7.0°C > 9.0°C: Fog or mist throughout. Light wind. Poor, often very poor, visibility.
Sunrise: 07:31 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:00 – 09:15
(248th visit of the year)
The best I could manage with not be able to see much of the water at any one time and with almost nothing visible (or audible) overhead.
Bird notes:
- a pair of Shoveler flew low West c.08:00. I suspect these had been on the water and were flying off.
- again the only wildfowl today were Mallard and Tufted Duck. At least 15 Mallard present c.06:30 when too dark to sex them. Later just six (four drakes seen). Just two duck Tufted Duck seen.
- the only sensible count of gulls made was c.230, all Black-headed Gulls, on the football field c.07:30.
- two Cormorants seen leaving on two different occasions.
- three Song Thrushes heard singing quietly.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- c.75 Greylag Geese: inbound together
- 1 Jackdaw at least, heard only
- 1 Rook at least, heard only
- 3 Pied Wagtails
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Shoveler: departed
- >15 (>4♂) Mallard
- 2 (0♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- no meaningful count of Coots possible
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- c.230 Black-headed Gulls on the football field c.07:30,
- a few large gulls seen, more heard
- 4 Cormorants: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler as usual
- no Chiffchaffs
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
(246th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- now 13 Mute Swans noted.
- yesterday's Shoveler not seen: the island area was mostly invisible
- 10 Goosanders today, still including one drake
- just four Great Crested Grebes but could have been more
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 06:00 – 09:15
(248th visit of the year)
The best I could manage with not be able to see much of the water at any one time and with almost nothing visible (or audible) overhead.
Bird notes:
- a pair of Shoveler flew low West c.08:00. I suspect these had been on the water and were flying off.
- again the only wildfowl today were Mallard and Tufted Duck. At least 15 Mallard present c.06:30 when too dark to sex them. Later just six (four drakes seen). Just two duck Tufted Duck seen.
- the only sensible count of gulls made was c.230, all Black-headed Gulls, on the football field c.07:30.
- two Cormorants seen leaving on two different occasions.
- three Song Thrushes heard singing quietly.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- c.75 Greylag Geese: inbound together
- 1 Jackdaw at least, heard only
- 1 Rook at least, heard only
- 3 Pied Wagtails
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Shoveler: departed
- >15 (>4♂) Mallard
- 2 (0♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- no meaningful count of Coots possible
- 3 Great Crested Grebes
- c.230 Black-headed Gulls on the football field c.07:30,
- a few large gulls seen, more heard
- 4 Cormorants: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler as usual
- no Chiffchaffs
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
- 1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla: same pole as yesterday but different location
- 3 November Moth types Epirrita sp.: all on different poles to yesterday
- 1 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla: same pole as yesterday but different location
- 3 November Moth types Epirrita sp.: all on different poles to yesterday
Springtails:
- 3 springtails Pogonognathellus longicornis-type
- 3 springtails Pogonognathellus longicornis-type
Flies:
- 1 male Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
- 1 male Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
Earwigs:
- 1 female Common European Earwig Forficula dentata.
- 1 female Common European Earwig Forficula dentata.
Beetles:
- 1 probable $$ Cream-streaked Ladybird Harmonia quadripunctata
- 1 probable $$ Cream-streaked Ladybird Harmonia quadripunctata
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 unidentified spider
- 3 harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis
Sailing Club HQ
I again gave the walls of the sailing club HQ pre-dawn a miss.
Noted later elsewhere:
- 1 unidentified spider
- 3 harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis
Sailing Club HQ
I again gave the walls of the sailing club HQ pre-dawn a miss.
Noted later elsewhere:
Bees, wasps, etc.:
- Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- European Hornet Vespa crabro: just one noted again by the nest site
This Great Crested Grebe is not praying for the cloud to lift (even on a Sunday) but is swallowing a small fish it had just caught. Swallowing it too quickly for me get the camera on it.
"Come in number eight your time is up". The Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla on same pole as yesterday but at a slightly different position. It was doing a good job at hiding: I walked past it twice without noticing it. It seemed an unusually brown specimen and there is a species called Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla. That species should not be flying after mid-August and it does not hold its folded wings so tightly wrapped as the Common Plume here. The Field Guide notes Common Plume may be "pale greyish white to dark reddish brown". Most illustrations only show the pale form.
Well the street lamp manufacturer's name is in focus even if neither of the two November Moths Epirrita sp. is! As far as I am aware the apparent size difference does not help with specific identification.
Two of the three springtails Pogonognathellus longicornis-type with one holdings its antennae at a jaunty angle.
It is only the male of the Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii that has the dark marks on his wing tips.
A female Common European Earwig Forficula dentata trying to hide in a fold in a street lamp pole. A female because the pincers are less curved than on a male.
I believe this is my first-ever Cream-streaked Ladybird Harmonia quadripunctata. Obsidentify was 80% sure it was a Harlequin Ladybird H. axyridis. I think not on the basis of the spotting on the more extensively white pronotum. This ladybird is very variable in both ground colour and extent of spotting on the elytra. Thus I can find no perfect match with any photos on the internet to make me 100% happy.
Frustrating. This is the fourth day I have seen what is probably this same small spider in more or less the same location. On none of those days has the camera focussed on it to get an identifiable view.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
- Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- European Hornet Vespa crabro: just one noted again by the nest site
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 62 midges of various species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 62 midges of various species
Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 3 spiders: usual suspects
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:25
- 3 spiders: usual suspects
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:20 – 10:25
(246th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- now 13 Mute Swans noted.
- yesterday's Shoveler not seen: the island area was mostly invisible
- 10 Goosanders today, still including one drake
- just four Great Crested Grebes but could have been more
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 3 Canada Geese
- >70 Greylag Geese: estimated from the shapes in the mist along the edge of the island
- 13 Mute Swans
- 28 (20♂) Mallard
- 3 (2?♂) Tufted Duck again
- 10 (1♂) Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- no meaningful count of Coots possible
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 13 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
Warblers recorded.
Noted on / around the water:
- 3 Canada Geese
- >70 Greylag Geese: estimated from the shapes in the mist along the edge of the island
- 13 Mute Swans
- 28 (20♂) Mallard
- 3 (2?♂) Tufted Duck again
- 10 (1♂) Goosander
- 11 Moorhens
- no meaningful count of Coots possible
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- 13 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
Warblers recorded.
None
Noted around the area:
Noted around the area:
Moths:
- 1 November Moth type Epirrita sp.: same place as yesterday
- 1 November Moth type Epirrita sp.: same place as yesterday
Bees, wasps, etc.:
- 1 Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
- 1 Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris
Beetles:
- 1 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- 1 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
- 1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
Fungus:
- fungus, perhaps Angel's Bonnet Mycena arcangeliana, certainly Mycena sp.
A 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata examining a fold in a street lamp pole, no doubt looking for a snug place to over-winter.
Look: another harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus with all eight legs! Look again: follow the harvestman's right pedipalp and there is a tiny insect with a pale band around its body. It may be a very small springtail. I did not see it at the time: well the harvestman was at least ten feet above my head-height.
This fungus is perhaps Angel's Bonnet Mycena arcangeliana which was the best suggestion of Obsidentify when I showed it the real thing.
Obsidentify's best suggestion when I showed it this edited photo was Burgundydrop Bonnet Mycena haematopus. Perhaps I should stick with Mycena sp.
(Ed Wilson)
- fungus, perhaps Angel's Bonnet Mycena arcangeliana, certainly Mycena sp.
Thirteen Mute Swans apparently Happy Together (just like Turtles. RIP Mark Volman)
The drake and one of nine brownhead Goosanders in the mist.
A better view of a November Moth Epirrita sp. even if it is the same one I photographed here yesterday.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012
Priorslee Lake
1 Shoveler
1 Wigeon
2 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
4 Wigeon
12 Song Thrushes
Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Bittern
Redwing
Siskin
1 Chiffchaff
53 Swans
Wigeon
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Tawny Owl
Stonechat
Common Gull
29 Redwings
27 Fieldfare
6 Siskins
1 Redpoll
3 Chiffchaffs
29 Greenfinches
4 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
9 Pochard
18 Lapwings
17 Meadow Pipits
36 Robins
24 Blackbirds
8 Song Thrushes
9 Redwings
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake
1 Shoveler
1 Wigeon
2 Raven
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
4 Wigeon
12 Song Thrushes
Chiffchaff
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
Bittern
Redwing
Siskin
1 Chiffchaff
53 Swans
Wigeon
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Tawny Owl
Stonechat
Common Gull
29 Redwings
27 Fieldfare
6 Siskins
1 Redpoll
3 Chiffchaffs
29 Greenfinches
4 Reed Bunting
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
9 Pochard
18 Lapwings
17 Meadow Pipits
36 Robins
24 Blackbirds
8 Song Thrushes
9 Redwings
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)