20 Jun 23

Priorslee Lake only

15.0°C > 14.0°C: Mostly cloudy with rain after 05:00. Almost calm. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:46 BST: yawn

* = a photo of this species today
+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.

A quick canter around the Balancing Lake ahead of the forecast rain. An early departure with no visit to The Flash.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:000 – 06:35:

(132nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- Most Coots were still hiding when I tried a count of the juveniles I could see.
- The Sedge Warbler was singing at the West end when I arrived but not subsequently.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 4 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 12 (11) Reed Warblers
- 10 (10) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warblers
- no Common Whitethroats

Hirundines etc., noted:
- 3 Swifts

Counts from the lake area: it remains very quiet
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 5 (5♂) Mallard
- 2 Moorhens
- ? + 12 (? broods) Coots
- 11 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on and around the street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
- +Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli)
- Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
- +Little Grey (Eudonia lacustrata)
- Blood-vein (Timandra comae): 9th of the year.

Noted later: I left before most insects were flying.

Moths:
- Timothy Tortrix (Zelotherses paleana)

Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni)

Also
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)

 Just a little brightness to the East ahead of the rain.

At last there were some moths on the street lamps poles this morning: four individuals, all different species. This is, or rather was, a hapless Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli) probably a victim of one of the spiders that lie in wait. My 38th species here this year, co-incidentally it was my 38th species of 2021 when I noted one on 30 June that year.

A very common moth though usually lurking in the grass as their name implies. It is a Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella).

What I believe to be a Little Grey moth (Eudonia lacustrata). There are several similar species.

Another Blood-vein moth (Timandra comae). This is my ninth sighting this year. It is unusual for me to find this species at light: most are flushed from the grassy areas.

(Ed Wilson)

NOTE

Click here for photos of Silver-studded Blues at Prees Heath on 15 Jun 23

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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
A pair of Siskins
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
A drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)