14.0°C > 21.0°C: Mostly clear with a few clouds bubbling up later. Light south-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 04:46 BST still (as early as it gets)
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species
After a few days away I was struggling to get in to gear this morning.
A strange one this morning. At both The Flash (top end) and the Balancing Lake (North side) I heard song that reminded me somewhat of Marsh Tit. Both were however identified as Willow Tit by the Merlin app.! On both occasions a bird was seen but on neither time could I get a positive identification through tangles of branches. I played the song of both species from Merlin's stored repertoire but on neither occasion did the bird respond, possibly because the Merlin recordings were made in Eastern Europe and the song was slightly different. It seems so improbable that either of these fast-declining species should be in both locations on the same day that I am "pending" the record. It is worth noting that I photographed a Marsh Tit at the lake on 28 March this year.
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:15 // 07:25 – 10:05
(146th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a Common Peafowl (Peacock) was heard calling from what was the Telford campus site.
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct.
- still no sign of any Mute Swan cygnets this year. Both parents were often together in the vicinity of the nest site.
- a duck Mallard still with one duckling. A bumper total of 19 adult Mallard with some of the drakes now so scruffy that I decided not to attempt to sex them all.
- the duck Pochard still here.
- only one of the juvenile Great Crested Grebes – the first brood to hatch – was seen.
- *a family party of Garden Warblers was good news of a successful breeding here.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 9 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 14 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 19 (?♂) + 1 (1 brood) Mallard: see notes
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 1 Moorhen
- 40 + 18 (7 broods) Coots
- 5 + 1 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebes
- no gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 17 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (6) Reed Warblers
- 12 (10) Blackcaps
- *3 (0) Garden Warblers
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moth:
*$ 1 male Bee Moth Aphonia sociella
Noted later:
*$ 1 male Bee Moth Aphonia sociella
Noted later:
Butterflies:
*Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
"white" unidentified
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
*$ Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
*Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
*Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
*Comma Polygonia c-album
*Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
"white" unidentified
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
*$ Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
*Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
*Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
*Comma Polygonia c-album
Moths
7 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
1 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis
7 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
1 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis
Bees, wasps etc.:
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*unidentified sawfly
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*unidentified sawfly
Hoverflies:
*Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
*Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
*Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
*Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
*Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
*Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa
Lacewings:
lacewing Chrysopa perla
lacewing Chrysopa perla
Other flies:
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
dagger fly Empis livida
Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
*Muscid fly Phaonia pallida
*Thick-headed Fly Sicus ferrugineus [Ferruginous Beegrabber]
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
dagger fly Empis livida
Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
*Muscid fly Phaonia pallida
*Thick-headed Fly Sicus ferrugineus [Ferruginous Beegrabber]
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
*larvae of Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
leaf beetle Donacia sp., perhaps D. aquatica or D. vulgaris
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: >10
False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
*larvae of Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
leaf beetle Donacia sp., perhaps D. aquatica or D. vulgaris
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: >10
False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
Slugs, snails etc.:
- White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
- White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
money spider, probably Erigone sp.
*Zebra Spider Salticus scenicus
money spider, probably Erigone sp.
*Zebra Spider Salticus scenicus
Amphibians:
*Common Toad Bufo bufo
*Common Toad Bufo bufo
Mammals:
Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus
Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus
New flowers for the year:
*willowherb: but which species!
A series of photos I took of a family party of Garden Warblers. The lack of obvious features is a good starting point, so too is the thicker and stouter bill than most warblers.
My first Bee Moth Aphonia sociella of the year: this is a male – females are speckled overall. This was on a street lamp pole around dawn. There was another, also a male, in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel.
A Large Skipper butterfly Ochlodes sylvanus drinking nectar from a willowherb flower. But what species of willowherb? Good question. I'll try as remember to identify it tomorrow.
My first Ringlet butterfly Aphantopus hyperantus this year. I have yet to find a Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina at rest to photograph.
A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly Aglais urticae. My third this year after a totally blank year for this species in 2024.
There were two of these sparring and this was the best photo. Obsidentify was sure they were "unknown sawfly". I'll go along with that though perhaps "unidentified" is a better adjective.
This dragonfly, a Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa, is only slightly better positioned than on my previous attempt.
Well Ferruginous Beegrabber night be an alternative name for these Thick-headed Flies Sicus ferrugineus but in this instance "ferruginous female grabber" might be more apposite. Unusually for flies both males and females have eyes well separated.
These are Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni larvae scraping off the surface of the Alder leaf. I know it is not quite in focus. I was not going to waste more pixels on these.
One of the leaf beetles in the Donacia genus. Obsidentify suggested D. aquatica which is not shown in NatureSpot which suggests it could be D. vulgaris.
This is the second time I have noted a Zebra Spider Salticus scenicus with a midge for breakfast on the wall of the Telford Sailing Club HQ. The previous sighting was of one lurking in a crack. This one was out it the open and had presumably run-down its prey.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(144th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- as in previous days many of the geese climbed inside the island while I was walking around and I was unable to verify my initial count.
- seven adult Mute Swans!
- the duck Gadwall not seen.
- still no Tufted Duck. It is unusual for this species to be absent from here for any length of time even in Summer.
- the only juvenile Coot I noted today was a full-grown bird only identifiable by the small white shield.
- two Great Crested Grebes noted but always well-separated.
- an adult Black-headed Gull dropped in briefly at the same time as...
- an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull visited. It would be an unusually early date for a returning Black-headed Gull.
- the first post-breeding record of Kingfisher. A bird was sitting on a twig along the West side but I made the mistake of stopping to look at it rather than pass by, set the camera ready and sneak back. It flew and was not seen again.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Common Buzzard
Noted on / around the water:
- 146 Canada Geese
- 26 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 7 Mute Swans
- no Gadwall
- 18 (15♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 21 + 1 (1 brood) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 House Martin
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
*willowherb: but which species!
Sunrise – more or less
There was no suggestion in any of the photos that I was shooting a juvenile – none was showing a gape line.
None was singing – this one was calling: a distinctly different note from Blackcap.
I am not entirely sure how many different individuals I photographed. They were flying about.
Yes you!
A Red Admiral butterfly Vanessa atalanta.
Good to see: a Comma butterfly Polygonia c-album.
This is a hoverfly, specifically a Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata.
A Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea.
I believe this hairy orange-toned fly to be the Muscid fly Phaonia pallida.
Not sure which one this is but note how the tip of the abdomen is tucked up.
One of several tiny Common Toads Bufo bufo likely to get run over in Teece Drive.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
1 male Bee Moth Aphonia sociella
*1 $ Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba
1 male Bee Moth Aphonia sociella
*1 $ Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba
Flies
2 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
27 midges of various species.
2 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
27 midges of various species.
My first Large Yellow Underwing moth Noctua pronuba of the year. It is an abundant species but I find it rarely. It tends to fly and come to light early in the night and then hide away well before dawn.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:20 – 07:20
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:20 – 07:20
(144th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- as in previous days many of the geese climbed inside the island while I was walking around and I was unable to verify my initial count.
- seven adult Mute Swans!
- the duck Gadwall not seen.
- still no Tufted Duck. It is unusual for this species to be absent from here for any length of time even in Summer.
- the only juvenile Coot I noted today was a full-grown bird only identifiable by the small white shield.
- two Great Crested Grebes noted but always well-separated.
- an adult Black-headed Gull dropped in briefly at the same time as...
- an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull visited. It would be an unusually early date for a returning Black-headed Gull.
- the first post-breeding record of Kingfisher. A bird was sitting on a twig along the West side but I made the mistake of stopping to look at it rather than pass by, set the camera ready and sneak back. It flew and was not seen again.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Common Buzzard
Noted on / around the water:
- 146 Canada Geese
- 26 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 7 Mute Swans
- no Gadwall
- 18 (15♂) Mallard
- 6 Moorhens
- 21 + 1 (1 brood) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 House Martin
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Moths
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*1 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*1 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata
Bees, wasps etc.:
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Hoverflies:
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Other flies:
Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
*probable Muscid fly Phaonia errans
plus numerous different midges and flies
Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
*probable Muscid fly Phaonia errans
plus numerous different midges and flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
larvae and pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
larvae and pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
none
New flowers for the year:
*Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre
This fly is probably another Muscid fly, this time Phaonia errans. What it is doing and "feeding" on is perhaps best left unidentified.
Growing out of all the cracks in the wall between Derwent Drive and the water is this Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre.
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Spotted Redshank
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
*Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre
A well-protected Treble Brown Spot moth Idaea trigeminata.
(Ed Wilson)
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2008
Priorslee Lake
Spotted Redshank
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)