16.0°C > 22.0°C: Hazy sun through thinnish high cloud. Light / moderate south-easterly breeze after the usual calm start. Good visibility becoming very good.
Sunrise: 04:46 BST still
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:55 – 06:10 // 07:30 – 09:45
(150th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct.
- *I did not for certain see the pen Mute Swan. When I returned from The Flash the cob was preventing another unringed adult from re-entering the water. Both 'our' new pen and the previous resident pen sported a blue Darvic ring.
- *three duck Mallard with ducklings seen: counts of two, four and seven (in descending size order). Also of note it that while I have ceased to sex the birds temporarily (the drakes are so scruffy as they go through their eclipse moult) there were five of the 14 other adult Mallard that were clearly ducks and were keeping close together.
- the duck Pochard not seen but in the chaos of geese, Mallard and many of the Coots on the south-west grass I may well have overlooked it.
- a Little Grebe heard again from North-side reeds.
- a Common Kestrel was hovering over the South side at 05:05
- a Common Buzzard was sitting on the roof of the academy c.06:00
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 27 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 11 Jackdaws
- 23 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 3 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- *2 Mute Swans: see notes
- 17 (?♂) + 13 (3 broods) Mallard: see notes
- no Pochard: see notes
- 2 Moorhens only
- 53 adult and juvenile Coots
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only again
- 6 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 1 House Martin: heard only
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 17 (13) Chiffchaffs again
- 8 (8) Reed Warblers
- 5 (4) Blackcaps only
- no Garden Warbler
- no Common Whitethroat
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moths:
*$$ 1 Coronet Craniophora ligustri [my moth species #47 here in 2025 and new for me]
*1 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata
*$$ 1 Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides [my moth species #48 here in 2025: also new]
*$$ 1 Coronet Craniophora ligustri [my moth species #47 here in 2025 and new for me]
*1 Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata
*$$ 1 Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides [my moth species #48 here in 2025: also new]
Lacewings:
*1 lacewing Chrysopa perla
*1 lacewing Chrysopa perla
Bugs:
*1 Mirid bug Deraeocoris flavilinea
*1 Mirid bug Deraeocoris flavilinea
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 possible Comb-footed spider Theridion varians
Noted later:
It was somewhat hard going with fewer insects around. Whether that was the heat; the lack of direct sunshine; or the sometimes moderate breeze moving the foliage around is hard to say.
1 possible Comb-footed spider Theridion varians
Noted later:
It was somewhat hard going with fewer insects around. Whether that was the heat; the lack of direct sunshine; or the sometimes moderate breeze moving the foliage around is hard to say.
Butterflies:
Large White Pieris brassicae
Green-veined White Pieris napi
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Large White Pieris brassicae
Green-veined White Pieris napi
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Moths
4 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
4 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
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 braconid / ichneumon
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*unidentified braconid / ichneumon
Hoverflies:
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
*Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
*Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
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]
NB: again many of the damselflies were not specifically identified
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
NB: again many of the damselflies were not specifically identified
Lacewings:
none
none
Other flies:
*dagger fly Empis livida
*Suillia sp.
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies
*dagger fly Empis livida
*Suillia sp.
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
*soldier beetle Cantharis sp., probably C. pallida
*longhorn beetle Grammoptera ruficornis
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: few
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: rather more – most larvae now pupae?
*Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
*soldier beetle Cantharis sp., probably C. pallida
*longhorn beetle Grammoptera ruficornis
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: few
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: rather more – most larvae now pupae?
*Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
Slugs, snails etc.:
White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
Amphibians:
Common Frog Rana temporaria
Common Frog Rana temporaria
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
unidentified money spiders
unidentified money spiders
New flowers for the year:
None
A hazy start with thin high cloud.
A duck Mallard heading for splash-down.
Mallard ducklings from two families. The duck with the two larger duckling was out of the shot.
A new moth for me in Shropshire #1. This is a Coronet Craniophora ligustri named after the "crown" effect of the white around the "neck" [I didn't name it!]
This is another Mottled Beauty moth Alcis repandata and a better specimen than yesterday's first in Shropshire for me.
And new moth for me in Shropshire #2. A Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides. There are many species of moth with "arches" in their name, usually referring to a vertical zig-zag pattern of white though here they are buff and more looped.
A Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus caught in a web. What should I do? Should I release it and deprive the spider of a meal? Well - that is what I did.
This small fly with patterning in its wings is one of three Suillia species that occur in the UK. NatureSpot only shows the pattern of two of them so I am unsure which this is.
This longhorn beetle Grammoptera ruficornis was new for me yesterday. Here it on a Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium with a number of Pollen Beetles Meligethes sp. There are many species of pollen beetles and they cannot be identified from photos.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
"My what long antennae you have". A small unidentified braconid / ichneumon wasp.
A lacewing Chrysopa perla bears down on a small unsuspecting aphid(?).
I have no idea what this dagger fly Empis livida is doing!
A Mirid bug Deraeocoris flavilinea on a street lamp pole around dawn.
A soldier beetle in the Cantharis group, probably C. pallida, though there are similar species.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
*1 $$ Narrow-winged Pug Eupithecia nanata
*1 $ Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
*1 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
*1 $$ Narrow-winged Pug Eupithecia nanata
*1 $ Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
*1 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
Flies
32 midges of various species.
32 midges of various species.
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
A Small Fan-footed Wave moth Idaea biselata. My first of the year.
For the third day when checking the tunnel on the way back from The Flash I have found a moth that I did not see when I checked going the other way. This is a Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:15 – 07:25
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:15 – 07:25
(148th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a large count of geese as I arrived. Many of these climbed on the island, presumably having fed on the abundant weed.
- back to six adult Mute Swans.
- *two drake Tufted Ducks were new arrivals.
- not certain how many Great Crested Grebes there were. One was near the island when I arrived. Later two together (pair?) at the top end. The lone bird was not re-found but was it one of the pair?
- one of the House Martins was calling as if it were a juvenile begging though at that time I could not see or hear any others.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 189 Canada Geese
- 61 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 6 Mute Swans
- 19 (?♂) Mallard
- *2 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 20 + 8 (4 broods) Coots
- 2 or 3 Great Crested Grebes: see notes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
An exploration around the small football field at the top end was rewarding.
Noted on / around the water:
- 189 Canada Geese
- 61 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 6 Mute Swans
- 19 (?♂) Mallard
- *2 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 20 + 8 (4 broods) Coots
- 2 or 3 Great Crested Grebes: see notes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
An exploration around the small football field at the top end was rewarding.
Moths [on street lamp poles and in the grass]
2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
4 Garden Grass-moths Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]: probably more
2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis
1 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata
1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata
*1 $ Poplar Grey Subacronicta megacephala
2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
4 Garden Grass-moths Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]: probably more
2 Common Greys Scoparia ambigualis
1 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata
1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata
*1 $ Poplar Grey Subacronicta megacephala
Bees, wasps etc.:
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*ichneumon, probably Amblyteles armatorius
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*ichneumon, probably Amblyteles armatorius
Hoverflies:
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
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:
7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
larvae only of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
larvae only of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Amphibians:
Common Frog Rana temporaria
Common Frog Rana temporaria
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*spider Clubiona sp.
Two drake Tufted Ducks were new arrivals. The one on the left in particular is moulting out of its breeding plumage and within a month or so the sexes will be hard to separate.
I have inverted and levelled this photo of a Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella. This group of moths fold their wings tightly around their body at rest and are larger than expected when put to flight. The diagonal cross line toward the rear of the wing is the identification feature of this species.
It is a long while since I saw my previous Poplar Grey moth Subacronicta megacephala in the area. Sitting in the detritus at the top of a tall street lamp pole did not make for a clear shot. Despite its name this species is never grey though not always as dark as this.
*spider Clubiona sp.
Refusing to show all this is an ichneumon, probably Amblyteles armatorius.
A spider with the distinctive abdomen shape of a Clubiona sp. Which particular species I cannot say.
(Ed Wilson)
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2009
Priorslee Lake
A pair of Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
A drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)