15.0°C > 14.0°C: Low overcast with spells of drizzle. Moderate north-easterly wind. Moderate visibility often poor in drizzle.
Sunrise: 05:59 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: 05:15 – 06:35 // 07:30 – 09:35
(203rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the only geese on the water were two Canada Geese arrivals c.09:20. Just 12 outbound Canada Geese noted these in three small groups and only three inbound two of these being a duo before any went outbound. No Greylags seen at all.
- all four Mute Swans still present. What I assume to be the new resident cob was harassing one of the other, presumably also a cob.
- the duck Pochard was seen in her usual area.
- as yesterday I twice heard a Common Sandpiper flying around without ever managing to see where it was.
- at least two Sand Martins were in the mixed hirundine group.
- seven Barn Swallows were noted apparently leaving in a group to the North at 07:55. How this relates to the five or more seen later in the mixed group is unclear.
- at least six House Martins were on the mixed group and then eight were seen high overhead later when I was unable to see whether the originals were still present.
- I am wondering whether there might be two infrequently singing Cetti's Warblers. On three separate occasions recently I have heard a bird give a partial song near the South end of the dam while. On other days I have heard a proper song from the North side. Today I heard both though several hours apart so plenty of time for a single bird to relocate.
- there were Chiffchaffs everywhere today with one bird seen to feed another – I was unable to tell whether the recipient was a juvenile but it seems likely
- after the first sizeable mixed group of Jackdaws and Rooks was noted at 05:30 yesterday this mining I had to wait until 05:48. Improbably for the second day I counted exactly 100 Rooks.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 15 Canada Geese: 12 outbound in three groups; a singe and a duo inbound
- 106 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull
- 2 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 47 Jackdaws
- 100 Rooks exactly again
- 2 Pied Wagtails
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: arrived
- *4 Mute Swans: see notes
- 23 (♂?) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 11 + 3 (3 dependent broods) Moorhens
- 131 adult and juvenile Coots again
- 5 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper: see notes
- *47 Black-headed Gulls: two confirmed as a juvenile
- 6 Herring Gulls
- 82 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- no Swifts
- *2 Sand Martins again
- *7 (or 12) Barn Swallows: see notes
- *6 (or 14) House Martins: see notes
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) or perhaps 2 (2) Cetti's Warbler: see notes
- 18 (0) Chiffchaffs
- *2 (0) Reed Warblers
- 3 (0) Blackcaps
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moths:
- *1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
- *1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
Flies:
- 1 male midge, perhaps Chaoborus sp.
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
- 1 male midge, perhaps Chaoborus sp.
- 1 male plumed midge Chironomus plumosus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
Noted later:
Nothing in the dull and breezy conditions. Earlier....
- *1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
Noted later:
Nothing in the dull and breezy conditions. Earlier....
Mammals:
- 2 Pipistrelle-type bats over the Ricoh area c.05:25
Full marks for effort from the resident Mute Swan on the left. He didn't succeed in moving the other pair though.
Well these are two drake Mallard, neither of which has wings that would allow it to fly. I think these are juveniles yet to fully fledge rather than adults that have yet to complete their moult. I see many adults flying around by now.
Compare and contrast time. The right-hand bird is a Black-headed Gull starting its moult out of juvenile garb in to first-winter plumage. The nearer bird is already in adult-winter plumage with only "ear-muffs" remaining from its breeding plumage.
It was another morning trying to get half-decent photos of individuals in the mixed hirundine group feeding close-in to the dam – while it was drizzling. Here is a Sand Martin with plumage suggesting it needs a moult after a hard breeding season.
A smarter-looking bird. This shows a feature rarely visible "in the field" - the dark axillaries. These are feathers in the "arm pit" of the wing.
This shows that House Martin is a tubbier bird than either the Sand Martin or Barn Swallow. This bird also shows a white patch in the middle of its back. Strange.
I did not expect this! I was standing on the dam top and photographing whatever hirundine flew past. When I looked at the photos I noticed this Reed Warbler! I had to increase the number of this species I had recorded.
Munching away is another juvenile Goldfinch. With the beak partly open the first impression is more Greenfinch-like. The yellow in the wing dictates otherwise.
The only moth I identified all morning was this Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella on the first street lamp pole I looked at. A well-marked example it is too.
On the same street lamp pole as yesterday's spider but a different species. A fine example of a Garden Spider Araneus diadematus.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Somewhat frustrating. The best shot of this small creature when edited suggests it may be one of the many Argyresthia group of micro-moths, none of which I have recorded from this area. It will have to remain a possible as there is too little detail.
I think this is the cranefly Tipula confusa from the apparent lack of obvious antennae and the way it holds its wings over its back at rest (rather than outstretched). Since learning that there about 350 species of cranefly in the UK I have become more cautious about identification of many that I see!
Fancy a nice bit of silver-side? That's Silver-sided Sector Spider Zygiella x-notata more usually known as the Missing Sector Orb-web Spider due to the absence of one segment in its web-structure.
(197th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- still ten Mute Swans!
- four fast-growing Mallard ducklings seen with their mother.
- each of the Great Crested Grebe families apparently with a juvenile missing. Might have been due to the drizzle and poor visibility that I failed to find them.
- *a Grey Wagtail was present very briefly.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Pipistrelle-type bats over the Ricoh area c.05:25
A Barn Swallow of course. I am intrigued by the white mark in the centre of its back. No idea beyond suggesting it is moulting ahead of its long journey to Southern Africa.
When the tail is held tightly closed the sub-terminal spots on the streamers are not visible.
No dark axillaries on this species – the opposite: they are paler than the rest of the under-wing.
Two juvenile Goldfinches in flight with two others on the ground to the left.
Two juveniles get down to the important task of eating.
And a quartet doing the same. I assume grass seeds?
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths: [41 species here before today; no additions]
One possible unidentified moth!
One possible unidentified moth!
Flies:
*1 cranefly Tipula confusa
*2 craneflies Tipula lateralis
12 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
10 midges of various species
*1 cranefly Tipula confusa
*2 craneflies Tipula lateralis
12 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
10 midges of various species
Arthropods:
still no White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
still no White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
*3 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
2 other unidentified spiders
1 Garden Spider Araneus diadematus [Garden Cross Spider]
*3 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
2 other unidentified spiders
A pair of craneflies Tipula lateralis attempting to ensure the continuation of the species.
I was somewhat bemused by the two white stripes on the abdomen of this spider but...
...they are present in a less obvious way on the abdomen of this Missing Sector Orb-web Spider so I guess they both are. I cannot suggest an identity for the cranefly this one is devouring.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:40 – 07:25
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:40 – 07:25
(197th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- still ten Mute Swans!
- four fast-growing Mallard ducklings seen with their mother.
- each of the Great Crested Grebe families apparently with a juvenile missing. Might have been due to the drizzle and poor visibility that I failed to find them.
- *a Grey Wagtail was present very briefly.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 4 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 10 Mute Swans
- 17 (?♂) + 4 (1 brood) Mallard
- 18 (?♂) Tufted Duck again
- 5 Moorhens
- 99 adult and juvenile Coots
- 4 + 3 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 15 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
Noted on / around the water:
- 4 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 10 Mute Swans
- 17 (?♂) + 4 (1 brood) Mallard
- 18 (?♂) Tufted Duck again
- 5 Moorhens
- 99 adult and juvenile Coots
- 4 + 3 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 15 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcap
Noted around the area:
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 4 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (0) Blackcap
Noted around the area:
Moths:
none
none
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
Well it was drizzling and this immature or female Grey Wagtail only stopped very briefly. My first record here since early Spring.
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
Female Ruddy Duck
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
A male Cockatiel
1 drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
(Ed Wilson)
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2011
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Sandpiper
Female Ruddy Duck
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
A male Cockatiel
1 drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)