11.0°C > 13.0°C: Cloudy at low level. A very few brighter moments. Moderate northerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:50 BST
* = a species photographed today
! = a new species for me here this year
!! = a new species for me in Shropshire
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 09:30
(202nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a visiting pair of Mute Swans were soon moved on. Perhaps the extra two seen at The Flash later.
- at least 600 large gulls arrived between 05:45 and 06:50 with at least another 100 passing over. Of these I could find no (near) adult and just five immature Herring Gulls. All these gulls departed to the East. After 08:15 various groups totalling c.180 birds came from the East and I assumed these were earlier birds returning. Once again there were almost no Herring Gulls though a few of those did fly in with a small number of gulls from the North.
- *the Great (White) Egret still here.
- one or more Tawny Owls calling from the Ricoh copse 05:30.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 3 Canada Geese: outbound together
- 1 Stock Dove
- 58 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- >100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 51 Jackdaws
- 128 Rooks
- 3 Starlings
Hirundines etc. noted:
The Great (White) Egret is still here and about to take a few steps and disappear in to the reeds. Our Mute Swans are totally disinterested.
Another Common Marbled Carpet moth Chloroclysta truncata. It has been my best year for this year and this is my latest-ever sighting. It is a very common, multi-brooded (and variably-marked) species.
One of several pupae cases of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis I noted here. All the adults were at The Flash!
It doesn't look very hairy but Obsidentify was confident it was a Hairy Snail Trochulus hispidus. The hairs of this species are noted as wearing off and otherwise it looks a good fit. Perhaps it is.
A less-smart Missing Sector Orb-web Spider about to pounce on a European Cranefly Tipula paludosa that has just blundered in to its web.
Trying to camouflage itself against the feeling paint of a street lamp pole's identity number is a harvestman Opilio saxatilis.
I used Obsidentify at the time and the suggestion was a Weeping Widow fungus Lacrymaria lacrymabunda. When I edited the photo, as here, it gave several different suggestions. Checking them all against NatureSpot I am inclined to stay with the original suggestion.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
I keep logging numbers of these White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger. This one seemed active: most of the others look sedentary and almost desiccated. They do move from day to day so they must be alive.
(205th visit of the year)
*Note: the trunks of seven of the ten Ash trees on the East side grass have been marked with orange dots indicating that they are due to be felled. All are showing signs of ash die-back. The Severn Trent ecologist who I accompanied around the Balancing Lake a few weeks ago explained that any Ash tree that shows any signs of die-back will not recover because its roots are affected. It is then likely to shed branches without warning. I hope the three unmarked and apparently healthy trees will stay that way. There is the matter of the very big and obviously badly affected tree nearby to consider. The base of this trees sprouted the most amazing collection of Honey Fungus last year so it clearly dying.
Bird notes:
- back to only two Mute Swan cygnets visible. An additional two adults, perhaps the pair chased away from the Balancing Lake earlier
- many of the Mallard had disappeared / hidden again.
- no trace of yesterday's Gadwall but the duck Common Teal still present.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted:
Four of the seven trees due for the chop. In the distance above the picnic table is the large very dead-looking Ash tree that will be a challenge to fell (or will make a mess if it falls by itself).
And one of the form spectabilis (complete with my reflection). Individuals of these forms mate freely. Their offspring are always true to either form – there appears to be no such thing as a hybrid.
Now what is this? My best suggestion is that it is a small Green Meshweaver spider Nigma walckenaeri lurking under the web it spins across the gently concave surface of a leaf. Are the big dots its palps? The smaller dots some of the eight legs?
(Ed Wilson)
* = a species photographed today
! = a new species for me here this year
!! = a new species for me in Shropshire
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 09:30
(202nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a visiting pair of Mute Swans were soon moved on. Perhaps the extra two seen at The Flash later.
- at least 600 large gulls arrived between 05:45 and 06:50 with at least another 100 passing over. Of these I could find no (near) adult and just five immature Herring Gulls. All these gulls departed to the East. After 08:15 various groups totalling c.180 birds came from the East and I assumed these were earlier birds returning. Once again there were almost no Herring Gulls though a few of those did fly in with a small number of gulls from the North.
- *the Great (White) Egret still here.
- one or more Tawny Owls calling from the Ricoh copse 05:30.
Counts of birds noted flying over:
- 3 Canada Geese: outbound together
- 1 Stock Dove
- 58 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Collared Dove
- >100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 51 Jackdaws
- 128 Rooks
- 3 Starlings
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
**NB: House Martins were still around their Newport breeding sites yesterday.
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 9 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcaps
''nominal' warbler:
- 2 (0) Goldcrests
Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Canada Goose: six departed together; five arrived together
- 4 Mute Swans: another duo briefly
- 1 (0♂) Gadwall
- 13 (>8♂) Mallard
- 8 Moorhens
- 139 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 106 Black-headed Gulls: 72 on the football field c.06:50
- 15 Herring Gulls: see notes
- >600 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron
- *1 Great (White) Egret
Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
**NB: House Martins were still around their Newport breeding sites yesterday.
Warblers noted (the figure in brackets relates to birds heard singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 9 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcaps
''nominal' warbler:
- 2 (0) Goldcrests
Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Canada Goose: six departed together; five arrived together
- 4 Mute Swans: another duo briefly
- 1 (0♂) Gadwall
- 13 (>8♂) Mallard
- 8 Moorhens
- 139 Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 106 Black-headed Gulls: 72 on the football field c.06:50
- 15 Herring Gulls: see notes
- >600 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron
- *1 Great (White) Egret
Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
- *1 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata
- *1 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *1 ichneumon sp.
- *1 ichneumon sp.
Flies:
- 1 plumed midge
- 1 male Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
- 1 plumed midge
- 1 male Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
Springtails:
- 2 springtails Tomocerus vulgaris
- 2 springtails Tomocerus vulgaris
Spiders, harvestmen etc.
- *1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
- 3 Bridge Orb-web Spiders Larinioides sclopetarius
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
- 1 harvestman Opilio saxatilis
Sailing Club
- *1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
- 3 Bridge Orb-web Spiders Larinioides sclopetarius
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
- 1 harvestman Opilio saxatilis
Sailing Club
Around the outside of the sailing club HQ pre-dawn:
Moths:
- 1 Copper Underwing agg. Amphipyra pyramidea agg.
- 1 Copper Underwing agg. Amphipyra pyramidea agg.
Flies:
- *2 European Craneflies Tipula paludosa
- *2 European Craneflies Tipula paludosa
Spiders, harvestmen etc.
- 38 spiders: most species not determined apart from:
- Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius
- *Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
Noted later:
**too dull for much activity
- 38 spiders: most species not determined apart from:
- Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius
- *Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
Noted later:
**too dull for much activity
Flies:
- European Cranefly Tipula paludosa
- European Cranefly Tipula paludosa
Beetles:
- Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni: adult
- *Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: pupae cases only
- Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni: adult
- *Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: pupae cases only
Molluscs:
- White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
- *possible Hairy Snail Trochulus hispidus
- White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
- *possible Hairy Snail Trochulus hispidus
Fungus:
- *Field Mushroom Agaricus campestris
- *possible Weeping Widow Lacrymaria lacrymabunda
- *probable Pleated Inkcap Parasola plicatilis
- *Field Mushroom Agaricus campestris
- *possible Weeping Widow Lacrymaria lacrymabunda
- *probable Pleated Inkcap Parasola plicatilis
The wings are hiding the abdomen and I cannot see a 'wasp-waist'. However I am sure this is a small ichneumon crawling around a street lamp pole pre-dawn.
A Garden Spider Araneus diadematus at an unusual angle – upside down.
A smart Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata.
Gotcha!
Just poking through the grass is a fungus I am confident is a Field Mushroom Agaricus campestris.
I think this is likely a Pleated Inkcap fungus Parasola plicatilis: the underside and...
...the topside. This group of fungus are known as brittle stems.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
- 7 plumed midges
- 7 plumed midges
Centipedes & Millipedes:
- *9 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
- *9 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
Woodlouse:
- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
Spiders, harvestmen etc.
- 6 spiders not specifically identified:
- *1 male harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
- 6 spiders not specifically identified:
- *1 male harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
I think the white around the two eyes of this male Leiobunum harvestman is real rather than due to the camera flash and therefore it is L. blackwalli.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:45
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:45
(205th visit of the year)
*Note: the trunks of seven of the ten Ash trees on the East side grass have been marked with orange dots indicating that they are due to be felled. All are showing signs of ash die-back. The Severn Trent ecologist who I accompanied around the Balancing Lake a few weeks ago explained that any Ash tree that shows any signs of die-back will not recover because its roots are affected. It is then likely to shed branches without warning. I hope the three unmarked and apparently healthy trees will stay that way. There is the matter of the very big and obviously badly affected tree nearby to consider. The base of this trees sprouted the most amazing collection of Honey Fungus last year so it clearly dying.
Bird notes:
- back to only two Mute Swan cygnets visible. An additional two adults, perhaps the pair chased away from the Balancing Lake earlier
- many of the Mallard had disappeared / hidden again.
- no trace of yesterday's Gadwall but the duck Common Teal still present.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Jackdaws
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers etc. noted
Warblers etc. noted
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 124 Canada Geese: arrived in four groups
- 6 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 20 (12♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Common Teal
- 131 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 (0♂) Goosander
- *6 + 8 (4 broods) Moorhens
- 153 adult and immature Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Black-headed Gulls only
- 7 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher
Noted elsewhere around The Flash:
Noted on / around the water:
- 124 Canada Geese: arrived in four groups
- 6 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swan
- 20 (12♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Common Teal
- 131 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 (0♂) Goosander
- *6 + 8 (4 broods) Moorhens
- 153 adult and immature Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 6 Black-headed Gulls only
- 7 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher
Noted elsewhere around The Flash:
Flies:
only unidentified flies
only unidentified flies
Beetles:
- many Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni: adults
- *2 Harlequin Ladybirds Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- *1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. spectabilis
- many Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni: adults
- *2 Harlequin Ladybirds Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- *1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. spectabilis
Bugs:
- 5 Common Green Shieldbugs Palomena prasina: various instars
- 5 Common Green Shieldbugs Palomena prasina: various instars
Spiders, harvestmen etc.
- *1 possible Green Meshweaver Nigma walckenaeri
- *1 possible Green Meshweaver Nigma walckenaeri
This young Moorhen clearly does not suffer with a stiff neck.
A Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis of the form succinea.
(Ed Wilson)
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Sightings from previous years
2007
Priorslee Lake
Common Gull
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake
Common Gull
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)