15.0°C > 19.0°C: Another clear start with no low cloud before 08:00. This cloud more patchy than in recent days giving way to a high overcast for a while. Full sun just as I was leaving. Very light north- easterly breeze. Moderate visibility in haze.
Sunrise: 05:07 BST
* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:35– 05:50 // 07:10 – 09:45
(162nd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
*Best today was a Little Egret seen on one of the boating platforms c.05:20 and then presumably this bird seen heading South high over the football field c.05:35.
Other bird notes:
- initially four Canada Geese with four more joining them. The lone adult Greylag remains.
- no Mallard duckling noted. The same bumper number of adults.
- as yesterday the trio of juvenile Great Crested Grebes still with their parents. The single similar-aged juvenile seemed to be on its own. Only one other adult seen across the other side of the water.
- One of the Black-headed Gulls on the football field was a recently fledged juvenile. Two more advanced juveniles were on the lake later.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: flew East
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 4 Stock Doves: as two duos
- 85 Wood Pigeons
- 182 Jackdaws
- 55 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 8 Canada Geese: see notes
- 1 Greylag Goose
- 2 Mute Swans
- 42 (?♂) Mallard
- 5 Moorhens
- 32 Coots only
- 3 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- *11 Black-headed Gulls: see notes
- *3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: *one of these a juvenile on the football field c.05:35
- 1 Grey Heron
- *1 Little Egret: see notes
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 6 Swifts
- 4 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 7 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 5 (1) Reed Warblers
- 2 (1) Blackcaps
- 1 (0) Common Whitethroat
Also noted:
More sun did not lead to many more insects, even butterflies were not so abundant as I expected.
Butterflies:
- *1 Large White Pieris brassicae
- *1 Small White Pieris rapae
- 3 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 14 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 19 Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 4 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- *1 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
- *2 Peacock Aglais io
- *1 Large White Pieris brassicae
- *1 Small White Pieris rapae
- 3 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 14 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 19 Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 4 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- *1 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
- *2 Peacock Aglais io
Moths:
- *2 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
many more flying away to hide.
- *1 Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata [was Small Purple & Gold]
- *2 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
many more flying away to hide.
- *1 Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata [was Small Purple & Gold]
Bees, wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- *Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- *Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- Common Copperback Ferdinandea cuprea [Bronze Sap Hoverfly; Eurasian Copperback]
- Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
- Pellucid Fly Volucella pellucens [Pied Plumehorn; Great Pied Hoverfly]
- *Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria [Hornet Plumehorn]
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- Common Copperback Ferdinandea cuprea [Bronze Sap Hoverfly; Eurasian Copperback]
- Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
- Pellucid Fly Volucella pellucens [Pied Plumehorn; Great Pied Hoverfly]
- *Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria [Hornet Plumehorn]
Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]: one female
- Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
at least one other species of dragonfly seen in flight only
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]: one female
- Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
at least one other species of dragonfly seen in flight only
True flies:
fewer today including...
- long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- *! cranefly Tipula lateralis
- *Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
other unidentified flies
fewer today including...
- long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp., possibly S. carnaria
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- *! cranefly Tipula lateralis
- *Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
other unidentified flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
- 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
- *1 male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
Moths:
- 1 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
- 1 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
Leafhoppers etc.:
- *1 lacehopper Cixius nervosus
- *1 lacehopper Cixius nervosus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Common Candy-striped Spider Enoplognatha ovata (or similar)
- 1 "money spider" Erigone sp.
A recently-fledged juvenile Black-headed Gull on the football field c.05:30. The dark feathers on the crown and back will soon be replaced: those in the wing will stay until next year's moult.
This juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull scattered all the Black-headed Gulls from the football field when it flew in.
No longer pristine. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in heavy wing-moult at the end of the breeding season.
The best photo I could manage of the Little Egret at c.05:15. The black bill and yellow feet leave no doubt over its identity which is more than can be said of....
Clearly not a Green-veined White butterfly Pieris napi this female (a black spot in both wings) is a Large White P. brassicae best identified by the dark horizontal area showing through under the lower black spot. Size is difficult to judge "in the field". From a photo even harder.
This attractive insect is a Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata, formerly known as Small Purple & Gold. The new name is more apposite as it feeds on the abundant Water Mint Mentha aquatica along the South side of the water.
One of six Hornet Hoverflies Volucella zonaria I noted today. In this view it is possible to see the feathered antennae which provides the alternative name of Hornet Plumehorn, a feature common to all members of this genus.
This the cranefly Tipula lateralis with the pale area in the wing, the pale line down the abdomen and the, relatively, long antennae.
On one of the street lamp poles around dawn I found this lacehopper, almost certainly Cixius nervosus, though as usual there are similar species.
A male harvestman Leiobunum rotundum. Males have a more rotund body than females and on this species the oculum (area around the eyes on top of the front part of the body) does not have white edging.
(160th visit of the year)
Two notable records today:
- *a moulting drake Common Teal was noted lurking among Greylag Geese on the edge of the island. A most unusual date to see this species in this area.
- a Ring-necked Parakeet was heard again and then seen twice (different birds?) in flight in front of trees behind Ennerdale Close.
Other bird notes:
- 18 Mute Swans remain.
- more Canada and Greylag Geese have now departed. A group of ten was seen in the air: I was unsure whether they were leaving, arriving or just flying over.
- only nineteen of the 38 Coots were on the edge of the island. There seem to be many "missing". One pair has just hatched at least two juveniles from their third brood. I cannot recall noting a third brood previously.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 (2?) Ring-necked Parakeet
Noted on / around the water:
- 85 Canada Geese
- *67 Greylag Geese
- 18 Mute Swans still
- 20 (?♂) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) Common Teal
- 30 (?♂) Tufted Duck again
- 5 Moorhens again
- 35 Coots only
- 1 Great Crested Grebe: again
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, arrived
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- no Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
- 1 Common Candy-striped Spider Enoplognatha ovata (or similar)
- 1 "money spider" Erigone sp.
...this image of it departing c.05:35.
Also clearly not a Green-veined White. I believe this to be a Small White Pieris rapae
Close-up and personal with a Painted Lady butterfly Vanessa cardui.
Not quite so close-up with this Peacock butterfly Aglais io.
A very worn grass moth: typical that when one stays in view it is almost impossible to ID. I do believe it to be a Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella.
At last: one that poses well! No angled cross line on this species.
A cuddly Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
A very strange face on this species...
...with a long and surprisingly thin tongue.
Whereas this is a Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea with a dark (brown) leading edge to the wing.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
- *1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata form aversata
- 1 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
- *1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata form aversata
Flies:
- 2 midges only
- 2 mayfly, possibly Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum
- 4 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: one a day but never in the same place on the wall
- 1 Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
- 1 unidentified cranefly
- 2 midges only
- 2 mayfly, possibly Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum
- 4 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: one a day but never in the same place on the wall
- 1 Common Crane-fly Tipula oleracea
- 1 unidentified cranefly
Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 5 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
- 5 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
Sitting at a strange angle on the ceiling of tunnel was this Riband Wave moth Idaea aversata of the less common form aversata with the solid area between the two cross-lines.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 05:55 – 07:05
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 05:55 – 07:05
(160th visit of the year)
Two notable records today:
- *a moulting drake Common Teal was noted lurking among Greylag Geese on the edge of the island. A most unusual date to see this species in this area.
- a Ring-necked Parakeet was heard again and then seen twice (different birds?) in flight in front of trees behind Ennerdale Close.
Other bird notes:
- 18 Mute Swans remain.
- more Canada and Greylag Geese have now departed. A group of ten was seen in the air: I was unsure whether they were leaving, arriving or just flying over.
- only nineteen of the 38 Coots were on the edge of the island. There seem to be many "missing". One pair has just hatched at least two juveniles from their third brood. I cannot recall noting a third brood previously.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 (2?) Ring-necked Parakeet
Noted on / around the water:
- 85 Canada Geese
- *67 Greylag Geese
- 18 Mute Swans still
- 20 (?♂) Mallard
- *1 (1♂) Common Teal
- 30 (?♂) Tufted Duck again
- 5 Moorhens again
- 35 Coots only
- 1 Great Crested Grebe: again
- 2 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult, arrived
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 House Martins
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- no Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Moths:
- *1 Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella
- *2 caterpillars of Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
- *1 Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella
- *2 caterpillars of Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
Flies:
- 1 Awkward Clusterfly Pollenia rudis
- 1 Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
- 1 Awkward Clusterfly Pollenia rudis
- 1 Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
Bugs:
- *1 $ mirid bug Phytocoris tiliae
- *1 $ mirid bug Phytocoris tiliae
Beetles:
- 1 Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
- 1 Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
Slugs, snails etc.:
- *1 Brown-lipped Snail Cepaea nemoralis
Not easy to see: a moulting drake Common Teal between the two Greylag Geese. On size it could be little else. The green speculum in the wing is visible and it is just possible to see the green area around the eye and some yellow outlining that. It is normally well in to August before birds return to our area in small numbers from their breeding sites North and East.
One (and a half) caterpillars of the Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae feeding as always on Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris.
Not a species I have recorded previously. A long way up a street lamp pole (the insect, not me) I found this mirid bug Phytocoris tiliae.
(Ed Wilson)
- *1 Brown-lipped Snail Cepaea nemoralis
Yet another Bird-cherry Ermine moth Yponomeuta evonymella.
In spite of the dry weather I found this Brown-lipped Snail Cepaea nemoralis munching away.
(Ed Wilson)