11.0°C > 17.0°C: Another wall-to-wall clear start. Puffy clouds after 09:00 soon melted away. A calm start with a moderate easterly wind developing. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:56 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: 05:10 – 06:45 // 08:00 – 09:45
(200th visit of the year)
Highlight today was the unexpected sight of a trio of Goosander leaving at 05:50. I had not noticed them on the water prior to their departure. A most unusual date with my previous earliest date for this species post-breeding being 30 September.
Bird notes:
- the usual Greylag Goose was not noted. The only geese on the water were 12 arrivals c.09:10, these staying only a few minutes as the sailing club's safety boat took to the water.
- two of what I assume were Thursday's three visiting Mute Swans were still here. The third may well have gone to The Flash where there are now nine,
- the duck Pochard was not seen.
- two Swifts were over North side trees by 05:55 with three by 06:10.
- a mixed hirundine group of two Sand Martins, three Barn Swallows and three House Martins were chasing insects over the water c.08:55.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 25 Canada Geese: 10 outbound in three groups: 15 inbound in three groups
- 82 Greylag Geese: 16 outbound in two groups: 66 inbound in two groups
- 45 Wood Pigeons
- 29 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 166 Jackdaws
- 148 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 12 Canada Geese: briefly
- 4 Mute Swans: see notes
- 23 (♂?) Mallard
- no Pochard
- 3 (♂?) Goosander: departed
- 10 + 3 (3 dependent broods) Moorhens
- 132 adult and juvenile Coots
- 5 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 82 Black-headed Gulls: none confirmed as a juvenile
- no Herring Gulls
- 22 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- no Grey Herons
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 Swifts
- 2 Sand Martins
- 3 Barn Swallows
- 3 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 15 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (0) Reed Warblers
- 5 (0) Blackcaps
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Highlight today was the unexpected sight of a trio of Goosander leaving at 05:50. I had not noticed them on the water prior to their departure. A most unusual date with my previous earliest date for this species post-breeding being 30 September.
Bird notes:
- the usual Greylag Goose was not noted. The only geese on the water were 12 arrivals c.09:10, these staying only a few minutes as the sailing club's safety boat took to the water.
- two of what I assume were Thursday's three visiting Mute Swans were still here. The third may well have gone to The Flash where there are now nine,
- the duck Pochard was not seen.
- two Swifts were over North side trees by 05:55 with three by 06:10.
- a mixed hirundine group of two Sand Martins, three Barn Swallows and three House Martins were chasing insects over the water c.08:55.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 25 Canada Geese: 10 outbound in three groups: 15 inbound in three groups
- 82 Greylag Geese: 16 outbound in two groups: 66 inbound in two groups
- 45 Wood Pigeons
- 29 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 166 Jackdaws
- 148 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 12 Canada Geese: briefly
- 4 Mute Swans: see notes
- 23 (♂?) Mallard
- no Pochard
- 3 (♂?) Goosander: departed
- 10 + 3 (3 dependent broods) Moorhens
- 132 adult and juvenile Coots
- 5 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 82 Black-headed Gulls: none confirmed as a juvenile
- no Herring Gulls
- 22 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- no Grey Herons
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 Swifts
- 2 Sand Martins
- 3 Barn Swallows
- 3 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 15 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (0) Reed Warblers
- 5 (0) Blackcaps
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moths:
- *6 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
- *1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
- 1 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
- *6 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
- *1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
- 1 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
Springtails:
- *2 springtails Pogonognathellus longicornis-type
- *2 springtails Pogonognathellus longicornis-type
Flies:
- *1 midge, perhaps Chaoborus sp.
- *1 $ Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
- *1 midge, perhaps Chaoborus sp.
- *1 $ Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *2 harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
Noted later:
With the easterly breeze blowing on to the sunlit areas there was not too much tempted out.
- *2 harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
Noted later:
With the easterly breeze blowing on to the sunlit areas there was not too much tempted out.
Butterflies:
Green-veined White Pieris napi
*Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Green-veined White Pieris napi
*Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Moths
*1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
3 Straw Grass-moths Agriphila straminella [previously Straw Grass-veneer]
*1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
3 Straw Grass-moths Agriphila straminella [previously Straw Grass-veneer]
Bees, wasps etc.:
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
*European Hornet Vespa crabro
*unidentified ichneumon
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
*European Hornet Vespa crabro
*unidentified ichneumon
Hoverflies:
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
*Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus [Tiger Marsh Fly; Sun Fly]
Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
*Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus [Tiger Marsh Fly; Sun Fly]
Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
Damsel- /Dragon- flies:
*Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
*Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
Other flies:
* $$ Tachinid fly Exorista larvarum
Greenbottle Lucilia caesar or similar
* $$ Tachinid fly Exorista larvarum
Greenbottle Lucilia caesar or similar
Sarcophaga sp.
and the usual many unidentified fly species
and the usual many unidentified fly species
Bugs:
*Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
*Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Beetles:
none
A group of Goldfinches were at the West end again. This juvenile (no red on the face) is beginning to acquire the warm buff areas on the sides of its breast.
Probably my best photo to date showing the features of a Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella. The creamy (not white) streak in the wing is dark-bordered above and below and then splits in to, typically, three "fingers".
Thankfully it seemed more interested in nectar from the flowers of a Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus than it did me.
This Meadow Field Syrph hoverfly Eupeodes latifasciatus was about the only hoverfly that would stay still-enough to have its photo taken.
None of my apps would give me a persuasive identity for this midge. It is a perhaps Chaoborus species. Why it appears to have only four legs.... I am sure it is not a mammal!
Another unidentified midge and an oddity. The (very) plumed antennae suggest a male yet the wings are very short. It is often the female of fly species that have shorter (or no) wings.
My first Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii fly this year. This small red-eyed and red-bodied fly is one of the fruit flies. Only males have the dark mark in the wing-tip area.
A typical pose for one of the species pair of harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus showing the way the legs are often held bunched and at right angles to the body as well portraying as the very obvious long, forked pedipalps.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:50 – 07:55
(195th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- as noted under the Balancing Lake now nine Mute Swans here.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- four Cormorants arrived together.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 8 Canada Geese: tree of these arrived
- 4 Greylag Geese: arrived as separate pairs
- 9 Mute Swans
- 25 (?♂) Mallard
- 15 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens again
- 91 adult and juvenile Coots
- *3 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 12 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- 4 Cormorants: arrived together
- 2 Grey Herons: one departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
none
Trying quite successfully to hide as it searches for Blackberries to eat is a Blue Tit.
From this angle the yellow in the wings of this species at all ages shows.
A Speckled Wood butterfly Pararge aegeria posing.
A Common Plume moth Emmelina monodactyla.
I think this moth is a Common Marble Celypha lacunana. It does look somewhat different to those I saw earlier this year. It might be this is a second-brood individual and in some species the broods do look slightly different. I am getting it checked out by the Shropshire recorder.
Did I really get this close to a European Hornet Vespa crabro?
Not really. The camera was on maximum zoom (x12) and I have cropped the photo.
As so often is the case this ichneumon will remain unidentified.
Migrant Hawkers Aeshna mixta look even better when seen in full sun.
The same individual was quite a poser.
A new(ly identified) species for me is this Tachinid fly Exorista larvarum.
My first springtail of the Autumn with this being one of the Pogonognathellus longicornis-type.
A Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths: [41 species here before today; no additions]
none
none
Flies:
13 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
11 midges of various species
13 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
11 midges of various species
Arthropods:
no White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
no White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
*1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
2 other unidentified spiders
*1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
*1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
*1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
2 other unidentified spiders
*1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
You will begin to appreciate Garden Spiders Araneus diadematus!
For good measure a Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata
A harvestman Opilio canestrinii. They seem to like it in the tunnel.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:50 – 07:55
(195th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- as noted under the Balancing Lake now nine Mute Swans here.
- no Mallard ducklings seen.
- four Cormorants arrived together.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 3 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 8 Canada Geese: tree of these arrived
- 4 Greylag Geese: arrived as separate pairs
- 9 Mute Swans
- 25 (?♂) Mallard
- 15 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens again
- 91 adult and juvenile Coots
- *3 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 12 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- 4 Cormorants: arrived together
- 2 Grey Herons: one departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Moths:
1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
*1 $ Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata
*1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula
1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
*1 $ Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata
*1 Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
*1 unidentified spider
1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata is one of the easiest pug moths to identify with the prominent dark marks on otherwise pale grey wings.
I have seen more Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula moths than usual this year with this being my second at the south end where until this year I had not seen any. I have also had my first in "squirrel alley" this year.
(Ed Wilson)
*1 unidentified spider
1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
A healthy breakfast for someone courtesy of the adult Great Crested Grebe.
It looks very distinctive. None of my apps seemed to help so it remains an unidentified spider.
(Ed Wilson)