16.0°C > 23.0°C: A clear start with increasing high cloud making the sun hazy at times and eventually blotting it out. Staying bright. As so often almost calm around dawn, with a moderate south-westerly breeze developing. Excellent visibility.
Sunrise: 04:54 BST
* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:45– 05:55 // 07:10 – 09:55
(154th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- not sure what to say about the Greylag Geese. On my first circuit I only noted a lone adult on the south-west grass. By 08:15 there were ten (I assume three adults and three fully grown goslings) on the dam-top. Did I really overlook them first time or did they fly in?
- for the last few days the Mute Swans have been nowhere to be seen when I arrive. I am not sure where they emerge from later.
- just four Mallard ducklings remain with one of the many adults.
- more Great Crested Grebe confusion. The third pair to hatch young were again seen with their three young. A single juvenile was seen with another adult. The adults were well-behaved and I noted eight on the surface at the same time.
- a Lapwing was an unexpected fly-over at 07:40. I was going to write "unusual at this time of year" but in truth these days "unusual at any time of year".
- the warbler update:
no much song these days.
no Common Whitethroat seen or heard.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lapwing
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 2 Stock Doves: together again
- 82 Wood Pigeons
- 6 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 4 + 7 (1 brood) Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 35 (?♂) + 4 (1 brood) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens
- 47 Coots
- 8 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes: see notes
- 3 Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Grey Heron: stayed throughout
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 4 Swifts: early only
- 1 Barn Swallow
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 7 (7) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (5) Reed Warblers
- 6 (6) Blackcaps
- no Common Whitethroats
Also noted:
Butterflies:
Another good haul; only singles of Red Admiral and Peacock were on the Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii: most of the other butterflies were in the grassy areas.
- *1 Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola
- 4 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- *11 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 unidentified "white"
- 3 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 5 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- 18+ Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 16+ Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus : I could not find a single female to photograph
- *5 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 2 Peacock Aglais io
- 2 Comma Polygonia c-album
- 1 Common Blue Polyommatus icarus: would not settle for a photo
Another good haul; only singles of Red Admiral and Peacock were on the Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii: most of the other butterflies were in the grassy areas.
- *1 Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola
- 4 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- *11 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 unidentified "white"
- 3 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 5 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- 18+ Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 16+ Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus : I could not find a single female to photograph
- *5 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 2 Peacock Aglais io
- 2 Comma Polygonia c-album
- 1 Common Blue Polyommatus icarus: would not settle for a photo
Moths:
- *2 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
- 9 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- 1 Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata
- *2 Common Marble Celypha lacunana
- 9 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- 1 Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- * $ Ruby-tailed wasp Chrysis ignita-group
- *Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- * $ Ruby-tailed wasp Chrysis ignita-group
Hoverflies:
- *Cheilosia sp. possibly Parsley Blacklet C. pagana
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Furry Dronefly Eristalis intricaria
- *Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
- *Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis / S. torvus
- *Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens [Common Compost Fly; Thick-legged Hoverfly]
- *Cheilosia sp. possibly Parsley Blacklet C. pagana
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Furry Dronefly Eristalis intricaria
- *Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum
- *Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
- *Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis / S. torvus
- *Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens [Common Compost Fly; Thick-legged Hoverfly]
Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
- *Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
two other species of dragonfly seen in flight only
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans [Common Bluetail]
- *Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
two other species of dragonfly seen in flight only
True flies:
a few including...
- *root-maggot fly probably Anthomyia procellaris
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- semaphore fly Poecilobothrus nobilitatus
other unidentified flies
a few including...
- *root-maggot fly probably Anthomyia procellaris
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- semaphore fly Poecilobothrus nobilitatus
other unidentified flies
Bugs:
- Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius
- Common Froghopper Philaenus spumarius
Beetles:
- Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: pupae only
- *Rough-haired Lagria Beetle Lagria hirta
- Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
- *Spotted Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata [formerly Strangalia maculata]
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
I do not understand: yet another blank morning
Another Essex Skipper butterfly Thymelicus lineola with all-black tips to the antennae. It is a female without any scent mark in the wing. A secondary identification feature of the angle of that mark only applies to males.
"White" butterflies were abundant today. All those I was able to check when they settled were, as here, Green-veined Whites Pieris napi.
A Honey Bee Apis mellifera tucking in to Knapweed. This was by far the most numerous species of bee this morning. Perhaps bumblebees find Knapweed hard to handle. The bramble flowers that bumblebees seem to prefer are just about over.
This is a new sighting for me. It is one of the Ruby-tailed wasps in the Chrysis ignita-group. As with so many insects specific identification is not possible from photos.
One of the mainly black Cheilosia group of hoverflies, often difficult to ID. This is possibly Parsley Blacklet C. pagana
This is a Stripe-faced Dronefly Eristalis nemorum. It has a shape that suggests Tapered Dronefly E. pertinax but that species never shows such obvious white hairs between the body segments (tergites).
One of the Syrphus species of hoverfly. As it is also a male further identification is not possible from a photo.
This is a Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens with the swollen hind femur providing a clue to its identity (there are other hoverflies with this feature. They are of a different shape)
Black-tailed Skimmers Orthetrum cancellatum are often to be found sunning themselves on bare (or bare-ish) ground.
With contrasting and neat markings on the thorax this is a root-maggot fly probably Anthomyia procellaris.
The only moth in the tunnel this morning was this Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata (complete with part of one of the scribblings that some folk like to do).
(151st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- 10 Mute Swans noted. I don't think there is another.
- a small increase in Tufted Duck numbers.
- a Great Crested Grebe seen at the top end again.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 187 Canada Geese
- 110 Greylag Geese
- 10 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) Mallard
- 15 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 56 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 1 Black-headed Gull again
- no Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift: powered through
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaffs only
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
- Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis: pupae only
- *Rough-haired Lagria Beetle Lagria hirta
- Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
- *Spotted Longhorn Beetle Rutpela maculata [formerly Strangalia maculata]
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
I do not understand: yet another blank morning
The sunrise today with cloud to the North and East.
Worn specimens can be difficult to ID with the naked eye. A photo helps.
A posing Red Admiral butterfly Vanessa atalanta. Many of the butterflies were flighty in today's breeze.
One of two Common Marble moths Celypha lacunana I noted. This one resting at an unusual angle.
The other one shows how it should be done.
This IS a (male) Tapered Dronefly.
A Rough-haired Lagria Beetle Lagria hirta.
I have seen more Spotted Longhorn Beetles Rutpela maculata this year than I can recall from any previous year.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- *1 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
- *1 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
Flies:
- 16 midges of several species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: one a day but never in the same place on the wall
- 1 cranefly Nephrotoma guestfalica
- 2 other cranefly Tipula sp.
- 16 midges of several species
- 1 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: one a day but never in the same place on the wall
- 1 cranefly Nephrotoma guestfalica
- 2 other cranefly Tipula sp.
Arthropods:
- 3 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- 3 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
When they rest wing wings akimbo there is a good chance of identifying the craneflies here. This is a Nephrotoma guestfalica : a female with the ovipositor.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:00 – 07:05
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:00 – 07:05
(151st visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- 10 Mute Swans noted. I don't think there is another.
- a small increase in Tufted Duck numbers.
- a Great Crested Grebe seen at the top end again.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw
Noted on / around the water:
- 187 Canada Geese
- 110 Greylag Geese
- 10 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) Mallard
- 15 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 56 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe again
- 1 Black-headed Gull again
- no Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift: powered through
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaffs only
- 2 (2) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Butterflies:
- 1 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- 1 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
Moths:
Just three moths were noted around the street lights beside the footpath that runs alongside the Wesley Brook between the pools and the academy. Two of them were in the same place as yesterday though one had flown off by the time I walked back to the Balancing Lake.
- *1 Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella
- *5 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- 1 Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata [was Little Grey]
- 1 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
- 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata of the form remutata
Just three moths were noted around the street lights beside the footpath that runs alongside the Wesley Brook between the pools and the academy. Two of them were in the same place as yesterday though one had flown off by the time I walked back to the Balancing Lake.
- *1 Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella
- *5 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- 1 Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata [was Little Grey]
- 1 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
- 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata of the form remutata
Bees, wasps etc.:
none
none
Hoverflies:
- 2 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- 1 Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
- 2 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- 1 Meadow Field Syrph Eupeodes latifasciatus [Broad-banded Aphideater]
True flies:
- *2 greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *1 Muscid fly Phaonia pallida
- *2 greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *1 Muscid fly Phaonia pallida
Beetles:
- 11 Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
- 11 Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
The new moth here today was this Bird-cherry Ermine Yponomeuta evonymella. The specimen I saw yesterday was at the top end of The Flash. This one was alongside the path leading to the Balancing Lake. It has been a good year for this species.
A typical Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella resting head-down. Note the way the wing markings splay out like fingers and the angled cross-line near the wing tip.
This greenbottle fly is from the genus Lucilia. There are several very similar species. To confuse matters further there are other, usually smaller, "greenbottles" in different genera.
A relatively easy fly to ID: it is the muscid fly Phaonia pallida. There are several species of mainly orange fly: this species is more robust than any of the others.
(Ed Wilson)
2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)
- 2 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.
(Ed Wilson)
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2010
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)