8.0°C > 13.0°C: A clear start very soon becoming foggy. Finally lifted and sunny intervals after 08:15. Very light S breeze. Poor to very poor visibility, becoming good.
Sunrise: 04:48 BST
* = a photo today
Priorslee Lake: 04:40 – 05:40 // 06:35 – 09:40
Priorslee Lake: 04:40 – 05:40 // 06:35 – 09:40
(132nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- 10 Swifts were noted flying off West at 04:50 as the fog rolled in from the East. A single was over at 07:55 and then two at 09:00
- While looking at the scrub behind the sailing club shelter in the vain hope that the Cetti's Warbler might pop out again I was surprised to see a Willow Warbler moving through. It was very yellow and I assume it was a juvenile.
- The Cetti's Warbler again ventured all the way along the South side before returning to the West end.
- The recent vociferous Sedge Warbler may not have gone. I could hear one singing away as I checked the street lamps for moths. By the time I had finished that it has stopped singing and I never heard or saw it again.
Birds noted flying over here:
Very little in the fog
- no geese
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: age?
- 6 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.13 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warblers
- 7 (7) Reed Warblers
- 15 (11) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers again
- 1 (0) Common Whitethroat again
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 Moorhen only again
- 37 + 15 (6 broods) Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *1 Light Emerald moth (Campaea margaritaria): **new for the year and moth species #37 here in 2022
Noted later:
Bird notes:
- 10 Swifts were noted flying off West at 04:50 as the fog rolled in from the East. A single was over at 07:55 and then two at 09:00
- While looking at the scrub behind the sailing club shelter in the vain hope that the Cetti's Warbler might pop out again I was surprised to see a Willow Warbler moving through. It was very yellow and I assume it was a juvenile.
- The Cetti's Warbler again ventured all the way along the South side before returning to the West end.
- The recent vociferous Sedge Warbler may not have gone. I could hear one singing away as I checked the street lamps for moths. By the time I had finished that it has stopped singing and I never heard or saw it again.
Birds noted flying over here:
Very little in the fog
- no geese
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: age?
- 6 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.13 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 2 House Martins
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warblers
- 7 (7) Reed Warblers
- 15 (11) Blackcaps
- 3 (3) Garden Warblers again
- 1 (0) Common Whitethroat again
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 6 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 7 (5♂) Mallard
- 1 Moorhen only again
- 37 + 15 (6 broods) Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn:
- *1 Light Emerald moth (Campaea margaritaria): **new for the year and moth species #37 here in 2022
Noted later:
Moths:
- Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)
- *Common Marble (Celypha lacunana)
- Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)
- *Burnet Companion (Euclidia glyphica)
- Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis)
- Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)
- *Common Marble (Celypha lacunana)
- Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)
- *Burnet Companion (Euclidia glyphica)
- Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis)
Bees, wasps, etc.
- Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- *Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- *several different unidentified species of ichneumon wasps
- *Broad-striped Rhogogaster sawfly (Rhogogaster scalaris)
- *green Rhogogaster sawfly perhaps R. viridis
- *Small Yellow-girdled Tenthredo aka Yellow-banded Sawfly (Tenthredo temula.)
- Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- *Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- *several different unidentified species of ichneumon wasps
- *Broad-striped Rhogogaster sawfly (Rhogogaster scalaris)
- *green Rhogogaster sawfly perhaps R. viridis
- *Small Yellow-girdled Tenthredo aka Yellow-banded Sawfly (Tenthredo temula.)
Damselflies:
Many 100s again mostly not closely examined
- Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
- Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
- Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)
- also exuvia were seen climbing the 'boxing ring' on the dam prior to emergence.
- Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
- Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
- Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)
- also exuvia were seen climbing the 'boxing ring' on the dam prior to emergence.
Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
- Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger)
- *Common Twist-tail (Sphaerophoria scripta) [was Long Hoverfly]
- Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)
- Superb Ant-hill Hoverfly (Xanthogramma pedissequum)
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
- Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger)
- *Common Twist-tail (Sphaerophoria scripta) [was Long Hoverfly]
- Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)
- Superb Ant-hill Hoverfly (Xanthogramma pedissequum)
Other flies:
- Black Snipefly (Chrysopilus cristatus)
- Scorpion Fly (Panorpa sp.)
- *banded golden-bodied fly, initially thought to be a hoverfly
- Black Snipefly (Chrysopilus cristatus)
- Scorpion Fly (Panorpa sp.)
- *banded golden-bodied fly, initially thought to be a hoverfly
Beetles etc.:
- *Swollen-thighed (Flower) Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
- Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis): both spectabilis and succinea variants
- *Swollen-thighed (Flower) Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
- Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis): both spectabilis and succinea variants
Bugs:
- green bug, possibly Calocoris alpestris
- Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)
- *Dock Aphid (Aphis rumicis)
- green bug, possibly Calocoris alpestris
- Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)
- *Dock Aphid (Aphis rumicis)
Slugs / snails:
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis) as ever
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis) as ever
Spiders:
- *unidentified small spider
- *unidentified small spider
Mammals:
- Grey Squirrel
- Grey Squirrel
New flowers for the year noted:
- *Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris)
- *Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica)
- *Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris)
- *Shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
- *Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
- *Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris)
- *Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica)
- *Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris)
- *Shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
- *Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
An upgrade to my Common Marble moth (Celypha lacunana) photo from last week.
A Light Emerald moth (Campaea margaritaria) found on a lamp pole first thing.
Rather better than my last effort: a Burnet Companion moth (Euclidia glyphica).
A Broad-striped Rhogogaster sawfly (Rhogogaster scalaris) dives in.
No wonder they get covered in pollen.
One of the green Rhogogaster species of sawfly, probably R. viridis.
An ichneumon wasp but I have no idea as to the species involved.
I was struck by the way the water droplets were arranged around the edges of the leaves.
Just opening is Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica).
Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris)
Aptly named: Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
(Ed Wilson)
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(128th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- All nine Canada Goose goslings seen.
- Not sure how many cygnets there were. Certainly two with one of these climbing on the back of the pen where there could have been others. The 2019 bird was in close attendance this morning. Perhaps it is interested after all and explains where it was on those days I could only find the two 2021 birds – on the island with the pen at the hidden nest.
- A pair of Mallard and two tiny ducklings were beside the island. Yet another brood I think.
- A Chaffinch is still singing away here though song has stopped at the lake. This bird has only recently appeared here.
Birds noted flying over here:
Bird notes:
- All nine Canada Goose goslings seen.
- Not sure how many cygnets there were. Certainly two with one of these climbing on the back of the pen where there could have been others. The 2019 bird was in close attendance this morning. Perhaps it is interested after all and explains where it was on those days I could only find the two 2021 birds – on the island with the pen at the hidden nest.
- A pair of Mallard and two tiny ducklings were beside the island. Yet another brood I think.
- A Chaffinch is still singing away here though song has stopped at the lake. This bird has only recently appeared here.
Birds noted flying over here:
None
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift
- House Martin heard only, lost in fog
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 3 (2) Chiffchaffs only
- 2 (1) Blackcaps only
Noted on / around the water:
- 152 + 9 (3 broods) Canada Geese
- 15 Greylag Geese
- 4 + >2 (1 brood) Mute Swans: see notes
- 23 (17♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 9 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 21 + 8 (3 broods) Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 2 owl midges Psychodidae sp.
Noted elsewhere:
- *1 Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift
- House Martin heard only, lost in fog
Warblers noted (figures in brackets relate to singing birds):
- 3 (2) Chiffchaffs only
- 2 (1) Blackcaps only
Noted on / around the water:
- 152 + 9 (3 broods) Canada Geese
- 15 Greylag Geese
- 4 + >2 (1 brood) Mute Swans: see notes
- 23 (17♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 9 (6♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 21 + 8 (3 broods) Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 2 owl midges Psychodidae sp.
Noted elsewhere:
- *1 Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
Sleeping it off and covered in pollen is a Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum). The flower is a Dog Rose (Rosa canina agg.)
(Ed Wilson)
Between the lake and The Flash:
(Ed Wilson)
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- An adult Moorhen heard and one juvenile seen at the lower pool.
- An adult Moorhen seen and juveniles heard at the upper pool.
- No Chiffchaff again.
- 1 Blackcap still singing between the two pools.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
- An adult Moorhen seen and juveniles heard at the upper pool.
- No Chiffchaff again.
- 1 Blackcap still singing between the two pools.
(Ed Wilson)
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- The Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) chrysalis remains.
- 2 Common Pug moths (Eupithecia vulgata) on the roof
- 2 Common Pug moths (Eupithecia vulgata) on the roof
(Ed Wilson)
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Note:
On Friday 27 May 22, Ed Wilson visited Anglesey. His photos are on Readers Corner Here.
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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
2009
Priorslee Lake
15 House Martins
15 Swifts
2 Chiffchaffs
Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
1 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)