18.0°C > 24.0°C: Clear skies. A very light and variable breeze. Good visibility with haze.
Sunrise: 04:57 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 – 09:35
(157th visit of the year)
It is becoming very quiet. For the first time since Winter I heard no bird song or calls as I parked up in Teece Drive.
Bird notes:
- all eleven Greylag Geese (presumably the four adults and seven full-grown goslings though it is impossible to tell) were together on the south-west grass at least some of the time.
- no Mallard ducklings seen. The highest number of adults so far this year noted.
- the warbler update:
a Common Whitethroat alarm called once beside the West end path.
otherwise quiet.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 5 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 71 Wood Pigeons
- 10 Jackdaws
- no Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 11 Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 41 (?♂) Mallard
- 4 Moorhens again
- 51 Coots
- 5 + 4 (2 broods) Great Crested Grebes yet again
- 7 Black-headed Gulls: no juveniles noted
- 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull: of these nine adults were on the football field 05:35
Hirundines etc. noted:
- no Swifts: [a fisherman reported >25 c.21:00 last night]
- 2 Barn Swallows
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 5 (5) Chiffchaffs
- 8 (4) Reed Warblers
- 8 (6) Blackcaps
- 1 (0) Common Whitethroat
Also noted:
Once again many insects, other than butterflies, seemed to be hiding from the heat.
Butterflies:
The Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii was popular with the larger species today.
- *2 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- 4 Small Skipper-type Thymelicus lineola / sylvestris
- 1 Large White Pieris brassicae
- 16 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 9 "whites" I did not bother to chase to ID
- 5 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 3 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- 31+ Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 29+ Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 9 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 11 Peacock Aglais io
- *3 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus
The Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii was popular with the larger species today.
- *2 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
- 4 Small Skipper-type Thymelicus lineola / sylvestris
- 1 Large White Pieris brassicae
- 16 Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 9 "whites" I did not bother to chase to ID
- 5 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 3 Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
- 31+ Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
- 29+ Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
- 9 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
- 11 Peacock Aglais io
- *3 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus
Moths:
- 7 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella: many more "grass moths" got away.
- *1 ! Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis
- 1 Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata
- 1 Silver Y Autographa gamma
- 7 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella: many more "grass moths" got away.
- *1 ! Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis
- 1 Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata
- 1 Silver Y Autographa gamma
Bees, wasps etc.:
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *$ ichneumon from the Cosmoconus group
- Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
- *$ ichneumon from the Cosmoconus group
Hoverflies:
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- *Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii [Common Flower Fly]
- Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis / S. torvus
- Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- *Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii [Common Flower Fly]
- Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis / S. torvus
Damsel / Dragon-flies:
- Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
- Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [Blue Emperor]
- Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
- Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
many other dragonflies seen in flight and not identified
- Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
- Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [Blue Emperor]
- Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella [Azure Bluet]
- Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Common Bluet]
- Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
- Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
many other dragonflies seen in flight and not identified
True flies:
very few including...
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
other unidentified flies
very few including...
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
other unidentified flies
Bugs:
none
none
Beetles:
- Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
- Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
- Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis [False Oil Beetle or Thick-legged Flower Beetle]
- Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva
On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus
One of only two Small Skipper butterflies Thymelicus sylvestris that stayed long-enough for me to photograph and specifically identify.
My first Pale Straw Pearl moth Udea lutealis of the year. A tricky species to find as when they flush from their unseen location deep in the grass they typically dive for cover on the underside of leaves. The wing-pattern is distinctive.
Typical of an ichneumon wasp this was running around at high speed. The red on the abdomen and the yellow on the legs identify it as being from the Cosmoconus group. To further identify the species would require a better photo and / or a detailed examination. Not a group of parasitic wasps I have noted previously.
For a change a female Syrphus hoverfly showing its hind leg. The yellow femur identifying it as a Humming Syrphus Syrphus ribesii which Obsidentify calls Common Flower Fly. It probably is but try proving it!
- 1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus
"Another chance to see" a Holly Blue butterfly Celastrina argiolus.
A close-up of a male Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum eating breakfast though I cannot identify what it has caught.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- *1 ! Common Masoner Blastobasis adustella [was Dingy Dowd]
- *2 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
- 1 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
- 2 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
- *1 Slender Pug Eupithecia tenuiata
- *1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata
A new moth for the year: a Common Masoner Blastobasis adustella formerly often called Dingy Dowd until the vernacular names of micro-moth were standardised. I find one or two in the tunnel most years.
Another moth that seems to like the tunnel is Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella. There were two on the wall this morning.
This is the cranefly Tipula lateralis. A common species seen from March to November, peaking in the Autumn.
(154th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Some of the geese are now flying again. I saw a group of c.8 leave together. They were too far away to be certain which species. Both species were calling at the time.
- today "only" 16 Mute Swans.
- just one duck Mallard noted with two ducklings.
- no Great Crested Grebe found.
- a Ring-necked Parakeet was heard calling again just as I was arriving. I did not see it and two more short calls were heard, apparently from the island. Nothing seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- ? Ring-necked Parakeet: see notes
- 2 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 153 Canada Geese
- 99 Greylag Geese
- 16 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 24 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 62 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Black-headed Gull: dropped in briefly
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 Swifts
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 2 (1) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- *1 ! Common Masoner Blastobasis adustella [was Dingy Dowd]
- *2 Brown House-moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
- 1 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata
- 2 Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata
- *1 Slender Pug Eupithecia tenuiata
- *1 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata
Flies:
- 4 midges of several species
- 4 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: one a day but never in the same place on the wall
- *1 cranefly Tipula lateralis
- 1 cranefly Tipula sp.
- 4 midges of several species
- 4 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]: one a day but never in the same place on the wall
- *1 cranefly Tipula lateralis
- 1 cranefly Tipula sp.
Arthropods:
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
- *1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
Two of those confusing pug-moths this morning. This is a Slender Pug Eupithecia tenuiata.
And this is a Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata.
A Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata also known as the Silver-sided Sector Spider. When I visit the tunnel while it is still dark I sometimes see double-figures of this species lurking at the top of the wall. It is unusual to find one out after dawn.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:05 – 07:05
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:05 – 07:05
(154th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- Some of the geese are now flying again. I saw a group of c.8 leave together. They were too far away to be certain which species. Both species were calling at the time.
- today "only" 16 Mute Swans.
- just one duck Mallard noted with two ducklings.
- no Great Crested Grebe found.
- a Ring-necked Parakeet was heard calling again just as I was arriving. I did not see it and two more short calls were heard, apparently from the island. Nothing seen.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- ? Ring-necked Parakeet: see notes
- 2 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 153 Canada Geese
- 99 Greylag Geese
- 16 Mute Swans
- 24 (?♂) + 2 (1 brood) Mallard
- 24 (?♂) Tufted Duck
- 6 Moorhens
- 62 Coots
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Black-headed Gull: dropped in briefly
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3 Swifts
Warblers noted (the number in brackets refers to birds singing):
- 1 (1) Chiffchaff
- 2 (1) Blackcaps
Noted around the area:
Butterflies:
- 4 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta basking in a sunny area at the base of squirrel alley
- 1 Peacock Aglais io
- 4 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta basking in a sunny area at the base of squirrel alley
- 1 Peacock Aglais io
Moths:
- *7 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- *1 Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata [was Little Grey]
- 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata form remutata
- *7 Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella [was Garden Grass-veneer]
- *1 Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata [was Little Grey]
- 1 Riband Wave Idaea aversata form remutata
Hoverflies:
- 1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
- 1 Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus
True flies:
- 1 greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- 1 greenbottle Lucilia sp.
Beetles:
- 1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- no Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva : someone had bent over all the umbels on the Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium they had been feeding on.
- 1 Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- no Common Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva : someone had bent over all the umbels on the Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium they had been feeding on.
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- *1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus
Just to prove that not all Garden Grass-moth Chrysoteuchia culmella spend all their time pointing downwards on grass stems.
Another of those pesky "grey" moths. This seems to be a Tawny Grey Eudonia lacustrata. This species was called Little Grey which confuses me as most of the "greys" look about the same size. Perhaps that is why they changed the vernacular name.
A harvestman that used to be easy to identify until it was realised that there was a species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus involved. Separation of the two species has yet to be worked out. Strangely my first individuals of the second half of the year turned up this morning both here and at the Balancing Lake.
"Plane" of the day! There have been very few mornings suitable for balloon flights so far this year. Unexpectedly this was not one of the "Virgin Balloons". It is a Cameron Z-120 (the 120 is the cubic capacity of the envelope in MCFs (thousands of cubic feet) [or 3400 m³ if you prefer]). It can take three or four passengers. Oddly the registered owner lives in Middlesex. It will not have flown from there this morning!
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Grasshopper Warbler reeling
(Ed Wilson)
- *1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus
(Ed Wilson)
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2012
Priorslee Lake
Grasshopper Warbler reeling
(Ed Wilson)