12.0°C > 19.0°C: A mainly overcast start. We avoided the forecast early rain though it threatened. Thereafter a few sunny breaks. Moderate southerly breeze gusting fresh at times. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 04:48 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:05 – 06:15 // 07:30 – 09:50
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:05 – 06:15 // 07:30 – 09:50
(157th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct.
- both resident Mute Swans were together occasionally. Mostly only the resident cob visible.
- *four groups of Mallard ducklings seen: in descending size of the ducklings in each brood these comprised eleven, two, four and a single small duckling.
- the duck Pochard present.
- the Little Grebe was vocal again.
- *three pairs of Great Crested Grebes with juveniles. Unclear how many for the third and newest pair to hatch.
- the first sizeable post-breeding gull arrival for a wash and drink with one Black-headed Gull, three Herring Gulls and 23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls with all the large gulls immatures of various ages.
- the Garden Warblers was singing frequently.
- no Common Whitethroat seen or heard.
- Even more corvid confusion. Soon after dawn I logged 86 Jackdaws flying South out of their roost site(s) and 38 flying the opposite direction. At the same time I logged 59 Rooks, all flying South. Then at c.08:40 a mixed flock that I judged to contain 77 Jackdaws and 2 Rooks flew North!
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 77 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants: together
- 191 Jackdaws: see notes
- 91 Rooks: see notes
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 3 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- *22 (?♂) + 18 (4 broods) Mallard: see notes
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 1 Moorhen only
- 80 adult and juvenile Coots
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only
- *8 + 3? (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 Swifts
- 6 House Martins again
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 14 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (8) Reed Warblers only
- 6 (5) Blackcaps only
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- no Common Whitethroat
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct.
- both resident Mute Swans were together occasionally. Mostly only the resident cob visible.
- *four groups of Mallard ducklings seen: in descending size of the ducklings in each brood these comprised eleven, two, four and a single small duckling.
- the duck Pochard present.
- the Little Grebe was vocal again.
- *three pairs of Great Crested Grebes with juveniles. Unclear how many for the third and newest pair to hatch.
- the first sizeable post-breeding gull arrival for a wash and drink with one Black-headed Gull, three Herring Gulls and 23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls with all the large gulls immatures of various ages.
- the Garden Warblers was singing frequently.
- no Common Whitethroat seen or heard.
- Even more corvid confusion. Soon after dawn I logged 86 Jackdaws flying South out of their roost site(s) and 38 flying the opposite direction. At the same time I logged 59 Rooks, all flying South. Then at c.08:40 a mixed flock that I judged to contain 77 Jackdaws and 2 Rooks flew North!
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 77 Wood Pigeons
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants: together
- 191 Jackdaws: see notes
- 91 Rooks: see notes
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 3 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- *22 (?♂) + 18 (4 broods) Mallard: see notes
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 1 Moorhen only
- 80 adult and juvenile Coots
- 1 Little Grebe: heard only
- *8 + 3? (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 Swifts
- 6 House Martins again
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 14 (10) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (8) Reed Warblers only
- 6 (5) Blackcaps only
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler
- no Common Whitethroat
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moths:
none
none
Hoverflies:
1 Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Noted later:
Very breezy and often cloudy.
1 Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Noted later:
Very breezy and often cloudy.
Butterflies:
Green-veined White Pieris napi
many unidentified "whites"
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
*Comma Polygonia c-album
Green-veined White Pieris napi
many unidentified "whites"
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
*Comma Polygonia c-album
Moths
*1 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*1 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
Bees, wasps etc.:
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
unidentified ichneumon
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
unidentified ichneumon
Hoverflies:
*Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
*Dark-winged Wrinklehead Chrysogaster solstitialis
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
*Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
White-footed Hoverfly Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
*Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
*Dark-winged Wrinklehead Chrysogaster solstitialis
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
*Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
White-footed Hoverfly Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
many of the few damselflies not specifically identified
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
many of the few damselflies not specifically identified
Lacewings:
none
none
Other flies:
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
plus
as usual many unidentified flies of many different species
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
plus
as usual many unidentified flies of many different species
Bugs:
Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum
$ Mirid bug / Potato Capsid bug Closterotomus norwegicus
Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum
$ Mirid bug / Potato Capsid bug Closterotomus norwegicus
Beetles:
Raspberry Beetle Byturus tomentosus
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: adult
$ Rough-haired Lagria Beetle Lagria hirta
Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
$$ possible Oedemera femorata
Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva [Hogweed Bonking-beetle]
Raspberry Beetle Byturus tomentosus
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: adult
$ Rough-haired Lagria Beetle Lagria hirta
Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
$$ possible Oedemera femorata
Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva [Hogweed Bonking-beetle]
Slugs, snails etc.:
White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
unidentified "money spider" type
unidentified "money spider" type
New flowers for the year:
None
Mallard with only one duckling.
Mallard plus four ducklings.
Not easy to see but a small Great Crested Grebe chick(?) on the parent's back is being fed. Only one visible.
A Comma butterfly Polygonia c-album showing why it is so-named.
Mr. Angry (or Ms. Angry). A Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella.
A few close-ups of hoverflies: a Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata
A Dark-winged Wrinklehead Chrysogaster solstitialis (plus pollen beetles).
A Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax.
A Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
And a tubby-looking Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea.
What I believe to be a Rough-haired Lagria Beetle Lagria hirta.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
*1 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
*1 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
*1 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
*1 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
Flies
2 unidentified craneflies
1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
11 midges of various species.
2 unidentified craneflies
1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
11 midges of various species.
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*1 female harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
*1 female harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
An unusually strongly-marked Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella.
A Small Dusty Wave moth Idaea seriata.
A female harvestman Leiobunum rotundum.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:20 – 07:25
(155th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- only five adult Mute Swans noted. Perhaps one was always "round the other side" of the island.
- now six Tufted Duck [two pairs and two drakes].
- even more Coots with 41 counted on the East side of the island.
- two Great Crested Grebe noted. They were keeping well apart.
- the Great (White) Egret still here.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 4 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 129 Canada Geese
- 52 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 5 Mute Swans
- no Gadwall
- 25 (?♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 52 + 5 (3 broods) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Great White Egret
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
- no House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
windy and dull
Bird notes:
- only five adult Mute Swans noted. Perhaps one was always "round the other side" of the island.
- now six Tufted Duck [two pairs and two drakes].
- even more Coots with 41 counted on the East side of the island.
- two Great Crested Grebe noted. They were keeping well apart.
- the Great (White) Egret still here.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 4 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 129 Canada Geese
- 52 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 5 Mute Swans
- no Gadwall
- 25 (?♂) Mallard
- 6 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 52 + 5 (3 broods) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Great White Egret
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
- no House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
windy and dull
Butterflies:
none
none
Moths [on street lamp poles and in the grass]
*$$ 1 Leopard Moth Zeuzera pyrina
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*$$ 1 White Satin Leucoma salicis
*$$ 1 Leopard Moth Zeuzera pyrina
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*$$ 1 White Satin Leucoma salicis
Bees, wasps etc.:
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
none
none
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
none
none
Caddis flies:
*unidentified caddis fly
*unidentified caddis fly
Other flies:
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
also numerous different midges and flies
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
also numerous different midges and flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
larvae of Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larva and pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: a late larva?
larvae of Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larva and pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: a late larva?
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
none
New flowers for the year:
None
New moth for me #1 and my species #39 this year: right at the top of a street lamp pole in squirrel alley a Leopard Moth Zeuzera pyrina
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Redshank
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
New moth for me #2 and species #40: a White Satin Leucoma salicis.
Unidentified caddis fly.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Redshank
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
2 Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)