8.0°C > 12.0°C: Clear early. Cloud bubbled up after c.09:00 and mostly cloudy by 09:45. Moderate north-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:30 BST
* = a species photographed today
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:15 – 06:25 // 07:30 – 09:55
(107th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- the seven Greylag Geese goslings remain.
- a group of seven Mallard ducklings seen. These were not very new but certainly hatched since I last noted any here.
- seven drakes were still chasing one female Tufted Duck. No others seen today.
- the Great Crested Grebes were all out on the water today: it was the Coots that were hiding.
- one Common Sandpiper noted.
- no gulls seen today.
- a few changes in the warblers:
now two Sedge Warblers along the South side. One songster still beside of the path just inside the Castle Farm Way gate.
seven singing Reed Warblers one of which was singing from the scrubby area between the South side path and the M54: a strange location.
a Garden Warbler was singing from its traditional nesting area in the tallest bushes alongside the M54.
*two Common Whitethroats neither around the usual nest site. One was halfway along the South side, the other at the West end alongside the footpath.
- *in addition to five Starlings passing over the football field on food collection duty I noted five doing the same on the grass alongside the upper pool between the lake and The Flash. I cannot recall seeing any there previously.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 12 Wood Pigeons
That's all!
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Canada Geese throughout
- 2 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese throughout
- 2 Mute Swans
- *9 (8♂) + 7 (1 brood) Mallard
- 9 (8♂) Tufted Duck
- 1 Moorhen only
- 19 Coots only
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
- 8 Barn Swallows
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 14 (13) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (3) Sedge Warbler again: see notes
- 8 (7) Reed Warblers: see notes
- 20 (17) Blackcaps
- *2 (2) Common Whitethroat: see notes
- 1 (1) Garden Warbler: see notes
On the West end street lamp poles post-dawn:
Disappointing again:
Flies:
- *1 probably long-legged fly Scellus notatus
Noted around the area later:
- *1 probably long-legged fly Scellus notatus
Noted around the area later:
Butterflies:
- 4 Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines: all males
- 1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 4 Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines: all males
- 1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Caterpillar:
- *unidentified caterpillar – butterfly? moth? sawfly?
- *unidentified caterpillar – butterfly? moth? sawfly?
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee
- *Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis
- *sawfly Aglaostigma fulvipes
- *Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee
- *Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis
- *sawfly Aglaostigma fulvipes
Hoverflies:
- *Buttercup Cheilosia Cheilosia albitarsus
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Common Spotted Field Syrph Eupeodes luniger [Lunuled Aphideater]
- Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
- *probable Tuberculate Stripe-back Parhelophilus frutetorum
- *Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii [Common Flower Fly]
- Syrphus sp.
- *Buttercup Cheilosia Cheilosia albitarsus
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Common Spotted Field Syrph Eupeodes luniger [Lunuled Aphideater]
- Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
- *probable Tuberculate Stripe-back Parhelophilus frutetorum
- *Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii [Common Flower Fly]
- Syrphus sp.
Dragon- / damsel-flies:
- *Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]: my earliest date for this species – one day earlier than 2025 which was my earliest.
- *Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
- *Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]: my earliest date for this species – one day earlier than 2025 which was my earliest.
- *Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Other flies:
- *dagger fly Empis tessellata
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- *Tachinid fly Tachina fera
- *cranefly Tipula sp.
- other unidentified flies
- *dagger fly Empis tessellata
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- *Tachinid fly Tachina fera
- *cranefly Tipula sp.
- other unidentified flies
Bugs:
- *Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
- *Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
Alder Flies and allies:
- Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
- Alder Fly Sialis lutaria
Beetles:
- *Soldier beetle Cantharis nigricans: my earliest date for this species
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- *unidentified leaf beetle
- *Soldier beetle Cantharis nigricans: my earliest date for this species
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- *unidentified leaf beetle
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
- *Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
New flowers for the year
- *Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus
- *Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper
- *Bush Vetch Vicia sepium
Not one but two poor photos of male Common Whitethroats. This one (just about recognisable) was along the South side and taking Poplar "fluff" - the dispersing seeds – probably as nest lining.
This I believe to be a female Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa aka Early Mining Bee. The "orange-tail" gas mostly worn away as has much of the rufous hair that once covered all the thorax. I have no idea why the hind legs are so "powdery" Perhaps pollen? The photos on Steven Falk's Flickr pages do show some individuals with some fluffy rear legs but nowhere near so extensive as this one.
Obsidentify is 100% sure this a Buttercup Cheilosia Cheilosia albitarsus. The Cheilosia group is "difficult". Checking with Steven Falk's Flickr pages I am happy with this identification.
A Common Spotted Field Syrph Eupeodes luniger. The Obsidentify name of Lunuled Aphideater refers to the shape of the yellow marks and the preferred food of the larvae.
Another hoverfly from a difficult group. On date and location it is probably a Tuberculate Stripe-back Parhelophilus frutetorum. This group is unusual in that on the males (this is one) the eyes do not meet.
A male Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum. This is my earliest date for this species – one day earlier than 2025 which had been my earliest. Many species of damselfly acquire their colour over several days after their emergence.
The only creature I found on the West end street lamp poles around dawn was this probable long-legged fly Scellus notatus.
I am sure its mummy loves it! A Tachinid fly Tachina fera [of course in reality its mother is long-since dead after laying one of dozens of eggs that became a larva before it emerged as this fly]
Close up and personal with a cranefly Tipula sp. I cannot find any species illustrated on the internet with a red area around the base of the legs.
It is that time of the year when Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp. can be seen among the vegetation hanging in their webs.
All the Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus were along the base of the dam. I am sure I can do better in a few days when some closer flowers emerge.
(Ed Wilson)
Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(104th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a single unringed visiting Mute Swan chased away.
- only the Great Crested Grebe on the nest platform seen
- a Long-tailed Tit party along the East side included juveniles.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- *Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus
- *Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper
- *Bush Vetch Vicia sepium
A clear start to the day.
Mrs. Mallard with her seven ducklings.
A local Common Buzzard cruises over Teece Drive.
And the other one diving for cover beside the West end footpath.
One of the five Starlings collecting from the grass alongside the upper pool toward The Flash. They all seemed able to find easily the grubs they were collecting.
An unidentified caterpillar with its life hanging by a thread.
A head-on view of the same bee.
I have recorded more Red Mason Bees Osmia bicornis this year than previously.
This seems to be the sawfly Aglaostigma fulvipes. A new species for me.
And again, here showing more clearly the red band across the abdomen.
A female showing the rear leg clearly and confirming she is a Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii.
It has been a good year for Large Red Damselflies Pyrrhosoma nymphula.
Perhaps my best-ever photo of the dagger fly Empis tessellata.
Splendid: a Red-and-Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata
The soldier beetle Cantharis nigricans: my earliest date for this species.
Very odd: I suppose it is one of the many leaf beetles. It looks all scrunched up.
There has been a good crop of Dandelions Taraxacum sp.!
I can confirm that Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper of prickly.
Usual caveat: I am not a botanist but I think this is Bush Vetch Vicia sepium.
(Ed Wilson)
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Noted in the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Flies:
- 10 midges of several species
- *1 unidentified cranefly
- 10 midges of several species
- *1 unidentified cranefly
Arthropods:
- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
This looks an "easy" cranefly to ID. I am sure it is a Tipula species. The features tend toward one of the Autumn-flying species so I am confused.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:30 – 07:25
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:30 – 07:25
(104th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- a single unringed visiting Mute Swan chased away.
- only the Great Crested Grebe on the nest platform seen
- a Long-tailed Tit party along the East side included juveniles.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
None
Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese
- 9 Greylag Geese: of these a trio departed
- *3 Mute Swans: see notes (the pen assumed to be present on the nest)
- 19 (17♂) Mallard
- 3 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 18 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 House Martin
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs only
- 7 (7) Blackcaps
Notes around the area:
Noted on / around the water:
- 19 Canada Geese
- 9 Greylag Geese: of these a trio departed
- *3 Mute Swans: see notes (the pen assumed to be present on the nest)
- 19 (17♂) Mallard
- 3 (3♂) Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens only
- 18 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 House Martin
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 2 (2) Chiffchaffs only
- 7 (7) Blackcaps
Notes around the area:
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *1 unidentified braconid wasp
The only insect I noted here was this unidentified braconid wasp. There are almost 1500 species of this part of the ichneumon group in the UK. Identification is a challenge!
- *1 unidentified braconid wasp
The visiting Mute Swan.
The resident cob making it quite clear visitors are not welcome.
(Ed Wilson)
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2012
Wrekin
Several Pied Flycatchers
2 male Common Redstarts
2 Wood Warbler
3 male Tree Pipits
(Glenn Bishton)
2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2007
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatears
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)
Wrekin
Several Pied Flycatchers
2 male Common Redstarts
2 Wood Warbler
3 male Tree Pipits
(Glenn Bishton)
2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)
Nedge Hill
1 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2007
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatears
(John Isherwood)
2006
Priorslee Lake
1 drake Ruddy Duck
(Ed Wilson)