11.0°C > 15.0°C: A few early patches of cloud gave way to clear skies. The light north-easterly breeze increased moderate. Very good visibility though hazy early again.
Sunrise: 06:06 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– 06:30 // 07:40 – 09:35 again!
(190th visit of the year)
New bird species:
Another new bird species for the year here when I found a *Little Grebe lurking along the South part of the water. Species #94 for me here in 2026.
Other bird notes:
- two Canada Geese visited briefly c.08:00
- no sign of yesterday's (Common) Teal.
- two Tufted Duck today.
- I counted 82 Black-headed Gulls arriving from the south-west. None was seen on the football field again.
- many of the early Lesser Black-backed Gulls were flying straight over again. Of c.165 counted I would judge no more than 100 visited the lake.
- later just seven Lesser Black-backs and three Herring Gulls dropped in.
- *a family party of Barn Swallows was seen again, with juveniles perched.
- a Common Whitethroat called from the dense Ricoh hedge area c.09:15.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- no geese
- 14 Black-headed Gulls flew through
- c.65 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 25 Wood Pigeons
- 1 Cormorant
- 14 Jackdaws
- 45 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 46 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 (0♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens only
- 59 Coot
- 1 *Little Grebe
- 18 Great Crested Grebes (adults and juveniles)
- 82 Black-headed Gulls
- 3 Herring Gulls
- c.100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: see notes
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 8 *Barn Swallows
- 1 *House Martin
Warblers noted:
- 12 Chiffchaffs: one in partial spluttering song
- 4 Blackcaps
- 1 Common Whitethroat again
Also noted:
insects scarce again
Butterflies:
- 1 *Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
- 1 *Green-veined White Pieris napi
- 2 Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Moths:
- 1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Common Marble Celypha lacunana
- 1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Common Marble Celypha lacunana
Bees, wasps etc.:
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
- *digger wasp Ectemnius species
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
- *digger wasp Ectemnius species
Hoverflies:
- Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]: just the one
- Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]: just the one
Damsel / Dragon-flies:
none
none
True flies:
- greenbottle Lucilia sp. Mostly small individuals and possibly from a different genus
- Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp.
very few other flies seen.
- greenbottle Lucilia sp. Mostly small individuals and possibly from a different genus
- Flesh fly Sarcophaga sp.
very few other flies seen.
Bugs:
- *instar of a Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
- *instar of a Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
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:
Moths:
- 14 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa
- 14 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa
Four-winged flies:
- 2 Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea
- 2 Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea
Flies:
- 2 *male Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- 1 possible Hebecnema species
- 2 *male Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- 1 possible Hebecnema species
Bees, wasps etc.:
- many Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris at their nest and adjacent poles
- many Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris at their nest and adjacent poles
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 *Common Candy-striped Spider Enoplognatha ovata or similar
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
On the walls of the sailing club HQ around dawn:
- 1 *Common Candy-striped Spider Enoplognatha ovata or similar
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]
On the walls of the sailing club HQ around dawn:
Flies:
- 1 female Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- 1 female Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
Beetles:
- 1 *Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
- 1 *Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis var. succinea
Spiders:
- 1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
now I know why I have not visited here lately!
- 1 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
now I know why I have not visited here lately!
Dawn. Hazy again. The patchy cloud soon cleared and it stayed clear until after I departed.
Record shot only. The Little Grebe, new for the year here.
Juvenile Barn Swallows were using the same Alder tree as a perch as they were yesterday.
Now two juveniles.
They are breeding! Now three juveniles.
"feed me, feed me!!"
"As I said to him....".
More food excitement.
Another juvenile arrives so that wont; bring the food.
There is nothing like stuffing the food straight in to the baby's mouth – stomach even!
This is most odd. The top bird is a House Martin...
...as it is here with an adult and three juvenile Barn Swallows.
I have no idea why it was joining in. Two of the juveniles look puzzled.
Long-tailed Tits have been scarce recently and I wondered how they were managing with the apparent scarcity of insects as food. So I was pleased to see two different gangs this morning. Here is one from the second gang.
"Are you pointing that camera at me?"
"Take my best side".
A juvenile Goldfinch briefly gate-crashed the swallow party. It will be late October before the red face develops.
I still have to take photos of "white" butterflies to confirm which species I am looking at. No mistaking this as a Green-veined White Pieris napi.
A Common Candy-striped Spider Enoplognatha ovata or similar.
(Ed Wilson)
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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
Moths:
- 1 *Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
- 1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana
- 1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
Flies:
- 3 midges
- 1 female and 2 *male Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- 11 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 unidentified cranefly
- 3 midges
- 1 female and 2 *male Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata
- 11 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 unidentified cranefly
Arthropods:
none
none
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 2 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
- 2 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
A close-up of a male Banded Mosquito Culiseta annulata. On this shot the banding on the abdomen that gives the species the name is just about visible. Photos on he internet suggest it should also have pale patches on its legs. Hmm.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 06:35 – 07:30
(Ed Wilson)
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The Flash: 06:35 – 07:30
(186th visit of the year)
Bird notes:
- still ten Mute Swans.
- no Tufted Duck today
- a Little Grebes was seen close to the top-end reeds.
- only one adult Great Crested Grebe was noted, apparently searching for food. There did not seem to be anyone on the nest. Perhaps that adult and juveniles were tight up against the island hidden by overhanging vegetation. I did not hear any juveniles begging.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese: five of these arrived together
- no Greylag Geese
- 10 Mute Swans
- 21 (?♂) Mallard
- 7 Moorhens
- 30 Coot
- 1 Little Grebe
- 1 Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 19 Black-headed Gulls
- no Cormorants
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Egret
Warblers noted (no song):
- 4 Chiffchaffs
- 1 Blackcap
Noted around the area:
Moths:
- 7 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 4 Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]
- 7 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 4 Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]
Flies:
- 1 *moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 *moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
Bees, wasps etc.:
- 1 *Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
- 1 *Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus
A Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris acting as the Neighbourhood Watch: or not – it appeared to be asleep.
(Ed Wilson)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)
- 1 harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus
A real moth fly Psychodidae sp.
(Ed Wilson)
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2012
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
(Ed Wilson)