14.0°C > 17.0°C: Early medium-level overcast lowered with light rain c.06:45. A very few brighter moments later. Calm early and then a light southerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:50 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: 05:30 – 09:15
(225th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the Greylag Geese were only seen outbound. Their inbound passage saw them arrive at The Flash while I was there.
- another visiting Mute Swan arrived and was still present when I left.
- three Tufted Duck duos flew West within a few minutes of each other c.06:50. None of these birds could be sexed.
- c.160 Black-headed Gulls arrived and then flew off East. Another c.230 were on the football field c.07:10.
- a small passage of Barn Swallows (and >100 seen later passing through the SOS Venus Pool reserve around the middle of the day). I should also note that the House Martins at the West end of Newport were not seen yesterday and may well have departed – a few days earlier than usual.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: outbound
- 90 Greylag Geese: outbound in four groups
- 6 Tufted Duck: see notes
- 18 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 137 Jackdaws
- 195 Rooks
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Counts from the lake area:
- 3 Mute Swans: one arrived; see notes
- 12 (6♂) Mallard
- 9 Moorhens still
- 70 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- >390 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *1 Cormorant: arrived
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted: minimum numbers
- 22 Barn Swallows in three groups
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 6 (2) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Blackcaps again
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
- none
- none
Springtails:
- 2 springtails Pogonognathellus longicornis-type
- 2 springtails Pogonognathellus longicornis-type
Flies:
- 1 male Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
- *1 fly Dryomyza anilis
- *1 caddis fly Tinodes waeneri
- 1 male Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
- *1 fly Dryomyza anilis
- *1 caddis fly Tinodes waeneri
Bugs:
- *1 Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius
- *1 Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *3 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
- 1 Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica
- *1 male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
- *3 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
- 1 Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica
- *1 male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
Noted later elsewhere:
In the often dull conditions just...
Moths:
- *1 Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella
- *1 Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella
Bees, wasps, etc.:
- Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- *European Hornet Vespa crabro: at least 10 around the nest
- Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- *European Hornet Vespa crabro: at least 10 around the nest
Hoverflies:
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
Mammals:
- 3 pipistrelle-type bats
A very active micro-moth against one wall of the sailing club's changing rooms. Well away from its food plant it is a Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella. By far my latest date for seeing this species.
This is a male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum. Males of the species pair L. blackwalli / rotundum do not have markings on their saddle and are differentiated by the eye-surround. Black for L. rotundum. Will I ever find a harvestman with a full complement of eight legs?
(Ed Wilson)
Moths: [45 species here before today; one addition]
- *1 White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella
- *1 $ Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata
This caddis fly is probably a Limnephilus species. There are many to choose from. I tried rotating the photo. It did not improve the visibility.
An Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni. After several years when this species was abundant it has often been elusive this year though the shredded Alder leaves around The Flash suggest the larvae have been busy.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:25
(218th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- back to 11 Mute Swans
- *the duck Mallard with four almost full-grown off-spring seen again.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Noted on / around the water:
- 10 Canada Geese
- *c.80 Greylag Geese: all of these arrived more or less together
- 11 Mute Swans
- 28 (19?♂) + *4 (1 brood) Mallard
- 3 (1♂) Tufted Duck again
- 8 Moorhens
- 84 Coots
- 4 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull only
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 3 (1) Chiffchaff
Noted around the area:
- 3 pipistrelle-type bats
Incoming rain soon after dawn.
A "through the vegetation" shot as I knew the Cormorant would fly as soon as it saw me approaching.
Two European Hornets Vespa crabro around their nest site.
Not sure about this fly. Perhaps Dryomyza anilis.
My apps suggested this is the Tachinid fly Eriothrix rufomaculata or Red-sided Eriothrix. I can't see the red on the side, just the orange at the base of the wings. I think the Tachinid part is correct.
I think this is the caddis fly Tinodes waeneri
What was this Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius doing on a street lamp pole pre-dawn?
An unusual view of the underside of a Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius.
(Ed Wilson)
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On the walls of the sailing club HQ pre-dawn:
Arthropods:
- *1 unidentified snail
- *1 unidentified snail
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 31(!) spiders, all the usual species including:
Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica
*mainly Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
A bad photo of an unidentified snail. The camera has focussed on the head leaving the all-important markings on the shell out of focus and therefore precluding any attempt at an ID. Obsidentify wanted to call it a Garden Snail Cornu aspersum: I know that is wrong.
Almost all the 31 spiders I noted around the building were these Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata.
- 31(!) spiders, all the usual species including:
Walnut Orb Weaver Nuctenea umbratica
*mainly Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
- *1 White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella
- *1 $ Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata
Flies:
- no moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 9 midges of various species
- *1 caddis fly, probably a Limnephilus species
- no moth flies Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 9 midges of various species
- *1 caddis fly, probably a Limnephilus species
Beetles:
- *1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
- *1 Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
Arthropods:
- *2 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
- 6 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
- *2 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
- 6 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 21 spiders mainly Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
- 21 spiders mainly Missing Sector Orb-web Spiders Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
Perhaps my clearest photo yet of a White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella
My first Red-green Carpet moth Chloroclysta siterata of the year. A typical first date for this species.
One of two Common Rough Woodlice Porcellio scaber I noted here today.
(Ed Wilson)
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(218th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- back to 11 Mute Swans
- *the duck Mallard with four almost full-grown off-spring seen again.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Noted on / around the water:
- 10 Canada Geese
- *c.80 Greylag Geese: all of these arrived more or less together
- 11 Mute Swans
- 28 (19?♂) + *4 (1 brood) Mallard
- 3 (1♂) Tufted Duck again
- 8 Moorhens
- 84 Coots
- 4 + 5 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Black-headed Gull only
- 3 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 3 (1) Chiffchaff
Noted around the area:
Bees, wasps etc.
- *Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- *Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Mammals:
- *Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus
- *Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus
Fungus:
- *Brown Rollrim Paxillus involutus
These are the last four surviving Mallard ducklings. Almost grown – the wing feathers are still not fully developed. Their mother was still close-by. This view suggests there will be three drakes and one duck – the dark-billed right-most bird.
Much maligned they do a good job of clearing our rubbish. It is hardly their fault they carry nasty parasites.
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Common Gull
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)
- *Brown Rollrim Paxillus involutus
Try counting these! How do the Greylag Geese manage this without any air traffic control?
It is one way to take a shower!
This fungus is Brown Rollrim Paxillus involutus, also seen a few days ago at the Balancing Lake.
A Honey Bee Apis mellifera out and about in the overcast conditions.
Leaving food for the birds on the path is sure to attract a Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus.
Quite a sweetie really.
(Ed Wilson)
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2007
Priorslee Lake
Common Gull
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)