31 May 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

13.0°C > 17.0°C: Broken low cloud that the sun, hidden behind a thin overcast, was unable to shift. Moderate southerly wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:53 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 06:20 // 07:35 – 09:50

(135th visit of the year)

Bird notes
*A surprise today was a Curlew seen flying high East at 06:10. Many years I record this species in Spring when birds are moving from their over-wintering estuaries to their moorland breeding sites. At this time of year? A failed breeding bird or a non-breeding immature perhaps. Bird species #96 for me here this year.

Other bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct.
- the pair of Gadwall present throughout.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- the duck Pochard still here.
- a trio of Tufted Duck (two drakes) present early only.
- *a Kestrel was hovering over the Ricoh grounds c.09:30
- no Garden Warbler song heard. Have they give up and moved on: or settled down to breed?
- 10 Starlings on the football field (ages not determined)

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair inbound
- 16 Wood Pigeons
- *1 Curlew
- 13 Herring Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 8 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 12 + 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 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Duck: departed
- 5 Moorhens
- 37 + 18 8 broods) Coots
- 7 + >2 (2? broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 17 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 10 (9) Reed Warblers again
- 8 (8) Blackcaps
- no Garden Warbler

On the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:

Nothing noted

Noted later:

Butterflies:
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

Moths
1 Plain Pollen-moth Micropterix calthella [was Plain Gold]
12 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
*2 Timothy Tortrix Zelotherses paleana
7 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*$1 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
*1 unidentified small caterpillar

Bees, wasps etc.:
Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
*Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
*$ Hairy-eyed Syrphus Syrphus torvus

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

Other flies:
*Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
dagger fly Empis tessellata
Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
Downlooker Snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies

Bugs:
Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris
*leafhopper Cixius sp., perhaps C. nervosus
*greenfly aphid sp.

Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
*Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
*Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus
*Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala
*$ Common (or Red-headed) Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis

Slugs, snails etc.:
Brown-lipped Snail Cepaea nemoralis

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

New flowers for the year:
*Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor

Not an inspiring start. It didn't get much better.

Record shot only of the Curlew against the grey sky at 06:10. A most unusual date here.

Also only a record shot – a Kestrel hovering over the Ricoh grounds. The grey tail with a dark band at the tip identifies it as a male.

A typically battered-looking Timothy Tortrix moth Zelotherses paleana. Very plain-looking with the orangey wash on the neck and shoulders the identification feature.

It is that time of the year when grass moths start appearing and provide identification challenges. It is not always easy to obtain such a clear view of the markings and identify this as a Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella. They are "grass moths" primarily because the larvae feed on grass roots. That said the adults are very often found head down amongst the rank grasses.

Sadly no identity on this tiny (5mm?) hairy caterpillar. I suppose all caterpillars are small when they hatch from the egg. It won't get much sustenance here – the handrail of the "boxing ring" on the dam top.

This is likely a Hairy-eyed Syrphus hoverfly Syrphus torvus. There are similar species so I cannot be 100% sure.

A Grey-spotted Boxer hoverfly Platycheirus albimanus in flight.

A smart male Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta.

Not east to see, also against the handrail of the "boxing ring", this one of the leafhoppers Cixius sp., perhaps C. nervosus.

Same place: an unusual view of a greenfly aphid sp.

A male Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis. Note how his elytra (wing cases) are held open. This is useful to identify the females who lack the swollen thighs.

What I believe to be a Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala sitting on (part of) my index finger (and complete with my reflection).

A Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus. Note how the scales rub off leaving them looking "patchy".

No mistaking this as a Common (or Red-headed) Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis.

A Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp. with a Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus in its long jaws.

The last of a quartet photographed on the "boxing ring" was this money spider. There was another species as well but I was unable to get a shot in focus.

Oops: not quite in focus - apologies. This is Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor and one of the target species for the work Severn Trent are doing to create a more diverse habitat.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
1 White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella

Flies
1 owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
*$ 2 craneflies Ilisia occoecata
11 midges of various species.

Arthropods:
1 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber

There were two of these craneflies Ilisia occoecata here today. It seems to be a good hunting ground for the more unusual species.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:25 – 07:30

(132nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- still just five adult Mute Swans and the lone cygnet again.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- guess what: two Great Crested Grebes! These explored all the water without paying any attention to the putative nest site.
- the singing Reed Warbler not heard.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 80 Canada Geese again
- 7 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose still
- 5 + 1 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 17 (15♂) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens still
- 19 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 8 (6) Chiffchaffs
- no Reed Warbler
- 4 (4) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:

Moths
2 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana

Bees, wasps etc.:
*Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris

Other flies:
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
dagger fly Empis livida
Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
also numerous different midges and flies

Bugs:
*Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris
*instar of Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes

Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
*soldier beetle Cantharis nigricans
adult of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
*larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
$ Spotted Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata [formerly Strangalia maculata]

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
female harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli: exactly where two males were holding legs two days ago.
female harvestman Leiobunum rotundum

Every morning I see Early Bumblebees Bombus pratorum on the Dog Roses Rosa canina-type.

A trio! On the left I think a larva of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis. In the middle a Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris. I have no idea about the creature on the right as I did not see it until I looked at the photo.

A late instar of a Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes. No red legs at this stage.

My first record this year here of the soldier beetle Cantharis nigricans.

A Spotted Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata. In your I-Spy Beetles book (or similar) this was named Strangalia maculata.

(Ed Wilson)

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2007
Wrekin
3 Tree Pipit
2 Wood Warbler
1 Pied Flycatcher
2 Spotted Flycatcher
(Martin Adlam)

30 May 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

13.0°C > 16.0°C: Once again it was better weather to start with the scattered cloud increasing all the while to leave it mainly overcast. Moderate south-westerly wind. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:54 BST

I went straight from a quicker than usual visit to see friends near Hereford and have not (yet) had time to sort out the photos. Tomorrow...?

no photographs today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 06:10 // 07:15 – 08:50

(134th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct.
- a pair of Canada Geese were, unusually, on the football field c.06:00. Strangely, and I am sure coincidentally, there was not a single Wood Pigeon on the football field at that time.
- the pair of Gadwall present throughout.
- one of the duck Mallard had two fairly well-grown ducklings with her – where had she been hiding these?
- the duck Pochard still here.
- I heard my first Great Spotted Woodpecker here for some weeks. I have been watching all the usual sites and had concluded they were not nesting here this year [in contrast they have been very noisy and obvious at The Flash: for the last two weeks in particular]
- a Garden Warbler sang briefly mid-point between the two earlier territories.
- the only Starlings noted were two adults with two juveniles on a roof in the estate [there were at least seven adults on the verge of Priorslee Avenue as I drove in: just outside my recording area].

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Greylag Geese: a pair outbound
- 5 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Jackdaw

Counts from the lake area:
- 9 + 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
- 9 (6♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 2 Moorhens
- 36 Coots: adults and juveniles – I did not have time to look too closely
- 7 + >2 (2? broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 House Martin

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 16 (13) Chiffchaffs again
- 10 (9) Reed Warblers
- 11 (11) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler: see notes

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

Flies:
1 Downlooker Snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus

Noted later:
Note: a shorter than usual visit.

Butterflies:
none

Moths
1 Yellow-barred Longhorn Nemophora degeerella
6 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
3 Silver-ground Carpets Xanthorhoe montanata
3 Straw Dots Rivula sericealis

Bees, wasps etc.:
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
ichneumon
Tenthredo type sawfly

Hoverflies:
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]

Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]

Other flies:
dagger fly Empis tessellata
Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
Spotted Cranefly Nephrotoma appendiculata
Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
Downlooker Snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies

Bugs:
Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris
Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata

Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
presumed Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus

Slugs, snails etc.:
$White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis

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

New flowers for the year:

None

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
$1 Orange Swift Triodia sylvina

Flies
no owl midges Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
2 craneflies
25 other midges of various species.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:15 – 07:05

(131st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- only five adult Mute Swans and the lone cygnet again.
- a new brood of at least six tiny Mallard ducklings by the island.
- guess what: no Great Crested Grebes
- one of several Great Spotted Woodpeckers was heard drumming. I have never heard this territorial sound so late in the year before.
- the singing Reed Warbler for its seventh day.
- many House Sparrow juveniles out and about.
- I heard Bullfinches calling for the first time for several weeks. Perhaps they have fledged juveniles (these look very different from adults in not having any black on the head).

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 80 Canada Geese
- 16 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 5 + 1 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 20 (15♂) + 6 (1 brood) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens yet again
- 18 + 2 (1 brood) Coots

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler
- 7 (7) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:

Moths
1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
$1 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata

Bees, wasps etc.:
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
ichneumon

Flies:
Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
also numerous different midges and flies

Bugs:
Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris

Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis

(Ed Wilson)

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Priorslee Lake - PM

Below are a few photos from the lake courtesy of Simon Lewis

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe and youngster.

Fish Pass

And down............

............the hatch.

Mute Swan

A Coot with its youngster.

Note:

More fantastic photos on Simon's Website here.

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2013
Long Lane, Wellington
13 Ringed Plover
2 Dunlin
(JW Reeves)

29 May 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

12.0°C > 17.0°C: Mostly a low overcast with very occasional light drizzle. The sun briefly poked through as I was leaving. Moderate south-westerly wind. Good visibility.

Sunrise: 04:55 BST

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

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 06:15 // 07:25 – 09:50

(133rd visit of the year)

The Wesley Brook under the Priorslee Avenue tunnel is bit a mere trickle. There is a little more water flowing after the sluices empty near the Teece Drive gate.

Note the lake has much blue-green algae which can upset dogs if they drink any. It may also explain why so few of the juvenile Coots are surviving.

Bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct. A big arrival of >40 Canada Geese with c.20 noted flying off later.
- no Gadwall seen.
- the duck Pochard still here.
- the second Garden Warbler to arrive which has been singing continually for many days was not heard this morning. A bird at the East end of the South side that I have heard occasionally and intermittently was heard briefly.
- I did not hear the Common Whitethroat today but was only briefly in the area.
- the only Starling noted was an adult flying from the estate. All the other birds seem to have departed.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Canada Geese: two pairs outbound
- 8 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 47 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese: of these 40 arrived and later c.20 departed
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident assumed to be on the nest: see notes
- no Gadwall
- 6 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 3 Moorhens again
- 25 + 9 (4 broods) Coots
- *9 + >2 (2? broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Grey Heron: flew off West 06:00

Hirundines etc. noted:
- c.25 Swifts

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 16 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (6) Reed Warblers only
- 8 (8) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler: see notes
- no Common Whitethroat

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

Moths:
- *1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata: my moth species #31 here this year

Flies
- *$$1 caddis fly, perhaps Sisyra nigra

Noted later:
Note: more wet foliage and overcast conditions.

Butterflies:
none

Moths
1 Plain Pollen-moth Micropterix calthella [was Plain Gold]
*1 Yellow-barred Longhorn Nemophora degeerella
3 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
*$ 1 caterpillar of a Drinker Euthrix potatoria: my moth species #32 here this year
4 Silver-ground Carpets Xanthorhoe montanata
2 Straw Dots Rivula sericealis
***Another mammoth total for a dull day
I note the number of individuals as these records all go to the Shropshire recorders

Bees, wasps etc.:
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
*Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
unidentified wasp Vespula sp. - flew at me!
*sawfly Tenthredo sp. [not T. mesomela]
*another Tenthredo type

Hoverflies:
*Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
*Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans

Other flies:
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
dagger fly Empis tessellata
cranefly Phylidorea ferruginea
Downlooker Snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies

Aphids:
*possible Large Blackberry Aphid Amphorophora rubi.

Bugs:
Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris

Beetles:
soldier beetle Cantharis nigricans
*larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
*presumed Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus
*$$ Scarce Fungus Weevil Platyrhinus resinosus
*$ Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala

Slugs, snails etc.:
*$ Dusky Slug Arion subfuscus

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

New flowers for the year:
*$ Nipplewort Lapsana communis
*$ Honeysuckle Lonicera sp.

Once again about as good as it got!

Beware of blue-green algae.

A stand-off between a pair of Great Crested Grebes and another. I thought the pair on the left were the second pair to possibly have juvenile(s)...

...and indeed they do if you look hard between them. Only with the camera could I see this.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away". I am not sure that applies to eating one in the middle of Teece Drive. This male Blackbird might need an ambulance (or worse).

An unusual location to find this Yellow-barred Longhorn moth Nemophora degeerella: on the fence alongside Teece Drive.

The Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata on one of the street lamp poles when I arrived.

A caterpillar of a Drinker moth Euthrix potatoria. Apologies it is not all in focus – it was angled away from me and I was unable to get square-on on because of brambles.

A very soggy Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum. I know how it felt.

Obsidentify was 100% sure this sawfly is Tenthredo mesomela. I am sure it isn't as that species is apple green and while the camera does not always render colour that accurately it wasn't green. So Tenredo sp.

and another Tenthredo type.

Take a bow if you get the ID of this correct. It is...

...the underside of this (out of focus) Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus.

Just one damselfly seen this morning: this male Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans.

Obsidentify was sure this caddis fly is Sisyra nigra. I am not too sure: the shape seems wrong though the venation seems about right.

My best suggestion for this is a Large Blackberry Aphid Amphorophora rubi.

This looks to be a Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus. It seems small but it is well out of context – on the rail of the 'boxing ring' on the dam. No nettles here.

I think this might help solve a mystery from yesterday. There are, I now believe, two larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis here. The one on the left is full-sized whereas the one on the right is an early instar and is smaller and lacks the full array of tufts.

There were several more of an intermediate form also on the Teece Drive fence: like this one.

Another challenge. I did not believe Obsidentify when it said "100% Scarce Fungus Weevil Platyrhinus resinosus" as it has no "weevil snout". But it was correct. As NatureSpot puts it "This is truly an odd looking creature and could hardly be confused with anything else". It not quite as scarce as the name implies. The larvae feed inside the fungus King Alfred's Cakes Daldinia concentrica.

I think this is a Cabbage-stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala.

The dark lines on its body seems to make this a Dusky Slug Arion subfuscus rather than the rufous form of (Great) Black Slug Arion sp. Here tucking in to Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium.

Growing alongside the West end path is Nipplewort Lapsana communis.

In a shady spot on a dull morning I found this flower of Honeysuckle Lonicera sp.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
*1 Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria

Flies
no owl midges Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
20 other midges of various species.

Arthropods:
1 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber

A very fresh and smart Green Carpet moth Colostygia pectinataria.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:20 – 07:20

(130th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- only five adult Mute Swans and the lone cygnet present. I did not explicitly see the resident cob but he seems to spend little time with his partner and it may have been he who was on the water perhaps preventing the adult with the Darvic ring '7JXV' from entering.
- I think I was mistaken in logging the all-white feral Mallard ('Aylesbury Duck') yesterday. It did look rather large from a distance and I did not look at it too hard. Today there was one of the mainly white feral geese that visit from time to time. It was with Greylag Geese and probably arrived with the party of c.25 that came in yesterday.
- only one Great Crested Grebe and that was nowhere near the site the pair seemed to be exploring yesterday
- the singing Reed Warbler for its sixth day. Let's hop he attracts a mate.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
- 1 Sparrowhawk

Noted on / around the water:
- 81 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 5 + 1 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 21 (17♂) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens again
- 14 Coots only
- 1 Great Crested Grebe

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 8 (8) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Reed Warbler
- 6 (6) Blackcaps
So: why were they so happy today!

Noted around the area:

Moths
*2 Yellow-barred Longhorns Nemophora degeerella
*1$ Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma

Bees, wasps etc.:
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum

Other flies:
dagger fly Empis tessellata
Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
owl midge Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
also numerous different midges and flies

Bugs:
Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris

Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*2 male harvestmen Leiobunum blackwalli

Not, as I logged yesterday, an Aylesbury Duck but a feral goose, sometimes one of several seen in the company of Greylag Geese.

A Sparrowhawk carrying prey.

Strangely it circled around rather than carrying its prey back to a nest. Hard to see the prey here but the barring on the breast identifies the Sparrowhawk as a male.

Another unusual location to find this Yellow-barred Longhorn moth Nemophora degeerella: on a street lamp pole in squirrel alley. I usually find them on vegetation.

I was even more surprised at this moth high up on the tallest lamp pole in squirrel alley. It was beyond 'flash' range so a poor photo but the salient ID feature of a white wedge at the wing tip identifies it as a Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma, my first here. I see the similar Swallow Prominent P. tremula on street lamp poles at the top end every year.

One of two male harvestmen Leiobunum blackwalli sitting side-by-side on a street lamp pole. Very modern. This one is missing a leg this early in the season.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
1 Sedge Warbler
5 Reed Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Long Lane, Wellington
2 Dunlin
1 Sanderling
(Andy Latham)

2009
Priorslee Lake
4 Tufted Ducks
Ed Wilson

2007
Priorslee Lake
Swifts
Kestrel
Great Black-backed Gull
(Martin Adlam)