14.0°C > 17.0°C: Variable amount of low cloud below barely broken medium overcast. Early light rain. Moderate easterly breeze, fresh at times. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:47 BST
+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.
* = a species photographed today
Highlights today were:
- a duck Shoveler again at The Flash (assuming it ever went away and didn't just hide among the geese)
- two Tawny Owls calling from the Ricoh grounds
- my first Siskin of Autumn over the lake
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 09:15
(190th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Yesterday's drake Wigeon not located.
- 62 Black-headed Gulls arrived at the lake after 06:25. How many of these were among the c.230 on the football field at c.06:45 remains unclear.
- I remain confused about Tawny Owl calls. Some sources suggest that both sexes can make both the screech and hoot. I heard both this morning and the calls were close together. They must have been deafening each other if there were two birds involved.
- At least 25 Pied Wagtails were on the football field c.09:00.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 10 Canada Geese; a single, a duo and a septet outbound
- 9 Feral Pigeon: a duo and a septet
- 2 Stock Doves: a duo
- 67 Wood Pigeons
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: mostly adults
- 26 unidentified large gulls
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 2 Starlings: together
- 34 Rooks
- 2 Meadow Pipits: singles
- 6 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Siskin
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 18 (9) Chiffchaffs: but see notes
- 1 (0) Blackcap
Hirundines etc., noted:
- 8 Barn Swallows: flew East 08:00
- 8 House Martins: apparently flew North 08:25; presumed the same with up to six overhead for the next 15 minutes
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 92 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- >230 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- *4 Herring Gulls: one adult and three first winters
- *46 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: not all ages determined with majority being first winters
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and departed
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
- 1 Kingfisher: seen numerous times
On or around the street lamp poles at dawn:
Yes well: a first winter gull. The pale on the inner webs of the inner primaries suggests it is a Herring Gull. However the contrast is less than I would expect. I do wonder about it being a Yellow-legged Gull though I would expect that to show a much whiter head than shown here. I have included it in the log as a Herring Gull.
Always easier when you can spend time looking in detail. All three are first winter gulls, the paler bird on the left is a Herring Gull; the other two are Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
A Square-spot Rustic moth (Xestia xanthographa). I am not having much luck finding a specimen with a very obvious 'square spot'.
"What red eyes you have". Obsidentify suggested this might be a species of Lance Fly. Research on the internet fails to illuminate that suggestion.
This green-bodied insect is a male plumed midge (Microtendipes pedellus) I found on the wall of the sailing club HQ.
This fly was, unusually, on the wall of the sailing club HQ in the dark. It is well-marked but I can't get and identity for it.
The only cranefly I (could be bothered to) photograph was this female European Cranefly (Tipula paludosa).
A Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis). As shown here these often rest with their front two pairs of legs held together.
I think this is a Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus). It is much larger than yesterday's Wrinkled Snail (Candidula intersecta).
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:20
(176th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Many geese had arrived before and were probably already inside the island.
- Some Tufted Duck had returned after yesterday's disturbance.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Common Buzzard: definitely scarce this year
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 3 (0) Chiffchaffs
Hirundines etc., noted:
Bees / wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies:
- *Platycheirus sp., probably Grey-spotted Boxer (P. albimanus) [also known as Grey-spotted Sedgesitter]
- *Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)
Other flies:
- *Phaonia tuguriorum (a species in the family Muscidae or House flies)
- *at least three other species of small fly
Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); adults
Bugs:
- *Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
Spiders:
- Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)
A very distinctive hybrid goose that I have not seen recently, if at all. There seems to be some Canada and a lot of Greylag Goose genes However it is somewhat larger than either species so...
Another view. It is a female with the eyes well separated. It is feeding on the small flowers of what might be Hybrid Coralberry (Symphoricarpos x chenualtii).
This is a hoverfly from the species pair Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis). Obsidentify suggests a Humming Syrphus (Syrphus ribesii) though I cannot see why it makes that identification.
A fly I have identified (well Obsidentify did and I confirmed it). A Phaonia tuguriorum (a fly species in the family Muscidae (House flies)).
(Ed Wilson)
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- *2 Silver Y (Autographa gamma)
Other things:
- 1 cranefly Tipula confusa
- *1 male cranefly Tipula lateralis
- 14 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
- *1 Walnut Orb Weaver spider (Nuctenea umbratica)
- several other, unidentified, spiders
- *1 female Leiobunum blackwalli harvestman
*An update. Back on 28 August I noted a micro moth on railings beside a street lamp pole between the lake and The Flash. I could not identify it and neither could, at the time, the Shropshire recorder. He has now let me know that it was an Italian Tubic (Metalampra italica). This species was first recorded in the UK as recently as 2003 in Devon. Once thought to be confined to Italy (hence its name) it has now been recorded widely in Europe. Originally assumed to be a migrant species it is very likely to be breeding in the UK.
A female Leiobunum blackwalli harvestman. The dark saddle widens posteriorly and the eyes have a white ring.
And
(Ed Wilson)
Sightings from previous years without links are below
2013
Priorslee Lake
2 Ravens
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
6 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Snipe
3 Common Sandpipers
149 Greenfinch roost
89 Pied Wagtails
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Pintail
(Ed Wilson)
+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.
* = a species photographed today
Highlights today were:
- a duck Shoveler again at The Flash (assuming it ever went away and didn't just hide among the geese)
- two Tawny Owls calling from the Ricoh grounds
- my first Siskin of Autumn over the lake
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 09:15
(190th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Yesterday's drake Wigeon not located.
- 62 Black-headed Gulls arrived at the lake after 06:25. How many of these were among the c.230 on the football field at c.06:45 remains unclear.
- I remain confused about Tawny Owl calls. Some sources suggest that both sexes can make both the screech and hoot. I heard both this morning and the calls were close together. They must have been deafening each other if there were two birds involved.
- At least 25 Pied Wagtails were on the football field c.09:00.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 10 Canada Geese; a single, a duo and a septet outbound
- 9 Feral Pigeon: a duo and a septet
- 2 Stock Doves: a duo
- 67 Wood Pigeons
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: mostly adults
- 26 unidentified large gulls
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Common Buzzard
- 2 Starlings: together
- 34 Rooks
- 2 Meadow Pipits: singles
- 6 Pied Wagtails
- 1 Siskin
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 18 (9) Chiffchaffs: but see notes
- 1 (0) Blackcap
Hirundines etc., noted:
- 8 Barn Swallows: flew East 08:00
- 8 House Martins: apparently flew North 08:25; presumed the same with up to six overhead for the next 15 minutes
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 8 (6♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 92 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- >230 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- *4 Herring Gulls: one adult and three first winters
- *46 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: not all ages determined with majority being first winters
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and departed
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
- 1 Kingfisher: seen numerous times
On or around the street lamp poles at dawn:
Moths:
- *1 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)
- *1 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)
Other things:
- 1 Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- *1 Clubiona sp. spider
- 1 male and 1 female Leiobunum rotundum harvestman
Around the sailing club HQ
- *1 plumed midge (Microtendipes pedellus)
-. *several flies, unusually
- *1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- some of the other usual spiders
Noted later: dull with wet vegetation
- 1 Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- *1 Clubiona sp. spider
- 1 male and 1 female Leiobunum rotundum harvestman
Around the sailing club HQ
- *1 plumed midge (Microtendipes pedellus)
-. *several flies, unusually
- *1 Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- some of the other usual spiders
Noted later: dull with wet vegetation
Butterflies:
- none
- none
Moths:
- Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)
- Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana)
Bees / wasps etc.:
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
Hoverflies:
- none
- none
Dragon-/damsel-flies:
- none
- none
Other flies:
- several unidentified flies
- *European Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)
- other craneflies not identified
- several unidentified flies
- *European Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)
- other craneflies not identified
Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); adults
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); adults
Bugs:
- none
- none
Spiders / Harvestmen:
- *Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
- *Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
Molluscs:
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- *Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus)
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- *Strawberry Snail (Trochulus striolatus)
Fungus:
- *Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig (Coprinus comatus)
- *Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig (Coprinus comatus)
The best I could do with the poor sunrise.
The epitome of scruffy. A second year Lesser Black-backed Gull with very battered plumage.
Not much better here.
Almost respectable.
A Grey Wagtail.
Another unidentified fly.
A Clubiona sp. spider on a street lamp pole.
A Bridge Orb-web Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius) on the wall of the sailing club HQ.
The Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig fungus (Coprinus comatus) continue to deliquesce.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:20
(176th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Many geese had arrived before and were probably already inside the island.
- Some Tufted Duck had returned after yesterday's disturbance.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Common Buzzard: definitely scarce this year
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 3 (0) Chiffchaffs
Hirundines etc., noted:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 166 Canada Geese
- *1 Canada x Greylag Goose
- 2 Greylag Goose
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 38 (25♂) Mallard: no ducklings noted
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 30 (>6♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 62 Coots
- 4 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Grey Herons
Noted on / beside the street lamp poles etc. around the water etc.:
- 166 Canada Geese
- *1 Canada x Greylag Goose
- 2 Greylag Goose
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 1 (1♂) Shoveler
- 38 (25♂) Mallard: no ducklings noted
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 30 (>6♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens
- 62 Coots
- 4 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Grey Herons
Noted on / beside the street lamp poles etc. around the water etc.:
Moths:
- none
- none
Other things
- 2 Alder Leaf Beetles (Agelastica alni)
Noted elsewhere around The Flash:
- 2 Alder Leaf Beetles (Agelastica alni)
Noted elsewhere around The Flash:
Bees / wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
- Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies:
- *Platycheirus sp., probably Grey-spotted Boxer (P. albimanus) [also known as Grey-spotted Sedgesitter]
- *Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)
Other flies:
- *Phaonia tuguriorum (a species in the family Muscidae or House flies)
- *at least three other species of small fly
Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); adults
Bugs:
- *Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
Spiders:
- Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)
A very small hoverfly. One of the Platycheirus sp., probably a Grey-spotted Boxer (P. albimanus).
An unknown species of fly.
An instar of a Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina).
And an adult tries to hide.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- *2 Silver Y (Autographa gamma)
Other things:
- 1 cranefly Tipula confusa
- *1 male cranefly Tipula lateralis
- 14 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
- *1 Walnut Orb Weaver spider (Nuctenea umbratica)
- several other, unidentified, spiders
- *1 female Leiobunum blackwalli harvestman
*An update. Back on 28 August I noted a micro moth on railings beside a street lamp pole between the lake and The Flash. I could not identify it and neither could, at the time, the Shropshire recorder. He has now let me know that it was an Italian Tubic (Metalampra italica). This species was first recorded in the UK as recently as 2003 in Devon. Once thought to be confined to Italy (hence its name) it has now been recorded widely in Europe. Originally assumed to be a migrant species it is very likely to be breeding in the UK.
A Silver Y moth (Autographa gamma).
And the other one.
A male cranefly Tipula lateralis.
You WILL like spiders! This is a Walnut Orb Weaver spider (Nuctenea umbratica).
And
Here is the recently identified Italian Tubic moth (Metalampra italica) from 28 August.
(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
2 Ravens
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
6 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
1 Snipe
3 Common Sandpipers
149 Greenfinch roost
89 Pied Wagtails
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Pintail
(Ed Wilson)