10.0°C > 13.0°C: Early showery rain, sometimes heavy. Cleared with sunny spells after c.08:00. Light / moderate westerly wind. 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
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:15 // 07:15 – 09:50
(139th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the Canada and Greylag goslings all still present and correct.
- what I assume was the pen Mute Swan left the nest site in to the adjacent water for at least 15 minutes. Her partner stayed at the other end of the water.
- *the duck Mallard now has just five small ducklings.
- the duck Pochard still here.
- a Common Kestrel was hovering to the North of the water c.05:25. Was it really over estate or is there some open ground somewhere?
- Reed Warblers continue to sing from unlikely / new locations. One was in the hedge between the lake and Ricoh (where I have heard them previously); and another near the Teece Drive gate where the sluices feed in to the Wesley Brook.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Wood Pigeons only
- 1 Collared Dove
- 1 Herring Gull again
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 1 Common Kestrel
- 7 Jackdaws
- 1 Rook
Counts from the lake area:
- 2+ 1 (1 brood) Canada Geese
- 2 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans: see notes
- *8 (6♂) + 5 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- no Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 33 + 17 (8 broods) Coots
- 6 + 2 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 18 (15) Chiffchaffs
- 12 (11) Reed Warblers
- *10 (8) Blackcaps
On the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Nothing noted
Noted later:
Butterflies:
none
none
Moths
1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana: six of these on one plant
2 Silver-ground Carpets Xanthorhoe montanata
*$ 1 Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana: six of these on one plant
2 Silver-ground Carpets Xanthorhoe montanata
*$ 1 Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
Bees, wasps etc.:
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
*Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum
Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
*Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
*Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata [Bumblebee Blacklet]
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
*Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum [Stripe-faced Drone Fly]
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Hairy-eyed Syrphus Syrphus torvus
Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans [Bumblebee Plumehorn]
Orange-belted Leaf Licker Xylota segnis [Orange-belted Leafwalker]
*Bumblebee Blacklet Cheilosia illustrata [Bumblebee Blacklet]
Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
*Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum [Stripe-faced Drone Fly]
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Hairy-eyed Syrphus Syrphus torvus
Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans [Bumblebee Plumehorn]
Orange-belted Leaf Licker Xylota segnis [Orange-belted Leafwalker]
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
Lacewings:
lacewing Chrysopa perla
lacewing Chrysopa perla
Other flies:
*Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
*dagger fly Empis tessellata
*Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
*phantom cranefly Ptychoptera contaminata
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies
*Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
*dagger fly Empis tessellata
*Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp.
*phantom cranefly Ptychoptera contaminata
Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
plus
usual other boring and / or strange flies
Bugs:
Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
*Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
*Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Beetles:
7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
*larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: >50 again
*pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: at least three
adult Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
*larvae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: >50 again
*pupae of Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: at least three
adult Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
Fungus
*$ Common Jellyspot Dacrymyces stillatus
*$ Common Jellyspot Dacrymyces stillatus
New flowers for the year:
*$ Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
A pensive-looking female Blackcap. At least I think it is a female rather than a juvenile, both sexes of which initially have brown caps.
Until recently Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius has been the least common of the regularly occurring bumblebees.
A Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum showing pale lines between the tergites (abdomen segments).
Surely this has to be a Hairy-eyed Syrphus Syrphus torvus? It is a female and Steven Falk's Flickr site suggests that the hairy eyes are much easier to see on males. Perhaps what looks to be hair on the eyes is on the protruding face?
She seemed to be having difficulty reaching and, gentleman that he is, he arched his abdomen to make it easier for her. I averted my eyes at this stage.
An immature female Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas. Not very red eyes at this age but the top of the thorax is all black.
I gave up counting Black Snipeflies Chrysopilus cristatus when I got too 100. All the specimens I noted were males. This seems to be quite normal: females are unusual.
"The Creature from the Black Lagoon" come to life in Priorslee. Actually a head-on close-up of a dagger fly Empis tessellata. The last view a prey item would see.
A female Scorpion Fly Panorpa sp. Females of these two species are hard to separate and are also less common than males.
This must be my sixth phantom cranefly Ptychoptera contaminata of the year. I only recall seeing one previously which is confirmed from my logs.
Not sure what is going on here: a larva of a Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis seems to be pushing underneath a pupa of the same species.
Eating away at the Teece Drive fence is what I believe to be Common Jellyspot fungus Dacrymyces stillatus.
...Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae whose rugby-hooped yellow and black caterpillars are able to eat the leaves which are toxic to most insects.
(Ed Wilson)
Common Marbled Carpet moth Chloroclysta truncata #1. Not making it easy by sitting on the grid protecting one of the strip lights that (vaguely) illuminate the tunnel.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:20 – 07:10
*$ Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
The duck Mallard now with just five ducklings.
More alert here.
Perhaps there is a trace of a gape line?
The easy Cheilosia species of hoverfly in that it is not all black. A Bumblebee Blacklet C. illustrata.
A pair of Common Blue Damselflies Enallagma cyathigerum. The male has the female firmly in his claspers (should this be allowed in 2025?]
Here she has swung her body up in attempt to get the sex organs to meet.
A Dock Bug Coreus marginatus. This species has been scarce so far this year.
The first flowers of Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris which is good timing for this....
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
*2 Common Marbled Carpets Chloroclysta truncata
*2 Common Marbled Carpets Chloroclysta truncata
Bees, wasps etc.:
1 unidentifiable bee trussed up in a web
1 unidentifiable bee trussed up in a web
Flies
1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
16 midges of various species.
1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
16 midges of various species.
Common Marbled Carpet #2 sitting, more helpfully, on part of the ceiling where the paint is not peeling.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:20 – 07:10
(137th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- all six adult Mute Swans plus the cygnet were present. However one of the adults was in the same place as Wednesday (behind overhanging branches near the sometime Great Crested Grebe nest site). It looked immobile and likely dead.
- the duck Gadwall still here.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- no Tufted Duck.
- after the higher number of adults Coots on my later visit yesterday it was back to a more typical number seen on the early visits.
- two Great Crested Grebes patrolling the water more or less as a pair.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 4 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 138 Canada Geese
- 31 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- *1 (0♂) Gadwall
- 6 + 1 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 22 (18♂) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 18 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 5 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 5 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Bird notes:
- all six adult Mute Swans plus the cygnet were present. However one of the adults was in the same place as Wednesday (behind overhanging branches near the sometime Great Crested Grebe nest site). It looked immobile and likely dead.
- the duck Gadwall still here.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- no Tufted Duck.
- after the higher number of adults Coots on my later visit yesterday it was back to a more typical number seen on the early visits.
- two Great Crested Grebes patrolling the water more or less as a pair.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 4 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 138 Canada Geese
- 31 Greylag Geese
- 1 mainly white feral goose
- *1 (0♂) Gadwall
- 6 + 1 (1 brood) Mute Swans
- 22 (18♂) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 18 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 5 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 5 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Moths
*1 $$ Brindled Fungus Moth Triaxomera parasitella [aka Large Brindled Clothes Moth]
*1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata
*1 $$ Brindled Fungus Moth Triaxomera parasitella [aka Large Brindled Clothes Moth]
*1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata
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
also numerous different midges and flies
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus
also numerous different midges and flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
I could not find a single Alder Leaf Beetle here today
I could not find a single Alder Leaf Beetle here today
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
male harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
An only slightly better photo of the duck Gadwall. More obvious in this shot is the white speculum, showing well as she moults some of her flight feathers.
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Holmer Lake
Black Swan
(Martin Ryder)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Common Terns
(Ed Wilson)
male harvestman Leiobunum blackwalli
My "find of the day" and a new moth species for me. It is a Brindled Fungus Moth Triaxomera parasitella. It is also known as a Large Brindled Clothes Moth so if you have any large brindled clothes I should hide them away! The more common name refers to its host "plant" - various species of bracket fungus.
Despite the rufous in the wing I think this is just a Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata. A Tawny Speckled Pug E. icterata would show a bold spot in each forewing and also appear, surprise surprise, speckled.
(Ed Wilson)
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2012
Holmer Lake
Black Swan
(Martin Ryder)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Common Terns
(Ed Wilson)