14.0°C > 17.0°C: Mostly cloudy to start with light drizzle and then a spell of heavier rain c.07:15. Later a few sunny intervals developing with the cloud lifting. Moderate north-westerly breeze. Excellent visibility apart from poor in drizzle and rain.
Sunrise: 04:47 BST again
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:10 // 07:25 – 09:55
(143rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct. The cob Mute Swan is taking an increasing interest in hassling the geese - the Canadas in particular. He has been nowhere so aggressive as the previous cob - so far.
- the pen Mute Swan was again off the nest site for some while without attracting any attention from the cob.
- *the only duck Mallard with offspring noted had bit one duckling.
- the duck Pochard still here.
- no Tufted Duck present.
- *the Common Whitethroat was heard to sing again and then seen sitting silently on one of the traditional song perches.
- 12 Starlings seen c.05:55 on the football field. At c.09:40 there were 18 running the gauntlet of the trio of remote-controlled grass mowing machines.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Stock Doves: pair
- 5 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 9 Jackdaws again
- 3 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 9 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese: of these two pairs arrived
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- *8 (6♂) + 1 (brood) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- no Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhen only
- 36 + 11 (7 broods) Coots
- 7+ 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes: perhaps a third brood
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and departed
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 8 Swifts
- *8 Barn Swallows
- 2 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 12 (11) Chiffchaffs
- 11 (9) Reed Warblers
- 8 (6) Blackcaps
- *1 (1) Common Whitethroat
On the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Again nothing noted
Noted later:
The rain and the wet vegetation affected many things though a few insects emerged in the sunny spells
Noted later:
The rain and the wet vegetation affected many things though a few insects emerged in the sunny spells
Butterflies:
none
none
Moths
1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
*1$ Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
*1 Thistle Root-borer Epiblema scutulana [was Thistle Bell]
3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
*2 Silver-ground Carpets Xanthorhoe montanata
*1 caterpillar of a Vapourer Orgyia antiqua
1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
*1$ Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
*1 Thistle Root-borer Epiblema scutulana [was Thistle Bell]
3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
*2 Silver-ground Carpets Xanthorhoe montanata
*1 caterpillar of a Vapourer Orgyia antiqua
Bees, wasps etc.:
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
sawfly of the Tenthredo arcuata / brevicornis / notha / schaefferi complex
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
sawfly of the Tenthredo arcuata / brevicornis / notha / schaefferi complex
Hoverflies:
Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
*Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
*Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans [Bumblebee Plumehorn]
Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
*Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
*Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans [Bumblebee Plumehorn]
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
Lacewings:
*lacewing Chrysopa perla
*lacewing Chrysopa perla
Other flies:
*$ a long-legged fly of the Argyra species group.
*$ soldier fly Broad Centurion Chloromyia formosa
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus: abundant as usual and only males noted.
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies
*$ a long-legged fly of the Argyra species group.
*$ soldier fly Broad Centurion Chloromyia formosa
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus: abundant as usual and only males noted.
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: more than in recent days
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: just one
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: more than in recent days
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: just one
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
none
New flowers for the year:
None
Not at all sure about this. The folk from the company offering "vegetation management" that arrived yesterday did indeed seem to deal with at least some of the Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum. However this broken off stem, alongside the path, has the potential to cause a problem as it is the sap that is the cause of the burns that this plant can impart. Perhaps they haven't completed the task.
Just to prove a Common Whitethroat is (still) around here is one sitting on a favourite song perch. I assume the relative silence recently means they are busy raising young.
A Pied Wagtail with food on the dam. I was sure I could hear at least one other calling suggesting it was feeding young. Could I see anything? Nope.
A new moth for my year-list. It is a not-very-exciting Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella on the not-so-brown wall of the Telford Sailing Club HQ.
A moth from a potentially confusing group but I am reasonably confident this is a Thistle Root-borer Epiblema scutulana. It used to be called a Thistle Bell for some reason. There are plenty of thistles for the larvae to bore in to.
Silver-ground Carpet moths Xanthorhoe montanata are approaching the end of their flight season so it is not surprising to find one looking rather faded.
The bizarre-looking caterpillar of a Vapourer moth Orgyia antiqua. This on an upright tube of the "boxing ring" on the dam. This is where I saw one about 10 days ago. How odd.
A Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris chewing wood from the Teece Drive fence to take away for its nest. Last year I noted a few doing this early in April and then hardly saw another wasp until September. Seems they are having a better year, though I guess that depends on your viewpoint of the value of this pest-destroyer.
Only a Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus but an attractive specimen that reminds me of orange marmalade. Many of them are more reminiscent of lemon marmalade.
With the wide yellow bands extending around the side of the abdomen this has to be a Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus. Obsidentify calls this species Broad-banded Aphideater and, like many hoverflies, it does indeed eat aphids as well as enjoying nectar.
If you were an aphid this might be one of your last sightings. This is actually a different species as the markings on the middle leg differ. Not sure about the species.
An even better(?) photo of a lacewing Chrysopa perla. It is hard to see that the area between the lattice work is a membrane and it does have wings and not a trellis.
A very different fly. Mainly grey overall with large red eyes. As far as I can determine this is a male (the eyes meet) of an Argyra species in the group known as long-legged flies. It seems females are easier to identify.
And another different fly though very common if you look hard for it. It is one of the soldier flies and specifically a Broad Centurion Chloromyia formosa.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Another Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata on the ceiling of the tunnel – they seem to like being upside down.
(141st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- just about half yesterday's geese have gone again.
- does not look as if I am going to solve yesterday's Mute Swan mystery. Today there were seven adults and I failed to locate any cygnet. One of the adults, a presumed cob, was making some effort to move the others but failing.
- the duck Gadwall seen again. Has it ever been away?
- no Tufted Duck found.
- just one Great Crested Grebe seen again.
- a noisy group of four adult Black-headed Gulls flew West. An unusual date for this species which is typically stays on its breeding grounds until early July.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- *85 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- no mainly white feral goose
- 7 Mute Swans
- 1 (0♂) Gadwall
- 24 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ?
- 3 Moorhens again
- 16 Coots: it was raining heavily when I took the count
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 8 Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
The only duck Mallard with ducklings seen today was this with a solitary duckling.
Photographing hirundines at the lake is a Catch-22 situation. The only time they hawk low over the water for easy photography is when it is raining and dull. It is then difficult to get sharp images that show the colours. Here are some from this morning's attempt with a group of eight Barn Swallows.
One with a white area on its back.
Tail spread from above showing the white dots.
And from below.
Plan view of a calling bird.
Another calling bird speeds by.
Against a background with the rain visible. As soon as the rain eased they flew off.
Last one.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
*1 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata
*1 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata
Flies
2 craneflies
12 midges of various species.
2 craneflies
12 midges of various species.
Beetles:
1 larva of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
1 larva of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 unidentified spider
1 unidentified spider
Obsidentify was 100% sure this spider is the Snake-back Spider Segestria senoculata. I am less sure. Photos of that species on the internet show no banding on the legs, as shown here. I'll leave it as unidentified.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:15 – 07:20
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:15 – 07:20
(141st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- just about half yesterday's geese have gone again.
- does not look as if I am going to solve yesterday's Mute Swan mystery. Today there were seven adults and I failed to locate any cygnet. One of the adults, a presumed cob, was making some effort to move the others but failing.
- the duck Gadwall seen again. Has it ever been away?
- no Tufted Duck found.
- just one Great Crested Grebe seen again.
- a noisy group of four adult Black-headed Gulls flew West. An unusual date for this species which is typically stays on its breeding grounds until early July.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- *85 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- no mainly white feral goose
- 7 Mute Swans
- 1 (0♂) Gadwall
- 24 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ?
- 3 Moorhens again
- 16 Coots: it was raining heavily when I took the count
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 8 Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Moths
3 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
3 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
none
none
Other flies:
numerous different midges and flies
numerous different midges and flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Arthropods:
*Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
*Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
Compare and contrast. The Canada Goose on the left has dropped most of its flight feathers exposing a white area above the tail. The bird on the right still has most of its flight feathers intact though one is clearly loose.
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
12 Swift
1 Lesser Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
9 Greylag Geese
5 Tufted Duck
Kestrel
22 Swift
4 Swallows
6 House Martin
5 Reed Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Common Whitethroat
2 Garden Warbler
8 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaffs
2 Jays
10 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
none
A Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber on one of the street lamp poles.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009
Priorslee Lake
12 Swift
1 Lesser Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
9 Greylag Geese
5 Tufted Duck
Kestrel
22 Swift
4 Swallows
6 House Martin
5 Reed Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Common Whitethroat
2 Garden Warbler
8 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaffs
2 Jays
10 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)