18.0°C > 20.0°C: Early cloud producing some very light drizzle before breaks appeared and sunny intervals developed. A calm start with a moderate westerly breeze picking up. Excellent visibility.
Sunrise: 04:47 BST
* = 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 – 06:15 // 07:30 – 10:00
(155th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct.
- I could not locate any visiting adult Mute Swan. Only the resident cob was seen.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- the duck Pochard not seen.
- an adult Black-headed Gull was on one of the sailing club's piers at 05:10 and not seen thereafter
- the Garden Warbler was again heard singing from various bushes around its presumed nesting site.
- a Common Whitethroat was again heard giving an alarm call.
- I have no idea what was going on with the Jackdaws this morning. There were more than recently noted flying South outbound from their roost site(s) [80 birds]. Their timing is triggered by the daylight so with a cloudy start they would have been later and therefore more likely to be seen after I had arrived. That said a party of 62 seen flying North at 05:30 (followed by 60 more in eight smaller groups) seems unprecedented. Such movement is normal in late afternoon as they return to their roost(s).
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 56 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 202 Jackdaws: see notes
- 36 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 3 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: see notes
- 20 (?♂) Mallard: see notes
- no Pochard
- 3 Moorhens again
- 79 adult and juvenile Coots
- 7 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes again
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- 4 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 15 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 11 (9) Reed Warblers
- 8 (6) Blackcaps
- 1 (0) Garden Warbler: see notes
- 1 (0) Common Whitethroat again
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moths:
*1 Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli: female dead in web.
*$ 1 Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana [my moth species #54 here in 2025]
*1 Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli: female dead in web.
*$ 1 Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana [my moth species #54 here in 2025]
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
Noted later:
Less breezy but often cloudy.
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
Noted later:
Less breezy but often cloudy.
Butterflies:
*Green-veined White Pieris napi
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
*Comma Polygonia c-album
$ Common Blue Polyommatus icarus
*Green-veined White Pieris napi
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
*Comma Polygonia c-album
$ Common Blue Polyommatus icarus
Moths
5 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
8 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
5 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana
8 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
Bees, wasps etc.:
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*$$ leafcutter bee Megachile sp.
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris: very many, mainly small individuals
*Crabonid wasp, possibly Hogweed Fly Fox Ectemnius lituratus
*ichneumon, perhaps Cosmoconus sp.
*two unidentified ichneumon sps.
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*$$ leafcutter bee Megachile sp.
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris: very many, mainly small individuals
*Crabonid wasp, possibly Hogweed Fly Fox Ectemnius lituratus
*ichneumon, perhaps Cosmoconus sp.
*two unidentified ichneumon sps.
Hoverflies:
*Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
*Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Dark-saddled Leucozona Leucozona laternaria [Dark-saddled Hoary]
*$$ Stripe-backed Glimmer Riponnensia splendens
Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
*Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans [Bumblebee Plumehorn]
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Dark-saddled Leucozona Leucozona laternaria [Dark-saddled Hoary]
*$$ Stripe-backed Glimmer Riponnensia splendens
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
dagger fly Empis livida
*Thick-headed Fly Sicus ferrugineus [Ferruginous Beegrabber]
plus
as usual many unidentified flies of many different species
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
dagger fly Empis livida
*Thick-headed Fly Sicus ferrugineus [Ferruginous Beegrabber]
plus
as usual many unidentified flies of many different species
Bugs:
*$ Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius
*$ Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius
Beetles:
7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: adult
*$ Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. spectabilis: adult
Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
*$ Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva [Hogweed Bonking-beetle]
7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: adult
*$ Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. spectabilis: adult
Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
*$ Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva [Hogweed Bonking-beetle]
Slugs, snails etc.:
White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
Amphibians:
Common Toad Bufo bufo
Common Toad Bufo bufo
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
none
New flowers for the year:
None
Well the left antenna tip is in sharp focus even if nothing else is. However the, ahem, "green" veins of this Green-veined White butterfly Pieris napi show well-enough.
More or less "wings only" remain of a female Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli. It is only the males that are ghostly white.
The first of a quartet of "ichneumon wasps" I noted today. This a Crabonid wasp, possibly Hogweed Fly Fox Ectemnius lituratus though there are many similar species.
A potential new bee species for me though not specifically identified. It is a leafcutter bee Megachile species. But which?
This ichneumon is suggested by Obsidentify as perhaps a Cosmoconus species. A trawl of the internet failed to deliver any conclusion. A smart creature. I assume a female with a short ovipositor though one wonders how she copes with what appears to be a blunt instrument.
And the other one. I would have thought the very odd hind legs would have provided an easy identification. Apparently not.
My find of the day was this new species of hoverfly for me. It is a Stripe-backed Glimmer Riponnensia splendens. I did read once how hoverflies are characterised as separate from all the other groups of flies but it was far too technical for me to understand. You probably need a hand lens at least to see the characteristics. Hoverflies are far from all being "black and yellow"! Obsidentify seems especially good at hoverflies and I suspect it has been trained on Steven Falk's monumental Flickr photo collection.
A close-up of a Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans. The right antenna in particular shows why it is called a "plume horn".
An over-zoomed photo of my first Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius of the year I had to over-zoom to force the camera to focus on the insect rather than any part of the surrounding vegetation.
My first Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis of the form spectabilis this year. That said all forms are somewhat generalisations as variations occur. Normally this form shows a black crescent eating in to the front red spots.
My first this year of what used to be called Common Red Soldier Beetles Rhagonycha fulva. The online community seems to have rechristened them, not without some validity, Hogweed Bonking-beetles. This one is indeed on Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium, albeit without a partner.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:20 – 07:25
(153rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- now a pair of Tufted Duck.
- again only one Great Crested Grebe noted.
- the Great (White) Egret present again.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 185 Canada Geese
- 56 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- *6 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 19 + 3 (2 broods) Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- *1 Great White Egret
Hirundines etc. noted:
- no Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (5) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
I suspect this is my first Little Snipe Fly Chrysopilus asiliformis here: my records from The Flash are not so extensive as those from the Balancing Lake.
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
Willow Tits
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Probable Grasshopper Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
Peregrine Falcon
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
The water level was the highest I have seen it for many years and the rows of marker buoys just off the south bank had all disappeared under the water. The full effect of Wesley Brook downstream has been devastating for Shifnal, with so much water in the reservoir it was no surprise to hear that many premises alongside the brook were under 2 to 3 feet of water for the second time this month.
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
As long as they keep posing I will keep photographing any Comma butterfly Polygonia c-album!
This Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana is a distinctive micro-moth with no confusion species. Unusually this flash photo was enough to cause it to fly to the far distance. Most moths seem unconcerned by camera flash.
This view did not help confirm any identity.
This first of two unidentified ichneumon sps.
A Bumblebee Blacklet hoverfly Cheilosia illustrata.
Very messy. A Thick-headed Fly Sicus ferrugineus has wrapped itself around a dead flower-head.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
none
none
Flies
1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
23 midges of various species.
1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
23 midges of various species.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:20 – 07:25
(153rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- now a pair of Tufted Duck.
- again only one Great Crested Grebe noted.
- the Great (White) Egret present again.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 185 Canada Geese
- 56 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- *6 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 19 + 3 (2 broods) Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- *1 Great White Egret
Hirundines etc. noted:
- no Swifts
- 2 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 6 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (5) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Butterflies:
none
none
Moths [on street lamp poles and in the grass]
1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
4 Garden Grass-moths Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
*1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
*1 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata
1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
4 Garden Grass-moths Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
*1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
*1 Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata
Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*ichneumon Amblyteles armatorius
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*ichneumon Amblyteles armatorius
Hoverflies:
Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
*Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
*Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
Other flies:
*Little Snipe Fly Chrysopilus asiliformis
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
also numerous different midges and flies
*Little Snipe Fly Chrysopilus asiliformis
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
also numerous different midges and flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: adult
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: adult
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
none
New flowers for the year:
None
...staying around and treading the boards to have its photo taken. I could have wished for more light but at 06:30...
There was dappled sunlight when I came across this juvenile spotty Robin looking as if butter wouldn't melt in its mouth.
A Common Plume moth Emmelina monodactyla. As with most species in this group the wings are segmented with the tightly wrapped when at rest.
The most pristine Treble Brown Spot moth Idaea trigeminata to date. Apparently named because the outer cross-line of dark marks on the forewing is "pinched in" in two places meaning that there are three more prominent areas. Seems tenuous to me but you have to name it something.
Which is the whitest of then all? Mute Swan or Great (White) Egret?
Something I do not see too often. A Wren not only on the ground but...
...I'll take it anyway.
It is not that easy to see the ichneumon Amblyteles armatorius amongst all the vegetation.
Up and about early was a Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priorslee Lake
Willow Tits
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Probable Grasshopper Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Flash
Peregrine Falcon
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
The water level was the highest I have seen it for many years and the rows of marker buoys just off the south bank had all disappeared under the water. The full effect of Wesley Brook downstream has been devastating for Shifnal, with so much water in the reservoir it was no surprise to hear that many premises alongside the brook were under 2 to 3 feet of water for the second time this month.
(Martin Adlam)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)