9.0°C > 13.0°C: Thin high overcast with a few lower patches of cloud. Light / moderate south-westerly wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 04:50 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:10 // 07:25 – 09:35
(138th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct.
- *a duck Mallard with six small ducklings from a brood not previously noted.
- the duck Pochard still here.
- a pair of Tufted Duck was present very early only. Perhaps the pair at The Flash later?
- no Garden Warbler or Common Whitethroat heard again.
- three adult Starlings seen ferrying food to late / replacement broods around the estate. As far as I know Starlings are single-brooded.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 13 Greylag Geese: 11 inbound together; two singles inbound
- 15 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 11 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident assumed to be on the nest
- *10 (8♂) + 6 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 2 (1) Tufted Duck: departed
- 4 Moorhens
- 33 + 14 (7 broods) Coots
- 7 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Cormorant: 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
- 18 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (9) Reed Warblers
- 14 (10) Blackcaps
On the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Apologies it is not sharp: it was, typically of this group, very skittish. The red thighs and banded legs identify this female (she has an ovipositor) ichneumon, as most probably Itoplectis maculator.
Unlike the other members of the family this sawfly Tenthredo mesomela can be separated as it is "apple green" in colour, rather than yellow.
My first this year: the hoverfly Large Narcissus Fly Merodon equestris. It comes in numerous colour forms so is confusing to identify. The larvae feed on Narcissus bulbs and the like (Daffodils etc.).
This hoverfly can be identified as a Glass-winged Syrphus Syrphus vitripennis because it is a female (the eyes do not meet) and the hind femur are not entirely yellow as they would be on the other in the species pair – Humming Syrphus S. ribesii.
One from the same species pair but as it is a male it does not matter that I cannot see the hind legs – the males are not separable except by genitalia examination.
Obsidentify was 100% sure this is a nymph of the Myriad bug Deraeocoris flavilinea. A new species for me.
A Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus sitting on the fence (the Teece Drive fence) as it contemplates the absence of nearby nettles.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(136th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- all six adult Mute Swans plus the cygnet were present. Two of the interlopers were keeping close together, otherwise the were all acting as individuals.
- *a duck Gadwall was a new arrival
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- a pair of Tufted Duck. Those seen earlier at the Balancing Lake?
- no Great Crested Grebes!
- a Nuthatch heard calling alongside squirrel alley. This species has been very scarce this year.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 136 Canada Geese
- 15 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- *1 (0♂) Gadwall
- 6 + 1 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 19 (16♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 20 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Swifts
- 1 House Martin
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:10 // 07:25 – 09:35
(138th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct.
- *a duck Mallard with six small ducklings from a brood not previously noted.
- the duck Pochard still here.
- a pair of Tufted Duck was present very early only. Perhaps the pair at The Flash later?
- no Garden Warbler or Common Whitethroat heard again.
- three adult Starlings seen ferrying food to late / replacement broods around the estate. As far as I know Starlings are single-brooded.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 13 Greylag Geese: 11 inbound together; two singles inbound
- 15 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 11 Jackdaws
- 2 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 3 + 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident assumed to be on the nest
- *10 (8♂) + 6 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 2 (1) Tufted Duck: departed
- 4 Moorhens
- 33 + 14 (7 broods) Coots
- 7 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Cormorant: 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
- 18 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 9 (9) Reed Warblers
- 14 (10) Blackcaps
On the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Nothing noted
Noted later:
Noted later:
Butterflies:
*$ Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
*$ Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus
Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
Moths
8 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana: six of these on one plant
2 Timothy Tortrix Zelotherses paleana (was Aphelia paleana)
2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
2 Silver-ground Carpets Xanthorhoe montanata
2 Straw Dots Rivula sericealis
8 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana: six of these on one plant
2 Timothy Tortrix Zelotherses paleana (was Aphelia paleana)
2 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana
2 Silver-ground Carpets Xanthorhoe montanata
2 Straw Dots Rivula sericealis
Bees, wasps etc.:
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*$ female ichneumon, probably Itoplectis maculator
*sawfly Tenthredo mesomela
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*$ female ichneumon, probably Itoplectis maculator
*sawfly Tenthredo mesomela
Hoverflies:
Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*$ Large Narcissus Fly Merodon equestris [Narcissus Bulb Fly]
*$ Glass-winged Syrphus Syrphus vitripennis
also Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans [Bumblebee Plumehorn]
Buttercup Blacklet Cheilosia albitarsus [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*$ Large Narcissus Fly Merodon equestris [Narcissus Bulb Fly]
*$ Glass-winged Syrphus Syrphus vitripennis
also 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]
Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas [Large Redeye]
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas [Large Redeye]
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans
Other flies:
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
*$ cranefly Nephrotoma quadrifaria
Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
plus
*usual other boring and / or strange flies
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
*$ cranefly Nephrotoma quadrifaria
Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
plus
*usual other boring and / or strange flies
Bugs:
Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris
Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
*$$ nymph of the Myriad bug Deraeocoris flavilinea
Mirid bug Calocoris alpestris
Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
*$$ nymph of the Myriad bug Deraeocoris flavilinea
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: >50 again
False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens
*Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: >50 again
False Blister Beetle Oedemera lurida or O. virescens
*Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
New flowers for the year:
*Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis
*Self-heal Prunella vulgaris
*Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis
*Self-heal Prunella vulgaris
Sunrise – actual sun!
Only from the photo could I tell there were six Mallard ducklings and then you have to look hard.
My first Large Skipper butterfly Ochlodes sylvanus of the year. It is a male showing dark marks in the wings which are scent glands. I can't find out whether these emit or identify scent. In most moths and butterflies the male uses its antennae to detect female pheromones.
Yet another species of cranefly to the growing year list: this is Nephrotoma quadrifaria.
A frustrating fly. I have identified this species with the long hair on the thorax before nut now cannot!
Another frustrating fly and a tubby-looking species I do not recall seeing before. (am I being sizeist?).
A smart small beetle that I may be able to ID later.
The yellow-flowered vetch just opening is Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis.
This is Self-heal Prunella vulgaris.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
none
none
Flies
1 cranefly
1 mosquito
11 midges of various species.
1 cranefly
1 mosquito
11 midges of various species.
Beetles:
1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:15 – 07:20
1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:15 – 07:20
(136th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- all six adult Mute Swans plus the cygnet were present. Two of the interlopers were keeping close together, otherwise the were all acting as individuals.
- *a duck Gadwall was a new arrival
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- a pair of Tufted Duck. Those seen earlier at the Balancing Lake?
- no Great Crested Grebes!
- a Nuthatch heard calling alongside squirrel alley. This species has been very scarce this year.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 136 Canada Geese
- 15 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- *1 (0♂) Gadwall
- 6 + 1 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 19 (16♂) Mallard
- 2 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 20 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Swifts
- 1 House Martin
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (3) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Moths
*$ Riband Wave Idaea aversata
Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata (was Dysstroma truncata)
*$ Riband Wave Idaea aversata
Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata (was Dysstroma truncata)
Bees, wasps etc.:
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
none
none
Other flies:
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
*Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
also numerous different midges and flies
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
*Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis
also numerous different midges and flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
female harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
Not a good photo but the best I could do against the light of a duck Gadwall. Recognise by the brown along the edge of the bill, more extensive than on duck Mallard.
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Holmer Lake
Black Swan
(Marilyn Morton)
female harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
My first Riband Wave moth Idaea aversata of the year.
A Grouse Wing caddis fly Mystacides longicornis – definitely a long antenna.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012
Holmer Lake
Black Swan
(Marilyn Morton)