13.0°C > 19.0°C: Mostly clear skies with just a few early lifted mist patched. Light and variable breeze mainly from an easterly direction. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:25 BST
+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:25 – 06:35 // 07:35 – 09:45
+ = my first sighting of this species at this site this year.
++ = new species for me at this site.
* = a species photographed today
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:25 – 06:35 // 07:35 – 09:45
(180th visit of the year)
When I departed Council contractors were clearing the edges of the very overgrown footpath along the West end.
Other bird notes:
- Two adult Great Crested Grebes were together in the south-west bat early. Later they had separated.
- Of the 103 fly-over Lesser Black-backed Gulls 78 of them flew low West (flushed from fields to the East). None of them showed any inclination to stop off on the water.
- I wrote yesterday: "At the moment there is no roost dispersal of Jackdaws and Rooks over the lake" Today a group of 16 Jackdaws flew over doing just that at 06:00. I wonder what else I can conjure up? I have not seen any Dodos recently.
- Just two House Martins made a quick visit for a drink.
- Fewer warblers today. Clear skies at night enable these birds to migrate, navigating by the stars.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 59 Canada Geese: 57 outbound in five groups; duo inbound
- Greylag Geese: heard only outbound
- 1 Stock Dove
- 75 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 103 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 44 unidentified large gulls
- 17 Jackdaws
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets): a bumper morning!
- 1 (0) Willow Warbler
- 14 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (0) Reed Warblers
- 5 (0) Blackcaps
Hirundines etc., noted:
- 2 House Martins
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 103 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 119 Black-headed Gulls on the football field c.06:20. Up to 18 on the lake later presumed some of these birds
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
On or around the street lamp poles at dawn:
When I departed Council contractors were clearing the edges of the very overgrown footpath along the West end.
Other bird notes:
- Two adult Great Crested Grebes were together in the south-west bat early. Later they had separated.
- Of the 103 fly-over Lesser Black-backed Gulls 78 of them flew low West (flushed from fields to the East). None of them showed any inclination to stop off on the water.
- I wrote yesterday: "At the moment there is no roost dispersal of Jackdaws and Rooks over the lake" Today a group of 16 Jackdaws flew over doing just that at 06:00. I wonder what else I can conjure up? I have not seen any Dodos recently.
- Just two House Martins made a quick visit for a drink.
- Fewer warblers today. Clear skies at night enable these birds to migrate, navigating by the stars.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 59 Canada Geese: 57 outbound in five groups; duo inbound
- Greylag Geese: heard only outbound
- 1 Stock Dove
- 75 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 103 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 44 unidentified large gulls
- 17 Jackdaws
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets): a bumper morning!
- 1 (0) Willow Warbler
- 14 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (0) Reed Warblers
- 5 (0) Blackcaps
Hirundines etc., noted:
- 2 House Martins
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 + 2 Mute Swans
- 4 (3♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 103 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 119 Black-headed Gulls on the football field c.06:20. Up to 18 on the lake later presumed some of these birds
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
On or around the street lamp poles at dawn:
Moths:
- +*1 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata): seen at The Flash and between the lake and The Flash this year but not here.
- +*1 Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria)
- *1 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)
- *1 noctuid covered in dew
- *1 wrapped up in web
Other things
- *5 Bridge Orb-web Spiders (Larinioides sclopetarius)
- 1 Leiobunum rotundum/blackwalli harvestman
And at this time
- at least five of the larger direct flying species of bat.
Around the sailing club HQ or in the sailing club shelter
- at least five of the larger direct flying species of bat.
Around the sailing club HQ or in the sailing club shelter
Nothing unusual apart from:
- 1 Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis)
Noted later:
- 1 Grouse Wing caddis fly (Mystacides longicornis)
Noted later:
Butterflies:
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- *Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Moths:
- +*The Sallow (Cirrhia icteritia)
- +*The Sallow (Cirrhia icteritia)
Bees / wasps etc.:
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- *Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
- Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
- *Common Wasp (Paravespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies:
- *Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- *Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger)
- *Humming Syrphus (Syrphus ribesii)
- Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)
- *Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
- *Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
- Common Spotted Field Syrph (Eupeodes luniger)
- *Humming Syrphus (Syrphus ribesii)
- Syrphus sp. (S. ribesii / S. vitripennis)
Dragon-/damsel-flies:
- Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
- two species of hawker (on size) seen in flight only
- Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
- two species of hawker (on size) seen in flight only
Other flies:
- greenbottles
- Common Crane-fly (Tipula oleracea)
- greenbottles
- Common Crane-fly (Tipula oleracea)
Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); adults
- ++*Black-clouded Longhorn Beetle agg. (Leiopus nebulosus agg.) [Mesosa nebulosa?]
- Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni); adults
- ++*Black-clouded Longhorn Beetle agg. (Leiopus nebulosus agg.) [Mesosa nebulosa?]
Bugs:
- Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus)
- *Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina): instar
- Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus)
- *Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina): instar
Also
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
- White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
The continuing waning of the blue super moon.
Street-lights still on as the sunrise illuminates lifted mist.
Lights out with the two adult and two cygnets sleeping Mute Swans just visible.
An arty shot of the cob Mute Swan against the sunrise.
A wider view showing the distant mist.
Who is this peering out at me?
This shows a slight gape line indicating it is a juvenile...
...Blackcap. The shadow somewhat enhances the brown cap of this juvenile.
Not perfect but I am pleased with this flying Long-tailed Tit.
A Flame Carpet moth (Xanthorhoe designata): seen at The Flash and between the lake and The Flash this year but not previously here.
Not helpful! A dew-covered Noctuid moth. Beyond that...
A smart Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album).
I have not seen any Marmalade Hoverflies (Episyrphus balteatus) for a few days.
A male Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax). No ideas on the small fly photo-bombing the shot.
I would not like to say which of the two Syrphus species this is.
A late instar of a Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina).
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:40 – 07:30
(166th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- The Coots were mostly spread out across the water making for an easier, more accurate and larger count.
- With two of the Great Crested Grebes close to me today I was able to see that one of the birds I had been reporting as an adult was in fact an almost full-grown juvenile. It seems likely to be fledged so whether it is from an earlier brood born here (if so where has it been while growing up?) or a visitor from elsewhere is unclear.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Warblers noted (the number singing in brackets):
- 5 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
Hirundines etc., noted:
None
Noted on / around the water: better visibility than yesterday, but still dull.
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 15 (10♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 37 (>6♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 70 Coots
- *4 + 2 (1 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 17 Black-headed Gulls: nine of these juveniles/first-winters
- *3 Cormorants: one of these arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher
Noted on / beside the street lamp poles etc. around the water etc.
Noted on / around the water: better visibility than yesterday, but still dull.
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 15 (10♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) all-white feral duck
- 37 (>6♂) Tufted Duck
- 9 Moorhens
- 70 Coots
- *4 + 2 (1 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 17 Black-headed Gulls: nine of these juveniles/first-winters
- *3 Cormorants: one of these arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher
Noted on / beside the street lamp poles etc. around the water etc.
Moths:
- none
Other things
- 2 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris) huddled together
- 1 unidentified small ichneumon
- 2 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestman
Elsewhere around The Flash:
- 2 Common Wasps (Paravespula vulgaris) huddled together
- 1 unidentified small ichneumon
- 2 Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus harvestman
Elsewhere around The Flash:
Nothing of note
...here we see the marks on the cheek indicating it is a well-grown juvenile.
Did I say "scruffy". A moulting adult Cormorant. The yellow marks are where the low sun is catching the plumage.
(Ed Wilson)
Noted between the lake and The Flash on / around street lamp poles:
Moths:
- *1 Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella)
Other things:
- 1 Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni): larva
Moths:
- *1 Orange Swift (Triodia sylvina)
(Ed Wilson)
Sightings from previous years without links are below
2012
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson/ John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Hobby's chasing Swallows and martins
1 Common Redstart
2 Meadow Pipits - first autumn birds
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Teal
14 Cormorants
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
Hobby chasing Swallows
1 Wheatear
2 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Little Egret
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
2 Swifts
1 Meadow Pipit - first autumn bird
(Ed Wilson)
(Ed Wilson)
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Noted between the lake and The Flash on / around street lamp poles:
Moths:
- *1 Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella)
Other things:
- 1 Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni): larva
"Not another photo of a Common Grass-veneer moth (Agriphila tristella)" I hear you say. Well yes: but note this individual is sitting with its wings held slightly open and the markings on the wings.
(Ed Wilson)
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(Ed Wilson)
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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- *1 Orange Swift (Triodia sylvina)
Other things
- 1 cranefly Tipula lateralis
- 29 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)
- many unidentified spiders
- 1 cranefly Tipula lateralis
- 29 White-legged Snake Millipedes (Tachypodoiulus niger)
- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)
- many unidentified spiders
A Orange Swift moth (Triodia sylvina): my first in the area since 07 August 2018.
(Ed Wilson)
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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
2012
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson/ John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
2 Hobby's chasing Swallows and martins
1 Common Redstart
2 Meadow Pipits - first autumn birds
(Ed Wilson/John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Teal
14 Cormorants
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
Hobby chasing Swallows
1 Wheatear
2 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Little Egret
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
2 Swifts
1 Meadow Pipit - first autumn bird
(Ed Wilson)