30 Jun 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

11.0°C > 13.0°C: Medium-level overcast soon supplemented by lower cloud with light but steady rain after 06:30. Light southerly breeze. Excellent visibility.

Sunrise: 04:50 BST

* = a species with a photo today

+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:15 // 07:25 – 08:50

(142nd visit of the year)

Some coots and grebes were presumably sheltering from the rain, staying out of sight in the reeds.

Bird notes:
- I had to wait until I was about to walk out of the Teece Drive gate before I heard just a single song phrase from the Cetti's Warbler.
- Jays have been almost quiet for several weeks. Family parties were seen in both the south-west and north-east areas, the latter chasing a Common Buzzard out of the trees.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 26 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Sparrowhawk: carrying prey
- 1 Jackdaw
Still poor numbers

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 11 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (8) Reed Warblers
- *9 (6) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warblers
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

Hirundines etc., noted:
- 14 Swifts: early only
- 2 House Martins

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (?♂) Mallard
- 1 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 27 + 31 (? broods) Coots
- 8 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Black-headed Gulls: adult and first year arrived separately
- 1 Herring Gull: moulting immature, briefly
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult briefly
- 1 Grey Heron: departed

Noted on and around the street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
- *1 'grey' moth (Scopariinae sp.)
- *1 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)
- *1 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)

otherwise:
- nothing

Noted later: very little in the rain

Butterflies:
- none

Moths:
- unidentified grass moths

Bees / wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)

Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- *Migrant Field Syrph or Migrant Hoverfly (Eupeodes corollae)
*** also these two hoverfly species noted when I examined yesterday's photos and not in the blog:
- +*Broad-banded Epistrophe (Epistrophe grossulariae)
- *Dead-head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) [Batman Hoverfly]

Dragon-/damsel-flies:
- none

Other flies:
- Black Snipefly (Chrysopilus cristatus)

Beetles:
- none

Bugs:
- none

Also
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)

An annoying twig with a few dead leaves partially obscuring a Blackcap with a brown head. Females and juveniles of both sexes have brown heads. As I cannot see a 'gape line' and the cap is a bright rufous it must be an adult female. An 05:45 on a dull morning special!

There are at least three different species of these 'grey' moths (Scopariinae sp.) flying at the moment. This one is simply too worn to attempt any specific identification.

This Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) is an attractively-marked moth. I usually find one of them each year. There are several bits of midges in an adjacent spider's web.

A Common Footman moth (Eilema lurideola) that was right at the very top of a street lamp pole and not as well-focussed as I would have liked. I see this moth most years. I still have some cross-checking to do but I believe this is moth species #50 for me here this year.

The only hoverfly I noted this morning other than the ubiquitous Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) was this. I believe it to be a Migrant Field Syrph (Eupeodes corollae) based on the two complete yellow bands on the abdomen. In Meadow Field Syrph (E. latifasciatus) each band is usually divided by a black line of variable width. It does look rather 'washed-out', probably an effect of the poor light.

I failed to put this Broad-banded Epistrophe (Epistrophe grossulariae) in yesterday's log. I only noticed it when I looked at my photos later. It has wide almost parallel-sided yellow bands that wrap around the edge of the abdomen. My first record of this species this year.

I also failed to put this Dead-head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) in yesterday's log though I have noted it several times earlier this year.

A very distinctive-looking fly seen yesterday. I believe it to be the Muscid fly Phaonia pallida.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 06:20 – 07:20

(131st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- The third 'white' Mute Swan not seen.
- When I checked my photos yesterday's Mallard duckling count should have been six (not five). The same number seen again today. - The all-white drake Feral Duck reappeared today. I last noted it on 21 June. It was chased off by a Coot and clearly was still in wing-moult and only able to patter away across the water.
- Some of the Tufted Ducks are now difficult to sex as they undertake their post-breeding moult. As with the Mallard I will not attempt to separate them until they start to acquire their breeding plumage.
- A Grey Heron seen what I arrived. One flew in later may or may not have been the same bird. There was no sign of any confrontation so I doubt there were two present at the same time even though I did not see the first bird leave.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 2 Cormorants: together

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 3 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps

Hirundines etc., noted:
- >15 Swifts
- >6 House Martins
At least 25 birds in a swirling group hard to specifically identify

Noted on / around the water
- 131 Canada Geese
- 1 Canada x Greylag Goose
- 91 Greylag Geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- *21 (?♂)+ 6 (1 brood) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) all-white feral duck.
- 10 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- 22 + 7 (4 broods) Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 or 2 Grey Herons

Noted on / around the street lamp poles around the water:

Moths:
- *1 Common Grey (Scoparia ambigualis)

Noted elsewhere around The Flash:
- Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)

The pen Mute Swan with her four fast-growing cygnets.

All six Mallard ducklings seem in a hurry to get somewhere and are in danger of leaving Mum behind.

And just to prove there were six yesterday and not five as I thought.

So where has he been for the last week or so? Still moulting as it lacks the curled tail-feather shown by all Mallard-derived drakes.

This is my friendly and usually noisy Wren. He was unwilling to sing to the camera today.

A Common Grey moth (Scoparia ambigualis) well-camouflaged against a lichen-covered street lamp pole.

From yesterday and not at all easy to see. A yellow and brown micro-moth amongst lichen on a Neighbourhood Watch sign attached to a street lamp pole beside Priorslee Academy. I have searched my micro-moth field guide and the 'flying tonight' section of the West Midland Moths web site without success.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Between the lake and The Flash:

Moths on street lamp poles:
- *Common Grey (Scoparia ambigualis)

Another of those 'grey' moths. This, I am reasonably confident, is also a Common Grey (Scoparia ambigualis).

The semaphore fly Poecilobothrus nobilitatus I noted yesterday. I have included it because the eye is both red and green. The eye-colour obviously depends upon the angle of the light.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2010
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
1 drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)

29 Jun 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

11.0°C > 17.0°C: Overnight rain clouds clearing to the East. Then variable amounts of cloud with some good sunny spells. Moderate and fresh-feeling north-westerly breeze. Excellent visibility.

Sunrise: 04:49 BST

I have run out of rime; a selection of photographs from today will be included in tomorrow's blog.

+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.

The overnight rain, cooler temperature and brisk wind reduced the number of moths seen.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:15 // 07:20 – 09:30

(141st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- One of the trio of juvenile Great Crested Grebes was not located. The other two were diving freely already so perhaps I overlooked it. It remains unclear what the other ten adult birds are doing.
- Warbler song fading away somewhat.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 4 Feral Pigeons: together
- 4 Stock Doves: two duos
- 30 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Rook
Another dismal total

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 1 (1) Willow Warbler
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (7) Reed Warblers
- 7 (5) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warblers
- 2 (1) Common Whitethroat

Hirundines etc., noted:
- 4 Swifts: early only
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 1 House Martin

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 Moorhens
- 31 + 39 (14? broods) Coots
- 12 + 2 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull: adult: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived and departed

Noted on and around the street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
- 2 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
otherwise:
- nothing

Noted later: I again stayed out of the soaking vegetation

Butterflies:
- Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
- Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
- Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
- Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Moths:
- Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
- Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella)

Bees / wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)

Hoverflies:
- Bumblebee Blacklet (Cheilosia illustrata)
- Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- Stripe-faced Dronefly (Eristalis nemorum)
- Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger)
- Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
- Common Twist-tail (Sphaerophoria scripta)
- Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens)

Dragon-/damsel-flies:
- Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
- Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
- Hawker sp. dragonfly

Other flies:
- Black Snipefly (Chrysopilus cristatus)
- +Phaonia pallida (Muscid fly)

Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni): adults and larvae
- Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)

Bugs:
- 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata)

Also
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- Cucumber Green Orb Spider (Araniella possibly A. cucurbitina)

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash: 06:20 – 07:25

(130th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- All three 'white' Mute Swan and the four cygnets seen at the same time.
- Five Mallard ducklings recorded. Growing fast. Fingers crossed.
- A Common Sandpiper seen flying low over the water. Not located at any of this species usual resting haunts.

Birds noted flying over here:

None

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcaps

Hirundines etc., noted:
- >25 Swifts
- 4 House Martins

Noted on / around the water
- 130 Canada Geese
- 87 Greylag Geese
- 3 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 19 + 5 (1 brood) Mallard
- 9 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 + 7 (4 broods) Moorhens
- 24 + 12 (4 broods) Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 1 Grey Heron

Noted on / around the street lamp poles around the water:

Moths:
- 1 micro to be identified
- 1 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

Noted elsewhere around The Flash:
- Large White butterfly (Pieris brassicae)
- Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- +Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens) [hoverfly]
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni): adults and larvae

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Between the lake and The Flash:

Moths on street lamp poles:
- Common Grey (Scoparia ambigualis)

Also
- dagger fly Empis livida
- semaphore fly Poecilobothrus nobilitatus
- 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata): pupa

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On this day can be found via the yearly links in the right-hand column.

Sightings from previous years without links are below

2013
Priorslee Lake
15 Cormorants
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Juvenile Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Siskin
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 drake Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

28 Jun 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

17.0°C > 19.0°C:  Medium overcast gave way to a low overcast for a while. Drizzle between c.07:15 and c.08:45. Light south-westerly breeze. Excellent visibility except during drizzle when moderate at best.

Sunrise:  04:48 BST

* = a species photographed today.

+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.

++ =  new species for me at this site.

Priorslee Balancing Lake:  05:00 – 06:25 // 07:30 – 09:45

(140th visit of the year)

Bird notes:

- The Cetti's Warbler was recovering from the shock of being the star photo yesterday and was almost silent today.

- After taking a day off yesterday the Willow Warbler was back in full voice.

Birds noted flying over here:

- 16 Wood Pigeons

- 1 Collared Dove

- 2 Black-headed Gulls

- 1 Grey Heron

From bad to worse!

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):

- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler

- 1 (1) Willow Warbler

- 10 (10) Chiffchaffs

- 16 (12) Reed Warblers

- 8 (7) Blackcaps

- 2 (2) Garden Warblers

Hirundines etc. noted:

- 4 Swifts

- 3 House Martins

Counts from the lake area:

- *2 + 2 Mute Swans

- 11 (?♂) Mallard

- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens

- 30 + 35 (13? broods) Coots

- 12 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes

- 1 Black-headed Gull: first summer: arrived

- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult briefly

- *1 Grey Heron: one arrived and departed; another (?) arrived

Noted on and around the street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:

- 1 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

- 1* possible Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata)

- 1* Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata)

- 10* Round-winged Muslin (Thumatha senex): on six different poles

otherwise:

- 1* ichneumon sp.

- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)

- 1* stretch spider Tetragnatha sp.

Noted later: a few things before and after the drizzle. I stayed out of the soaking vegetation

Butterflies:

-        Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

-        *Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)

Moths:

-        Timothy Tortrix (Zelotherses paleana)

-        Common Marble (Celypha lacunana)

-        +*Hoary Bell (Eucosma cana)

-       Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

-       *Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)

Bees / wasps etc.:

-        Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)

-        Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)

-        Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)

Hoverflies:

-        Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

-        Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger)

-        *Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)

-        Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens) [Pied Plumehorn]

Dragon-/damsel-flies:

-        Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

Other flies:

-        Black Snipefly (Chrysopilus cristatus)

Beetles:

-        Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni): adults and larvae

-        *another beetle sp.

Bugs:

-        *Common Green Capsid (Lygocoris pabulinus)

Also

-        White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)

-        *Orb-web spider (Larinioides cornutus)

The cob Mute Swan seems unconcerned about the Grey Heron passing close-by.

This first summer Black-headed Gull dropped in. Not all first summer birds acquire the full black pattern on the head shown by this bird. This bird is starting its Autumn moult with three new all-grey inner primaries. At least one primary been dropped outboard of these three. The older dark-tipped primaries are those it acquired in its moult out of juvenile plumage last Autumn.

'Brown' butterflies, Ringlets (Aphantopus hyperantus) and, as here, Meadow Browns (Maniola jurtina), will fly in cloudy conditions provided it is warm enough. There is a single white spot in the dark circle on the mostly hidden upper-wing. Within the next few weeks another and smaller relation, the Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), will be on the wing. Apart from its smaller size it can also be distinguished by having two white spots in the dark circle.

In the dull and drizzly conditions it was difficult to get a sharp photos of this Hoary Bell moth (Eucosma cana)

Pug moths are difficult to identify and some have to be dissected. On the basis of the dark mark in the forewing I am going going for a Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata).

I found this Mottled Beauty moth (Alcis repandata) on the underside of a street lamp head. Two spiders seem to have their eyes on the moth, the closest to it being a stretch spider Tetragnatha sp.

The best looking of the ten Round-winged Muslin moths (Thumatha senex) that were on the street lamp poles.

 I wonder how this Snout moth (Hypena proboscidalis) got its name?

On one of the street lamp poles was this insect with one broken antenna. I think an ichneumon.

Deep down inside a Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) flower is what appears to be a female Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare). The triangular yellow marks on the abdomen are just discernible. On a male the yellow marks on the abdomen are rectangular.

A Common Green Capsid (Lygocoris pabulinus) was out and about despite the drizzle. It is feeding on Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).

This is not an Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni) though I don't know what it is. On this creature there is a distinct separation between the head and the thorax whereas with the alder beetle they look (but aren't) fused.

I believe this to be the orb-web spider Larinioides cornutus. I have probably photographed this individual before from the underside: it was beside the sailing club HQ where I photographed one some days ago.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:  06:30 – 07:25

(129th visit of the year)

Highlight today was stumbling, almost literally, on to a Scarlet Tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula) resting on nettles at the top end. Sadly the moth saw me as soon as I saw it and it flew off before I could grab a photo. My first sighting in Shropshire of this moth which I saw regularly when I spent time in South Devon. Photos can be found Here.

Bird notes:

- I did not specifically note the near-adult Mute Swan. However all the swans were sitting inside the island and difficult to see.

- No Mallard ducklings recorded. One of my regular dog-walker informants indicated that there were two differently-aged broods present.

Birds noted flying over here:

- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):

- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs

- 5 (4) Blackcap

Hirundines etc., noted:

None

Noted on / around the water

- 136 Canada Geese

- 67 Greylag Geese

- *1 Canada x Greylag Goose

- ? Mute Swans: see notes

- 19 Mallard: see notes

- 10 (8♂) Tufted Duck

- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens

- 22 + 9 (4 broods) Coots

- 1 Great Crested Grebe

Noted on / around the street lamp poles around the water:

Moths:

-        2 Garden Grass-veneers (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

-        1 +*Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata)

-        1 +*Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata)

-        1 +*Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)

and

-        +*two other beetles

Noted elsewhere around The Flash:

-        ++Scarlet Tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula): as highlighted

-        Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni): adults and larvae

-        +*Rough-haired Lagria Beetle (Lagria hirta)

Here is the mixed species Canada x Greylag Goose. I don't see it everyday yet from this view it would not be able to fly. I guess it hides in the island.

This Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata) was one of the moths I found here today.

Two moths on the same street lamp pole. The lower moth is a typical 'wave' moth in size and shape and can be identified as a Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata) from the dark along the leading edge of the wing. The other moth is a Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria).

Commonly found on vegetation is this Rough-haired Lagria Beetle (Lagria hirta).

I have no thoughts on the identity of this beetle other than to remark I do not recall seeing it before.

It is usually longhorn beetles that have curved antennae. I can't match this one with those illustrated on the internet.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Between the lake and The Flash

-       today one of the first brood juvenile Moorhens from the lower pool was seen flying strongly to get back to safety.

Moths on street lamp poles:

-        Garden Grass-veneers (Chrysoteuchia culmella)

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)

27 Jun 23

Priorslee Lake and The Flash

13.0°C > 15.0°C: Medium overcast with very few early brighter spells. Intermittent light rain started c.08:00. Light southerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:48 BST

* = a species photographed today.

+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:55 – 06:15 // 07:25 – 09:30

(139th visit of the year)

Omitted from the log for yesterday was, just as I arrived, a single short song given by a Sedge Warbler from the rather unlikely area beside the sailing club HQ. Nothing was seen or heard later.

Bird notes:
- Signs of change with a Common Sandpiper (briefly), returning Black-headed Gulls and warbler song diminishing. It will be interesting to see how many Black-headed Gulls return: there have been reports of many local breeding colonies being badly affected by Avian Flu deaths. We don't want Avian Flu brought here.
- There were three juvenile Pied Wagtails on the sailing club piers. It is some days since I last saw them here. Could they be from a second brood? If so why were no adults present?

Birds noted flying over here:
- 33 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 5 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook

That's all again folks!

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- *1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- no Willow Warbler
- 11 (11) Chiffchaffs
- *10 (8) Reed Warblers: includes family party being fed
- 10 (8) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warblers
- no Common Whitethroat

Hirundines etc., noted:
- 11 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 3 House Martins

Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 9 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Moorhens
- ? + 34 (13? broods) Coots: I forgot to count the adults!
- 12 + 3 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper: early only
- 2 Black-headed Gulls: adults, arrived separately
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: worn adult(?) briefly
- *1 Grey Heron: arrived and departed

Noted on and around the street lamp poles around dawn:
- *1 Common Grey (Scoparia ambigualis)
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- *1 male stretch spider Tetragnatha sp.

Noted later in overcast conditions with some rain:

Butterflies:
- none

Moths:
- *Marbled Bell (Eucosma campoliliana)
- Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
- *Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella)
- Common Marble (Celypha lacunana)

Bees / wasps etc.:
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- *German Wasp (Vespula germanica)

Hoverflies:
- *Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- *Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger)
- *possible Melanostoma species of grass hoverfly
- *Common Twist-tail (Sphaerophoria scripta)

Dragon-/damsel-flies:
- none

Other flies:
- Black Snipefly (Chrysopilus cristatus)
- *dagger fly Empis livida
- semaphore fly Poecilobothrus nobilitatus
- *unidentified fly

Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni): adult

Bugs:
- 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata): pupa only

Also
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- *another snail sp

A stately Grey Heron, present only for a short while.

A well-grown juvenile Moorhen. It is yet to acquire the red shield of the adult bird and as a result the bill looks very oddly-shaped.

Gotcha! After over 30 months at last I have a decent photo of the very noisy but very elusive Cetti's Warbler. Note the rufous back colour. I may have to wait another 30 months to get the rounded rufous tail in a photograph!

Not easy persuading the camera to focus on the feeding family of Reed Warblers through all the vegetation.

A head-on view with the usual 'angry bird' result.

And while the twig is more in focus than the warbler at least this shows the typical sloping forehead of the species.

Two of a family group of four Carrion Crows that I disturbed. The leading bird shows some white in the wing. This species not uncommonly has some white feathers (Rooks never do). However here I think we are seeing the exposed feather-bases of the secondaries as the secondary coverts are being moulted. All the secondaries look short as the bird goes through its post-breeding moult.

Definite find of the morning for me was this tiny Marbled Bell moth (Eucosma campoliliana). My only previous record of this species here was on 16 July 2014.

One of those grrrrr..ey moths. I believe a Common Grey (Scoparia ambigualis).

The Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella) is the plainest of the grass moths with no white streaks and no cross-lines on the wing. Just a pale horizontal line splitting in to four or five fingers.

Perhaps easier to see this way up. I inverted a different photo of the same individual. Easier than inverting the camera.

A German Wasp (Vespula germanica), identified by the rather triangular yellow area on the side of the thorax (this area is parallel-sided on the Common Wasp). It did not seem to mind the rain as it munched the wood from the Teece Drive fence to help make its nest. Perhaps wet wood is easier to chew?

Another hovering Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus). This specimen with white bands below the black bands. Some have yellow bands; some orange. Feeding on Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris).

A female Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger).

A tiny hoverfly able to support itself on just one pair of legs. Not at all sure about the species as it flew off when I attempted to get round it to see the abdomen pattern. I suspect it is one of the Melanostoma species of grass hoverfly.

Also on Common Ragwort is a female Common Twist-tail hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta). Small and neat.

A strange fly. All eyes and thighs.

One I can identify. 'All eyes and no brain'? The three and different-strength lines on the thorax identify it as the dagger fly Empis livida.

A stretch spider Tetragnatha sp. standing on tippy-toes. A male because of the (very) long palps.

A different-looking small snail. No idea as to the species though.

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Flash:

(128th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- It seemed the 'missing' near-adult Mute Swan (last noted by me on 7 June) may still be here. I noted a lone bird with a dull bill alongside Derwent Drive when I started my walk around. Later two adults and four cygnets could be seen inside the island. I could no longer see the putative third adult (possibly the other side of the island?)
- The late brood of Mallard ducklings was down to seven.
- Three Great Crested Grebes noted. None was anywhere near either of the earlier nests sites.

Birds noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Blackcap

Hirundines etc., noted:
- >14 Swifts
- 2 House Martins

Noted on / around the water
- 157 Canada Geese
- 76 Greylag Geese
- 3 + 4 Mute Swans: see notes
- 24 (?♂) + 7 (1 brood) Mallard
- 9 (7♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 + 3 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 23 + 10 (4 broods) Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes

Noted on / around the street lamp poles around the water:
- *1 Inlaid Grass-veneer moth (Crambus pascuella)

Noted elsewhere around The Flash:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni): adults and larvae
- *flowers of Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)

One of the juvenile Moorhens that seems to be surviving despite its nest being close to a Coot's nest. The Coots are none too happy about the proximity of the Moorhens to their own offspring.

A 'top of the street lamp pole special'. With one broad bright white longitudinal stripe and cross-lines near the outer edge of the wing in the shape of a sharp V we have an Inlaid Grass-veneer moth (Crambus pascuella).

Just coming in to flower along the East side is Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum).

(Ed Wilson)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Between the lake and The Flash:

- one of the first brood juvenile Moorhens from the upper pool was seen flying strongly to get back to safety.

Moths on street lamp poles:
- *Common Grey (Scoparia ambigualis)
- *Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata)
- *Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)

Also
- *1 possible Tinea species of moth on the roof of the Priorslee Avenue tunnel
- 2 owl midges Psychodidae sp
- 7 Spot Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata): pupa only

On the roof of the Priorslee Avenue tunnel was this moth. I think it is one of the Tinea species that include the clothes moths. I am not sure which. I'll see whether I can find out.

On one of the street lamp poles I found what I believe to be another Common Grey moth (Scoparia ambigualis).

In the most shaded part of the path I found this Small Fan-footed Wave moth (Idaea biselata) on a different street lamp pole.

Another moth on another street lamp pole was this Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata). Why are there so many on the poles here and very few at the lake?

(Ed Wilson)

NOTE:

Gronant Little Terns Here.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Redshank
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)