19.0°C > 21.0°C: A mainly overcast start with some sunny breaks developing. Moderate south-westerly breeze gusting fresh at times. Excellent visibility.
Sunrise: 04:49 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: 05:00 – 06:25 // 07:40 – 09:40
(158th visit of the year)
Bird notes
*Highlight today was hearing and then seeing Marsh Tit(s) near the Teece Drive gate just as I was leaving. Not new for the year but any record of this much-declined species is noteworthy.
Other 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.
- the same 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 not heard.
- I did not see whether the latest pair of Great Crested Grebes still had any juvenile(s). Unless I had seen the other parent arrive with food they would have been hidden on the parent's back.
- a Great White Egret was present at c.05:30. At c.06:30 it was presumably this bird that was in the lower pool between the lake and The Flash. A later report of a "large white bird with a long bill" walking up Castle Farm Way and disrupting the traffic was no doubt this bird though what it was doing and where it went is unknown. I did not see it at The Flash today.
- the Garden Warblers was singing frequently again. Another heard calling.
- no Common Whitethroat seen or heard again.
- different corvid confusion. Just 17 Jackdaws were noted flying South out of their roost site(s) before at 05:40 a party of 52 flew North. A few singles later. Just six Rooks noted.
- one of three parties of Long-tailed Tits contained at least 18 individuals.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 50 Wood Pigeons
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 73 Jackdaws: see notes
- 6 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 3 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 23 (?♂) + 18 (4 broods) Mallard: see notes
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 1 Moorhen only again
- 74 adult and juvenile Coots
- no Little Grebe
- 7 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Great Egret: see n0tes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 12 (9) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (7) Reed Warblers
- 6 (6) Blackcaps
- 2 (1) Garden Warbler
- no Common Whitethroat
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moths:
*1 Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella
Noted later:
Still breezy and cloudy early on.
*1 Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella
Noted later:
Still breezy and cloudy early on.
Butterflies:
*$ Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
Large White Pieris brassicae
Green-veined White Pieris napi
many unidentified "whites"
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
*Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
*Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
Comma Polygonia c-album
*$ Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
Large White Pieris brassicae
Green-veined White Pieris napi
many unidentified "whites"
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
*Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
*Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
Comma Polygonia c-album
Moths
1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*1 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*1 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
Bees, wasps etc.:
*Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
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]
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
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]
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
many damselflies not specifically identified
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
a different hawker sp. seen in flight only
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
many damselflies not specifically identified
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
a different hawker sp. seen in flight only
Lacewings:
none
none
Other flies:
*root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris
*$ fungus gnat Sciara sp.
Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
plus
as usual many unidentified flies of many different species
*root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris
*$ fungus gnat Sciara sp.
Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
plus
as usual many unidentified flies of many different species
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: many
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: adult
Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
*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
Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.
*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.:
none
none
New flowers for the year:
None
..a Marsh Tit. Separation from Willow Tit is best done by sound (calls, song). There is a theory that Marsh Tits show a pale spot at the base of the upper mandible – as here, though that could well be a feather sticking forward? Good luck seeing that in the field!
The shape of the black bib differs between species but again it is difficult to be sure when faced with a single bird – alongside it would be easy but generally they like different habitats and would not be seen together.
My first Small Skipper butterfly Thymelicus sylvestris of the year. Separate from Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus by the near border to the forewing. Size is essentially irrelevant and the names therefore misleading.
A Red Admiral butterfly Vanessa atalanta and I remembered to reset the camera's mode, I usually shoot using "sports mode" but that setting renders red colours very washed out.
The orange underside indicates this is a fungus gnat of the Sciara species group. These cannot be specifically identified from photos.
A Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva is so engrossed in feeding in the Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra that it is exposing more of its abdomen than usual.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(156th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- all six adult Mute Swans noted.
- *a late brood of just three Mallard ducklings
- no Tufted Duck seen.
- three Great Crested Grebe noted. Two separately around the island. The third tucked up under overhanging trees at the north: could it be nesting there?
- the Great (White) Egret not seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 164 Canada Geese
- 39 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 6 Mute Swans
- *19 (?♂) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 8 + 3 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 56 + 11 (5 broods) Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
sunny spells
My first Double Orange-spot moth Pammene aurana this year. Micro-moths names seem to have been standardised and many have change. This used to be called Orange-spot Piercer.
A Common Grey moth Scoparia ambigualis. These like to rest on lichen covered surfaces where they can be very hard to see – this is a street lamp pole.
If I have this correct this is a new species of fly for me – a Notch-horned Cleg Haematopota pluvialis, called by Obsidentify a Common Horse Fly. It seems to be the patterning in the wings that leads to the identification, supported by the prominent antennae.
A female Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis identified by the way the elytra are held partially open. It is only the males that have the swollen thighs.
A Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva making do with Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra rather than the usual Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium.
A male harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli. I am still not entirely sure I should be seeing so many harvestmen in June, global warming notwithstanding.
(Ed Wilson)
Between the Balancing Lake and The Flash:
Trying to hide from the camera is...
A good year for this moth species: another Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella.
Looking rather worse for wear is this Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella.
A tongue like a coiled spring!
Did I mention looking worse for wear? How about this Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina?
This is what they are supposed to look like.
A Honey Bee Apis mellifera tucks in.
By far the most abundant hoverfly species at the moment is the Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus.
A male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax takes off.
This neatly marked fly is the root-maggot fly Anthomyia procellaris.
Three is a crowd but at least this means the striped underside of the abdomen is visible.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
*1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata
*1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata
Flies
10 midges of various species.
10 midges of various species.
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
none
A Riband Wave moth Idaea aversata.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:30 – 07:35
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The Flash: 06:30 – 07:35
(156th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- all six adult Mute Swans noted.
- *a late brood of just three Mallard ducklings
- no Tufted Duck seen.
- three Great Crested Grebe noted. Two separately around the island. The third tucked up under overhanging trees at the north: could it be nesting there?
- the Great (White) Egret not seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 164 Canada Geese
- 39 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- 6 Mute Swans
- *19 (?♂) + 3 (1 brood) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 8 + 3 (2 broods) Moorhens
- 56 + 11 (5 broods) Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (5) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
sunny spells
Butterflies:
Green-veined White Pieris napi
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Green-veined White Pieris napi
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Moths [on street lamp poles and in the grass]
1 Leopard Moth Zeuzera pyrina: as yesterday
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*$ 1 Double Orange-spot Pammene aurana [was Orange-spot Piercer]
3 Garden Grass-moths Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
*1 Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis
1 Leopard Moth Zeuzera pyrina: as yesterday
1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
*$ 1 Double Orange-spot Pammene aurana [was Orange-spot Piercer]
3 Garden Grass-moths Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
*1 Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis
Bees, wasps etc.:
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*$ male Ichneumon xanthorius
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*$ male Ichneumon xanthorius
Hoverflies:
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Other flies:
*$$ Notch-horned Cleg Haematopota pluvialis [Common Horse Fly]
also numerous different midges and flies
*$$ Notch-horned Cleg Haematopota pluvialis [Common Horse Fly]
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: another late larva?
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: adult
*Rough-haired Lagria Beetle Lagria hirta
*female Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
*Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva [Hogweed Bonking-beetle]
larvae of Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larva and pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: another late larva?
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea: adult
*Rough-haired Lagria Beetle Lagria hirta
*female Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
*Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva [Hogweed Bonking-beetle]
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*male harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
*male harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
New flowers for the year:
None
Mrs. Mallard with a late brood of three ducklings.
What a splendid-looking creature: it is a male Ichneumon xanthorius. Females have some yellow in the antennae and the yellow pattern on the abdomen differs.
I found this Rough-haired Lagria Beetle Lagria hirta.
(Ed Wilson)
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Between the Balancing Lake and The Flash:
Of note:
As reported under the entry for the Balancing Lake the Great White Egret was in the lower pool as I was walking toward The Flash but not upon my return.
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)
(Ed Wilson)
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2009
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)