15.0°C > 21.0°C: Areas of medium level cloud. Almost calm. Excellent visibility.
Sunrise: 05:46 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:40 // 07:40 – 09:50
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:40 // 07:40 – 09:50
(197th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- no Canada Geese on the water at dawn. 76 flew outbound in seven groups. Four flew inbound as two duos. 64 pitched back in the water.
- the usual single Greylag Goose was again present throughout. 13 others were present at dawn before flying off East. 59 flew outbound in four group early with two after 09:00. 49 flew inbound in two groups. Another 35 pitched back in the water.
- four Gadwall were seen in flight low over the water at 05:50. Later what I presumed were these four were seen with another in the water.
- the duck Pochard was still present.
- a single Swift appeared on schedule above the North side trees at 05:55.
- unexpected at this date was a single Sand Martin flying through also at 05:55
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 80 Canada Geese: 76 outbound: 4 inbound: see notes
- 110 Greylag Geese: 61 outbound: 49 inbound: see notes
- 88 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 18 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 110 Jackdaws
- 106 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 64 Canada Geese: see notes
- 35 (or 49) Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- *5 (♂?) Gadwall
- 35 (♂?) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 7 + 1 (1 dependent brood) Moorhens
- 112 adult and juvenile Coots
- 6 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes: one adult and juvenile not found
- 21 Black-headed Gulls: no confirmed juveniles
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 14 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- *1 Cormorant, briefly
- *2 Grey Heron: one departed and another arrived
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift
- 1 Sand Martin
- 6 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 11 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (0) Reed Warblers
- 4 (0) Blackcaps
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moths:
- 1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
- *1 $ Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria
- *1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa
- 1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
- *1 $ Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria
- *1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa
Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris in the jaws of a spider!
- 1 Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris in the jaws of a spider!
Bugs:
- 1 Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes
- 1 Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis
- 1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
Noted later:
Not too much around in the warm and humid conditions
- *1 Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis
- 1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
Noted later:
Not too much around in the warm and humid conditions
Butterflies:
*Green-veined White Pieris napi
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
*Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
*Comma Polygonia c-album
*Green-veined White Pieris napi
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
*Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
*Comma Polygonia c-album
Moths
4 Straw Grass-moths Agriphila straminella [previously Straw Grass-veneer]
4 Straw Grass-moths Agriphila straminella [previously Straw Grass-veneer]
Bees, wasps etc.:
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
* $$ ichneumon species, probably Stenichneumon culpator
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
* $$ ichneumon species, probably Stenichneumon culpator
Hoverflies:
Parsley Blacklet Cheilosia pagana
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
*Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
*Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus [Tiger Marsh Fly; Sun Fly]
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
*Wasp Plumehorn Volucella inanis [was Lesser Hornet Hoverfly]
Parsley Blacklet Cheilosia pagana
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
*Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
*Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus [Tiger Marsh Fly; Sun Fly]
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
*Wasp Plumehorn Volucella inanis [was Lesser Hornet Hoverfly]
Damsel- /Dragon- flies:
*Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
*Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Other flies:
Greenbottle Lucilia caesar or similar
*Sarcophaga sp.
*Grass Fly or Yellow Swarming Fly Thaumatomyia notata: in haws of spider.
and the usual many unidentified fly species
Greenbottle Lucilia caesar or similar
*Sarcophaga sp.
*Grass Fly or Yellow Swarming Fly Thaumatomyia notata: in haws of spider.
and the usual many unidentified fly species
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
none
none
Spiders:
unidentified spider!
The Sturgeon Moon starting to wane with a hint of cross-lighting picking out some craters in the 5 o'clock area.
Interesting cloud formation. The reflection was less than perfect due to a swim-by Great Crested Grebe leaving a slight wake.
With Gadwall in the area the question arises as to whether these two orphan ducklings are indeed Mallard as I have assumed. The back bird seems to have more orange on the bill than I would expect from a Mallard. A question to Google on Gadwall abandoning their ducklings suggested it was not uncommon while the same question on Mallard suggested it was unusual. I need to keep a close eye on them as their wings grow. It takes 45-50 days from hatching to fledging.
Like all moths in the "thorn" group the Canary-shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria rests with its wings partially open above its back.
A very fresh Green-veined White Pieris napi showing why it is called, ahem, "green-veined". Here appropriately on a Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii.
Don't try and identify this Meadow Brown butterfly Maniola jurtina by the number of white spots in the black wing circle – they have worn away.
A good identification photo of a Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris. Not only is the parallel-sided yellow area on the side of the thorax visible but the complete vertical yellow line at the rear of the head is clear. On German Wasp Vespula germanica this yellow line is broken.
Obsidentify was 100% sure that this ichneumon is Stenichneumon culpator . I cannot find much information on the internet about this or any similar species.
Close-up and personal with another Common Dronefly. The question arises: how do you recognise a Stripe-faced Dronefly E. nemorum?
An unusual male Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum with a lilac tinge to part of the thorax and at least three of the abdominal segments. A sign that it is not yet fully adult.
Sarcophaga are named "flesh flies" mainly from the behaviour of the larvae. Here we see an adult indulging in nectar.
I have no idea about the spider but I do know its victim is a Grass Fly or Yellow Swarming Fly Thaumatomyia notata.
A Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis getting to grips with a Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
A slightly better(?) photo of the Old Lady moth Mormo maura. I failed to do a Health and Safety Risk Assessment and stood on tippy-toes in my worn shoes, camera at full-stretch on the uneven cobbled surface. And survived.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:40 – 07:35
(192nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- today's duck Mallard with ducklings was the bird with four now fast-growing ducklings.
- some of the Coots were seen to be inside the island. Possibly there were others which was why the count was lower than it has been recently.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Jackdaws: singles
Noted on / around the water:
- 3 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 8 Mute Swans
- 15 (?♂) + 4 (1 brood) Mallard
- 12 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 Moorhens
- 83 Coots
- *4 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Black-headed Gulls: one of these a juvenile
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
unidentified spider!
Last night my apps forecast wall-to-wall sunshine today. So what was the excuse this time?
At least there was a little colour in the sunrise.
More dramatic clouds.
At 05:50 I think the camera did a good job in picking out these four Gadwall in flight against such a messy background. The top three look to be drakes with a darker area nest to the white speculum.
An immature Cormorant spent less than five minutes here and then departed.
I have no idea what this Grey Heron has found to stand on. Looks like a clump of weed.
One adult and one juvenile Goldfinch. I am sure you know which is which. In case not...
...here is an adult. Junior would not stay around.
Atop the pole of the tallest street light was another Ruby Tiger moth Phragmatobia fuliginosa.
A very fresh Comma butterfly Polygonia c-album: look at all the hairs on the body.
It's a Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii Mr. Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax.
Guess! A Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus.
From this angle the Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea is most Batman Fly-like.
Another splendid Wasp Plumehorn hoverfly Volucella inanis.
Another splendid Wasp Plumehorn hoverfly Volucella inanis.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths: [41 species here before today; no additions]
*1 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
*1 Old Lady Mormo maura
*1 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
*1 Old Lady Mormo maura
Flies:
1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
6 midges of various species only
1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
6 midges of various species only
Arthropods:
3 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
3 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
2 other unidentified spiders
1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
*1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
2 other unidentified spiders
1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
Yet another Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata.
The same Garden Spider Araneus diadematus as yesterday? Who can say.
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:40 – 07:35
(192nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- today's duck Mallard with ducklings was the bird with four now fast-growing ducklings.
- some of the Coots were seen to be inside the island. Possibly there were others which was why the count was lower than it has been recently.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 4 Jackdaws: singles
Noted on / around the water:
- 3 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 8 Mute Swans
- 15 (?♂) + 4 (1 brood) Mallard
- 12 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 12 Moorhens
- 83 Coots
- *4 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 2 Black-headed Gulls: one of these a juvenile
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 3 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcap
Noted around the area:
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 3 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcap
Noted around the area:
Moths:
1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
Flies:
*possible Tricholauxania praeusta
*possible Tricholauxania praeusta
Bugs:
1 Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
1 Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
I was waiting. The adult Great Crested Grebe had caught a fish and I was going to photo the exchange when it fed the youngster but you can see here it ate the fish itself!
This small fly may be a species with a long name - Tricholauxania praeusta . It appears to have its tongue out investigating something.
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Green Sandpiper
Tree Pipit
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Possible Wood Sandpiper
A female Peregrine
(Ed Wilson)
1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
One disgruntled-looking humbug juvenile.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011
Priorslee Lake
Green Sandpiper
Tree Pipit
(Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Possible Wood Sandpiper
A female Peregrine
(Ed Wilson)