10.0°C > 12.0°C: Amazing: stars visible when I arrived! Soon clouded with some occasional very light rain after 10:00. Moderate easterly wind. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:43 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: 05:55 – 09:30
(254th visit of the year)
Bird notes
My first Fieldfare of the second-winter period flew over. There were also several small parties of Wood Pigeons that were likely migrants. Also several small groups of Redwings. And not to be outdone a small group of Skylarks flew over, oddly going East.
Other bird notes:
- two single Canada Geese arrived and soon after departed together.
- the daily movement of westbound geese took place. I photographed six skeins totalling 105 birds. There were also two singles. Amongst the skeins were the three mostly white feral geese, presumably those seen at The Flash later. On sound all the geese were Greylags: the photos are not clear-enough to confirm that and with a group of 16 Canadas noted at The Flash I have logged them all as geese sp.
- the pair of Gadwall remain.
- it was again mayhem early on with significant numbers of both Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. For a change it was a few Black-headed Gulls that were the first arrivals. Also many early Lesser Black-backed Gulls did not stop off, flying straight over.
- again there was a sizeable arrival of large gulls later on.
- the Tawny Owl was calling alongside Teece Drive c.06:00.
- two Chiffchaffs were noted with both seen as well heard calling.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *107 geese, all westbound: see notes
- 104 Wood Pigeons: of these 88 flew over as six apparent migrant groups
- c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Cormorants: together
- 6 Skylarks: together East
- 168 Jackdaws
- 267 Rooks
- 13 Starlings: two groups
- 21 Fieldfare: also in two groups
- 54 Redwings: five groups
- 3 Pied Wagtails
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: arrived separately and departed together
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 27 (15♂) Mallard
- 8 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 38 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes as usual
- >600 Black-headed Gulls: 72 (of these?) seen on the football field c.07:50.
- 19 Herring Gulls
- c.150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: c.100 early and then c.50 later arrivals
- 1 Grey Heron
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
A more modest offering after overnight rain and a breeze blowing on many of the poles.
Two (four?) skeins of westbound geese. These all seem to be Greylag Geese except for the bird at the top-back of the front skein which is a mainly white feral goose.
This hoverfly was not well-positioned for the camera to "see" through the folded wings to see the abdomen pattern clearly. Probably a Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus.
A 100% ID from Obsidentify: a Palloptera scutellata. If correct it is a new insect for me and one of a group known as trembling-wing flies. Per NatureSpot trembling-wing flies "because of the striking vibration of the wings in many species". Not this one while I was looking at it.
"Fly unknown" was the suggestion from Obsidentify. As a pedant I prefer the term "unidentified" since I am sure it is known, just not by Obsidentify (or me!)
One of two Common Froghoppers Philaenus spumarius that were on the same street lamp pole pre-dawn.
A tiny beetle with swollen hind femurs suggests it is a flea beetle. The photo does not show much detail (it is only 2mm and tests the camera's built-in macro facility to the limit). The colour of the elytra would fit Ragwort Flea Beetle Longitarsus jacobaeae. There is plenty of Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris in the area.
(251st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *three mainly white feral geese with the Greylags along the edge of the island.
- 11 Mute Swans again
- no sign of yesterday's Little Grebe.
- at least 18 Siskins flew over together. An unseen group was heard later when trees were blocking my view of the sky. Later still two flew in to tree tops.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 Jackdaws
- 5 Starlings: together
- 18+ Siskins: see notes
Noted on / around the water:
- 20 Canada Geese
- *63 Greylag Geese at least
- *3 mainly white feral geese
- 11 Mute Swans
- 27 (18♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 22 (2♂) Goosander
- 8 Moorhens again
- 105 Coots
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- *52 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls: various ages
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; three adults, one immature
- *11 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted around the area:
(Ed Wilson)
* = 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: 05:55 – 09:30
(254th visit of the year)
Bird notes
My first Fieldfare of the second-winter period flew over. There were also several small parties of Wood Pigeons that were likely migrants. Also several small groups of Redwings. And not to be outdone a small group of Skylarks flew over, oddly going East.
Other bird notes:
- two single Canada Geese arrived and soon after departed together.
- the daily movement of westbound geese took place. I photographed six skeins totalling 105 birds. There were also two singles. Amongst the skeins were the three mostly white feral geese, presumably those seen at The Flash later. On sound all the geese were Greylags: the photos are not clear-enough to confirm that and with a group of 16 Canadas noted at The Flash I have logged them all as geese sp.
- the pair of Gadwall remain.
- it was again mayhem early on with significant numbers of both Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. For a change it was a few Black-headed Gulls that were the first arrivals. Also many early Lesser Black-backed Gulls did not stop off, flying straight over.
- again there was a sizeable arrival of large gulls later on.
- the Tawny Owl was calling alongside Teece Drive c.06:00.
- two Chiffchaffs were noted with both seen as well heard calling.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *107 geese, all westbound: see notes
- 104 Wood Pigeons: of these 88 flew over as six apparent migrant groups
- c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Cormorants: together
- 6 Skylarks: together East
- 168 Jackdaws
- 267 Rooks
- 13 Starlings: two groups
- 21 Fieldfare: also in two groups
- 54 Redwings: five groups
- 3 Pied Wagtails
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese: arrived separately and departed together
- 2 Mute Swans
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 27 (15♂) Mallard
- 8 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 38 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes as usual
- >600 Black-headed Gulls: 72 (of these?) seen on the football field c.07:50.
- 19 Herring Gulls
- c.150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: c.100 early and then c.50 later arrivals
- 1 Grey Heron
Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 2 (0) Chiffchaffs
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
A more modest offering after overnight rain and a breeze blowing on many of the poles.
Moths:
- 5 November Moth types Epirrita sp.
- 5 November Moth types Epirrita sp.
Hoverflies:
- *1 probable Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
- *1 probable Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
Other flies:
- 1 female Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
- *1 possible Palloptera scutellata: a trembling-wing fly
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
- 1 "unidentified blackfly" (not a blackfly aphid sp.)
- *more unidentified flies
- 1 female Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
- *1 possible Palloptera scutellata: a trembling-wing fly
- 1 winter cranefly Trichocera sp.
- 1 "unidentified blackfly" (not a blackfly aphid sp.)
- *more unidentified flies
Bugs:
- *2 Common Froghoppers Philaenus spumarius
- *2 Common Froghoppers Philaenus spumarius
Beetles:
- *1 flea beetle just possible Ragwort Flea Beetle Longitarsus jacobaeae
- *1 flea beetle just possible Ragwort Flea Beetle Longitarsus jacobaeae
Earwigs:
- 1 unsexed Common European Earwig Forficula dentata (jumped off before I could photo it!)
- 1 unsexed Common European Earwig Forficula dentata (jumped off before I could photo it!)
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
- 1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
- 1 harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis
Noted on the walls of the sailing club HQ pre-dawn:
Nothing other than...
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
- 1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
- 1 harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis
Noted on the walls of the sailing club HQ pre-dawn:
Nothing other than...
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 28 spiders: usual suspects
Noted later elsewhere:
- 28 spiders: usual suspects
Noted later elsewhere:
Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 European Hornet Vespa crabro flew past me. None seen around the nest site
- 1 European Hornet Vespa crabro flew past me. None seen around the nest site
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
- 1 harvestman Dicranopalpus ramosus/caudatus
Eleven more Greylags.
Another skein also with a mainly white feral goose as tail-end Charlie (or is that sexist?)
The other one.
The council may have mown down all the Shaggy Inkcap or Lawyer's Wig fungus Coprinus comatus in the area around the football field but there are a few in the grounds of the academy. This taken by poking my phone camera between the railings – not something I'd attempt unless school was out.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
Moths:
- 1 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria: essentially at the same location but slightly re-orientated
- 1 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria: essentially at the same location but slightly re-orientated
Flies:
- 54 midges of various species
- 54 midges of various species
Arthropods:
- 2 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
- 2 White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 5 spiders: usual suspects
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:35
- 5 spiders: usual suspects
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:35 – 10:35
(251st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *three mainly white feral geese with the Greylags along the edge of the island.
- 11 Mute Swans again
- no sign of yesterday's Little Grebe.
- at least 18 Siskins flew over together. An unseen group was heard later when trees were blocking my view of the sky. Later still two flew in to tree tops.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Cormorant
- 3 Jackdaws
- 5 Starlings: together
- 18+ Siskins: see notes
Noted on / around the water:
- 20 Canada Geese
- *63 Greylag Geese at least
- *3 mainly white feral geese
- 11 Mute Swans
- 27 (18♂) Mallard
- 4 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 22 (2♂) Goosander
- 8 Moorhens again
- 105 Coots
- 7 Great Crested Grebes
- *52 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls: various ages
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; three adults, one immature
- *11 Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
Noted around the area:
Moths:
- *2 November Moth types Epirrita sp.
- *2 November Moth types Epirrita sp.
Nothing else
Eight Greylag Geese, three mostly white feral geese, two adult-winter Black-headed Gulls and an immature Cormorant.
One of my "record shots". There was only one November Moth type on the street lamp pole yesterday. Against the trend of many fewer this morning at the Balancing Lake there were two in squirrel alley this morning.
A brownhead Goosander. The flanks were not really that pale. I blame the poor light.
This drake is not much better. It does show the bottle-green head of adult drakes.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009
Priorslee Lake
63 Mute Swan
7 Wigeon
14 Pochard
26 Tufted Duck
c.600 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
6 Herring Gull
1 Yellow Legged Gull
27 Redwings
3 Fieldfare
2 Willow Tits
(Mike Cooper / Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
>100 Tufted Duck
2 Water Rail
107 Redwings
176 Fieldfare
19 Siskins
4 Skylarks
3 Meadow Pipits
2 Redpolls
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
2 Shoveler
37 Redwing
1 Fieldfare
250+ Starlings in the roost
11 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
202 Coot
5 Moorhen
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake
63 Mute Swan
7 Wigeon
14 Pochard
26 Tufted Duck
c.600 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
6 Herring Gull
1 Yellow Legged Gull
27 Redwings
3 Fieldfare
2 Willow Tits
(Mike Cooper / Ed Wilson)
2008
Priorslee Lake
>100 Tufted Duck
2 Water Rail
107 Redwings
176 Fieldfare
19 Siskins
4 Skylarks
3 Meadow Pipits
2 Redpolls
(Ed Wilson)
2005
Priorslee Lake
2 Shoveler
37 Redwing
1 Fieldfare
250+ Starlings in the roost
11 Pochard
48 Tufted Duck
202 Coot
5 Moorhen
(Ed Wilson)