10.0°C > 11.0°C: Guess: another overcast morning.. Light south-easterly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:41 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: 05:50 – 09:30
(253rd visit of the year)
Not new for the year here but worth highlighting. *My second Red Kite here in 2025 flew over at 08:50. A species that is spreading out from its stronghold in Wales and the Borders and will likely be seen more frequently in the future.
Bird notes:
- the erstwhile daily party of Greylag Geese did not materialise.
- *a trio of Shoveler were seen departing: at least one was a drake
- a pair of Gadwall remain.
- it was mayhem early on with large numbers of both Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Many of them put to flight by the Grey Heron moving around the lake with birds streaming out to the East and south-east becoming mixed up with a larger than usual passage of Jackdaws and Rooks. Possibly many more than I have estimated. In particular gulls seen moving south-east may not have visited at all.
- long after all the early gulls had all departed there was a sizeable arrival of large gulls and as seems to be usual at the moment it is only then that any Herring Gulls are noted. There could have been immatures earlier – they are harder to pick-out in the poor light.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 23 Wood Pigeons only
- 2 Herring Gulls
- 49 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at least
- *1 Red Kite
- 241 Jackdaws
- 248 Rooks
- 5 Redwings
- 4 Pied Wagtails
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- *3 (1♂?) Shoveler: departed
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 23 (14♂) Mallard
- 2 (0♂) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens only
- 41 Coots again
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- >900 Black-headed Gulls
- *20 Herring Gulls
- c.650 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: at least 500 early and then 150+ later arrivals
- 1 Grey Heron
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
- *1 Oak Longhorn Carcina quercana [was Long-horned Flat-body]
- *17 November Moth types Epirrita sp.
- *1 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria
- *1 Oak Longhorn Carcina quercana [was Long-horned Flat-body]
- *17 November Moth types Epirrita sp.
- *1 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria
Flies:
- 1 male mosquito, perhaps Culex pipiens
- 5 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
- 2 aphids
- *various unidentified flies
- 1 male mosquito, perhaps Culex pipiens
- 5 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
- 2 aphids
- *various unidentified flies
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.
- 2 Bridge Orb-web Spiders Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
- *2 Nursery Web Spiders Pisaura mirabilis
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
- 1 other spider
- 2 harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis
Noted on the walls of the sailing club HQ pre-dawn:
- *1 Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.
- 2 Bridge Orb-web Spiders Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
- *2 Nursery Web Spiders Pisaura mirabilis
- 1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
- 1 other spider
- 2 harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis
Noted on the walls of the sailing club HQ pre-dawn:
Flies:
- 1 unidentified plumed midge
- *1 cranefly Tipula pagana
- 1 unidentified plumed midge
- *1 cranefly Tipula pagana
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 40 spiders: usual suspects
Noted later elsewhere:
- 40 spiders: usual suspects
Noted later elsewhere:
Flies:
- *1 possible Scoliocentra villosa
- *1 possible Scoliocentra villosa
Nothing else: I spent about three minutes near the Hornet nest site and saw nothing
A trio of Shoveler departing. It is not possible to be certain of the bill shape at this range. Identification is by a combination of the curving white area in the centre of the wing and, especially prominent on the middle bird, the pale (blue!) forewing. So this bird is a drake. The angle of the wings of the other birds is not helpful. The forewings look less pale and these two are probably ducks.
"I want to stand on the buoy. Get off" Two first-winter Herring Gulls dispute who is going to be "King of the Castle".
An Oak Longhorn moth Carcina quercana. "Where's the longhorn (antennae)?" I hear you say. I have no idea!
I got half-way yesterday with a November Moth type Epirrita sp. wings half closed. Here is one with the wings held, unusually, over its back at rest. The bright area on the head is eye-shine from the camera flash. Would the red-eye setting work on insects?
Yet another "record shot". This time a distant Red Kite.
Could be worse?
A cranefly Tipula pagana on a wall of the Telford Sailing Clun HQ.
A winter cranefly Trichocera sp. with a friend: an aphid perhaps.
Fly unidentified #1. I am a bit pushed for time today. I may have another look later.
On the right fly unidentified #2. On the left another aphid perhaps.
Today's Stout Sac Spider Clubiona sp.
Very smart. A Nursery Web Spider Pisaura mirabilis.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
Moths:
- 1 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria: same location as yesterday
- 1 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria: same location as yesterday
Flies:
- *1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
- 56 midges of various species
- *1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
- 56 midges of various species
Arthropods:
- *1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- *1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 spiders only: usual suspects
Another "no real idea" small fly. The long wings suggest an aphid. I am not all sure this suggestion is supported either by the long antennae or the V-shaped dark area on the abdomen.
(250th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- 14 of the Canada Geese flew in with the lone Greylag for company
- 11 Mute Swans again
- the two drake Goosanders were noted on the island with four brownheads for company. 18 other brownheads were on the water.
- *a Little Grebe was probably a new arrival though this often secretive species could have been here a while.
- a large cohort of Herring Gulls; why?
- two Skylark heard over
- my first Siskins of the Autumn here flew over.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws
- 2 Skylarks
- 2 Siskins
Noted on / around the water:
- 23 Canada Geese: 14 of these flew in with....
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 11 Mute Swans
- 29 (20♂) Mallard
- 8 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 24 (2♂) Goosander: see notes
- *8 Moorhens
- 102 Coots
- *1 Little Grebe
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 27 Black-headed Gulls
- 14 Herring Gulls: various ages
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; two adults, two immatures
- 13 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted around the area:
- 2 spiders only: usual suspects
A "regular-looking" moth fly Psychodidae sp., though one of very many indistinguishable species.
A White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger. Most of my recent sighting have been of puny individuals so this well-developed specimen was worth a photo.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:45
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 09:35 – 10:45
(250th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- 14 of the Canada Geese flew in with the lone Greylag for company
- 11 Mute Swans again
- the two drake Goosanders were noted on the island with four brownheads for company. 18 other brownheads were on the water.
- *a Little Grebe was probably a new arrival though this often secretive species could have been here a while.
- a large cohort of Herring Gulls; why?
- two Skylark heard over
- my first Siskins of the Autumn here flew over.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws
- 2 Skylarks
- 2 Siskins
Noted on / around the water:
- 23 Canada Geese: 14 of these flew in with....
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 11 Mute Swans
- 29 (20♂) Mallard
- 8 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 24 (2♂) Goosander: see notes
- *8 Moorhens
- 102 Coots
- *1 Little Grebe
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 27 Black-headed Gulls
- 14 Herring Gulls: various ages
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; two adults, two immatures
- 13 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted around the area:
Moths:
- 1 November Moth type Epirrita sp.
- 1 November Moth type Epirrita sp.
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *1 Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris: hanging in web
- *1 Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris: hanging in web
Flies:
- 1 plumed midge
- 1 plumed midge
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
Small bird a long way away on a dull morning. That's my excuse for this photo of a Little Grebe. A Moorhen has photo-bombed the top right.
(Ed Wilson)
- *1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
This Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris does not look too happy hanging in a spider's web.
On the labels of the street light overhang I noted this Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
(Ed Wilson)
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2008
Priorslee Lake
992 Redwings
203 Fieldfare
Siskins
Redpolls
6 Pochard
c.150 Tufted Duck
Water Rail
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
18 Pochard
98 Tufted Ducks
1 duck Goldeneye
1 drake Ruddy Duck
1 Kingfisher
20 Pied Wagtails
18 Wrens
46 Robin
20 Blackbirds
6 Song Thrushes
42 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff
12 Starlings
52 Greenfinches
9 Goldfinches
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Wigeon
1 Shoveler
8 Pochard
64 Tufted Ducks
30 Robins
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake
992 Redwings
203 Fieldfare
Siskins
Redpolls
6 Pochard
c.150 Tufted Duck
Water Rail
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
18 Pochard
98 Tufted Ducks
1 duck Goldeneye
1 drake Ruddy Duck
1 Kingfisher
20 Pied Wagtails
18 Wrens
46 Robin
20 Blackbirds
6 Song Thrushes
42 Redwings
1 Chiffchaff
12 Starlings
52 Greenfinches
9 Goldfinches
2 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Wigeon
1 Shoveler
8 Pochard
64 Tufted Ducks
30 Robins
(Ed Wilson)