13.0°C > 17.0°C: Initially clear with low cloud and mist rolling in by 05:15. Lifted somewhat and occasional sunny spells after 08:45. Light NW wind. Moderate visibility.
Sunrise: 06:11 BST
* = a photo from today
Priorslee Lake: 04:55 – 06:25 // 07:35 – 09:30
(183rd visit of the year)
Birds noted flying over here:
- 46 Canada Geese: two groups outbound
- 2 Feral Pigeons: together
- 31 Racing Pigeons: together
- 1 Stock Dove
- 39 Wood Pigeons
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- no Jackdaws
- 21 Rooks
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 15 Barn Swallows: in four groups over briefly
- House Martin(s): heard only high overhead at 06:00
Warblers noted:
- 6 Chiffchaffs
- 5 Blackcaps
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 7 (?♂) Mallard
- 9 Moorhens
- 76 Coots
- 6 families: again no meaningful count of Great Crested Grebes
- [1 Oystercatcher reported as briefly visiting by one of the fishermen]
- 31 Black-headed Gulls: at least seven of thee juvenile / first winters
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher
Noted on / around the street lamp poles pre-dawn
Very little after overnight rain
Moths:
- 4 Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella)
and:
- *2 Yellow Swarming Flies (Thaumatomyia notata)
- *as usual some unidentified flies
- 1 springtail species
- 2 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- *1 other spider
- 3 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestman
Noted later:
One of the fishermen has confirmed that much of the weed growing in the lake is Canadian Pondweed (Elodea Canadensis). This is an introduced invasive plant that clogs ponds, lakes and slow-moving watercourses, outcompeting native plants. Attempts to physically remove it are usually unsuccessful because the broken segments left behind can reproduce asexually. The plant can easily survive our harshest winters.
Repeat sightings:
Butterflies:
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- *2 Yellow Swarming Flies (Thaumatomyia notata)
- *as usual some unidentified flies
- 1 springtail species
- 2 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- *1 other spider
- 3 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestman
Noted later:
One of the fishermen has confirmed that much of the weed growing in the lake is Canadian Pondweed (Elodea Canadensis). This is an introduced invasive plant that clogs ponds, lakes and slow-moving watercourses, outcompeting native plants. Attempts to physically remove it are usually unsuccessful because the broken segments left behind can reproduce asexually. The plant can easily survive our harshest winters.
Repeat sightings:
Butterflies:
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Bees etc.:
- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- *Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
- *Migrant Field Syrph or Migrant Hoverfly (Eupeodes corollae)
- *Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- *Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
- *Migrant Field Syrph or Migrant Hoverfly (Eupeodes corollae)
- *Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
Other flies:
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Swarming Flies (Thaumatomyia notata) an unusual daytime sighting
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Swarming Flies (Thaumatomyia notata) an unusual daytime sighting
Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle-type (Agelastica alni?)
- Alder Leaf Beetle-type (Agelastica alni?)
Not too much to show you today. An old favourite Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax).
A couple of unidentified flies resting on one of the street lamps poles.
Conditions have not been too favourable for a "plane of the day" recently and I struggled with this one in the haze.. This is a Boeing 787 900 series Dreamliner of Westjet, Canada. The angled blue markings on the engine cowlings help identify the operator. It was starting its descent in to London's Gatwick Airport after more than eight hours in the air from Vancouver International Airport on Canada's West Coast.
The Flash: 06:30 – 07:30
(179th visit of the year)
Best today was a Little Egret sharing the island quite happily with a Grey Heron. This was my second record of this species here this year.
Bird notes:
- As far as it is ever possible to do so I now can confirm there are six adult Mute Swans.
- One juvenile Great Crested Grebe was not specifically noted but they were scattered around the water and hard to keep track of.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw again
Warblers noted (no song recorded):
- 2 Chiffchaffs one of which was singing
Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 6 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall
- 25 (?♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 20 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 16 Moorhens
- 56 Coots
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 16 Black-headed Gulls: five juvenile
- 2 Cormorant: arrived together, departed separately
- *1 Little Egret
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 2 Common Grass-veneer moths (Agriphila tristella)
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestman
Also noted:
- *Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:30 – 07:30
(179th visit of the year)
Best today was a Little Egret sharing the island quite happily with a Grey Heron. This was my second record of this species here this year.
Bird notes:
- As far as it is ever possible to do so I now can confirm there are six adult Mute Swans.
- One juvenile Great Crested Grebe was not specifically noted but they were scattered around the water and hard to keep track of.
Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw again
Warblers noted (no song recorded):
- 2 Chiffchaffs one of which was singing
Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 6 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Gadwall
- 25 (?♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white duck (Aylesbury Duck)
- 20 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 16 Moorhens
- 56 Coots
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 16 Black-headed Gulls: five juvenile
- 2 Cormorant: arrived together, departed separately
- *1 Little Egret
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted on / around the street lamp poles:
- 2 Common Grass-veneer moths (Agriphila tristella)
- 1 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestman
Also noted:
- *Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Well it was a long way away on the island. The Little Egret looking for a meal.
A different species of umbellifer I found here. It is Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). I wonder whether this is garden escape; or perhaps it has grown from a discarded seed. Umbellifers are strange group of flowers. Apart from Fennel then Carrots and Parsnips are from this family. Then again so are the very poisonous Hemlock, Hemlock Water Dropwort and the nasty Giant Hogweed. Be careful what you eat!
Between the lake and The Flash:
- 1 Chiffchaff calling again near the lower pool
and
- *1 Flame Carpet moth (Xanthorhoe designata)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
I am delighted to say that the ghastly graffiti has been painted out leaving a white canvas for...
- >10 midges of various sizes
- 4 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the lake and The Flash:
- 1 Chiffchaff calling again near the lower pool
and
- *1 Flame Carpet moth (Xanthorhoe designata)
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
I am delighted to say that the ghastly graffiti has been painted out leaving a white canvas for...
- >10 midges of various sizes
- 4 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.
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)