12.0°C > 19.0°C: Fine though with extensive high cloud making the sun hazy. 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 in the area
I may or may not have resolved yesterday's "which species of tit was it" conundrum, at least at the lake where I heard what both I and Obsidentify thought was a Marsh Tit. I then saw a bird moving through among a party of Long-tailed Tits. However it was 05:45, the light was not very good and separation of the Marsh from Willow Tit visually is a challenge – they were only recognised as different species about 100 years ago. I would like to have heard the more diagnostic call notes rather than just song fragments. I heard and photographed a Marsh Tit at the lake on 28 March this year.
As I arrived at the Balancing Lake a Grey Heron was arriving from the West and immediately a Great (White) Egret flew off to the West. This was, I am sure, the bird I found at The Flash later where it became bird species #71 this year for me (or #72 depending on what I decide to do about yesterday's mystery tit species)
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:20 // 07:40 – 10:10
(147th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a Common Peafowl (Peacock) was again heard calling from what was the Telford campus site.
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct. An extra adult Greylag Goose had arrived.
- still no sign of any Mute Swan cygnets this year. One parent was out of sight much of the time.
- a duck Mallard with eight small ducklings. These seemed to be too small to be remnants of the brood of 14 seen at the start of last week.
- the duck Pochard still here.
- both juvenile Great Crested Grebes seen.
- a single fly-over Lapwing was unexpected at this date.
- no Garden Warblers seen but one sang briefly and at least another, probably a juvenile, was heard calling.
- a single fly-over Starling was an adult taking food to a late brood on the estate somewhere. None was seen around the football field. [at least seven were on verges in Priorslee Avenue as I was leaving]
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 9 Wood Pigeons again
- 1 Lapwing
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Grey Herons
- 12 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks again
- 1 Starling
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 3 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- *12 (?♂) + 8 (1 brood) Mallard: see notes
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 4 Moorhens
- 35 + 14 (? broods) Coots
- 7 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Great (White) Egret: departed
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 1 House Martin
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 20 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Reed Warblers
- 10 (9) Blackcaps
- 2 (1) Garden Warblers
- 1 (0) Common Whitethroat
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moth:
*1 $ Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis
*1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*1 $ Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis
*1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
Flies:
1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
Noted later:
1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
Noted later:
Butterflies:
*Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
*Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
*Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
*Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Moths
6 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
*1 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
*1 caterpillar of a Vapourer Orgyia antiqua
NB: at least 20 moths, probably mostly Common Marbles, flushed from vegetation not to be seen again to identify.
6 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
7 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
*1 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
*1 caterpillar of a Vapourer Orgyia antiqua
NB: at least 20 moths, probably mostly Common Marbles, flushed from vegetation not to be seen again to identify.
Bees, wasps etc.:
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
*Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*$$ possible leafcutter bee Megachile sp.
*$ Wall Mason Wasp Ancistrocerus parietinus
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
unidentified ichneumon
*sawfly Tenthredo mesomela
NB: despite the brambles still having abundant flowers there were many fewer bees today
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
*Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*$$ possible leafcutter bee Megachile sp.
*$ Wall Mason Wasp Ancistrocerus parietinus
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
unidentified ichneumon
*sawfly Tenthredo mesomela
NB: despite the brambles still having abundant flowers there were many fewer bees today
Hoverflies:
Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
*$ Common Spotted Field Syrph Eupeodes luniger [Lunuled Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans [Bumblebee Plumehorn]
Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
*$ Common Spotted Field Syrph Eupeodes luniger [Lunuled Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
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:
none
none
Other flies:
*Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
*Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
*$ possible Tachinid fly Thelaira nigripes
plus
*usual other boring and / or strange flies
*Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
*Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
*$ possible Tachinid fly Thelaira nigripes
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
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: >10
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
larvae of Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: >10
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
Slugs, snails etc.:
- *$ possible Large Red Slug Arion rufus
White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
- *$ possible Large Red Slug Arion rufus
White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
none
Amphibians:
Common Frog Rana temporaria
Common Frog Rana temporaria
New flowers for the year:
*Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas
[I again forgot to ID the willowherb in flower]
Only from the photo did I realise there were eight Mallard ducklings. These seem too small to be a remnant of the brood of 14 seen on the 9th.
A male Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus with the scent mark in the wing. I have only seen males so far this year.
A Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus from above where the "rings" are leas obvious. I must have seen at least 25 of these today and no obvious Meadow Browns Maniola jurtina. Both species spend most of their time on the wing or hidden away. The white border to the wings of the Ringlet is usually very obvious in flight.
A terrible photo of my first Common Grey moth Scoparia ambigualis of the year. Must try harder [now where did I read that before?]
Rather perversely my best photo of a Common Marble moth Celypha lacunana was taken with one hiding in a crack in a street lamp pole and not one of the many on vegetation.
Very strange. My third caterpillar of a Vapourer Orgyia antiqua in three weeks, all of them on the "boxing ring" on the dam. I have seen none elsewhere.
A Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum attacking a flower of Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica. That is an antenna being waved around and not a tongue.
I'll try and get help from the Shropshire recorder for this. I believe it be a species of leafcutter bee Megachile sp. and certainly not a species of hoverfly as suggested by Obsidentify – it has a "wasp waist".
Find of the morning (apart from the possible leafcutter bee) was this Wall Mason Wasp Ancistrocerus parietinus.
A Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis. It is not often I manage to get a photo that shows this species has red eyes.
This is possibly a Large Red Slug Arion rufus. However as red slugs can be black and Black Slugs A. ater can be red the situation is confusing. The recommendation is to tickle their tails and see what colour the mucus is. Perhaps another day...
(145th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- six adult Mute Swans!
- for some reason there juvenile Coots noted from several old and several very recent broods.
- now three Great Crested Grebes: one near the island and two displaying at the top end.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 88 Canada Geese
- 35 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 6 Mute Swans
- 11 (10♂) Mallard only
- 6 Moorhens
- 19 + 9 (5 broods) Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Great (White) Egret
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 10 Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
A Great (White) Egret flies from the island with a fishermen studying his mobile phone and missing the action.
Yummy! I am sure the youngsters will be delighted with the breakfast being brought to the Song Thrush's nest.
What seems to be my first-ever Buff-tip moth Phalera bucephala in Shropshire though it is a common-enough species. It is camouflaged by looking like a broken piece of twig though perhaps resting on a street lamp pole is not the best option.
Better(?) than yesterday's photo at the lake. Here are larvae of Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni feeding on the surface of an Alder leaf and leaving frass (the polite word for what comes out the end) behind.
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Just a single cygnet left
(Martin Adlam)
*Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas
[I again forgot to ID the willowherb in flower]
Another day: another sunrise. Keep them coming.
Record shot: the Lapwing overhead.
A Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella. Identify by the gold(?) tip to the wings ahead of a dark line; the diagonal cross-line toward the end of the wing; and the absence of a white areas within the central part of the wing.
A sawfly Tenthredo mesomela.
A different view of a male Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus.
This hoverfly is a Common Spotted Field Syrph Eupeodes luniger also known as a Lunuled Aphideater.
This could be the Tachinid fly Thelaira nigripes. Then again...
Red eyes, grey thorax and orange abdomen. Easy? Nope! Probably a Muscid fly.
You think you have aphid problems on your beans! These were all on a single thistle stem.
A Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas. Already seen in Woodhouse Lane. Whether I see any around the lake area depends upon the cutting regime of the council's contractors.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
*1 $ Green Pug Pasiphila rectangulata
*1 $ Green Pug Pasiphila rectangulata
Flies
1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
2 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
1 cranefly Tipula sp.
21 other midges of various species.
1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
2 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
1 cranefly Tipula sp.
21 other midges of various species.
Beetle:
*1 small click beetle sp.
*1 small click beetle sp.
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
A Green Pug Pasiphila rectangulata. As with most "green" moths the colour soon fades.
A click beetle. There are over 30 species to choose from and they look very similar. This one was smaller than others I have seen. I cannot track a possible ID.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:25 – 07:35
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:25 – 07:35
(145th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- six adult Mute Swans!
- for some reason there juvenile Coots noted from several old and several very recent broods.
- now three Great Crested Grebes: one near the island and two displaying at the top end.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 88 Canada Geese
- 35 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 6 Mute Swans
- 11 (10♂) Mallard only
- 6 Moorhens
- 19 + 9 (5 broods) Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Great (White) Egret
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 10 Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Moths
1 Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata
*1 $$ Buff-tip Phalera bucephala
1 Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata
*1 $$ Buff-tip Phalera bucephala
Bees, wasps etc.:
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Hoverflies:
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Other flies:
Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
plus numerous different midges and flies
Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
plus numerous different midges and flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
adult Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
*larvae of Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae and pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
*Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus
adult Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
*larvae of Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae and pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
*Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
none
They are big birds here flying to...
...take refuge in the trees.
A Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006
Priorslee Lake
Just a single cygnet left
(Martin Adlam)