10 Sep 26

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 14.0°C: Early broken high cloud giving a great sunrise. Cloud increasing and lowering. No sun. A very light southerly breeze increasing moderate. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 06:36 BST

* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 09:05

(204th visit of the year)

New bird species:
An unexpected addition to my 2026 bird list for here. One (or more?) Snipe heard departing at 05:55. Not seen but scanning for them revealed two medium-sized bats over the water, probably too high for Daubenton's Bats but different in flight characteristics from the pipistrelle over the south-west grass and two presumed Noctule-type bats with a much faster and more direct flight higher up. Bird species #96 here this year.

Bird notes:
- just a single Mute Swan.
- at various times I noted a trio of duck/immature Tufted Duck; a quartet of ducks/immatures; and the a quintet including at least one drake. I am inclined to think these were all the same birds moving around.
- 25 Black-headed Gulls had arrived by 06:00 at the West end. By 06:15 there were c.35 at the East end – some of the same? To confuse matters more I counted 107 on the football field at c.06:50.
- only three Lesser Black-backed Gulls visited early with a steady passage of 61 birds passing south-east overhead. Two visited later. A few more flew over.
- a single Herring Gull flew over.
- a trio of Grey Herons flew West together at 06:45.
- a (Common) Kestrel was hovering close to Castle Farm Way at 06:10 but not seen thereafter.
- Barn Swallows started to appear low over the water after c.08:00 with at least 30 much of the time. Then c.08:30 they all flew high in to the sky revealing c.100 birds before some of them dropped back down again.
- a Kingfisher was heard in flight.
- a bumper number of Chiffchaffs such that it was difficult to separate individuals at times. I reckon 17 with six of them singing.
- two Blackcaps calling only

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 6 Canada Geese: three flew East; a duo flew North and a single flew West
- 1 Herring Gull
- 65 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 3 Grey Herons: together
- 21Wood Pigeons
- 168 Jackdaws
- 170 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Mute Swan only
- 59 (?♂) Mallard
- 5 (1♂?) *Tufted Duck: see notes
- 3 Moorhens
- 51 Coot
- 1+ Snipe: see notes
- 17 Great Crested Grebes
- >110 Black-headed Gulls
- 5 *Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kingfisher

Hirundines etc. noted:
- >100 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted:
- 17 Chiffchaffs: of these six in song
- 2 Blackcaps

Also noted:
Very little in now cloudy conditions.

Moths:
- 1 *unidentified macro-moth

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

On the West end street lamp poles around dawn:

Moths:
none

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 2 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris

Flies:
- 2 *female plumed midge Chironomus plumosus

Beetles:
- 1 *ground beetle probably Paradromius linearis

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 spider Clubiona sp.
- 1 Bridge Orb-web Spider Larinioides sclopetarius [Bridge Orbweaver]

Mammals:
- a single pipistrelle-type bat was flying above the south-west grass c.05:55.
- two Noctule-type bats were flying high over c.05:55.
- two other bats were over the water at the same time.

The early sunrise, a bit wobbly as I was using a time exposure. Must take more water with it.

Now coloured up.

With the sun about to rise the colour has faded leaving an interesting cloud formation. A group of Mallard on the water bottom right.

A quartet of Tufted Duck. Looking closely I think it likely that the outer two are immature / moulting drakes.

A juvenile / first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. The feathers are more patterned than you think when examined in detail.

Here in flight. Would have better had the ripples on the water not been present but...

Most odd. I did not notice it at the time but this Common Buzzard seems to have lost much of the outer part of its right wing.

Long-tailed Tits are always worth a few photos.

So here is another.

And another.

For a change an adult Grey Wagtail. At this time of year the sexes are very similar with the male's black throat only developing in Spring.

It looks so easy... I found this moth sitting in full view on a leaf. Neither Obsidentify nor Google Lens gave me an identity that I am happy with (both suggested species not flying at this time of year). A search through the "flying tonight" tab on the West Midlands Moths web site has failed to help as has a trawl through my field guide. Yet it looks to be so clear!

About the only species of midge I can identify: this is a female plumed midge Chironomus plumosus and being a female she lacks the plumed antennae. Also like many species of midge she has wings that do not reach the tip of her abdomen.

This ground beetle is probably Paradromius linearis. It was, for a change, running about. Usually when I shine my torch on beetles on the street lamp poles they immediately drop to the ground and run away. I saw this species here back in January.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Moths:
- 1 *unidentified macro-moth

Four-winged flies:
- 1 *Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperia carnea

True flies:
- 6 midges
- 1 *crane fly Ilisia maculata aka Ocelot Twist-tail
- 3 moth fly Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly or Owl Fly]

Arthropods:
- 1 *Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus
- 1 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 6 Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata [Silver-sided Sector Spider]

I cannot get an identity for this moth either. The closest I can get is Small Rufous Coenobia rufa, a species that is uncommon in our area and associated with fens, marshes and bogs.

A Common Green Lacewing Chrysoperia carnea. It was only last week I noted my first here.

An unusual cranefly Ilisia maculata aka Ocelot Twist-tail. There is a very similarly-marked species though this has pale centres to the marks (they are solid on I. occoecata)

With antennae unusually pointing forward a Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:10 – 10:15

(201st visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- six Mute Swans eventually located: two persisted in walking along Derwent Drive.
- 15 Tufted Duck in three groups.
- 13 brownhead Goosander noted, keeping together.
- two adult and all four juvenile Great Crested Grebe more or less together. I did not see the immature bird.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese: arrived together from the North
- 6 *Mute Swans
- 31 (19?♂) Mallard
- 15 (9?♂) *Tufted Duck
- 13 (0♂) *Goosander
- 8 Moorhens
- 19 Coot
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebe: see notes
- 21 Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants: of these one departed
- 2 Grey Herons

Warblers noted:
- 1 Chiffchaff: no song

Noted around the area:
Cloud kept most things hiding.

Moths:
- 4 Chevron Grass Moth Agriphila geniculea [was Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer]: on four different street lamp poles.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 2 Honey Bees Apis mellifera
- 2 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris

I now understand why I could not read this ring on the flying Mute Swan yesterday. I can't read it here either! It seems to be a bit battered and from a sequence I do not know. I'll see whether Martin Grant can shed any light on it.

A mixed grouping of four Tufted Duck and seven Goosander.

There is no two ways about it: Wood Pigeons have strange eyes.

Yes: I am looking at you! A Carrion Crows wants to know what I am doing.

Trying again to show they are not really all-black.

(Ed Wilson)

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2011
Nedge Hill
2 Wheatear
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Raven
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2010
The Flash
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
2 Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Pochard
Common Gull
(Ed Wilson)

2005
Priorslee Lake
A juvenile Arctic Tern
(Ed Wilson)

9 Sep 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

14.0°C > 16.0°C: A few sunny intervals and a few passing showers. Moderate north-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 06:33 BST]

* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area

Another late start to avoid the forecast earlier rain that did not materialise. Doh!

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 10:50 – 12:35

(203rd visit of the year)

The model boat club were using, mainly, the West end with sailing models though a couple of noisy battery-powered craft were exploring further. Some Mallard were probably hiding in the reeds. Any Tufted Duck had most likely departed.

Bird notes:
- a single Mute Swan was befriending the model boat club members. No sign of a partner.
- still at least two Swifts hawking over the trees on the East side of Castle Farm Way.
- again at least 100 Barn Swallows were over the water when I arrived. There were still c.30 present 90 minutes later.
- two of at least 13 Chiffchaffs were heard singing and, as yesterday, one of two Blackcaps was singing quietly.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- 1 Cormorant
- 7 Wood Pigeons
- 2 Jackdaws

Counts from the lake area:
- 1 Mute Swan: see notes
- 17 (?♂) Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 3 Moorhens
- 37 Coot
- 19 Great Crested Grebes
- 15 Black-headed Gulls
- no Herring Gulls
- 32 Lesser Black-backed Gulls stopping briefly
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Cormorant, very briefly

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 2 *Swifts
- >100 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted:
- 13 Chiffchaffs: of these two in song
- 2 Blackcaps: of these one in quiet song

Also noted:
I lucked upon a small clump of flowers during one of the brief sunny interludes:

Butterflies:
- 3 *Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
- *Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax
- *Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus [Tiger Marsh Fly; Sun Fly]
- *Pellucid Fly Volucella pellucens [Pied Plumehorn; Great Pied Hoverfly]

True Flies:
- greenbottle Lucilia sp.
- flesh fly Sarcophaga sp.

Fungus:
- [I could not relocate them]

On the West end street lamp poles:
Nothing noted other than the odd unidentified fly.

 Record shot: my latest Swift in Shropshire.

During a sunny spell this pristine Speckled Wood butterfly Pararge aegeria posed well.

A not-so-pristine example lying on its side. Look carefully: the outer part of the left forewing is missing allowing the "eye" and other marks on the right forewing upper to be seen.

A female (the eyes are well-separated) Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax. It is feeding on Water Mint Mentha aquatica.

Perhaps the same individual.

A female Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus also known as a Tiger Marsh Fly or Sun Fly or even "The Footballer".

A Pellucid Fly Volucella pellucens: one of our largest species of hoverfly.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

A detour from The Flash c.10:15. Most things hiding in the daylight and with a breeze blowing straight through.

Moths:
none

True flies:
- 8 *midges

Arthropods:
- 1 *Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
none

A male midge with the plumed antennae. Note his slim body.

A presumed female midge with simple antennae. Note her fatter body (quiet at the back there). Are these the same species?

A Common Shiny Woodlouse Oniscus asellus.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 09:20 – 10:40

(200th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- still six Mute Swans.
- two duck Tufted Duck at the top end: a drake at the bottom end; and then I saw two in flight that might have been two more arriving from the Balancing Lake, leaving there when the model boat club arrived.
- just four brownhead Goosander seen briefly.
- all the expected Great Crested Grebe seen. Again just one of the adults was with the juveniles, today at the top end; the other adult was asleep off Derwent Drive; the immature was elsewhere at the bottom end.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:

None

Noted on / around the water:
- 21 Canada Geese: of these 14 arrived together; later eight departed together
- no Greylag Geese
- 6 *Mute Swans again
- 25 (16?♂) *Mallard
- 3 (1♂) or 5? Tufted Duck: see notes
- 4 (0♂) Goosander: departed?
- 10 *Moorhens
- 21 Coot
- 3 + 4 (1 brood) Great Crested Grebe
- 18 *Black-headed Gulls
- 4 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons

Warblers noted:
None

Noted around the area:

Moths:
- 1 Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 2 Honey Bee Apis mellifera
- 4 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris

True flies:
- a few miscellaneous flies not identified

Bugs:
- 1 *late instar Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina

Beetles:
- 1 *7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata

Fungus:
- * Blushing Bracket Daedaleopsis confragosa
- *! Pale Brittlestem Psathyrella candolleana

For much of the time the six Mute Swans were arranged as trios. They then joined up. One of the three that flew is wearing a blue Darvic ring. Try as I might I cannot make out the characters: it should start '7...' but turning the photo this way and that does not seem to help.

A moulting drake Mallard. The bill of drakes is always greeny-yellow apart from a black tip (nail). Here the crown is showing some green and the breast is brown. The flanks consist mostly of brown feathers from the "eclipse" post-breeding plumage when drakes closely resemble ducks.

Here he is again showing the black nail to the bill.

Two different drakes showing different variations as they moult back in to breeding plumage.

On this drake all the brown flank feathers have been replaced. Note the patch of green appearing behind the eye. The curled tail-feather is always a sign of drake Mallard genes.

An adult Moorhen with the back speckled with water droplets from light drizzle.

A juvenile Moorhen with food. I hope it knows how to uncross its legs!

A different juvenile Moorhen. Note the very strong legs. This species is adept at climbing bushes (it usually nests well off the ground) and will walk long distances. I am not sure when the red bill and shield develop (a search of the internet drew a blank): certainly before the end of Winter. The white under-tail and white streaks on the flanks separated these juveniles from juvenile Coots.

Oops! A first-winter Black-headed Gull losing its footing.

A different first-winter Black-headed Gull with a particularly pale base to the bill and pale legs.

A late instar Common Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina.

Do I need to say... a 7 Spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata?

"Another chance to see..." Blushing Bracket Daedaleopsis confragosa fungus growing on a fallen branch. "Blushing" because it stains red if damaged.

The underside. I lay on the ground so you don't have to. (Actually I positioned the camera on the ground at arm's-length).

According to Obsidentify this fungus is Pale Brittlestem Psathyrella candolleana. I have no reason to question that. I find identification of fungus a particular challenge.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Shovelers
(Ed Wilson)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
Possible Yellow-legged Gull
Wheatear
(Ed Wilson)

2010
Priorslee Lake
3 Teal
4 Swifts
1 Sedge Warbler
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)

8 Sep 26

The Flash and Priorslee Balancing Lake

14.0°C> 15.0°C: Cloudy after earlier rain. A clearance in the north-west making very slow progress. Very light westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

[Sunrise: 06:32 BST]

* = a species photographed today
! = a first sighting of the species this year
$ = a new species for me in this area

I avoided the earlier rain and made short visits after the school-run, starting with The Flash.

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 09:20 – 10:20

(202nd visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- the Mute Swan puzzle continues. I am sure there were two when I arrived. Later only one was visible lurking around the north-west reeds. Was I mistaken earlier.
- very few Black-headed Gulls.
- the only two Lesser Black-backed Gulls present when I arrived flew off.
- at least three Swifts were hawking over the trees on the East side of Castle Farm Way, appearing and disappearing. There could have been more.
- at least 100 Barn Swallows were over the water when I arrived. As the cloud lifted the numbers diminished though there were still c.50 present an hour later.
- two of at least 12 Chiffchaffs were heard singing as was one of the two Blackcaps. Strangely none of these was noted in the usual busy Ricoh (West end) hedge.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 7 Wood Pigeons

Counts from the lake area:
- 2? Mute Swans: see notes
- 51 (?♂) Mallard
- 2 (0♂) Tufted Duck
- 2 Moorhens
- 38 Coot
- 24? Great Crested Grebes
- 16 Black-headed Gulls
- no Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: departed
- no Grey Heron

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 3+ *Swifts: see notes
- >100 Barn Swallows

Warblers noted:
- 12 Chiffchaffs: of these two in song
- 2 Blackcaps: of these one in quiet song

Also noted:
Very little in largely cloud conditions with still-wet vegetation.

Bees, wasps etc.:
- Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Fungus:
- [I forgot to look!]

On the West end street lamp poles:

Moths:
- 1 *Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella [was Common Grass-veneer]

Spiders, harvestmen etc.:
- 1 *harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus

An adult Great Crested Grebe brings a fish to feed one of its brood.

Two of the brood of three are just about visible in front of the drowning(?) Mute Swan.

One of at least three Swifts that were hawking insects blown off the lake and over to the trees alongside Castle Farm Way. My "latest date" for this species in this area, most Swifts having departed in late July / early August.

A Common Grass-moth Agriphila tristella still on one of the West end street lamp poles at 11:00.

Also on one of the poles was this harvestman from the species pair Dicranopalpus ramosus / D. caudatus. These species typically rest with their long legs bunched at right-angles to the body. The long pedipalps are also a feature.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 10:30 – 11:25

(199th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- now six Mute Swans.
- yesterday's Tufted Duck gone.
- now six brownhead Goosander.
- two adult, one immature and *all four juvenile Great Crested Grebe seen. Only one of the adults seemed to be feeding the juveniles, the other consorting with the immature.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese
- 2 Greylag Geese:
- 6 Mute Swans
- 35 (?♂) *Mallard
- no Tufted Duck
- 6 (0♂) *Goosander
- 8 *Moorhens
- 26 Coot again
- 3 + 4 (1 brood) *Great Crested Grebe
- 23 Black-headed Gulls
- 2 Cormorants
- 2 Grey Herons

Warblers noted:
- 1 Chiffchaff

Noted around the area:
Cloudy and still wet from the earlier rain

Bees, wasps etc.:
- 2 Common Wasps Vespula vulgaris

True Flies:
- 1 $* flesh fly, perhaps Miltogramma punctata aka Spotted Bee-burglar

Are we confused? The four juvenile Great Crested Grebes seem to think they should join the flotilla of brownhead Goosanders. Perhaps they have mistaken the brown heads for their parents with their brownish plumes? [Apologies for the reflection in the water of a lamp post]

Unusual bed-fellows? A trio of Mallard (with one moulting drake), an adult and juvenile Moorhen share space with a Carrion Crow.

This Carrion Crow. Seen well they are far from "all black" with various grey and blue-black feathers.

I found this distinctive fly on one of the street lamp poles. It is certainly one of the flesh fly group and seem a good match to Miltogramma punctata which is sometimes known as a Spotted Bee-burglar because the larvae are found in underground bee nests.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
Adult winter Mediterranean Gull
(J Reeves)

2011
Priorslee Lake
Common Sandpiper
(Ed Wilson)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Kingfisher
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
2 juvenile Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)