14.0°C > 21.0°C: Broken cloud at medium-high and high level with sunny spells developing. Moderate westerly breeze gusting fresh at times. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 05:18 BST
* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:50– 06:00 // 07:10 – 09:30
(165th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- many geese on the water at first light mostly leaving to the East. These(?) and more returned. A few also flying over.
- *a third Mute swan appeared and was, for a while, apparently ignored by the residents. Eventually they chased it on to the south-west grass where it sought protection with all the geese.
- a moulting drake and *two duck / immature Tufted Duck seen early only.
- all five juvenile Great Crested Grebes seen: five adults again.
- four Swifts over for a short period.
- a loose group of over 75 Wood Pigeons appeared flying West shortly followed by a *circling female Peregrine. No doubt the source of their panic.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 8 Canada Geese: a duo flew East; three duos flew West
- 18 Greylag Geese: 10 flew East; eight flew West
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- *1 Peregrine
- 1 Stock Dove
- 147 Wood Pigeons
- 168 Jackdaws
- 40 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- >66 Canada Geese: 34 noted departing in four groups leaving 32 to depart later; much later 55 arrived in ten groups
- >42 Greylag Geese: 10 departed together; later 42 arrived in four groups
- *3 Mute Swans: the third arrived: see notes
- 43 (?♂) Mallard
- *3 (1?♂) Tufted Duck: departed?
- 6 Moorhens
- 45 Coots: of these three were juveniles in a dependent brood
- 5 + 5 (3 broods) Great Crested Grebes
- 29 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Herring Gull
- 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron: departed
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Swifts
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 3 (0) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (0) Reed Warblers
- 4 (0) Blackcaps
- no Common Whitethroats
Also noted:
Not much in the dry conditions.
Butterflies:
a variety but low numbers:
- *2 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 3 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 8 Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 5 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- *1 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae: only my second this year
a variety but low numbers:
- *2 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 3 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 8 Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 5 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- *1 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae: only my second this year
Moths:
- 7 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
many other unidentified grass moths flying away to hide.
- *2 Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata [was Small Purple & Gold]
- 7 Straw Grass-moth Agriphila straminella [was Straw Grass-veneer]
many other unidentified grass moths flying away to hide.
- *2 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
- *$ unidentified Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus sp.
- *Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *$ unidentified Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus sp.
Hoverflies:
just a singleton of each species
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
- *Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria [Hornet Plumehorn]
just a singleton of each species
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- *Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
- *Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria [Hornet Plumehorn]
Damsel / Dragon-flies:
three unidentified dragonflies seen in flight only
three unidentified dragonflies seen in flight only
True flies:
very few today just...
- *greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- marsh fly Tetanocera ferruginea
and a few unidentified flies
very few today just...
- *greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- marsh fly Tetanocera ferruginea
and a few unidentified flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
none
none
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
none
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus
- *1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus
"They are coming to get you!" The resident Mute Swans gang up on the visitor.
Well it was 05:30! Two duck or immature (I favour the latter) Tufted Duck. I did not see them later.
Another view of what seems to be a freshly emerged individual.
A very pretty-looking moth: a Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata. This was on the North side, the first time I have seen this species in this location. There is plenty of Water Mint Mentha aquatica in the area, the food plant of the larvae.
This Honey Bee Apis mellifera seems to be doing a good job spreading the pollen around!
Just three hoverflies seen this morning. This male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax...
Lastly another Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria.
Not much else to photograph so here is a greenbottle from the Lucilia genus.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- *1 Silver Y Autographa gamma
- *1 Silver Y Autographa gamma
Flies:
- 5 midges
- *1 female Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- 3 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 5 midges
- *1 female Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- 3 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 3 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
- 3 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
For once not buried in the grass: a Silver Y moth Autographa gamma illustrating its name.
Today a female Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata with the proboscis (to draw blood through) but with "simple" antennae.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:05 – 07:05
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:05 – 07:05
(163rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Not sure about the number of Mute Swans again. One was seen to take off and possibly leave (the extra bird at the Balancing Lake later?) but could equally possibly have returned while I was in the wooded area on the footpath diversion. Whatever: there were 17 present as I departed.
- even fewer Tufted Duck than on my previous visit.
- a loose group of five Barn Swallows flew East at c.06:50. Surely not migrants?
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw again
Noted on / around the water:
- 49 Canada Geese: some of these departed
- 8 Greylag Geese
- 17 (18?) Mute Swans: see notes
- 20 (?♂) Mallard
- 4 (?♂) Tufted Duck only
- 7 Moorhens
- 34 Coots: of these two juveniles just about independent
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult briefly
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 5 Barn Swallows
Warblers noted
None
Noted around the area:
Noted around the area:
Fly:
- *1 fly possibly from the Minettia fasciata aggregate.
- *1 fly possibly from the Minettia fasciata aggregate.
Bugs:
- *1 instar of a Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
- *1 instar of a Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
Fungus:
- *Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus sulphureus
This very small fly with eyes on the side of its head, a grey thorax and orange abdomen with dark banding is possibly from the Minettia fasciata aggregate. Not further identifiable from photos.
I found this fungus alongside the alternative footpath through the wooded area avoiding the bridges. I believe it to be Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus sulphureus. According to Mr. Google's AI "it is said to get its name from the texture of its flesh, which resembles cooked chicken." I won't be visiting that restaurant.
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
Oystercatcher
300+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Reed Warbler
3 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Sand Martins
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Herons
3 Greylag Geese
17 Tufted Ducks
1 Kestrel
6 Stock Doves
303 Wood Pigeons
12 Swifts
1 Kingfisher
4 Sand Martins
7 Swallows
6 House Martins
2 Grey Wagtails
8 Reed Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Garden Warbler
9 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
3 Willow Tits
1 Jay
248 Jackdaws
485 Rooks
205 Greenfinches
3 Bullfinches
8 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)
- *Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus sulphureus
An instar of a Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina.
(Ed Wilson)
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2007
Priorslee Lake
Oystercatcher
300+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
1 Yellow-legged Gull
1 Reed Warbler
3 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
4 Sand Martins
(Ed Wilson)
2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
3 Herons
3 Greylag Geese
17 Tufted Ducks
1 Kestrel
6 Stock Doves
303 Wood Pigeons
12 Swifts
1 Kingfisher
4 Sand Martins
7 Swallows
6 House Martins
2 Grey Wagtails
8 Reed Warblers
2 Lesser Whitethroats
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Garden Warbler
9 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
3 Willow Tits
1 Jay
248 Jackdaws
485 Rooks
205 Greenfinches
3 Bullfinches
8 Reed Buntings
(Ed Wilson)