18 May 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

7.0°C > 14.0°C: Mostly clear apart from a few lifted mist patches as sporadic low cloud. Light / moderate north-easterly breeze developing. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:09 BST

Apologies: am out of time for getting the pictures together today. They will be added later.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 06:15 // 07:25 – 09:45

(122nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a Peacock / Common Peafowl was calling at dawn from the campus area.
- the pair of Canada Geese still with a single gosling
- the pair of Greylag Geese now with just three goslings.
- a pair of Gadwall seen early only.
- a duck Mallard with a single duckling
- the duck Pochard in her usual place.
- a pair of Tufted Duck were new arrivals.
- only one juvenile Great Crested Grebe seen, still riding on its parent's back throughout.
- back to two Garden Warblers singing but one of these (#3?) was in a new location in the south-east area. #2 was still in the south-west area. No sound from #1 along the South side.
- two Common Whitethroats singing today: yesterday's new arrival still in the West end hedge area. The bird in the south-west scrub seems to have burst back in to song – first brood fledged?
- Starlings, including fledged juveniles, were again heard. As far as I can tell they were on the academy's sports' field to the East of the buildings and not visible from outside the grounds.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese pair outbound
- 3 Wood Pigeons
- 5 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook

Counts from the lake area:
- 5 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident assumed to be on the nest
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 5 (3♂) + 1 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens again
- 32 + 20 (7 broods) Coots
- 7 +1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Swifts

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 19 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 12 (12) Reed Warblers
- 13 (12) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warble
- 2 (2) Common Whitethroats

Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Noted later:

Butterflies:
none

Moths
$ Brindled Tortrix Ptycholoma lecheana [Leche's Twist Moth]: a new moth for me
$ Timothy Tortrix Zelotherses paleana
$ Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata

Bees, wasps etc.:
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
$ Blue Mason Bee Osmia caerulescens
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
sawfly of the Tenthredo arcuata / brevicornis / notha / schaefferi complex

Hoverflies:
Cheilosia albitarsus agg. either C. ranunculi [Early Buttercup Cheilosia] or C. albitarsis [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
$ Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum [Stripe-faced Drone Fly]
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Spotted Meliscaeva Meliscaeva auricollis [Spotted Thintail]
Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Alder Flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria

Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans

Other flies
dagger fly Empis tessellata
Scorpion Fly Panorpa communis plus others not specifically identified
Downlooker Snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus
female Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
many other boring and / or strange flies

Bugs:
Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
$ 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
$ Green Dock Beetle Gastrophysa viridula

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

New flowers for the year:
$ Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara [Woody Nightshade]
$ White Clover Trifolium repens

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
$ male Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica

Flies
2 unidentified craneflies
6 owl midges Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly] again
19 midges of various species.

Beetles:
1 unidentified rove beetle

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 unidentified spider

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:20 – 07:20

(119th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- yesterday's additional pair of Mute Swans gone
- a single well-developed Mallard duckling was noted with what I assume were both parents.
- no Tufted Duck seen again.
- three juvenile Coots noted and strangely were being chased by what seemed to be one of the parents – or at least if it was an adult from a different family their parent's were not about to rescue them.
- guess what: three Great Crested Grebe! None seemed to be interested in a nest site.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 15 Canada Geese
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- 23 (20♂) + 1 (1 brood) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens again
- 24 + 3 (1 brood) Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 12 Swifts
- 2 House Martins

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 9 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:

Moths
1$ possible May Highflyer Hydriomena impluviata
1 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
1 Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula
1$ Straw Dot Rivula sericealis
1 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda
1$ Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea

Bees, wasps etc.:
1 Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

Flies:
2 owl midges Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly] again
1 Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
numerous different midges

Beetles
Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Spotted Flycatcher
Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Whimbrel
2 drake Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

17 May 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

8.0°C > 10.0°C: Medium/low overcast. Light easterly breeze developing. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:10 BST

* = a species photographed today.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 06:20 // 07:30 – 09:40

(121st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pair of Canada Geese still with a single gosling
- *the pair of Greylag Geese still with four goslings.
- *a drake Gadwall only arrived from the East.
- the duck Pochard in her usual place.
- no Great Crested Grebe juveniles seen, likely due to the dull and chilly conditions – there were very few juvenile Coots seen.
- only one Garden Warbler was singing. Whether the other one – the first to arrive - has found a mate and now getting on with nesting or whether he has given up and moved on is hard to say.
- a Common Whitethroat was singing from the West end hedge. Likely a new arrival rather than any of the earlier birds reappearing.
- Starlings, including fledged juveniles, were heard only from somewhere behind the academy. None was noted ferrying food to nests in the estate.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 5 Herring Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 4 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook

Counts from the lake area:
- 5 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- *2 + 4 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident assumed to be on the nest
- *1 (1♂) Gadwall: see notes
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 3 Moorhens
- 21 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *1 Cormorant: arrived

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 21 (19) Chiffchaffs
- 13 (13) Reed Warblers again
- 11 (10) Blackcaps again
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

On the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:

Nothing at all noted

Noted later:
The lack of sun and the chilly conditions meant few insects were out and about.

Butterflies:
none

Moths
*Plain Pollen-moth Micropterix calthella [was Plain Gold]

Bees, wasps etc.:
*Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum

Hoverflies:
none

Alder Flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria

Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
none

Other flies
*$ dagger fly Empis stercorea
*dagger fly Empis tessellata
*$ fly sp. possibly Fannia lustrator
*female Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
*Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
*other unidentified flies, both boring and interesting

Bugs:
none

Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
*Raspberry Beetle Byturus tomentosus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

New flowers for the year:
$ Wall Cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis
*$ Ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
*$ Snowberry Symphoricarpos sp. probably S. albus

Family group. The Greylag Geese with goslings growing apace.

The drake Gadwall flew in. Where is its mate?

More questions than answers. I took this photo to illustrate that the apparent adult Lesser Black-backed Gull on the left is an immature (third year?) with dark tail corners the remnant of the dark tail band of first and second year birds. But then what about the bird on the right? It is very dark as if it is an immature Lesser Black-back but the tail band is not "neat" and the upper-tail is spotted more like a Herring Gull. The head is not too visible but looks pale. So? Can't say.

An immature Cormorant doing some water-skiing?

Very neat.

A Plain Pollen-moth Micropterix calthella with the yellow tuft of scales on its head matching the colour of the Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens.

A new fly species for me. It is the dagger fly Empis stercorea easily recognised by the dark central line running down the thorax and (less easily seen) the length of the abdomen. I tried for a side view to show the "dagger" but it flew away...

 ...unlike this dagger fly E. tessellata.

Red eyes, red thighs and orange bases to the wings means this fly.... is possibly Fannia lustrator.

This might, or might not, be a different Fannia species of fly.

This is a female Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria – the male are yellow. Another very hairy fly and another insect enjoying the buttercups.

Another Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea. This is a female so the confusion species T. paludosa is easily ruled out because in that species the females' wings are shorter than her abdomen. Not only two of her six wings remain.

"We love it – yeah! yeah! yeah!" say the Raspberry Beatles Byturus tomentosus!

I am guilty again. I flushed the midge as I walked by and it flew straight in to the web of a Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

A not-exactly spherical Ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare. If my log is to be believed this is almost three weeks later than my first record last year....

..whereas this Snowberry Symphoricarpos sp. probably S. albus is in flower some two weeks earlier than I noted last year. It is being enjoyed by a Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
none

Flies
6 owl midges Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly] again
10 midges of various species.

Arthropods:
1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:25 – 07:25

(118th visit of the year)

*The long-dead large Ash tree beside the path on the East side has been completely removed since my visit last Monday.

Bird notes:
- an additional pair of Mute Swans present. The resident cob was giving an only occasional half-hearted attempt to to persuade them to move.
- I noted three well-developed Mallard ducklings along the East side but could see no adult nearby.
- no Tufted Duck seen.
- only one juvenile Coot noted from what was a trio of well-grown juveniles a few days ago. Perhaps it was the cold but it did not look too perky.
- guess what: one Great Crested Grebe as bold as you like.
- a pair of Stock Doves was noted drinking from the island.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 3 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- 21 (20♂) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 23 + 1 (1 brood) Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe

Hirundines etc. noted:
- *20+ Swifts
- 4 House Martins

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs only
- 2 (2) Blackcaps only

Noted around the area:

Moths
*1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata
*$ 1 Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda

Bees, wasps etc.:
1 Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

Flies:
*$ 1 possible Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
*$ "green fly" aphids
numerous different midges

Beetles
Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*$ 1 harvestman, presumed Leiobunum blackwalli

New flowers noted:
*$ Red Valerian Valeriana officinalis

I could not see any adults near this trio of well-grown Mallard ducklings.

At least 20 Swifts were wheeling and screaming overhead. Low light-levels against a grey sky made 'freezing' difficult and any plumage detail impossible. I am very trying.

Where once a large dead Ash tree stood, sprouting an amazing collection of Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea each Autumn.

Yet another unsatisfactory photo of a Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata. This one buried in leaves below a street lamp and flew when I tried to re-arrange the leaves for a better shot.

I found this Pale Tussock moth Calliteara pudibunda near the top of a street lamp pole in squirrel alley. My logs suggest this is my first record here.

Is this possibly a Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis? Only a very small percentage of this species have unmarked wings and while it appears to have long antennae I can only see one.

I have not found any sort of identity for this apparently distinctive small fly. It has a banded abdomen, a plain grey thorax and eyes set on the site of a proportionately long head.

Not as I thought a small mayfly with the usual long "tail" but a dead fly, species unknown, hanging by a spider's web.

A spider using a buttercup as a lure, successfully. The only insects I can vaguely identify are "green fly " aphids around the edges.

It seems a bit early in the season but I am sure this is the harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli. The white edging to the oculum (eye-cups) identifies.

This is Red Valerian Valeriana officinalis, the only flower I have ever seen being visited by a Hummingbird Hawk-moth. Eyes peeled...!

(Ed Wilson)

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2012
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
Grasshopper Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Wheatear
1 Ruddy Duck
(Malcolm Thompson/Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Cuckoo
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

16 May 25

No sightings in today

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

2012
Nedge Hill
10 Northern Wheatears
(Richard Camp)

2010
Priorslee Lake
Ringed Plover
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
1 Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
Cuckoo
(Ed Wilson)

15 May 25

No sightings in today

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

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Wrekin
Wood Warbler
3 Spotted Flycatchers
(Andy Latham)

14 May 25

No sightings in today

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

2013
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Black-tailed Godwit
3 Whimbrel
(Ed Wilson)

2009
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
5 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

13 May 25

No sightings in today.

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2009
Priorslee Lake
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

12 May 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

12.0°C > 15.0°C: A few early clear bits otherwise mostly cloudy: often bright and with clearer skies to the East. Light easterly breeze developing. Good visibility with haze.

Sunrise: 05:18 BST

* = a species photographed today.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

I am about to take a few days break and do other things. I will be back!

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 06:15 // 07:20 – 09:50

(120th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the pair of Canada Geese still with a single gosling
- the pair of Greylag Geese still with four goslings.
- the pair of Gadwall present early only.
- no ducklings seen.
- the duck Pochard in her usual place.
- two Tufted Duck (unsexed) flew high West at 06:00. Two also unsexed flew high East at 08:20. Two drakes arrived c.08:30.
- still at least two Great Crested Grebe juveniles and still not seen in the water
- no Sedge Warbler heard today.
- a Reed Warbler was singing from the Ricoh hedge alongside the West end path.
- always hard to see: it sounded as if there were two different family parties of Goldcrests.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: pair outbound
- 6 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull again
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
- 7 Starlings

Counts from the lake area:
- 6 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident assumed to be on the nest
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall: see notes
- 3 (3♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard as ever
- 2 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 28 + 9 (5 broods) Coots
- 7 + 2? (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls

Hirundines etc. noted:
- *7 Swifts
- 2 Barn Swallows

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 15 (13) Chiffchaffs
- no Sedge Warblers
- 13 (13) Reed Warblers
- 11 (10) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warblers still

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Moth:
- *1 $ Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda; moth species #14 this year

Flies:
- 1 plumed midge sp.

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Noted later:
The lack of sun meant few insects were out and about despite the warm conditions.

Butterflies:
none

Moths
*$ Plain Pollen-moth Micropterix calthella [was Plain Gold]; moth species #15 this year
*$ Meadow Hook-wing Ancylis badiana [was Common Roller]; moth species #16 this year
*$ Bordered Marble Endothenia marginana: a new species for me and #17 this year

Bees, wasps etc.:
*$ White-tipped Sawfly Tenthredo livida

Hoverflies:
Spring Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
*Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]

Alder Flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria

Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
none

Other flies
*$ root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris or similar
*caddisfly unknown
*dagger fly Empis tessellata
*$ cranefly Epiphragma ocellare [Picture-winged Cranefly]
Spotted Cranefly Nephrotoma appendiculata
Scorpion Fly Panorpa communis (plus other not specifically identified)
owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly] again
*$ Downlooker Snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus
marsh fly Tetanocera ferruginea
*$ cranefly Tipula luna
Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
other unidentified flies, both boring and interesting

Bugs:
Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
*$ cuckoo spit created by froghopper nymphs

Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Raspberry Beetle Byturus tomentosus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
*unidentified spider

New flowers for the year:
*Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper

 Before I had a chance to get to the lake for a reflective view this was the sunrise today.

By the time I scampered(?!) to the water's edge the colour had faded somewhat.

A few Swifts made brief visits to drink. Here is one leaving.

In order of seeing four new species of moth today: this Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda is moth species #14 this year. I last recorded one in 2022.

This tiny critter is a Plain Pollen-moth Micropterix calthella. It used to be called Plain Gold. Recognise by the tuft of yellow scales on the crown. Moth species #15.

The same individual though I am likely to see very many more. They like buttercups.

And again.

The best I could manage with a very flighty Meadow Hook-wing moth Ancylis badiana. It used to be known as Common Roller. I see it most years. It is my moth species #16 here this year.

Sitting on the dead head of a dandelion I found this Bordered Marble moth Endothenia marginana. It is a new moth species for me and my #17 of the year here.

A White-tipped Sawfly Tenthredo livida. Seems a good name!

Not many hoverflies out and about this morning. Here is one that was: a Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus.

One Alder Fly Sialis lutaria deceased. At least it proves the species has four wings and is not therefore a true fly.

This fly with the black spots on the grey abdomen with a grey and black thorax is one of the root-maggot flies, likely Anthomyia procellaris or similar.

"Caddis fly unknown" said Obsidentify. I'll go along with that.

The dagger fly Empis tessellata shows off its dagger-like mouth parts used to suck its victims dry.

This is the distinctive cranefly Epiphragma ocellare which Obsidentify calls Picture-winged Cranefly. Fair enough. It was new species for me last year.

A Downlooker Snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus in typical head-down position – hence the name.

And one that has not read the book on how to behave.

I think this cranefly is Tipula luna. I have no idea what the red area on the side of the thorax is...

...a fungal infection? A collection of mites? The cranefly did not seem too alert.

No real idea what this tiny fly / midge is, here sitting on a grass stem. How can something this delicate function?

Today I noticed the first cuckoo spit of the year. It is created by froghopper nymphs to avoid getting eaten. The plant is Cleavers Galium aparine.

There were many Long-jawed Orb-web Spiders Tetragnatha sp. hanging about waiting for prey to snag their webs.

Many insects like to visit buttercups. The top creature is an unidentified spider waiting for an unfortunate visitor to arrive. I think the lower creature is an upside-down spider: its mate?

This is Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper. The only way I know whether it is this rather than other sow-thistles is to grab the leaves. It was!

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
none

Flies
4 owl midges Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly] again
22 midges of various species.

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:20 – 07:15

(117th visit of the year)

Bird notes
Highlight was my first Reed Warbler here this year. Singing and then seen in flight at the top end. This species is a late migrant - the reeds need to grow a bit. It is probably only passing through though some years ago birds nested in the reeds alongside Derwent Drive (before the fishing peg was constructed). Bird species #70 for me here this year.

Other bird notes:
- *I noted at least two Mallard ducklings by the island. I did not see any adult in the area.
- *Tufted Duck as two pairs today
- guess what: no Great Crested Grebe seen.
- I think that Starlings in the estate are about to or have just fledged. There was much alarm calling from adults alongside the Wesley Brook as it passes the academy, probably due to Carrion Crows hanging about looking for a meal.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 18 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- *21 (20♂) + 2? (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ?
- *4 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 18 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- no Great Crested Grebe

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs again
- 5 (5) Blackcaps again

Noted around the area:

Moths
none

Bees, wasps etc.:
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

Flies:
*1 owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly] again
*1 aphid sp. "black fly"
numerous different midges

Beetles
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
*Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea

The middle Canada Goose here is significantly smaller. I presume it is "only a female" as these do average smaller. In the US and Canada there are many races / species (depending on taxonomy) of Canada Geese and small races exist. Unlikely here other than in Winter when genuine wild birds are known to visit the UK.

You have to look VERY hard to see two Mallard ducklings against the edge of the island.

Two pairs of Tufted Duck were new arrivals here. Here is one of them

I do like owl midges Psychodidae sp. Perhaps I'll settle on this vernacular name.

A fully-winged aphid. There are many species and only a few are illustrated in the winged form. So unidentified.

Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis of the form succinea. My first ladybird here this year.

(Ed Wilson)