17.0°C > 23.0°C: Almost cloudless. A very light westerly breeze. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 04:56 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– 06:00 // 07:10 – 09:55
(156th visit of the year)
Note:
A postscript to my discussions with Severn Trent yesterday. The bridge part-way along the North side path (not the Wesley Brook bridge) needs to be replaced soon. Work will be done some time after the holiday season.
Bird notes:
- I managed to see all eleven Greylag Geese (presumably the four adults and seven full-grown goslings though it is impossible to tell). Apart from one on the south-west grass throughout the others "appeared" and then "vanished".
- a single Mallard duckling was noted with its mother: a more well-advanced duckling than yesterday's newbie.
- *the same adult and juvenile Great Crested Grebes as yesterday were noted.
- the warbler update:
a Common Whitethroat sang once as I passed down the West end path.
otherwise quiet.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Greylag Goose: flew West
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 92 Wood Pigeons
- 14 Jackdaws
- 3 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Greylag Geese: see notes
- 2 Mute Swans
- 34 (?♂) + 1 (1 brood) Mallard again
- 4 Moorhens
- 46 Coots
- *5 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes again: see notes
- 7 Black-headed Gulls: of these one a juvenile
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- no Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Swift: very high overhead c.05:10
- 3 Barn Swallows: singles flew through c.05:15
- 1+ House Martins: bird(s) heard c.05:30
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 6 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 12 (8) Reed Warblers
- 7 (7) Blackcaps
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat
Also noted:
Many insects, other than butterflies, seemed to be hiding from the heat.
Butterflies:
- 1 Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola
- *5 Small Skipper-type Thymelicus sylvestris
- 6 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 6 "whites" I did not bother to chase to ID
- 3 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 4 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- *27+ Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 31+ Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 2 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 3 Peacock Aglais io
- *1 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus
- 1 Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola
- *5 Small Skipper-type Thymelicus sylvestris
- 6 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 6 "whites" I did not bother to chase to ID
- 3 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 4 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- *27+ Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 31+ Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 2 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 3 Peacock Aglais io
- *1 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus
Moths:
- 10 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella: many more "grass moths" got away.
- 10 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella: many more "grass moths" got away.
Bees, wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *ichneumon wasp Amblyteles armatorius
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *ichneumon wasp Amblyteles armatorius
Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
- Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans [Bumblebee Plumehorn]
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
- Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
- Bumblebee Plume-horned Hoverfly Volucella bombylans [Bumblebee Plumehorn]
Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- *Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [Blue Emperor]
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
one or two other species of dragonfly seen in flight only
- *Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [Blue Emperor]
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
one or two other species of dragonfly seen in flight only
True flies:
a few including...
- dagger fly Empis livida
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
other unidentified flies
a few including...
- dagger fly Empis livida
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
other unidentified flies
Bugs:
- * ! Common Nettle Bug Liocoris tripustulatus
- * ! Common Nettle Bug Liocoris tripustulatus
Beetles:
- 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:
- 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:
Moths:
- * 1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa
Not one of my best! The oldest of the three broods of Great Crested Grebes I have seen here this year comprises just the one surviving almost full-grown juvenile. It will be many weeks before it stops pestering its parent to be fed.
A male Small Skipper butterfly Thymelicus sylvestris helpfully showing all the ID features. The antennae tips are not jet black. The scent mark in the forewing is longer than that on Essex Skipper T. lineola and slightly curved. It is also not parallel with the wing edge. It is best to photograph them to allow close inspection.
Another Holly Blue butterfly Celastrina argiolus. The upper-wing differs between the sexes. The species rarely perches with the wings held open and so it is usually impossible to sex most sightings.
An instantly recognisable moth with no confusion species: it is a Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa. I saw one back in May so this is likely from a second generation this year.
Not a patch on yesterday's photo of a male Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator. Difficult when they are in flight.
After a blank day yesterday there were six moths in the tunnel today. This was one of two Small Fan-footed Waves Idaea biselata.
(153rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- I am sure there must have been more Canada Geese somewhere. I have seen no evidence that they have regrown their flight feathers as yet. The geese were less stratified today with mixed groups all over the water.
- I could find "only" 17 Mute Swans!
- two duck Mallards were noted each with two ducklings. One brood very new: the other part-grown. Both were keeping close to the reeds and hard to see.
- more Tufted Duck have arrived.
- a Great Crested Grebe was lurking in the reeds at the top end.
- a Ring-necked Parakeet flew over calling (as they do) at 06:10: my second here this year.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet
- 1 Jackdaw yet again
Noted on / around the water:
- 136 Canada Geese only: see notes
- 100 Greylag Geese exactly
- 17 Mute Swans
- 20 (?♂) + 4 (2 broods) Mallard
- 23 (?♂) Tufted Duck again
- 7 Moorhens
- 62 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- no Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 House Martins very briefly
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (2) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
- * 1 Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa
The sunrise with a few wisps of cloud visible: about all there was all morning.
Happy family. A trio of humbug Great Crested Grebe juveniles with one of their parents.
A worn Meadow Brown butterfly Maniola jurtina.
An ichneumon wasp Amblyteles armatorius.
This is a Common Nettle Bug Liocoris tripustulatus. My first this year though as the name implies it is a common species.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- 2 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
- *1 ! Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
- *1 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
- 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata form remutata
- *1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata
- 2 Small Fan-footed Wave Idaea biselata
- *1 ! Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
- *1 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
- 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata form remutata
- *1 Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata
Flies:
- 6 midges of several species
- 3 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
- 1 cranefly Tipula sp.
- 6 midges of several species
- 3 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
- 1 cranefly Tipula sp.
Arthropods:
- 3 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- 3 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 possible Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis
- *1 possible Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis
My first Small Dusty Wave moth Idaea seriata of the year.
My second Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata this year.
At a difficult angle on the far side of the ceiling I found this Common Pug moth Eupithecia vulgata.
This is a possible Noble or False Widow Spider Steatoda nobilis. Genitalia examination is needed to separate this from similar species, all with very variable markings. This is a male.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:05 – 07:05
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:05 – 07:05
(153rd visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- I am sure there must have been more Canada Geese somewhere. I have seen no evidence that they have regrown their flight feathers as yet. The geese were less stratified today with mixed groups all over the water.
- I could find "only" 17 Mute Swans!
- two duck Mallards were noted each with two ducklings. One brood very new: the other part-grown. Both were keeping close to the reeds and hard to see.
- more Tufted Duck have arrived.
- a Great Crested Grebe was lurking in the reeds at the top end.
- a Ring-necked Parakeet flew over calling (as they do) at 06:10: my second here this year.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet
- 1 Jackdaw yet again
Noted on / around the water:
- 136 Canada Geese only: see notes
- 100 Greylag Geese exactly
- 17 Mute Swans
- 20 (?♂) + 4 (2 broods) Mallard
- 23 (?♂) Tufted Duck again
- 7 Moorhens
- 62 Coots
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- no Black-headed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 House Martins very briefly
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 2 (1) Chiffchaffs
- 3 (2) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Butterflies:
- 1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- *5 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta basking in a sunny area at the base of squirrel alley
- 1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- *5 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta basking in a sunny area at the base of squirrel alley
Moths:
- *1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
- *9 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- *1 White-banded Grass-moth Crambus pascuella [was Inlaid Grass-veneer]
- *1 Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
- *9 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- *1 White-banded Grass-moth Crambus pascuella [was Inlaid Grass-veneer]
Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
- 1 Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
True flies:
- 1 greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- 1 greenbottle Lucilia sp.
Beetles:
- 11 Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
One of five Red Admiral butterflies Vanessa atalanta that were basking (and fighting) in a sunny area at the base of squirrel alley. I can't do much about my camera's apparent inability to render the red colour properly. I have tried to correct it using a photo-editor: that only makes the leaves a strange colour instead.
A Common Nettle-tap moth Anthophila fabriciana. So far this year far from "common" and only about my fifth in the area. Last year I noted dozens. Many insects have boom or bust years.
A "grass moth" primer (though there are many other species to find). A well-marked Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella at a typical angle on a street lamp pole.
And this is a White-banded Grass-moth Crambus pascuella. This species seems less dedicated to resting head-down.
(Ed Wilson)
2007
Priorslee Lake
A pair of Siskins close to the lake
(Martin Adlam)
- 11 Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
(Ed Wilson)
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2007
Priorslee Lake
A pair of Siskins close to the lake
(Martin Adlam)