15.0°C > 18.0°C: Light rain shower c.06:00 and then another very misty and murky start. Began to lift after 08:30. Almost calm. Good visibility, occasionally only moderate as cloud descended.
Sunrise: 06:35 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 04:50 – 06:40 // 07:30 – 09:30
(200th visit of the year)
Nothing much to celebrate on my 200th visit of the year.
Bird notes:
- I logged 382 large gulls flying in from the W after 06:10. Because of the earlier rain I was positioned to make a dash for the sailing club shelter if necessary. I was not well-placed to see what happened on the lake. I could not realistically attempt any specific identification. At least 50 of them flew straight over, possibly more. 27 were noted returning W after drinking / bathing: these did so whilst birds were still arriving and it is possible that some of these may have returned and been included twice
Overhead:
- Canada Geese heard only (lost in the mist)
- 3 (?♂) Tufted Duck: circled over at 06:20 and left again to W
- 2 Feral Pigeons: together
- 4 Stock Doves: two duos
- 215 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Black-headed Gulls only
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- ? large gulls: see notes
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc., noted:
- House Martins again lost in the mist high over the football field c.06:30 but not later
Warblers noted:
- 8 Chiffchaffs: two in song
- 2 Blackcaps again
Count from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 13 (9♂) Mallard
- 2 (?♂) Tufted Duck: at 06:00 but not seen later
- 6 Moorhens
- 67 Coots
- 10 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 82 Black-headed Gulls
- 7 Herring Gulls
- 37 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- see also notes above re 'large gulls'
Moths at the lamps pre-dawn:
None
Other things:
- 1 lacewing sp. perhaps of the genus Wesmaelius (not a green lacewing)
- 1 damp Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis) splattered against a lamp post and unidentifiable
- 1 Clubiona sp. spider
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- 1 Stretch spider (Tetragnatha sp.)
- 1 unidentified all-black spider
- 2 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestmen
- 1 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestman
A Dingy Dowd moth (Blastobasis adustella). The ground colour and pattern of this micro-moth are very variable. Two features that are usually present (though not always obvious) are the white shoulder and the white inverted 'V' marking. This is a small moth which flushed ahead of me and settled on the wooden fence alongside Teece Drive.
When I looked at the photo on the camera I thought 'caddis fly'. Looking on the PC I noted the way the head seemed rather remote from the body. It is in fact a lacewing. It most closely resembles photos on the internet of species in the genus Wesmaelius. Not all lacewings are green!
You try holding the camera steady when looking directly overhead through a gap in the vegetation! I hope Nigel the spider man can shed some light on this red-tinged black spider.
I have no real idea what is going on here. The small spider seems to be dragging a leg but what from is hard to say. There seem to be six long legs but nothing to hold them together.
A Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius). This species has an enormous variety of patterning on the body.
This business part of a Dicranopalpus sp. harvestman. I always think they look as if they could unplug and plug in replacement legs. This one needs a new leg #2 on the right. The long and forked pedipalps identify this genus of harvestman. Separation to species is not possible from photos.
(Ed Wilson)
Woodhouse Lane 08:20 – 08:40
(27th visit of the year)
I made a short visit here to view the commencement of the building work and the closure of the lane as a through route. See the photos below with comments.
The only birds noted were >100 Wood Pigeons flushed from stubbles in a field yet to be included in the works.
The view north at the top of the concrete track where the closure of Woodhouse Lane starts. The white notice details the diversion to the National Cycle Route – a bit late if you have got this far as it is back under the M54 and along the back-road to Shifnal and then on footpaths all around the Castle Farm Way roundabout before running alongside Castle Farm Way.
Looking south from the same point. The field to the right of the road does not seem to be included in the current activity.
Other things:
- 1 lacewing sp. perhaps of the genus Wesmaelius (not a green lacewing)
- 1 damp Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis) splattered against a lamp post and unidentifiable
- 1 Clubiona sp. spider
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- 1 Stretch spider (Tetragnatha sp.)
- 1 unidentified all-black spider
- 2 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestmen
- 1 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestman
Also
- 1 Common Frog (Rana temporaria) [not up a lamp post!]
Noted later:
- 1 Common Frog (Rana temporaria) [not up a lamp post!]
Noted later:
Very wet vegetation again:
- 1 Dingy Dowd moth (Blastobasis adustella)
- 2 Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- 3 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- 2 Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
- many craneflies, likely mostly Tipula paludosa
- 1 Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)
- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)
- 3 Stretch spiders (Tetragnatha sp.)
- many White-lipped Snails (Cepaea hortensis)
- 6 Pipistrelle-type bats
- 2 Grey Squirrels
- 2 Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- 3 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- 2 Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
- many craneflies, likely mostly Tipula paludosa
- 1 Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)
- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)
- 3 Stretch spiders (Tetragnatha sp.)
- many White-lipped Snails (Cepaea hortensis)
- 6 Pipistrelle-type bats
- 2 Grey Squirrels
Another view of this cooperative moth.
Another one that has been in the wars and needs leg #1 on the right and a new right-hand pedipalp.
(Ed Wilson)
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(27th visit of the year)
I made a short visit here to view the commencement of the building work and the closure of the lane as a through route. See the photos below with comments.
The only birds noted were >100 Wood Pigeons flushed from stubbles in a field yet to be included in the works.
This is the bottom of the concrete track approaching the exit sluice of the Wesley Brook. Outside the fence line several trees on both side of the concrete track have been felled. All this work means there will be fewer places for the Skylarks, Common Whitethroats and Yellowhammers to nest next year. It is often remarked "well they can fly somewhere else" which is true but this ignores the fact that the "somewhere else" is either unsuitable habitat or will already be occupied by others of the species. I am sure the Common Whitethroats will not be very happy to have struggled back from sub-Saharan Africa next April to find their home destroyed. Many creatures do not have the opportunity of relocating.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
Moths:
(Ed Wilson)
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Moths:
None
Other things:
- 4 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
- 3 Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)
- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)
- various other unidentified spiders as usual
(Ed Wilson)
Between the lake and The Flash:
- Nothing of note
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:45 – 07:25
- 4 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
- 3 Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)
- 1 Garden Spider (Arameus diadematus)
- various other unidentified spiders as usual
(Ed Wilson)
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- Nothing of note
(Ed Wilson)
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(180th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- A further decline in the number of Tufted Duck.
- For the last two days the three juvenile Great Crested Grebes have been together in the middle of the water. Each day I have seen just a single adult appear with a food parcel.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Wood Pigeons
Hirundines etc., noted:
Bird notes:
- A further decline in the number of Tufted Duck.
- For the last two days the three juvenile Great Crested Grebes have been together in the middle of the water. Each day I have seen just a single adult appear with a food parcel.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Wood Pigeons
Hirundines etc., noted:
None
Warblers noted:
- 7 Chiffchaffs: four in song
- 1 Blackcap
On /around the water:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 31 (21♂) Mallard
- 16 (?♂) Tufted Duck only
- 10 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 1 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 3 Black-headed Gulls only
- 2 Grey Herons again
On various lamp poles:
- 4 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestmen
- 1 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestman
Also
- 2 Grey Squirrels
- 7 Chiffchaffs: four in song
- 1 Blackcap
On /around the water:
- 5 Canada Geese
- 3 + 2 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 31 (21♂) Mallard
- 16 (?♂) Tufted Duck only
- 10 Moorhens
- 27 Coots
- 1 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes again
- 3 Black-headed Gulls only
- 2 Grey Herons again
On various lamp poles:
- 4 Dicranopalpus sp. harvestmen
- 1 Paroligolophus agrestis harvestman
Also
- 2 Grey Squirrels
(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
2011
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2010
The Flash
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Pochard
Common Gull
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
A juvenile Arctic Tern
(Ed Wilson)