6 May 22

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

8.0°C > 14.0°C: Started off calm with slight mist over the lake and some thin high cloud. After 08:00 lower cloud from the N and W presaged a general clouding over by 10:00. Light W breeze developing. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:29 BST

* = a photo today

Priorslee Lake: 04:55 – 06:00 // 07:00 – 10:00

(104th visit of the year)

Back to a more usual count at this time of year – just seven species of warbler.

Bird notes:
- When I arrived the local Canada Geese were with three goslings on the SW grass. When I returned from The Flash the cob Mute Swan was chasing a pair of Canada Geese and there were no goslings in sight. I feared the worse. Somehow the parents had managed to get themselves and their goslings on to the relative safety of the dam and the swan was chasing another pair of geese.
- The three (single and pair) Greylag Geese that arrived were likely to be the birds that flew over some minutes before-hand. The cob Mute Swan chased them away from the nest area but seemed sanguine about their presence otherwise.
- Two of the seven Great Crested Grebes went for a protracted fly around but returned.
- Only one juvenile Coot seen. With little sun and slightly more wind I expect they were staying inside the reeds.
- An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was happy to be in the safety of the now enclosed football field at 05:45. After 08:45 two adults spent 10 minutes at the lake.
- A Grey Heron flew low out of the estate (raiding the ponds?) and in to the Wesley Brook. Later one flew high S well to the E of the lake.
- A Sedge Warbler was singing along the S side where a pair bred last year. The bird I noted quietly singing from the Ricoh hedge yesterday was not heard today. The other two birds I noted yesterday were still present though rather less vocal.
- Now nine singing Reed Warblers. Two of these were in relatively unsuitable habitat and these may well move on.
- Only single singing Garden Warbler and Common Whitethroat at the moment. There were four singing Garden Warblers and three singing Common Whitethroats last year.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 3 Greylag Geese: single and pair outbound
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 1 Stock Dove
- 10 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull: immature again
- 1 Grey Heron
- 4 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook again

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler still
- no Willow Warblers
- 16 (14) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Sedge Warblers again
- 9 (9) Reed Warblers
- 19 (15) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler still
- no Lesser Whitethroats
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat still

Counts from the lake area:
- *4 + 3 (1 brood) Canada Geese: a pair arrived and were again chased away by the Mute Swan
- 3 Greylag Geese: pair and then a single arrived
- 2 Mute Swans: pen on nest
- 6 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck: arrived
- 3 Moorhens
- 19 + 1 (1 brood) Coots: see notes
- *7 Great Crested Grebes again
- *3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- 3 Tetragnatha sp. stretch spiders

Noted later:

Butterflies:
- Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
- Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
- *Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

Moths
- *Common Roller (Ancylis badiana)
- *Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)

Bees / wasps etc.:
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- ichneumon sp.

Hoverflies
- *Gossamer Hoverfly (Baccha elongata)
- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
- *Spotted Meliscaeva (Meliscaeva auricollis)
- *Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens) [Pied Plumehorn]

Other things:
- Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria)
- *Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombilius major)
- Scorpion Fly (Panorpa sp.)
- St Mark's Fly or Hawthorn Fly (Bibio marci)
- Red-and-Black Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata)
- *pollen beetles, perhaps Epuraea aestiva
- *7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)
- *14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata)
- Common European Earwig (Forficula dentata)
- *Crab spider Misumena vatia
- * an unidentified spider
- Tetragnatha sp. stretch spider

If you were not awake at 05:00 this is what you missed.

 A longer view across the still waters of the lake.

The parent Canada Goose hisses a warning at me as I pass by the brood of three goslings.

Cute or what? Funny little stubby wings.

Two of the Great Crested Grebes go for a fly-about. They look unexpected in flight – both the elongated shape and the amount of white showing.

Happy to be on the enclosed grass of the erstwhile football field was this adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Another one that was on one the piers later.

Not my best-ever photo of a male Blackbird. This very blotchy partly albino bird only ever seems to appear at dawn when the light is 'challenging'.

Today's Long-tailed Tit photo.

I have not see Grey Wagtails on the dam for some while. There were two today, probably a pair. With a dark throat this is a male. So where has the ringed male first seen in November 2020 gone?

It is not often a Bullfinch will sit in the open and pose. I cannot explain why the colour looks washed-out. In reality it was a splendidly red male.

My first Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) this year. Butterfly species #7 which is unusual: it is often the first I record.

A pretty little moth: a Common Roller (Ancylis badiana). The larvae roll a leaf up and spin a web inside while they pupate.

Another small moth: it is a Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana). I am sure there will be many more of these as they are abundant wherever nettles grow. They are multi-brooded and will be flying until at least October.

A very small and distinctively-shaped hoverfly though you need a side-view to be sure. It is a Gossamer Hoverfly (Baccha elongata).

Only my second-ever record of this hoverfly and one that was a challenge to photograph as it almost always closed its wings as soon as it landed, hiding the markings. It is a Spotted Meliscaeva (Meliscaeva auricollis). This was taken just as it landed.

My first record this year of a very common and easily recognised hoverfly – a Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens), also known as Pied Plumehorn. The broad white band and dark wing cloud are unique.

This Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombilius major) was still beating its wings even as it sat on a leaf. The proboscis is for nectar feeding and they are a cuddly and harmless insect.

Not sure what these unidentified flies were doing. Perhaps a territorial dispute? Perhaps attempted mating?

Two for the price of one. On this Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), my first of the year here, there is a 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata).

One of my favourite ladybirds is the 14 Spot Ladybird (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata). They don't always have 14 spots. It is a good job they do not have to wear a name tag with their scientific name.

A mass of pollen beetles feeding on a buttercup. They look a bit like Epuraea aestiva but I cannot find any reference to this species frequenting buttercups.

This is the crab spider Misumena vatia. The literature notes how they can change colour from white to green or yellow in order to match their surroundings as they wait to pounce on a passing insect. Quite why this one was bright yellow when it was amongst the white flowers of Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) is hard to say!

An exciting looking spider. Not sure why the front two pairs of legs are being held together – could it be eating prey? One for Nigel to help me with.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:05 – 06:55

(101st visit of the year)

A more 'normal' morning.

Bird notes:
- *A third Canada Geese brood of five goslings noted.
- Two Great Crested Grebes were very visible out on the water or attempting to hide under overhanging branches at their traditional nest site.
- A Common Sandpiper was on the island: rather a late date as most have passed through by now.
- I did not hear the Lesser Whitethroat. As I expected it was a passing bird – there is not really any suitable dense scrubby habitat for it.
- The Nuthatch was seen around its nesting area. It is likely getting on with the parenting duties and has been quiet for some days.

Birds noted flying over here:

None

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 10 (8) Blackcaps
Blackcaps seemed to be everywhere this morning.

Noted on / around the water:
- *36 + 9 (3 broods) Canada Geese
- 3 Greylag Geese: one of these departed
- 3 Mute Swans
- 23 (10♂) Mallard: no ducklings noted
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 6 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 24 Coots: no juveniles seen but probably being brooded on nests
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper

Noted on / around the street lamp poles
- *1 Swallow Prominent moth (Pheosia tremula)
- 1 plumed midge (Chironomus plumosus)
- 1 Tetragnatha sp. stretch spider

Elsewhere:

Nothing of note

More cuteness: the latest brood of five Canada Goose goslings. Without the aggressive cob Mute Swan around these might have a chance of survival.

This morning's Swallow Prominent moth (Pheosia tremula). It was on a lamp pole where I cannot recall ever having seen a moth previously. From this angle you can see the protrusion created by the folded wings that gives a group of moths the vernacular name of 'prominent'.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the lake and The Flash

- Moorhen(s) calling at the upper pool.
- 1 Chiffchaff singing at the upper pool again.
- 1 Blackcap singing beside the lower pool.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel

- many plumed and other midges including *a long-legged species.
- *1 millipede sp.
- *1 spider sp.

Among all the usual midges on the wall of the tunnel I found this example with very long and two-toned front legs.

This looks very like the Striped Millipede (Ommatoiulus sabulosus) I photographed at the lake a few days ago except it does not have a stripe. I cannot provide an identity

Another spider for Nigel to help me with. 

(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

1 Common Sandpiper

(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill

10 Wheatear

(John Isherwood)

2008

Nedge Hill

5 Wheatear

Yellow Wagtail

(Ed Wilson)

2006

Priorslee Lake

Hobby

1 Common Sandpiper 

1 Cuckoo

2 Ruddy Ducks

(Ed Wilson / Martin Adlam)

Nedge Hill

1 Ring Ouzel

4 Wheatear

(Arthur Harper)