7.0°C > 11.0°C: Clear periods early then overcast at medium / high level. Moderate westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:10 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:20 – 06:25 // 07:30 – 09:25
(115th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- *the seven Greylag Geese goslings still doing well.
- what seemed to be a trio of Mallard ducklings quickly disappeared in to the reeds.
- two adult Herring Gulls and two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on the football field c.06:05. When a first year Lesser Black-back joined them they all immediately flew off.
- today's warbler update:
eight singing Reed Warbler.
no Common Whitethroat seen or heard.
- *at least 22 Starlings, mostly juveniles, were on the football field c.06:05
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair flew West
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 7 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Jackdaws
Counts from the lake area:
- *4 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: a pair arrived to annoy the residents
- 2 Mute Swans (assuming the pen is on the nest, hidden in the reeds)
- 12 (9♂) + 3? (1 brood) Mallard: see notes
- 6 (5♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- 19 + 2 (1 brood) Coots
- 4 Great Crested Grebes again
- 2 Herring Gulls: see notes
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 2 Grey Herons: neither seen later
Hirundines etc. noted:
- >30 Swifts: pair seen mating on the wing
- >2 Sand Martins
- >8 Barn Swallows
- >12 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 12 (12) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (8) Reed Warblers
- 19 (17) Blackcaps
- no Common Whitethroats
On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Flies:
- 4 midges
Noted around the area later:
cool and overcast conditions
- 4 midges
Noted around the area later:
cool and overcast conditions
Butterflies:
- none
- none
Moths:
- none
- none
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
- *Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
- none
- none
Other flies:
- *Balloon Fly Hilara maura or similar
- *Root-maggot fly, perhaps a Leucophora sp.
- *Tachinid fly Lypha dubia
- *Muscid fly, perhaps Phaonia subventa
- Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria
- *Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- many unidentified species
- *Balloon Fly Hilara maura or similar
- *Root-maggot fly, perhaps a Leucophora sp.
- *Tachinid fly Lypha dubia
- *Muscid fly, perhaps Phaonia subventa
- Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria
- *Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- many unidentified species
Bugs:
- Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
- Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Beetles:
- *7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
Juvenile Starlings in their overall brown plumage do not look much like their parents. [The fence was angled away from me – honest!]
An Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum tucks in to nectar from the flower of Ramsons [or Wild Garlic] Allium ursinum.
In a buttercup flower I noted this small fly with swelling on the front legs. It is one of the Balloon Flies Hilara maura or similar. There are several similar species. All the males in the family present prospective partners with a dead fly: the Hilara exude silk from their swollen legs and wrap the present in the silk.
Obsidentify was certain this is the Muscid fly Phaonia subventa. Normally I would record it as Phaonia subventa/rufiventris as I do not know how to separate the species in photographs.
As it turns slightly something I have never noticed before: the abdomen appears banded. It is the separation of the abdomen segments that gives this appearance. There are 11 segments, called urites, in flies though many can be much reduced and not normally visible.
(Ed Wilson)
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
- *7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
Quite an armful as the adult Greylag Goose keeps the seven goslings warm!
It only seemed to be the juveniles on the fence. The adults were on the grass gathering food.
Tongue extended fully here.
Another at rest. This one showing a very indistinct midriff band of colour.
This is a Root-maggot fly the banded brown abdomen suggesting one of the Leucophora species.
This brassy-looking fly is the Tachinid fly Lypha dubia.
A Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria
A male Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
Another feeding from the flowers in an umbel of Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
One many unidentified fly species today (and every day!).
And another.
A 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata demonstrates its water-repellent properties.
(Ed Wilson)
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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
- 9 midges of at least three species again
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:30 – 07:25
- 9 midges of at least three species again
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 06:30 – 07:25
(112th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- five visiting Mute Swans remain
- *a pair of Canada Geese with four young: how this relates to the five goslings seen Wednesday is unknown. Six of the adults departed as separate pairs.
- *a pair of Greylag Geese with three goslings.
- a lone drake Tufted Duck again.
- juvenile Coots heard only.
- no sign of either Great Crested Grebe and a Coot seen standing on the nest platform.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Noted on / around the water:
- *22 + 4 (1 brood) Canada Geese: see notes
- *2 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 7 Mute Swans: (assuming the resident pen is hidden on the nest): see notes
- 19 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 18 + ?H (2 broods) Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
Bird notes:
- five visiting Mute Swans remain
- *a pair of Canada Geese with four young: how this relates to the five goslings seen Wednesday is unknown. Six of the adults departed as separate pairs.
- *a pair of Greylag Geese with three goslings.
- a lone drake Tufted Duck again.
- juvenile Coots heard only.
- no sign of either Great Crested Grebe and a Coot seen standing on the nest platform.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Noted on / around the water:
- *22 + 4 (1 brood) Canada Geese: see notes
- *2 + 3 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 7 Mute Swans: (assuming the resident pen is hidden on the nest): see notes
- 19 (17♂) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 18 + ?H (2 broods) Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
None
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Notes around the area:
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 4 (4) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Blackcaps
Notes around the area:
Moths:
- *1 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata
- *1 Common Marbled Carpet Chloroclysta truncata
Flies:
- 1 wood gnat, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis
- 1 unidentified midge
Not what it might seem at first glance with its black cap. The very short stubby bill provides a clue. It is a juvenile Long-tailed Tit. At this age the pattern of dark and light feathers on the head differs markedly from adult plumage.
Here is another juvenile. This one does not show a black cap. I am not sure why. Is it because the crown feathers are raised? Or perhaps just started moulting in to adult plumage earlier?
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
Grasshopper Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Wheatear
1 Ruddy Duck
(Malcolm Thompson/Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Cuckoo
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)
- 1 wood gnat, perhaps Sylvicola fenestralis
- 1 unidentified midge
The pair of Canada Geese with four goslings.
A proud Greylag Goose parent with its trio of goslings.
A Blue Tit feeding in one of the mane Willow trees.
Here is an adult...
...looking ecstatic after having a good scratch.
Yes you!
"No publicity please".
In close-up...
...again.
Close up and personal with a Dunnock.
A Common Marbled Carpet moth Chloroclysta truncata: my moth species #9 here this year
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
Grasshopper Warbler
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Wheatear
1 Ruddy Duck
(Malcolm Thompson/Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
Cuckoo
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)