011
Nedge Hill
Peregrine
(John Isherwood)

28 Aug 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

10.0°C > 15.0°C: Fine and clear. Light 'N' wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:13 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 04:45 – 06:20 // 07:25 – 09:30

(188th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- The adult and three cygnet Mute Swans only noted.

- Most of the large number of Wood Pigeons were passing W almost continually after 07:45. There were no significant groups as if they had been flushed from feeding locations. They all seemed to be on local movements as none was much above a hundred feet

Overhead:

- 84 Canada Geese: all outbound in seven groups: many others heard taking a line below tree-level for me

- 8 Greylag Geese: all outbound as two singles and one group

- 1 Feral Pigeon

- 2 Stock Doves: together again

- 139 Wood Pigeons

- 1 Sparrowhawk

- 25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

- 3 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc., noted:

- 2 House Martins at least heard high over at 06:00

Warblers noted:

- 9 Chiffchaffs: one noted in song

- 2 Reed Warblers

- 5 Blackcaps

- 1 Lesser Whitethroat

Count from the lake area:

- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans

- 10 (7♂) Mallard

- 8 Moorhens: adults and immatures

- 73 Coots: adults and immatures

- 8 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes still

- 207 Black-headed Gulls

- 1 Herring Gull: adult, briefly

- 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all stopped only briefly

- 1 Cormorant: arrived

- 1 Grey Heron

On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

Moths

- *1 Pale-streak Grass-veneer (Agriphila selasella)

- *1 Blood-vein (Timandra comae)

- 1 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata)

- 1 Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina)

And

- *1 cranefly Tipula lateralis

- 1 Plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus)

- 1 Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)

- 2 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)

- 1 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestman

- 1 Leiobunum rotundum harvestman

In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:

Spiders etc.:

- Large House Spider-type: Eritigena group either E. duellica, E. atrica or E. saeva

- Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)

- *another to be identified

Things seen later:

Butterflies:

- Small White (Pieris rapae)

- Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

Bees / Wasps etc.:

- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

- Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)

- Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)

- *Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

- *Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)

- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)

Hoverflies:

- Stripe-faced Dronefly (Eristalis nemorum)

- Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax): many 100s of these Tapered / Common Droneflies

- Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

- Marsh Tiger (Helophilus hybridus)

- Dead-head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) [Batman Hoverfly]

Damsel-/Dragon-flies:

- *Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

Bugs:

- *Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus): nymph

Beetles:

- 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)

Spiders:

- *Misumena vatia (all-white crab spider)

Molluscs:

- White-lipped Snails (Cepaea hortensis) as ever

Mammals:

- 2 Grey Squirrels

- [Pipistrelle-type bats not looked for]

'Flowers' noted for the first time this year

- *Lords & Ladies / Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum): fruits only

Some while since I have seen this – yep! The Moon.

I am sure this is an interesting micro-moth but covered in dew the markings are too indistinct to attempt an identification.

I believe this to be a Pale-streak Grass-veneer (Agriphila selasella). Unlike the Common Grass-veneer this pale streak splits in only in to two and it lacks any parallel dark marking above the streak. In real life the streak is whitish rather than the creamy colour of Common Grass-veneer but that is hard to illustrate in a flash photo.

You wait for ages and then they come along in droves. Another Blood-vein (Timandra comae) out in the open.

Share and share alike. In front a Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) sharing the Knapweed flower with a Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

I was not expecting to see one of these at this date. It is a recently-emerged male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum).

A distinctive cranefly with strong wing markings and a pale stripe down he abdomen. It is Tipula lateralis (no vernacular name).

This is nymph of a Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus).

A Misumena vatia crab spider with a bit of an identity crisis. They can change colour from white to green to match their background as they lie in wait for prey. Doesn't work too well on Knapweed flowers!

A spider to be identified.

The fruiting spike of Lords & Ladies or Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum). All parts of this plant are poisonous.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

Noted on a lamp pole:

- *1 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

- 2 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestman

A pug moth that is not too hard to identify. It is a Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata).

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

- 1 presumed Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea)

- 2 Leiobunum rotundum harvestmen

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:25 – 07:20

(172nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- No idea why the Greylag Geese were still happily on the water rather than out in the fields.

- Low Mallard count: many were tucked up under overhanging vegetation and there were probably even more hiding.

Birds noted flying over here:

- 5 Feral Pigeons: together

- 4 Wood Pigeons

Hirundines etc., noted:

- House Martins heard only again

Warblers noted:

- 10 Chiffchaffs: one heard in song

- 3 Blackcaps

On /around the water:

- 4 Canada Geese

- 82 Greylag Geese

- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan

- 40 (?♂) Mallard

- 45 Tufted Duck

- 4 adult and juvenile Moorhens

- 40 adult and juvenile Coots

- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes

- 22 Black-headed Gulls

- 1 Grey Heron

On various lamp poles:

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

- 1 Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Teal
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Turtle Dove
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Pair Ruddy Duck
(Malcolm Thompson)

27 Aug 21

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

11.0°C > 13.0°C: Once again an overcast and dull summer's morning. Light NNW wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:11 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 04:40 – 06:25 // 07:25 – 09:10

(187th visit of the year)

On Wednesday council contractors cleared the side of the very overgrown public footpath along the W end. Should not affect the insects too much, though fewer things will be able to crawl from the vegetation on to the lamps.

Today they were starting on the wide verge between Teece Drive and Ricoh. Depends how much they cut – "boys with toys?" – as to what effect it has on me being able to find interesting insects. I am pleased that 'no mow May' has lasted this long. I am aware that some of the residents have regarded it as unsightly but "wildlife does not do tidy".

Bird notes:

- The adult and three cygnet Mute Swans were all asleep together for a change. The fourth cygnet appeared later but stayed well-away from the others.

- Most of the large number of Wood Pigeons were passing W almost continually after 07:45. There were no significant groups as if they had been flushed from feeding locations. They all seemed to be on local movements as none was much above a hundred feet

Overhead:

- 65 Canada Geese: 57 outbound in four groups; eight inbound in four singles/duo/quartet

- 2 Feral Pigeons: together

- 17 Racing Pigeons: together

- 2 Stock Doves: together

- 277 Wood Pigeons

- 3 Herring Gulls

- 37 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

- 2 Jackdaws

- no Rooks

Hirundines etc., noted:

- 1 Barn Swallow flew W calling loudly at 08:10

Warblers noted:

- 10 Chiffchaffs: none noted in song

- 2 Blackcaps again

Count from the lake area:

- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans

- 10 (?♂) Mallard again

- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck still here

- 6 Moorhens: adults and immatures

- 57 Coots: adults and immatures

- *9 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes still

- 214 Black-headed Gulls

- 1 Herring Gull: briefly

- 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: all stopped only briefly

- 1 Grey Heron

On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:

Moths

- 1 Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella)

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

- *1 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)

And

- 1 Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris): dead in web

- 1 Plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus)

- *1 beetle sp.

- 2 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)

- 5 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestmen

In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:

Spiders etc.:

- Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)

- Noble False Widow (Steatoda nobilis)

Other things

- caddis fly sps. not identified

Very few things seen later in yet more dull and chilly conditions:

Bees / wasps:

- unidentified bee sp. in flight only

Caddis flies:

- Grouse Wing caddis flies (Mystacides longicornis): many dancing over vegetation

Molluscs:

- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)

Mammals:

- 7 Pipistrelle-type bats in full walk around: fewer on this chilly morning, one in a different place to usual.

The third brood of Great Crested Grebes are now growing fast and usually out in the open.

Taken during the dark using my LED torch this Green Carpet moth (Colostygia pectinataria) at least shows a hint of green. This moth is notorious for quickly losing both its colour and its markings.

Later it was still in more or less the same place, having just shuffled around a bit. Under (poor) natural light it does not look green at all. The two dark marks in the middle of each wing-edge and the dark area in the middle where the wings meet at rest are diagnostic.

I don't really have any idea about this beetle. There are very many all-black beetles that look like this. I see relatively few beetles and this was, unusually sitting around under a street light.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash:

- A Blackcap calling near the upper pool

Also noted on a lamp pole:

- 1 Single-dotted Wave moth (Idaea dimidiata)

- 1 Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)

- 1 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestman

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

- 1 Leiobunum rotundum harvestman

- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:30 – 07:20

(171st visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- The Common Buzzard overhead sounded like a begging juvenile and was probably the same bird that flew out of the Ricoh copse and ahead of me as I walked up the path between the lake and The Flash.

- House Martins were heard to the E while trees were blocking my view. By the time my view was clear there was no sign of them.

Birds noted flying over here:

- 2 Wood Pigeons

- 1 Common Buzzard

- 2 Jackdaws

Hirundines etc., noted:

- House Martins heard only

Warblers noted:

- 8 Chiffchaffs: three heard in song

- 1 Blackcap

On /around the water:

- 9 Canada Geese: three of these flew in together

- 2 Greylag Geese: these flew in together

- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan

- 58 (?♂) Mallard

- 44 Tufted Duck

- 9 adult and juvenile Moorhens again

- 36 adult and juvenile Coots again

- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes

- 19 Black-headed Gulls: at least five first-winter birds

- 2 Grey Herons again

On various lamp poles: 

All moths

- 1 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata)

- *1 Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)

- *1 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)

I have had to lighten up this moth to show its markings and illustrate the 'iron' part of its name of Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius).

From this angle the 'prominent' part of its name shows where the wings close to leave a 'tuft'.

A good example of a Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa). The 'square spot' refers to the white mark closest to wing tip which is called the kidney mark. On this species it is usually especially obvious and more square-shaped than on many similar species. It is not always this easy as this species can be very variable in ground colour, from reddish brown as here, through grey or deep brown, even almost black. On dark examples the marking are frequently obscure.

(Ed Wilson)

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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

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)