14.0°C > 16.0°C: Mist and light drizzle to start – basically Telford was in cloud. Somewhat clearer to E by 07:30: drizzle ceased and cloud lifted slightly. Calm. Moderate visibility at best, becoming good.
Sunrise: 06:05 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 04:40 – 06:30 // 07:35 – 09:10
(184th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The adult Mute Swans seem to have lost control of all their cygnets this year with the youngsters wandering off singly, and in pairs as they see fit. The pen occasionally joins them / rounds the three up, but not for long. They should start wing-flapping sessions as a prelude to flying lessons soon.
- Large number of over-flying Wood Pigeons included a loose group that I logged as 126 birds, all from the fields to the E.
- A ninth adult Great Crested Grebe present. Now three pairs with young; another pair keeping together after several weeks with just a single bird in the same area; and now also a lone adult.
- Continued presence of calling Lesser Whitethroats tends to suggest that this arch skulker may well have bred here.
Overhead:
- 74 Canada Geese: all outbound in eight duos/groups: many others heard
- 2 Greylag Geese: duo outbound
- 13 Feral Pigeons: together
- 1 Stock Dove
- 288 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- no Jackdaws or Rooks
Hirundines etc., noted:
Bird notes:
- The adult Mute Swans seem to have lost control of all their cygnets this year with the youngsters wandering off singly, and in pairs as they see fit. The pen occasionally joins them / rounds the three up, but not for long. They should start wing-flapping sessions as a prelude to flying lessons soon.
- Large number of over-flying Wood Pigeons included a loose group that I logged as 126 birds, all from the fields to the E.
- A ninth adult Great Crested Grebe present. Now three pairs with young; another pair keeping together after several weeks with just a single bird in the same area; and now also a lone adult.
- Continued presence of calling Lesser Whitethroats tends to suggest that this arch skulker may well have bred here.
Overhead:
- 74 Canada Geese: all outbound in eight duos/groups: many others heard
- 2 Greylag Geese: duo outbound
- 13 Feral Pigeons: together
- 1 Stock Dove
- 288 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- no Jackdaws or Rooks
Hirundines etc., noted:
None
Warblers noted:
- 9 Chiffchaffs: one of these noted in song – as yesterday
- 3 Reed Warblers
- 2 Blackcaps
- 2 Lesser Whitethroats
Count from the lake area:
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans: the fourth cygnet not positively located
- 15 (?♂) Mallard#
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck still
- 3 + 2 (2 brood) Moorhens
- 65 Coots: adults and immatures
- 9 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 210 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron as usual: departed
On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:
Warblers noted:
- 9 Chiffchaffs: one of these noted in song – as yesterday
- 3 Reed Warblers
- 2 Blackcaps
- 2 Lesser Whitethroats
Count from the lake area:
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans: the fourth cygnet not positively located
- 15 (?♂) Mallard#
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck still
- 3 + 2 (2 brood) Moorhens
- 65 Coots: adults and immatures
- 9 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 210 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron as usual: departed
On / around the street lamps pre-dawn:
Moths:
Once again affected by wet vegetation
- 1 Dingy Dowd (Blastobasis adustella)
- 1 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata)
- 1 Dingy Dowd (Blastobasis adustella)
- 1 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata)
And
- 2 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris); one dead in web
- 1 Common Candy-striped Spider (Enoplognatha ovata)
- 4 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- 1 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestman
- 3 Leiobunum rotundum harvestmen again
In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:
- 2 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris); one dead in web
- 1 Common Candy-striped Spider (Enoplognatha ovata)
- 4 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- 1 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestman
- 3 Leiobunum rotundum harvestmen again
In the sailing club shelter pre-dawn:
Spiders etc.:
- *A spider in the genus Clubiona
- *Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica)
- Noble False Widow (Steatoda nobilis)
- *A spider in the genus Clubiona
- *Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- Walnut Orb Weaver (Nuctenea umbratica)
- Noble False Widow (Steatoda nobilis)
Other things
- Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis)
- other caddis fly sps. not identified
Only things seen later
- Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis)
- other caddis fly sps. not identified
Only things seen later
In yet more poor weather:
Bees / wasps:
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies:
- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare) again
- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare) again
Fungus:
- *Coprinus plicatilis (The Little Japanese Umbrella)
- *Coprinus plicatilis (The Little Japanese Umbrella)
Molluscs:
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
Mammals:
- 8 Pipistrelle-type bats only in full walk around
- 8 Pipistrelle-type bats only in full walk around
The stem looks very fragile!
Spiders grow throughout their lives and regularly burst out of their exoskeleton exposing a new, larger one that soon hardens. Here is a discarded old one.
Between the lake and The Flash:
This looks to me like Fairy Ring Champignon fungus (Marasmius oreades) even though the fungus was in a more or less straight line incorporating several clusters – one of which is shown here. The rings actually get larger and larger over time and thus part of a very large ring can appear straight. I did not notice these yesterday and they already look well-chewed.
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash:
- The Chiffchaff calling beside the lower pool still
Also noted:
- *Fairy Ring Champignon fungus (Marasmius oreades)
- *Fairy Ring Champignon fungus (Marasmius oreades)
A side-view of some others in the same group.
(Ed Wilson)
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- *1 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer moth (Agriphila geniculea)
- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)
- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)
On this Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer moth (Agriphila geniculea) it is possible to see how the scales that cover the wings of (butterflies and) moths are starting to wear off. I have begun to get my eye in and I have noted that this grass moth is obviously smaller than the two most frequently seen species – the Common and Garden Grass-veneers. Any such smaller moths still need confirmation from the markings as there are other possibilities; also small specimens of the common species are not impossible.
(Ed Wilson)
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(169th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- In the mist and murk some of the Canada Geese had not departed. When they did so, in multiple group, some of them circled around as if lots and splashed back and/or settled on the grass only to take off again a few minutes later. It was hard to see in the misty conditions anyway and some of the action was behind the island for me. Best endeavours!
Birds noted flying over here
- In the mist and murk some of the Canada Geese had not departed. When they did so, in multiple group, some of them circled around as if lots and splashed back and/or settled on the grass only to take off again a few minutes later. It was hard to see in the misty conditions anyway and some of the action was behind the island for me. Best endeavours!
Birds noted flying over here
None – the clouds were that low.
Hirundines etc., noted:
None
Warblers noted:
- 1 Willow Warbler
- 7 Chiffchaffs: two heard in song
On /around the water:
- 74? Canada Geese: 60? of these flew off
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 45 (?♂) Mallard
- 42 + 4 (1 brood) Tufted Duck
- 5 + 3 (3 broods) Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 23 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- 1 Grey Heron again
On the lamp poles
- 1 Willow Warbler
- 7 Chiffchaffs: two heard in song
On /around the water:
- 74? Canada Geese: 60? of these flew off
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 45 (?♂) Mallard
- 42 + 4 (1 brood) Tufted Duck
- 5 + 3 (3 broods) Moorhens
- Coots not counted
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 23 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- 1 Grey Heron again
On the lamp poles
Nothing found on any of them
Otherwise:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
(Ed Wilson)
Note:
- 1 Grey Squirrel
(Ed Wilson)
Note:
Venus Pool - 21 Aug 21 Here
Sightings from previous years without links are below
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On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
2013
Nedge Hill
1 Redstart
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Common Terns
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 Redstart
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Common Terns
(Ed Wilson)