10.0°C > 12.0°C: Overcast and dull yet again. Light north-westerly wind. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:08 GMT
* = a species photographed today.
Back to the usual early start without much reward.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:55 – 09:35
(234th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- There are now 21 white (near) adult Mute Swans with two grey first winters.
- a Water Rail was calling from the north-west area.
Birds noted flying over:
- 171 Wood Pigeons: of these 146 flew West in two groups
- 32 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 23 Jackdaws
- 14 Rooks
- 2 Fieldfare
- 4 Chaffinches: together
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
- 8 Goldfinches: together
- 2 Siskins: singles
Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- 4 Redwings
Counts from the lake area:
- 15 Canada Geese: all of these departed
- 21 + 2 Mute Swans: an additional adult: see also notes
- 9 (6♂) Mallard
- 4 (0♂?) Tufted Duck
- 1 Water Rail: heard only
- 4 Moorhens
- 212 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- c.500 Black-headed Gulls
- 27 Herring Gulls
- c.90 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher
Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
In the same position as yesterday: a Common Plume moth Emmelina monodactyla. In this group both the fore- and hindwings are comprised several lobes. At rest the all the lobes of both wings overlap giving the narrow-winged look.
This fungus might, or might not, be Common Funnel Clitocybe gibba. The top was badly damaged and eaten so this was the best view.
Another November Moth-type Epirrita dilutata agg. only included because it is the first moth I have ever found on this particular street lamp pole.
A pug moth. Obsidentify's suggestion of Golden-rod Pug Eupithecia virgaureata should not be flying at this date. The only pug moth species likely to be seen at this date according to the West Midlands Moths web site is Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata. It does not look like this species to my eyes.
The female (triangular yellow marks) Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare is turning right! (does anyone else remember hand signals? I had to do them on my driving test!)
Meanwhile this small pale yellow/orange fly with no obvious markings might just be Meiosimyza rorida.
A female Common European Earwig Forficula dentata peering at me from atop a street lamp pole. On a male the pincers are more curved.
A close-up of a different female. Note the two black eyes have white surrounds. The very similar L rotundum has black eye surrounds. (Harvestmen only have two eyes despite being related to spiders that usually have eight)
A Perch Perca fluviatilis, sadly dead. I found it yesterday floating in the water. The resultant photo was missing the head and tail so today I waded in and fished (ugh!) it out to photograph. I put it back.
Growing from the wood left from the trees felled at the top end earlier this year is the very common fungus Peeling Oysterling Crepidotus mollis.
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Brambling
3 Fieldfares
12 Redwings
5 Siskins
2 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Cormorant
14 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
Female Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Willow Tits with the Long-tailed Tits
Kingfisher
Jays
Skylark
Siskin
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
* = a species photographed today.
Back to the usual early start without much reward.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:55 – 09:35
(234th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- There are now 21 white (near) adult Mute Swans with two grey first winters.
- a Water Rail was calling from the north-west area.
Birds noted flying over:
- 171 Wood Pigeons: of these 146 flew West in two groups
- 32 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 23 Jackdaws
- 14 Rooks
- 2 Fieldfare
- 4 Chaffinches: together
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
- 8 Goldfinches: together
- 2 Siskins: singles
Birds noted leaving roosts around the lake:
- 4 Redwings
Counts from the lake area:
- 15 Canada Geese: all of these departed
- 21 + 2 Mute Swans: an additional adult: see also notes
- 9 (6♂) Mallard
- 4 (0♂?) Tufted Duck
- 1 Water Rail: heard only
- 4 Moorhens
- 212 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- c.500 Black-headed Gulls
- 27 Herring Gulls
- c.90 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher
Noted on the street lamps poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
- *1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
- *9 November Moth-types Epirrita dilutata agg.
- 1 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata
- *1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
- *9 November Moth-types Epirrita dilutata agg.
- 1 Winter Moth Operophtera brumata
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *1 ichneumon
- *1 ichneumon
Flies:
- 1 cranefly Tipula fulvipennis
- 3 winter cranefly Trichocera regelationis
- 1 cranefly Tipula fulvipennis
- 3 winter cranefly Trichocera regelationis
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
- *2 other unidentified species
Telford Sailing Club
Around the outside of the Telford Sailing Club HQ pre-dawn:
Perhaps I was later than usual as most things seemed to have gone.
- 2 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
- *2 other unidentified species
Telford Sailing Club
Around the outside of the Telford Sailing Club HQ pre-dawn:
Perhaps I was later than usual as most things seemed to have gone.
Flies:
- 1 plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- 1 plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 6 spiders not specifically identified
Noted later:
- 6 spiders not specifically identified
Noted later:
Beetles:
- 2 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- 2 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Fungus
- perhaps Common Funnel Clitocybe gibba
- perhaps Common Funnel Clitocybe gibba
Dullsville.
"I can see you". A Long-tailed Tit in a mixed tit party that included...
...this Blue Tit.
This November Moth-type Epirrita dilutata agg. caused me to pause. It seemed larger than most and the outer edge of the forewings looked straighter than usual. I did wonder about the plain form of Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria. I decided not as the ground colour of even the plainest individuals would be tinged umber and this isn't.
I cannot identify this tiny creature. It looks somewhat like a springtail though none illustrated have the triangular end to the abdomen.
One of two small spiders on the street lamp poles pre-dawn, neither of which I can identify.
And the other unidentified spider.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue Tunnel
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue Tunnel
Pre-dawn:
Flies:
- *2 craneflies Tipula lateralis
- *2 plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
- *2 craneflies Tipula lateralis
- *2 plumed midges Chironomus plumosus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 7 spiders not specifically identified
- 7 spiders not specifically identified
Now that is a real plumed midge! A male Chironomus plumosus.
The spider has caused the cranefly to spread a wing showing the distinctive markings of Tipula lateralis. I cannot identify the spider.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:40 – 11:10
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:40 – 11:10
(237th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the drake Common Teal and Little Grebe were again keeping close to the island.
- another reduction in Tufted Duck numbers.
- a Lesser Redpoll was heard calling from one of the trees alongside the water: I could not locate it
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *4 Ravens: together
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 10 Canada Geese: five of these arrived together
- 7 Greylag Geese: all arrived
- 6 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 40 (26♂) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) Common Teal
- 73 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 17 Moorhens
- 130 Coots
- *1 Little Grebe
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted around The Flash:
Bird notes:
- the drake Common Teal and Little Grebe were again keeping close to the island.
- another reduction in Tufted Duck numbers.
- a Lesser Redpoll was heard calling from one of the trees alongside the water: I could not locate it
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *4 Ravens: together
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 10 Canada Geese: five of these arrived together
- 7 Greylag Geese: all arrived
- 6 + 3 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 40 (26♂) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) Common Teal
- 73 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 17 Moorhens
- 130 Coots
- *1 Little Grebe
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
- *1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted around The Flash:
Butterflies:
- 2 different species seen in flight only: strange for such a dull day.
- 2 different species seen in flight only: strange for such a dull day.
Moths:
- 1 Pale Birch Tortrix Acleris logiana: presumably the same individual was out in the open again today
- *2 November Moth-types Epirrita dilutata agg.
- *1 pug moth to be identified (I hope)
- 1 Juniper Carpet Thera juniperata
- 1 Pale Birch Tortrix Acleris logiana: presumably the same individual was out in the open again today
- *2 November Moth-types Epirrita dilutata agg.
- *1 pug moth to be identified (I hope)
- 1 Juniper Carpet Thera juniperata
Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- *1 'red ant' probably of the Myrmica genus
- 1 Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- *1 'red ant' probably of the Myrmica genus
Hoverflies:
- 1 Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax [Common Drone Fly]
- *1 Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare
- 1 Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax [Common Drone Fly]
- *1 Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare
Other Flies:
- *several flies of several species, none positively identified though...
*1 possible Meiosimyza rorida
- *several flies of several species, none positively identified though...
*1 possible Meiosimyza rorida
Earwigs:
- *1 female Common European Earwig Forficula dentata
- *1 female Common European Earwig Forficula dentata
Bugs:
- *2 Common Flower Bugs Anthocoris nemorum
- *2 Common Flower Bugs Anthocoris nemorum
Beetles:
- 3 Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni
- 3 Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *3 harvestmen Leiobunum blackwalli
- *3 harvestmen Leiobunum blackwalli
Fishes:
- *1 Perch Perca fluviatilis: sadly dead
- *1 Perch Perca fluviatilis: sadly dead
Fungus:
- *Peeling Oysterling Crepidotus mollis
This Cormorant flew in straight to the top of the tree and put its wings out. Various theories exist as to why Cormorants spread their wings. The most common is that as they lack the usual waterproofing in their feathering to help them swim when they have finished they need to dry their plumage. And alternative view is that it helps them digest their food. Don't try that at home.
A chorus of Ravens. Mr. Google tells me the real collective noun is "an unkindness". That seems unkind.
- *Peeling Oysterling Crepidotus mollis
Look carefully: both the drake Common Teal and the Little Grebe can be seen.
A 'red ant' probably of the Myrmica genus.
One of today's unidentified flies.
This appears to be a Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum.
Showing the difference between female (at the top) and male harvestmen Leiobunum blackwalli.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010
Priorslee Lake
Brambling
3 Fieldfares
12 Redwings
5 Siskins
2 Linnets
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Cormorant
14 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
Female Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Willow Tits with the Long-tailed Tits
Kingfisher
Jays
Skylark
Siskin
Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)