10.0°C > 14.0°C: Cloudy at low level, lifting somewhat later. Almost calm. Good visibility.
Sunrise: 07:16 GMT
* = a species photographed today
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year
$$ = my first ever recorded sighting of the species in the area
A few changes. Were these due to the fireworks last evening or to the much calmer conditions?
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:50 – 09:25
(272nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- two Mute Swans flew East low overhead without ever looking as if they even thought about visiting. Probably the birds missing from The Flash when I visited later.
- two pairs of Gadwall back again.
- a trio of (Eurasian) Wigeon (one drake) were seen circling as if they might splash down. I did not see them again so have logged them as fly-overs.
- a single drake Pochard was new in. The number of Tufted Duck was lower.
- the Lesser Black-backed Gulls had no qualms about visiting today with c.70 arriving from 06:38 onwards. These all departed by 07:15. Later c.55 flew in. At least 25 Herring Gulls were with them.
- the Black-headed Gulls did not start arriving until 06:55 and then the first 15 departed almost as soon as they arrived. Eventually there were c.125.
- three large parties of Wood Pigeons estimated at c.700 birds more or less lost in the low cloud. No small groups noted. Unusually several singles and duos were heading north-north-west whereas the large migrant groups usually head south-west or South.
- many fewer Jackdaws and Rooks: why?
- 24 Starlings were seen heading East: strange. These seeming to be too high to have come from a lake-side roost. Later several small parties heading West as is usual.
- two very large parties of Redwings flew West (c.200 and c.400). These groups were on a very broad front and both of them happened when of part of the sky was blocked by trees. A few small groups also. Then at least 15 in the West end bushes much later.
- the Blackbird was again singing quietly c.06:10.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: eastbound together
- *77 Greylag Geese: westbound more or less together
- no mainly white feral geese identified among the Greylags
- *2 Mute Swans: eastbound together
- 3 (1♂) (Eurasian) Wigeon
- c.750 Wood Pigeons: of these c.700 in three migrant groups
- 6 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 Herring Gulls
- 46 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 260 Jackdaws
- 32 Rooks
- 95 Starlings: six groups
- 28 Fieldfare
- c.650 Redwings: five groups
- 2 Siskins
Birds seen leaving roosts around the lake
- 1 Redwing only
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 12 (7♂) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) Pochard
- 28 (17?♂) Tufted Duck
- 8 Moorhens again
- 38 Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes
- c.125 Black-headed Gulls
- 25 Herring Gulls
- c.125 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: c.70 by 07:00; c.55 arrived after 08:05
- 1 Cormorant: arrived
- no Grey Heron
Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:
Moths:
- 1 November Moth type Epirrita sp.
- *1 Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria: same date as my first log in 2024; species #96 this year
- *1 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria
- 1 November Moth type Epirrita sp.
- *1 Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria: same date as my first log in 2024; species #96 this year
- *1 Mottled Umber Erranis defoliaria
Flies:
- 4 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
- 1 fly Dryomyza anilis
- 4 winter craneflies Trichocera sp.
- 1 fly Dryomyza anilis
Springtails:
- 1 springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis-type
- 1 springtail Pogonognathellus longicornis-type
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 probable Common House Spider Eratigena atrica
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis
Noted later on the Teece Drive fence:
- *1 probable Common House Spider Eratigena atrica
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis
Noted later on the Teece Drive fence:
Springtails etc.:
- 1 springtail Orchesella cincta
- 1 springtail Orchesella cincta
Beetles:
- *1 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- *1 ground beetle Leistus rufomarginatus
About 14 hours after the Beaver Full Moon, here about to disappear behind cloud, already drawing a thin veil over it. At the moment the moon is closer to the Earth than usual making the moon appear larger, most notably when it is close to the horizon: a Supermoon.
73 geese here. There is not enough detail to find any of the all-white feral geese that are hanging around with the Greylag Geese. I have assumed all these are Greylags. A group of four were close behind.
The two Mute Swans that passed over without so much as a glance. Perhaps the two "missing" from The Flash?
Birds do not miss a trick. These two Blue Tits were examining a street light for insects either attracted to the light or, more likely, caught in webs of spiders similarly using the light.
Here in Blackthorn bushes Prunus spinosa with a few sloes in view. Some other Blackthorns are laden with sloes.
A male Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria: here on the same date as my first log in 2024; species #96 this year. Only the male has the feathered antennae which he uses to detect the female pheromones. This is the only species of thorn moth that rests with the wings flat.
A male Mottled Umber moth Erranis defoliaria. As with many species of moths that occur in Winter the females are more or less flightless with either no or only vestigial wings. The female of this species is completely wingless.
This 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata thinks it has found a bolt-hole for the winter. Actually it is a nail hole where an upright has been over-enthusiastically attached to a cross-member on the Teece Drive fence.
(266th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- many geese on the water when I arrived. More flew in later.
- just one pair of Mute Swans. Perhaps the other two from yesterday were the two seen earlier over the Balancing Lake.
- only the drake (Common) Teal found by the island.
- I had expected to see fewer Goosanders. I though this species would react badly to the fireworks. Apparently not so.
- *two Little Grebes seen.
- with light winds the non-fishing Cormorants were easy to see in the tree-tops.
- two grey Heron, *one a very bold individual, here today.
- the Little Egret still here and until a loud spat between several dogs scared it away so too was a *Great (White) Egret.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 7 Wood Pigeons: a high-flying migrant group
Noted on / around the water:
- 52 Canada Geese
- 80 Greylag Geese
- 3 mainly white feral geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 29 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) (Common) Teal
- 6 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 67 (13♂) Goosander: maybe more
- 8 Moorhens
- *74 Coots
- *2 Little Grebes
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 19 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- *9 Cormorants
- *2 Grey Herons
- *1 Great (White) Egret: departed
- 1 Little Egret
Noted around the area:
It did not like the loud spat between several dogs and flew off. The heron was witness to the dogs scrapping and remained unmoved!
...compare. I do not recall ever seen a black Honey Bee before. According to Steven Falk's Field Guide to Bees this is not uncommon.
A Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus, a species of hoverfly. One alternative name, White-footed Hoverfly, is misleading. Only males have this feature which is white on the front tarsus only. Also other species in the same genus also show this feature! Anyway this a female so not to worry that there are no white feet!
I am confident about this: it is Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon. Surely they should be called "Snuffed-candle fungus" as they look nothing like candle snuffers.
(Ed Wilson)
- *1 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- *1 ground beetle Leistus rufomarginatus
Record shot: a drake Pochard.
A few photos of the always photogenic Long-tailed Tits.
Has this one a tiny morsel its bill?
Always in a gang.
A ground beetle Leistus rufomarginatus or similar.
One of the arachnophobes! What is probably a Common House Spider Eratigena atrica though it might just be one of the Large House Spider-types in the Eratigena group.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel pre-dawn:
The inside of the tunnel was very wet with water drops hanging from the ceiling and running down the walls
Flies:
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 cranefly Tipula lateralis again
- 4 midges
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 cranefly Tipula lateralis again
- 4 midges
Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger again
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger again
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 9 spiders: usual species
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 09:30 – 10:40
- 9 spiders: usual species
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 09:30 – 10:40
(266th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- many geese on the water when I arrived. More flew in later.
- just one pair of Mute Swans. Perhaps the other two from yesterday were the two seen earlier over the Balancing Lake.
- only the drake (Common) Teal found by the island.
- I had expected to see fewer Goosanders. I though this species would react badly to the fireworks. Apparently not so.
- *two Little Grebes seen.
- with light winds the non-fishing Cormorants were easy to see in the tree-tops.
- two grey Heron, *one a very bold individual, here today.
- the Little Egret still here and until a loud spat between several dogs scared it away so too was a *Great (White) Egret.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 7 Wood Pigeons: a high-flying migrant group
Noted on / around the water:
- 52 Canada Geese
- 80 Greylag Geese
- 3 mainly white feral geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 29 (19♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) (Common) Teal
- 6 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 67 (13♂) Goosander: maybe more
- 8 Moorhens
- *74 Coots
- *2 Little Grebes
- 5 Great Crested Grebes
- 19 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Herring Gulls: all immatures
- *9 Cormorants
- *2 Grey Herons
- *1 Great (White) Egret: departed
- 1 Little Egret
Noted around the area:
Butterflies:
- 1 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta: no picture today
- 1 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta: no picture today
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *>2 Honey Bees Apis mellifera
- >15 wasps: as usual only Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris specifically identified
- *>2 Honey Bees Apis mellifera
- >15 wasps: as usual only Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris specifically identified
Hoverflies:
- 1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- *1 Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
- 1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- *1 Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
Other flies:
- *1 Muscid fly sp.
- *1 Root-maggot fly sp.
- *1 Muscid fly sp.
- *1 Root-maggot fly sp.
Springtails etc.:
- 1 springtail Orchesella cincta
- 1 springtail Orchesella cincta
Fungus:
- *a species of Coprinellus
- *Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon
Strange fruit! Light winds and the Cormorants can stand in the trees. There are nine here. One is well-hidden under #3 and #4 counting from the left.
One of two Grey Herons here today. Almost alongside the path it stared at passer-by several of whom stepped closer to take photos on their phones.
I stepped closer as well. This photo has only been slightly cropped to remove a few extraneous leaves from the background.
- *a species of Coprinellus
- *Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon
Now two Little Grebes.
One passing a sleeping(?) Coot. Neither was being as shy as they usually are.
Hardly a gentle splash-down by this Cormorant.
Hiding on the island was a Great (White) Egret. The long neck is sufficient to rule out Little Egret.
I doubt you can identify this as....
...part of this Honey Bee Apis mellifera! Take note of the abdomen pattern and...
A Muscid fly sp.
And a Root-maggot fly sp. There are many to choose from, too many looking similar to this one.
I think this fungus is a species of Coprinellus but which...?
(Ed Wilson)
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2013
Priorslee Lake
4 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
1 Teal
1 Pochard
64 Tufted Duck
21 Moorhens
235 Coots
5 Song Thrush
19 Fieldfare
18 Redwings
439 Jackdaws
89 Rooks
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
c.110 Greylag Geese
2 Gadwall
7 Pochard
32 Tufted Ducks
4 Moorhens
145 Coots
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.1650 Wood Pigeons
51 Redwings
302 Fieldfares
c.375 Jackdaws
c.100 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
18 Stock Doves
3800+ Wood Pigeons
6 Skylarks
1 Meadow Pipit
238 Fieldfare
19 Redwings
91 Starlings
3 Siskins
11 Linnets
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Yellow Legged Gull
2 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)
The Flash
1 Yellow Legged Gull
2 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
26 Greylag Geese
Gadwall
5 Shoveler
3 Pochard
79 Tufted Duck
1 Lapwing
Snipe
2 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
16 Redwings
3 Fieldfares
9 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Cormorants
3 Shoveler
3 Pochard
27 Tufted Duck
149 Coot
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
30 Pochard
111 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
47 Coots
c.562 Black-headed Gulls
63 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
89 Wood Pigeons
22 Pied Wagtails
20 Wrens
12 Dunnocks
27 Robins
31 Blackbirds
5 Song Thrushes
22 Redwings
16 Magpies
111 Jackdaws
68 Rooks
86 Greenfinches
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
Priorslee Lake
4 Wigeon
4 Gadwall
1 Teal
1 Pochard
64 Tufted Duck
21 Moorhens
235 Coots
5 Song Thrush
19 Fieldfare
18 Redwings
439 Jackdaws
89 Rooks
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
c.110 Greylag Geese
2 Gadwall
7 Pochard
32 Tufted Ducks
4 Moorhens
145 Coots
1 Great Black-backed Gull
c.1650 Wood Pigeons
51 Redwings
302 Fieldfares
c.375 Jackdaws
c.100 Rooks
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Pochard
40 Tufted Duck
18 Stock Doves
3800+ Wood Pigeons
6 Skylarks
1 Meadow Pipit
238 Fieldfare
19 Redwings
91 Starlings
3 Siskins
11 Linnets
1 Redpoll
(Ed Wilson)
2009
Priorslee Lake
2 Yellow Legged Gull
2 Wigeon
(John Isherwood)
The Flash
1 Yellow Legged Gull
2 Goosander
(John Isherwood)
2008
Priorslee Lake
26 Greylag Geese
Gadwall
5 Shoveler
3 Pochard
79 Tufted Duck
1 Lapwing
Snipe
2 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
16 Redwings
3 Fieldfares
9 Siskins
(Ed Wilson)
Trench Lock Pool
4 Cormorants
3 Shoveler
3 Pochard
27 Tufted Duck
149 Coot
1 Yellow-legged Gull
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 Little Grebe
30 Pochard
111 Tufted Ducks
1 drake Ruddy Duck
47 Coots
c.562 Black-headed Gulls
63 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
89 Wood Pigeons
22 Pied Wagtails
20 Wrens
12 Dunnocks
27 Robins
31 Blackbirds
5 Song Thrushes
22 Redwings
16 Magpies
111 Jackdaws
68 Rooks
86 Greenfinches
7 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)