13.0°C > 17.0°C: A cloudy start, cleating from the West by 07:30 and then mostly sunny. Moderate north-westerly breeze. Excellent visibility.
Sunrise: 05:31 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: 05:05 – 06:25 // 07:35 – 09:45
(186th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the usual single Greylag Goose when I arrived and present throughout. Fishermen informed me that the geese had over-nighted, leaving before daylight. After the usual arrival post-08:00 I noted 106 Canada Geese and no additional Greylag Geese.
- a Coot flushed a duck Gadwall.
- the same two groups of Mallard ducklings as yesterday were noted: two apparently without any accompanying adult; and four with a parent. Fewer Mallard seen today both here and at The Flash.
- the duck Pochard back in hiding.
- *unusual at this date – well, any date these days – a Lapwing was on the south-west grass at 06:00.
- of the 64 Jackdaws seen overhead a group of 16 were heading "the wrong way" i.e. northwards at 08:35.
A report from the fishermen of a Hobby chasing bats at dusk last evening (1st)
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 231 Wood Pigeons (gulp)
- 1 Herring Gull
- 9 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 64 Jackdaws
- 28 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 106 Canada Geese: see notes
- 1 Greylag G00se: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- *1 (0♂) Gadwall
- 16 (♂?) + 6 (2 broods) Mallard: see notes
- no Pochard
- 12 + 2 (2 dependent broods) Moorhens
- 115 Coots
- 7 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Lapwing, briefly
- 26 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- no Herring Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
Mainly a "record shot" of the duck Gadwall. A slimmer, more elegant bird than a Mallard, the duck having much more orange on the side of her bill.
Doing its best to hide is a Reed Warbler, here in the West end hedge and one of at least three birds. Below the branch the tip of the bill is visible, the length and thinness of the bill ruling out any other warbler species.
At last: a moth on the street lamp poles around dawn. Sadly a species seen earlier. It is a Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata which usually sits with the tip of its abdomen curled upwards.
I think it is only from directly behind that a Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea shows how it acquired the alternative name of Common Batman Fly.
A Wasp Plumehorn hoverfly Volucella inanis. There is a similar species Hornet Hoverfly or Hornet Plumehorn V. zonaria but in that species the first abdominal segment is orange and not, as here, yellow.
Yesterday I noted a single female Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum. Today this single adult male.
My first Garden Grey moth Eudonia mercurella of the year. In previous years known as Small Grey. Species #38 here this year.
A Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea. A clue that it could be this species is the longish antennae though that is not a definitive feature. The shape of the pale area in the wing and pale line down the abdomen are conclusive.
A new species for me. It is the phantom cranefly Ptychoptera albimana. Phantom craneflies are only slightly related to craneflies. Note the "waisted" body shared with all the species in the family. This particular species shows red on the hind tibia, most easily seen on the right hind leg.
There were so many (23) of these moth flies Psychodidae sp. here this morning I felt compelled to photograph one. They were of different sizes: still no chance of specific identification from the c.100 species in the UK.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:30 – 07:30
(183rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- yesterday's two extra Mute Swans still present and presumed the pair "on their own".
- as at the Balancing Lake significantly fewer Mallard noted for no obvious reason – the presence of additional fishermen at weekends does not usually affect numbers.
- four adult Great Crested Grebes again. Now two juveniles with the pair at the top end. The three juveniles from the brood by the island were again being fed in the open water.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 6 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 13 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 8 Mute Swans
- 16 (?♂) Mallard
- 15 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 87 + 4 (2 dependent broods) Coots:
- 4 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles but one first summer bird
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
A Small Dusty Wave moth Idaea seriata I found resting on vegetation under a street light. It is new at this site this year and moth species #63 here.
I believe this to be another Garden Grey moth Eudonia mercurella. Obsidentify was not sure which species it was from the confusing "grey" moths. Using the West Midlands moths "flying tonight" as a guide and noting that the sub-terminal white cross-line is complete I decided it was a Garden Grey. It is moth species #64 here this year.
* = 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: 05:05 – 06:25 // 07:35 – 09:45
(186th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the usual single Greylag Goose when I arrived and present throughout. Fishermen informed me that the geese had over-nighted, leaving before daylight. After the usual arrival post-08:00 I noted 106 Canada Geese and no additional Greylag Geese.
- a Coot flushed a duck Gadwall.
- the same two groups of Mallard ducklings as yesterday were noted: two apparently without any accompanying adult; and four with a parent. Fewer Mallard seen today both here and at The Flash.
- the duck Pochard back in hiding.
- *unusual at this date – well, any date these days – a Lapwing was on the south-west grass at 06:00.
- of the 64 Jackdaws seen overhead a group of 16 were heading "the wrong way" i.e. northwards at 08:35.
A report from the fishermen of a Hobby chasing bats at dusk last evening (1st)
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Feral Pigeon
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 231 Wood Pigeons (gulp)
- 1 Herring Gull
- 9 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 64 Jackdaws
- 28 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 106 Canada Geese: see notes
- 1 Greylag G00se: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- *1 (0♂) Gadwall
- 16 (♂?) + 6 (2 broods) Mallard: see notes
- no Pochard
- 12 + 2 (2 dependent broods) Moorhens
- 115 Coots
- 7 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- *1 Lapwing, briefly
- 26 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- no Herring Gulls
- 6 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- no Cetti's Warblers
- 12 (1) Chiffchaffs
- *5 (0) Reed Warblers
- 8 (1) Blackcaps
- no Common Whitethroats
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- no Cetti's Warblers
- 12 (1) Chiffchaffs
- *5 (0) Reed Warblers
- 8 (1) Blackcaps
- no Common Whitethroats
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moths:
- *1 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
- *1 Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 unidentified ichneumon sp.
- 1 unidentified ichneumon sp.
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 4 Bridge Orb-web Spiders Larinioides sclopetarius
- *1 Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis
- 4 harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
- *1 female harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
Noted later:
Fewer things noted than I would have expected in the sunny, albeit breezy, conditions.
- 4 Bridge Orb-web Spiders Larinioides sclopetarius
- *1 Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis
- 4 harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
- *1 female harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
Noted later:
Fewer things noted than I would have expected in the sunny, albeit breezy, conditions.
Butterflies:
Large White Pieris brassicae
*Green-veined White Pieris napi
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
Large White Pieris brassicae
*Green-veined White Pieris napi
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
Moths
3 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
3 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
Bees, wasps etc.:
*Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*Turnip Sawfly Athalia rosae
*Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*Turnip Sawfly Athalia rosae
Hoverflies:
*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]
*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]
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
*Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]: only one individual!
unidentified dragonfly hawking at 05:45
*Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]: only one individual!
unidentified dragonfly hawking at 05:45
Four-winged flies – Lacewings, Caddisflies etc.:
none
none
Other flies:
only unidentified fly species
only unidentified fly species
Bugs etc.:
none
none
Beetles:
none
none
Slugs / snails etc.:
White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
White-lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
none
New plants for the year:
None
Another "record shot". The Lapwing on the south-west grass at 06:00.
A Common Buzzard sitting atop one of the street lamps alongside Teece Drive.
A "head and shoulders" view.
Very contrasting light on this one.
And here. Note the long brown tail.
A worn-looking Green-veined White butterfly Pieris napi
A Turnip Sawfly Athalia rosae showing off its black shoulder-pads.
A "two-fer". On the right a Honey Bee Apis mellifera with long antennae. On the left a...
....this Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax.
It is a few days since I last saw a Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus.
A Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis.
The shape of the dark area on the abdomen is one of the features that identifies this as a female harvestman Leiobunum rotundum.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths: [37 species here before today; one addition [one ID still pending]]
*1 Common Masoner Blastobasis adustella [was Dingy Dowd]
*1 $ Garden Grey Eudonia mercurella [was Small Grey]: species #38 here
*1 Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata
*1 Common Masoner Blastobasis adustella [was Dingy Dowd]
*1 $ Garden Grey Eudonia mercurella [was Small Grey]: species #38 here
*1 Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata
Flies:
*1 Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
*1 $$ Phantom cranefly Ptychoptera albimana
*23 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
26 midges of various species.
*1 Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
*1 $$ Phantom cranefly Ptychoptera albimana
*23 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
26 midges of various species.
Arthropods:
no White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
no White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
*1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
*1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
A Common Masoner moth Blastobasis adustella.
Not resting at a particularly helpful angle is this Flame Carpet moth Xanthorhoe designata.
The operational part of a harvestman Opilio canestrinii.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:30 – 07:30
(183rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- yesterday's two extra Mute Swans still present and presumed the pair "on their own".
- as at the Balancing Lake significantly fewer Mallard noted for no obvious reason – the presence of additional fishermen at weekends does not usually affect numbers.
- four adult Great Crested Grebes again. Now two juveniles with the pair at the top end. The three juveniles from the brood by the island were again being fed in the open water.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 6 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 13 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 8 Mute Swans
- 16 (?♂) Mallard
- 15 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 7 Moorhens
- 87 + 4 (2 dependent broods) Coots:
- 4 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles but one first summer bird
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult
- 1 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
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 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata: new at this site this year: moth species #63
*1 Garden Grey Eudonia mercurella [was Small Grey]: species #64 here
*1 Red Underwing Catocala nupta: same as yesterday
*1 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata: new at this site this year: moth species #63
*1 Garden Grey Eudonia mercurella [was Small Grey]: species #64 here
*1 Red Underwing Catocala nupta: same as yesterday
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
22 harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus [including 10 on just one street lamp pole]
22 harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus [including 10 on just one street lamp pole]
Yesterday's Red Underwing moth Catocala nupta had either shuffled about or been for a fly-about and settled in a different orientation to its resting pose yesterday.
(Ed Wilson)
I did visit the tunnel at the top end which passes under the A5 Telford Way. Apart from many long-disused spider webs I failed to see anything at all!
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Tern
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A5 Telford Way Tunnel
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
4 Common Tern
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)