14.0°C > 18.0°C: An excellent sunrise with broken clouds. Thereafter a high overcast with some lower patches giving very light rain occasionally after 08:30. Humid with a very light and variable breeze. Excellent visibility.
Sunrise: 05:33 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 – 06:45 // 08:00 – 09:45
(187th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- two Canada Geese on the water at dawn leaving to the East to join the 49 seen flying outbound (with other unseen groups heard only). I logged only 56 on the water after they returned and due to the sailing club getting ready for their activities most of these soon flew off West.
- the usual single Greylag Goose was seen when I arrived and present throughout. Another five present at dawn moved to the dam top to feed, leaving later. Only one other bird came in with the main party of geese.
- just two Mallard ducklings seen and these larger than the duo seen in previous two days and clearly with an adult. Although there are many adults seen daily (25 today) from a distance none is obviously a drake. I would have expected some to be coming in to breeding plumage by now. Perhaps very many of them are from the broods of ducklings seen which might be later moulting in to adult plumage.
- *the duck Pochard back on the water.
- one of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls was my first juvenile of the year.
- two late Swifts noted with at least four House Martins together overhead, briefly, at 08:30. Four House Martins had been seen earlier at c.06:15 above the football field.
- after yesterday's report by the fishermen of a Hobby chasing bats at dusk I saw my own Hobby flying fast East at 05:50.
- the high overcast provided perfect conditions to see the Jackdaws and Rooks as they passed over from their roosts to their feeding areas. As a result a bumper total.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 52 Canada Geese: 49 outbound in five groups (others heard); a trio inbound
- 29 Greylag Geese: a single outbound; a group of 28 inbound
- 2 Feral Pigeons: together
- 103 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull again
- 4 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 1 Hobby
- 245 Jackdaws
- 154 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 56 Canada Geese: see notes
- 6 Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- no Gadwall
- 25 (♂?) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard: see notes
- *1 (0♂) Pochard
- 11 + 3 (2 dependent broods) Moorhens
- 115 Coots again: yet another new brood seen
- 6 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 22 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived and departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 4, perhaps 8, House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 2 (1) Cetti's Warblers
- 10 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (0) Reed Warblers
- 3 (0) Blackcaps
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
I will get this checked as it is a new species of moth for me. I believe it to be a Common Lance Bactra lancealana. It is not easy to see but the combination of the palps curled back over its head and with long antennae held vertically there are few confusion species.
As far as I can tell this small creature is one of the Furrow-bees Lasioglossum sp. I presume this is a male – they have longer antennae. Not chance of a specific identity without a much more detailed photo. A shame as it would almost certainly be (bee?) a new species for me.
A dagger fly Empis livida with its tongue extended beyond its dagger-like mouth-parts to reach the nectar in the Common Knapweed flower Centaurea nigra.
This spider is one of the Long-jawed Orb-web Spiders Tetragnatha sp. It is a male with the long pedipalps (boxing gloves). The all-brown cephalothorax suggests it is perhaps T. nigrita though genitalia examination would be needed to confirm.
A pair of harvestmen Leiobunum rotundum: the female on the left with the parallel-side dark mark on the abdomen. The male is smaller and more "rotundum".
As well as an abundance of blackberries this year there is the largest number of sloes that I can recall seeing.
(184th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- one duck Mallard seen with a single well-grown duckling – likely the single duckling last seen about a week ago. Another duck Mallard seen with apparently three very small ducklings. Shortly afterwards I noted four ducklings without any obvious parent though they were among overhanging vegetation. The same brood or not? I could not relocate the adult with the trio.
- an extra adult Great Crested Grebe seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 15 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese: again
- 8 Mute Swans
- *17 (?♂) + 5? (2 broods) Mallard: but see notes
- 14 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 89 + 3 (3 dependent broods) Coots:
- 5 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 House Martins flew fast East; five minutes later six flew fast West.
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 3 (0) Chiffchaffs again
- 1 (0) Blackcap again
Noted around the area:
* = 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 – 06:45 // 08:00 – 09:45
(187th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- two Canada Geese on the water at dawn leaving to the East to join the 49 seen flying outbound (with other unseen groups heard only). I logged only 56 on the water after they returned and due to the sailing club getting ready for their activities most of these soon flew off West.
- the usual single Greylag Goose was seen when I arrived and present throughout. Another five present at dawn moved to the dam top to feed, leaving later. Only one other bird came in with the main party of geese.
- just two Mallard ducklings seen and these larger than the duo seen in previous two days and clearly with an adult. Although there are many adults seen daily (25 today) from a distance none is obviously a drake. I would have expected some to be coming in to breeding plumage by now. Perhaps very many of them are from the broods of ducklings seen which might be later moulting in to adult plumage.
- *the duck Pochard back on the water.
- one of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls was my first juvenile of the year.
- two late Swifts noted with at least four House Martins together overhead, briefly, at 08:30. Four House Martins had been seen earlier at c.06:15 above the football field.
- after yesterday's report by the fishermen of a Hobby chasing bats at dusk I saw my own Hobby flying fast East at 05:50.
- the high overcast provided perfect conditions to see the Jackdaws and Rooks as they passed over from their roosts to their feeding areas. As a result a bumper total.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 52 Canada Geese: 49 outbound in five groups (others heard); a trio inbound
- 29 Greylag Geese: a single outbound; a group of 28 inbound
- 2 Feral Pigeons: together
- 103 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Herring Gull again
- 4 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 1 Hobby
- 245 Jackdaws
- 154 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 56 Canada Geese: see notes
- 6 Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- no Gadwall
- 25 (♂?) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard: see notes
- *1 (0♂) Pochard
- 11 + 3 (2 dependent broods) Moorhens
- 115 Coots again: yet another new brood seen
- 6 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 22 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-baked Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: arrived and departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 Swifts
- 4, perhaps 8, House Martins
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 2 (1) Cetti's Warblers
- 10 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 7 (0) Reed Warblers
- 3 (0) Blackcaps
Noted on the West end street lamp poles around-dawn:
Moths:
- none
- none
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 Bridge Orb-web Spiders Larinioides sclopetarius
- 1 Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp., perhaps T. nigrita
- 2 harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
- *2 harvestmen Leiobunum rotundum: male and female
Noted later:
There was little flying in the dull conditions that prevailed after c.08:30.
- 2 Bridge Orb-web Spiders Larinioides sclopetarius
- 1 Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp., perhaps T. nigrita
- 2 harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
- *2 harvestmen Leiobunum rotundum: male and female
Noted later:
There was little flying in the dull conditions that prevailed after c.08:30.
Butterflies:
Large White Pieris brassicae
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Large White Pieris brassicae
Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
Moths
*1 $$ Common Lance Bactra lancealana
4 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [previously Straw Grass-veneer]
1 Mother of Pearl Patania ruralis [was Pleuroptya ruralis]
*1 $$ Common Lance Bactra lancealana
4 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [previously Straw Grass-veneer]
1 Mother of Pearl Patania ruralis [was Pleuroptya ruralis]
Bees, wasps etc.:
*unidentified Furrow-bee Lasioglossum sp.
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
*unidentified Furrow-bee Lasioglossum sp.
Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
none
none
Four-winged flies – Lacewings, Caddisflies etc.:
none
none
Other flies:
*dagger fly Empis livida
otherwise only unidentified fly species
*dagger fly Empis livida
otherwise only unidentified fly species
Bugs etc.:
none
none
Beetles:
none
none
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
none
New plants for the year:
None
An excellent sunrise this morning. Two photos taken on my phone from different locations. Here is one...
...and the other.
This is what the camera made of it shortly afterwards.
The duck Pochard was visible again this morning.
A Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella resting at a typical angle.
Also the rose hips are in good numbers. No doubt all due to the hot and sunny weather. What surprises me is the size of the fruits given the very dry conditions. Perhaps last Autumn's floods filled the water-table and the plants are deep-rooted enough to reach an ample supply.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths: [37 species here before today; no additions [one ID still pending]]
*1 Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata
*1 Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata
Flies:
3 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: where have yesterday's gone?
21 midges of various species.
3 moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: where have yesterday's gone?
21 midges of various species.
Arthropods:
No White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
No White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
2 Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
2 Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
1 harvestman Opilio canestrinii
Probably the same Flame Carpet moth Xanthorhoe designata as yesterday found resting at a much better angle for a photo.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:50 – 07:55
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:50 – 07:55
(184th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- one duck Mallard seen with a single well-grown duckling – likely the single duckling last seen about a week ago. Another duck Mallard seen with apparently three very small ducklings. Shortly afterwards I noted four ducklings without any obvious parent though they were among overhanging vegetation. The same brood or not? I could not relocate the adult with the trio.
- an extra adult Great Crested Grebe seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 15 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese: again
- 8 Mute Swans
- *17 (?♂) + 5? (2 broods) Mallard: but see notes
- 14 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 89 + 3 (3 dependent broods) Coots:
- 5 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 9 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 House Martins flew fast East; five minutes later six flew fast West.
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 3 (0) Chiffchaffs again
- 1 (0) Blackcap again
Noted around the area:
Moths:
*1 $ Dark-marked Tortrix Acleris laterana [previously Dark-triangle Button]: species #64 here
*1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
*1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
*1 Red Underwing Catocala nupta: third day
*1 $ Dark-marked Tortrix Acleris laterana [previously Dark-triangle Button]: species #64 here
*1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [previously Common Grass-veneer]
*1 Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
*1 Red Underwing Catocala nupta: third day
Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Hoverflies:
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
15 harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus [including 10 on just one street lamp pole]
1 male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
2 harvestmen Opilio canestrinii
15 harvestmen Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus [including 10 on just one street lamp pole]
1 male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
2 harvestmen Opilio canestrinii
Otherwise:
* $ Knopper Gall made by larvae of the wasp Andricus quercuscalicis on an English Oak Quercus robur
This duck Mallard is not having any luck keeping her brood of three ducklings close-by. When I saw four ducklings shortly afterwards I could not see any obvious parent: were they all additional ducklings?
A Dark-marked Tortrix moth Acleris laterana previously known as Dark-triangle Button: species #64 here
A Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella previously known as Common Grass-veneer. This grass moth has a prominent white streak along the wing before it splits in to four 'fingers' towards the wing tip.
An unusually dark specimen of a Willow Beauty moth Peribatodes rhomboidaria. This was at waist-level on one the street lamp poles near the medical centre.
One of many Knopper Galls, each made by larvae of the wasp Andricus quercuscalicis on an English Oak Quercus robur. This particular oak at the top end did not seem to have any acorns that were not deformed in this way.
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Immature Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 (imm/fem) Common Redstart
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
4 Shoveler (all females/immatures)
(John Isherwood)
* $ Knopper Gall made by larvae of the wasp Andricus quercuscalicis on an English Oak Quercus robur
The well-grown Mallard duckling with stubby wings as yet.
The Red Underwing moth Catocala nupta has shuffled back more or less upright again.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Priorslee Lake
Immature Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)
Nedge Hill
1 (imm/fem) Common Redstart
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
4 Shoveler (all females/immatures)
(John Isherwood)