12.0°C > 16.0°C: Some early cloud clearing to good sunny intervals for a while. Cloud building again with a shower starting as I departed. Another almost calm start with a light north-westerly breeze developing. Very good visibility.
Sunrise: 06:18 BST
* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area
Priorslee Balancing Lake: 04:55 – 07:05 // 08:10 – 09:30
(195th visit of the year)
All the muddy margins around the lake have now gone and the exit sluice is running freely. The Wesley Brook alongside Teece Drive is damp but not flowing. All the water seems to have come via the sluices near the Teece Drive gate.
Bird notes:
- again more geese passed below tree-level from wherever I happened to be.
- seven Tufted Duck noted.
- as yesterday Black-headed Gulls were the only gulls seen on the water. The first two arrivals at 05:35 soon departed. c.30 present by 06:00. None was seen on the football field.
- as yesterday 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were noted flying over at various times.
- more than 40 hirundines were very high overhead after 06:30, so high that I was unable to hear them over the noise of the M54. I suspect most were Barn Swallows with a few House Martins among them. Most unexpected was a Swift with them at 06:50. By 09:00 there were at least 20 Barn Swallows low over the water and from time-to-time small groups seemed to be heading off South. A few House Martins heard at that time included calling juvenile(s).
- three Chiffchaffs were noted singing with at least 15 in total seen and heard..
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- Canada Geese: heard only.
- 36 Greylag Geese flew West in three groups; others heard
- 7 Black-headed Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 22 Feral Pigeons flew South over the dam area in a tight group. Not from the estate?
- 1 Stock Dove
- 76 Wood Pigeons
- 129 Jackdaws
- 95 Rooks
Counts from the lake area:
- 2 Mute Swans
- 40 (?♂) Mallard
- 7 (>3♂?) Tufted Duck
- 5 Moorhens
- 37 Coot still
- 14 Great Crested Grebes still
- c.30 Black-headed Gulls
- no Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 *Swift
- >30 *Barn Swallows: see notes
- >10 House Martins: see notes
Warblers noted:
- 15 Chiffchaffs: three in song
- 4 Blackcaps again
Also noted:
The sun had mostly gone behind cloud by the time the insects would have been on the wing
Butterflies:
none
none
Moths:
none
none
Bees, wasps etc.:
- *Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
including a nest site!
- *Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
including a nest site!
Hoverflies:
none
none
Damsel / Dragon-flies:
none
none
True flies:
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *clusterfly Pollenia sp.
- *flesh fly Sarcophaga sp.
a few other unidentified flies seen.
- *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- *clusterfly Pollenia sp.
- *flesh fly Sarcophaga sp.
a few other unidentified flies seen.
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:
Moths:
- 1 *Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
- 4 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
- 4 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]
Flies:
- 1 *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
- 1 *long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar
Bees, wasps etc.:
- >3 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris
- >3 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris
Arthropods:
- 1 *$ millipede Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus
- 1 *$ millipede Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 Common House Spider Eratigena atrica
- 1 *Furrow Orbweaver Larinioides cornutus [Furrow Spider]
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis
This Common Buzzard had been sitting on a street lamp pole outside the academy until I started walking up Teece Drive. It reluctantly flew in to the Ricoh copse pursued by a posse of Magpies. The tail of one can be seen hanging down above the buzzards head. What a hooked beak.
The Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea on the left was climbing up the street lamp pole and about to meet one of our smallest harvestmen Paroligolophus agrestis
A Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum at the remnant flowers on the Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii. The bush has not been used by many butterflies of late.
I have not seen a long-legged fly Dolichopus ungulatus or similar for several weeks. One was on a street lamp pole pre-dawn and this may or may not be the same individual seen later.
Another flesh fly from the Sarcophaga genus. Unlike yesterday's example it does not have a tapered abdomen.
A different flesh fly. Looks to be even hairier. Mr. Google's AI tells me "Flies are hairy because their tiny body hairs act as crucial sensory tools for tasting, smelling, feeling, and navigating the world around them". Mankind seems to have lost this capability somewhere along the long evolutionary path though I suppose we occasionally experience our hairs standing on end as a sensory response.
Perhaps a new species for me. This millipede seems to be Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus with an overall brown tone and a pale area behind the head. Perhaps I have assumed this was just a White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger previously.
(Ed Wilson)
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
This is my first Rusty-dot Pearl moth Udea ferrugalis for almost exactly 11 years – 01 September 2015 was my previous sighting. This is a migrant moth and therefore appears in variable numbers depending upon the weather. No doubt the hot weather helped. The ground colour of individuals is variable: some are grey, some rusty with many in-between.
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash: 07:10 – 08:05
(193rd visit of the year)
Still quiet.
Bird notes:
- 17 Canada Geese flew in together.
- a group of 13 Greylag Geese by the island was unusual these days. Also unusual was that they were completely silent.
- eight Mute Swans with one chased away.
- one adult and two juvenile Great Crested Grebes were at the nest. I did not see any others.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese: of these 17 arrived together
- 13 Greylag Goose
- 8 Mute Swans: one of these departed
- 16 (?♂) *Mallard only
- 3 Moorhens again
- 25 Coot
- 1 + 2 (1 brood) *Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 10 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
Warblers noted:
- 2 Chiffchaffs: one in song
- 1 Blackcap: in quiet song
Noted around the area:
- 1 Common House Spider Eratigena atrica
- 1 *Furrow Orbweaver Larinioides cornutus [Furrow Spider]
- 1 harvestman Paroligolophus agrestis
The Sturgeon Moon is even more lopsided after another day's waning.
Cloud clearing away to the East and mist over the water. Not much colour.
Still with the Magpie's tail hanging down it turned to look at me...
...and decided it was time to go [the blue patch is a small area of sky visible through the copse]
I know, I know... Well it was only 06:50. Record shot of the Common Swift. I only have "last dates" for the previous ten years: last year's record on 03 September was my only later date.
If you take enough photos of the flying Barn Swallows one ends up almost acceptable.
A Common Plume moth Emmelina monodactyla
A clusterfly from the Pollenia genus.
I think this spider is a Furrow Orbweaver Larinioides cornutus.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:
An early visit again c.05:00
Moths:
- 1 ! *Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis
- 3 Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata
- 1 ! *Rusty-dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis
- 3 Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]
- 1 *Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata
Flies:
- 1 midge
- 7 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 cranefly Tipula confusa
- 1 midge
- 7 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]
- 1 cranefly Tipula confusa
Arthropods:
- 3 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
- 3 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
- 1 White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger
Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 4 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
- 4 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]
One of three Chevron Grass-moths Agriphila geniculea I noted on the ceiling of the tunnel.
Yet another Yellow Shell moth Camptogramma bilineata.
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Flash: 07:10 – 08:05
(193rd visit of the year)
Still quiet.
Bird notes:
- 17 Canada Geese flew in together.
- a group of 13 Greylag Geese by the island was unusual these days. Also unusual was that they were completely silent.
- eight Mute Swans with one chased away.
- one adult and two juvenile Great Crested Grebes were at the nest. I did not see any others.
Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Jackdaws
Noted on / around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese: of these 17 arrived together
- 13 Greylag Goose
- 8 Mute Swans: one of these departed
- 16 (?♂) *Mallard only
- 3 Moorhens again
- 25 Coot
- 1 + 2 (1 brood) *Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 10 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons
Warblers noted:
- 2 Chiffchaffs: one in song
- 1 Blackcap: in quiet song
Noted around the area:
Moths:
- 4 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 3 Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]
- 4 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]
- 3 Chevron Grass-moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]
Bees, wasps etc.:
- 2 *Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris
For its third year (at least) the "what sex is it Mallard?". Some of the green head colour, the white neck ring, the brown chest and the curled tail feather say it is a drake. The bill colour and the flank markings say it is a duck. I assume it is an aberrant drake.
A Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris was today's duty officer at the Neighbourhood Watch sign by the academy.
(Ed Wilson)
2013
Priorslee Lake
Possible Little Ringed Plover
Raven
(John Isherwood)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Nedge Hill
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
Little Grebe
Shoveler
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
58 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)
- 2 *Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris
(Ed Wilson)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013
Priorslee Lake
Possible Little Ringed Plover
Raven
(John Isherwood)
2012
Priorslee Lake
Hobby
Common Tern
(Ed Wilson)
2011
Nedge Hill
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)
2010
Priorslee Lake
Yellow Wagtail
Little Grebe
Shoveler
(Ed Wilson)
The Flash
58 Tufted Duck
(Ed Wilson)