12.0°C > 17.0°C: Early cloud cleared away to the East by 07:00 with areas of high cloud taking the edge off what otherwise promised to be a sunny morning. Light south-westerly breeze spring up after a calm start. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:04 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 // 07:50 – 10:00
(206th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- four visitors and the resident pair of Mute Swans at dawn. Three of the visitors left to the East at 06:10 with the other having departed by 07:55. It, or another, arrived c.08:50 and was soon sent on its way.
- the now full-size but still stripe-headed juvenile Great Crested Grebe from one of the earlier broods was located along with one of its parents.
- two Swifts were over the North side woods at 06:00.
- a family party of five Barn Swallows were feeding around the South side c.09:20.
- at least six House Martins were high over the football field c.09:50
- at least one Marsh Tit was calling alongside Teece Drive and may well have flown there from one of the garden feeders alongside.
- for some reason the House Sparrow flock that is usually in garden shrubs alongside Teece Drive seems to be no longer present.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 74 Canada Geese: 19 outbound in three groups; 55 inbound together
- 5 Greylag Geese: a single lurking amongst a group of Canadas and a quartet outbound
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 123 Wood Pigeons
- 27 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron very high West
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 7 Jackdaws only
- 126 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: arrived
- *6 or 7 Mute Swans: see notes
- 29 (♂?) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 10 Moorhens: no dependent bird seen
- 152 adult and juvenile Coots again
- 7 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 14 Black-headed Gulls only: one confirmed as a juvenile
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 45 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and departed
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 5 Barn Swallows
- 6 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 2 (1) Cetti's Warblers
- 18 (4) Chiffchaffs
- *3 (0) Reed Warblers
- 4 (0) Blackcaps
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
* = 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 // 07:50 – 10:00
(206th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- four visitors and the resident pair of Mute Swans at dawn. Three of the visitors left to the East at 06:10 with the other having departed by 07:55. It, or another, arrived c.08:50 and was soon sent on its way.
- the now full-size but still stripe-headed juvenile Great Crested Grebe from one of the earlier broods was located along with one of its parents.
- two Swifts were over the North side woods at 06:00.
- a family party of five Barn Swallows were feeding around the South side c.09:20.
- at least six House Martins were high over the football field c.09:50
- at least one Marsh Tit was calling alongside Teece Drive and may well have flown there from one of the garden feeders alongside.
- for some reason the House Sparrow flock that is usually in garden shrubs alongside Teece Drive seems to be no longer present.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 74 Canada Geese: 19 outbound in three groups; 55 inbound together
- 5 Greylag Geese: a single lurking amongst a group of Canadas and a quartet outbound
- 2 Feral Pigeons
- 123 Wood Pigeons
- 27 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron very high West
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 7 Jackdaws only
- 126 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 Canada Geese: arrived
- *6 or 7 Mute Swans: see notes
- 29 (♂?) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 10 Moorhens: no dependent bird seen
- 152 adult and juvenile Coots again
- 7 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 14 Black-headed Gulls only: one confirmed as a juvenile
- 4 Herring Gulls
- 45 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and departed
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 5 Barn Swallows
- 6 House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 2 (1) Cetti's Warblers
- 18 (4) Chiffchaffs
- *3 (0) Reed Warblers
- 4 (0) Blackcaps
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moths:
- 4 Common Grass-moths Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
- *1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
- 4 Common Grass-moths Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
- *1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
Bees, wasps etc.:
- Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Flies:
- *1 probable Pond Olive mayfly Cloeon dipterum
- *1 probable Pond Olive mayfly Cloeon dipterum
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Common Candy-striped Spider Enoplognatha ovata; lineata form
- *1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius
- *1 Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica
- 1 harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
Noted later:
Fewer species than I expected with some warm hazy sun
- *1 Common Candy-striped Spider Enoplognatha ovata; lineata form
- *1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius
- *1 Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica
- 1 harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
Noted later:
Fewer species than I expected with some warm hazy sun
Butterflies:
- *Green-veined White Pieris napi
- *Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- *Green-veined White Pieris napi
- *Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Moths:
- 1 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [previously Straw Grass-veneer]
- *1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
- 1 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [previously Straw Grass-veneer]
- *1 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
Bees, wasps etc.:
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- *two ichneumon sps., one a probably Pimpla sp.
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- *two ichneumon sps., one a probably Pimpla sp.
Hoverflies:
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- *Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
- *Yellow-barred Peat Hoverfly Sericomyia silentis [Yellow-barred Pond Fly]
- *Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens [Common Compost Fly; Thick-legged Hoverfly]
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- *Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
- *Yellow-barred Peat Hoverfly Sericomyia silentis [Yellow-barred Pond Fly]
- *Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens [Common Compost Fly; Thick-legged Hoverfly]
Damsel-/Dragonflies
- *Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- *Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta
- another, larger unidentified hawker sp.
- *Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- *Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta
- another, larger unidentified hawker sp.
Flies:
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus sp.
- Blow-fly or Greenbottle Lucilia caesar or similar
- *Cluster fly Pollenia sp.
- *Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., probably S. carnaria
- *Kite-tailed Robberfly Tolmerus atricapillus [also as Machimus atricapillus]
- also an array of unidentified flies
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus sp.
- Blow-fly or Greenbottle Lucilia caesar or similar
- *Cluster fly Pollenia sp.
- *Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., probably S. carnaria
- *Kite-tailed Robberfly Tolmerus atricapillus [also as Machimus atricapillus]
- also an array of unidentified flies
Mammals:
- 1 Pipistrelle-type bat over the Ricoh area c.05:25
They say the camera never lies but it can deceive. At first glance a male Blackcap. Not so. The body is brown and not grey. It is....
....obvious when it turns its head – a Reed Warbler. The "black crown" on the previous photo was shadow of a reed falling across its head.
A worn Green-veined White butterfly Pieris napi with much of the black scaling that outlines the veins having faded and / or worn away.
More or less at the end of this species' flight season this is a faded and worn Common Marble moth Celypha lacunana.
This ichneumon is almost certainly one of the Pimpla species, not identifiable from photos. This a female: the tip of her ovipositor is just about visible but...
I wonder why this is named a "Tapered" Dronefly Eristalis pertinax . Only the males of the species have such a pronounced taper to the abdomen.
Only my second-ever Yellow-barred Peat Hoverfly Sericomyia silentis and both here this year. No "peat" nearby as far as I am aware so perhaps Obsidentify's name of Yellow-barred Pond Fly in more appropriate. This was on the Teece Drive fence. It did not allow a closer approach for an overhead view.
A small and strangely-shaped fly. It is a Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens. One of its alternative names is Thick-legged Hoverfly and the swollen tarsus on the hind leg is just about visible.
This may just about be the last Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum I will see this year. My "last date" in 2024 was 23 August.
In a very difficult position to get a clear shot through leaves was this probable Pond Olive mayfly Cloeon dipterum. The banded body and the long tail-streamer are easy to see. The turbinate eyes less so. I have no idea why the wings have a strange patterning.
A long-legged fly from the Dolichopus genus. It would need a better photo to provide a positive identity.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
It was on the furthest inaccessible part of the tunnel ceiling above the Wesley Brook so this was the best I could do to photograph a moth. Luckily it is a very distinctive species with the apposite name of Snout Hypena proboscidalis. Moth species #42 here this year.
Only when I looked at the photo of the resting Honey Bee Apis mellifera did I see the small unidentified springtail behind it. Is this the same bee I saw two days ago?
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:50 – 07:45
(201st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- still 15 Mute Swans present.
- a Shoveler new in
- no Mallard ducklings seen again.
- still four Grey Herons present
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 4 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 5 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 15 Mute Swans
- *1 (♂?) Shoveler
- 21 (?♂) Mallard
- 16 (13?♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens again
- 104 adult and juvenile Coots
- 3 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 19 Black-headed Gulls: at least three juveniles
- no Cormorants
- 4 Grey Herons
Hirundines etc. noted:
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine Falcon
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Sandwich Terns
Common Tern
Kingfisher
Tree Pipit
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
Raven
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
- 1 Pipistrelle-type bat over the Ricoh area c.05:25
The visiting Mute Swan comes in for a...
...less than perfect splash-down.
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria was the only other butterfly species seen today.
A smarter-looking specimen.
A Willow Beauty moth Peribatodes rhomboidaria on a street lamp pole pre-dawn.
An unidentified ichneumon sp.
...shows more clearly in this view.
A Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea also known as Common Batman Fly.
The best angle I could get on this Migrant Hawker dragonfly Aeshna mixta.
I think this is a Cluster fly Pollenia sp.. I may be wrong as most species in the genus have golden hair on the thorax and this individual looks comparatively bald.
Another Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., probably S. carnaria. They seem common at the moment.
Only my second-ever Kite-tailed Robberfly Tolmerus atricapillus, both this year.
A trio of spiders around various street lamp poles while it was still pre-dawn. This is a Common Candy-striped Spider Enoplognatha ovata; lineata form though I read there is now some debate about whether several cryptic species may be involved.
A Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius.
What Obsidentify assures me is a Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths: [41 species here before today; one addition]
*1 Snout Hypena proboscidalis
*1 Snout Hypena proboscidalis
Bees, wasps etc.:
*1 Honey Bee Apis mellifera
*1 Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Springtails:
*1 unidentified springtail
*1 unidentified springtail
Flies:
*1 mosquito Culex pipiens
16 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
*1 cranefly Tipula lateralis
9 midges of various species
*1 mosquito Culex pipiens
16 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
*1 cranefly Tipula lateralis
9 midges of various species
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
2 unidentified spiders
2 unidentified spiders
I think this female mosquito has to be Culex pipiens as it does not have banded legs.
A cranefly Tipula lateralis
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:50 – 07:45
(201st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- still 15 Mute Swans present.
- a Shoveler new in
- no Mallard ducklings seen again.
- still four Grey Herons present
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 4 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 5 Canada Geese
- no Greylag Geese
- 15 Mute Swans
- *1 (♂?) Shoveler
- 21 (?♂) Mallard
- 16 (13?♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens again
- 104 adult and juvenile Coots
- 3 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 19 Black-headed Gulls: at least three juveniles
- no Cormorants
- 4 Grey Herons
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Moths:
4 Common Grass-moths Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
*1 $ Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria
4 Common Grass-moths Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
*1 $ Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
No mistaking a Shoveler with a bill like this. With a darker crown I suspect this is a first-year or eclipse drake ["eclipse" refers to the plain garb that drakes acquire while they undergo their annual wing moult and need to be less conspicuous].
A moth sitting on a street lamp pole in full sun. It is a Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria which, like all "thorn" moths rests with the wings partly open.
1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012
Priorslee Lake
Peregrine Falcon
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Sandwich Terns
Common Tern
Kingfisher
Tree Pipit
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
Common Tern
Raven
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)