2 May 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

9.0°C > 13.0°C: Clear skies to the East gradually replaced the medium-level cloud overhead and to the West. Moderate north-westerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:36 BST

* = a species photographed today.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:10 – 06:10 // 07:15 – 09:55

(110th visit of the year)

An addition to my 2025 bird list here was made when a pair of Shelduck arrived from the West at 05:40, made a low 180 over the water and departed to the West. Bird species #94 for me here this year.

Bird notes:
- the pair of Greylag Geese now with just four goslings.
- what seemed to be the same visiting pair of Mute Swans were present for about 10 minutes – certainly one was wearing an unread blue Darvic ring. The resident cob did not seem that interested in chasing them and they departed anyway.
- the pair of Gadwall did their 'appearing' trick again. On the south-west grass c.09:00
- the duck Pochard still present.
- *a pair of Oystercatchers were on the south-west grass by 05:55 and stayed until they noisily departed at 07:40.
- no fewer than five adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were having a dispute on the football field at 06:00.
- what sounded like a begging juvenile Buzzard was calling from the Ricoh copse.
- *a female Peregrine was noted over at 08:30.
- one significant change with the warblers:
just one Sedge Warbler singing, this in yet another new location.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 2 Canada Geese: a pair outbound
- 2 Stock Doves: together
- 4 Wood Pigeons only
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
- *1 Peregrine
- 18 Jackdaws
- 5 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese again
- 2 + 4 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 4 Mute Swans: see notes
- 2 (1♂) Shelduck, very briefly
- 2 (1♂) Gadwall
- 5 (4♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 4 Moorhens only again
- 25 + 12 (4 broods) Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes again
- *2 Oystercatchers: departed
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls: on football field
- 1 Cormorant: arrived

Hirundines etc. noted:
- 1 Sand Martin
- 6 Barn Swallows

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 18 (16) Chiffchaffs
- 1 (1) Sedge Warbler
- 10 (10) Reed Warblers again
- 16 (14) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warbler again
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat again
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat again

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Moths:
none

Flies:
several different species of midge.

Spiders:
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Noted later:

Butterflies:
none

Moths:
none

Bees, wasps etc.:
*Honey Bee Apis mellifera
*Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
*Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Nomad Bee species
*Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis
*Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris

Hoverflies:
*possible Figwort Blacklet Cheilosia variabilis
*Spring Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
*Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
*Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
*$ Spotted Meliscaeva Meliscaeva auricollis [Spotted Thintail]
*Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea [Common Batman Fly]
*Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
*Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis
*$ Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens [Common Compost Fly]

Alder Flies:
none

Other flies
*$ Green Parasite Fly Gymnocheta viridis
*$ Grass Fly or Yellow Swarming Fly Thaumatomyia notata
many unidentified flies

Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni

New flowers for the year:
*Wood Avens Geum urbanum [seen at The Flash earlier]
*Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus
*Red Clover Trifolium pratense

Sunrise such as it was.

The two (pair?) of Oystercatchers on the south-west grass at 05:55 with a Moorhen photo-bombing.

This is rather odd. I think this immature Cormorant was standing on its usual buoy which was gradually sinking!

A Peregrine Falcon. It seems a bulky bird which suggests it is a female.

She did not hang around.

This is a Honey Bee Apis mellifera. I saw a few at the end of March but none at all in April.

No pollen on the pollen sac as yet.

A cuddly-looking Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

A smart Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris on Ramsons [or Wild Garlic] Allium ursinum.

This Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis seems to have neck-ache. Actually it cleaning a leg with an antenna (or the other way around).

 A Common Wasp Paravespula vulgaris.

Now for some hoverflies. I think this is possibly a Figwort Blacklet Cheilosia variabilis. Obsidentify would not say: this ID from Google Lens which seems plausible.

A female Spring Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans. On this species the eyes of the females seem particularly well-separated.

A male Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax showing its very different abdomen shape.

A female Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus.

One where I disagree with Obsidentify. I am sure the triangular yellow markings mean this is a male Spotted Meliscaeva Meliscaeva auricollis.

 A female Dead-head Hoverfly Myathropa florea

A Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus.

A male Syrphus sp. [either S. ribesii or S. vitripennis ]. As it is a male even if I could see the hind leg I would be none the wiser as to which species. I am glad they can tell.

The swollen hind femur and the pale area on the legs identify this as a Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens

On to "other flies". This hairy fly is a Green Parasite Fly Gymnocheta viridis. I do not know of what it is a parasite.

While this tiny fly is a Grass Fly or Yellow Swarming Fly Thaumatomyia notata.

Some idea of its size can be gauged from the veins in the leaf.

One of the easier craneflies: a Tiger Cranefly Nephrotoma flavescens . A female with an ovipositor.

My first Wood Avens flower Geum urbanum here. It was seen at The Flash a few days ago.

I'll do better: this was the only Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus in flower some way away and blowing in the wind.

The first flowers of Red Clover Trifolium pratense have emerged since I checked yesterday. This species always flowers before White Clover T. repens and continues flowering later in the Autumn as well.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
4 craneflies of at least two species (including *Nephrotoma quadrifaria and *Tipula lateralis)
6 midges of at least three species

Spiders:
1 Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

This is the cranefly Nephrotoma quadrifaria

While this cranefly is Tipula lateralis. I did not ID the other two.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:15 – 07:10

(107th visit of the year)

Bird notes
A bird new species for my year list here was added when *c.6 Swifts were seen among a group of about 15 hirundines etc. over the bottom end trees at c.07:00. Birds species #68 for me here this year.

Other bird notes:
-* a surprise today was a pair of Greylag Geese with two goslings.
- *a drake Gadwall was a new arrival.
- the duck Mallard with ducklings was again keeping close to the island and hiding between tree-roots. Perhaps four ducklings?
- the number of Tufted Duck now very low.
- two Great Crested Grebes were together by the island when I arrived and moved to the top end. I could only see one on the water later. Perhaps the other was hiding underneath the overhanging trees?

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Jackdaw

Noted on / around the water:
- 6 Canada Geese only
- *7 + 2 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- *1 (1♂) Gadwall
- 20 (18♂) + 4? (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ?
- 3 (2♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens again
- 25 Coots
- 2 Great Crested Grebes

Hirundines etc. noted:
- *c.6 Swifts
- 1 Barn Swallow
- c.6 House Martins

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 7 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 6 (4) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:
On street lamp poles:

Flies:
St Mark's Fly or Hawthorn Fly Bibio marci
*unknown flies

The Greylag Geese with their two goslings.

A drake Gadwall. No longer in pristine breeding plumage. His work is mainly done for the year.

This was one of my first Swifts here this year.

I cannot get an ID for this fly. A clear-enough photo...

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Wrekin
6 Tree Pipits
1 Wheatear
5 Pied Flycatchers
2 Common Redstarts
3 Wood Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

2012
Priorslee Lake
Whimbrel
Grasshopper
5 Common Sandpiper
Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

Wrekin
1 Wood Warbler
1 Common Redstart
3 Tree Pipit
2 Pied Flycatcher
(J Reeves)

2006
Priorslee Lake
3 Common Sandpipers
2 Ruddy Ducks
(Ed Wilson)

1 May 25

Priorslee Balancing Lake and The Flash

10.0°C > 19.0°C: Fine with almost no high cloud. Very light, mainly southerly breeze. Very good visibility.

Sunrise: 05:38 BST

* = a species photographed today. Photos will appear later.
$ = my first sighting of the species for this year

Priorslee Balancing Lake: 05:00 – 06:05 // 07:15 – 09:45

(109th visit of the year)

Not strictly a 'real' addition to the bird log but a Peacock (also known as Common Peafowl) was calling loudly in the distance at 05:10, probably from the Telford Campus area where it has been resident for several years. I am sure I was told it had "disappeared" some while ago. If so it's back!

Bird notes:
- the pair of Greylag Geese still with five goslings.
- the now resident pen Mute Swan hardly spent any time at the nest site.
- the duck Pochard still present.
- a trio of Common Sandpipers.
- another change with the warblers:
two Sedge Warblers singing, one where I noted one two day ago; the other at a new location.
I thought I could hear the Lesser Whitethroat singing very quietly and I stood around long-enough for it to burst in to one full song.
two singing Garden Warblers now.

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Canada Goose: outbound
- 2 Greylag Geese: pair inbound
- *7 (3♂?) Tufted Duck
- 20 Wood Pigeons
- 3 Herring Gulls
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls again
- 30 Jackdaws
- 11 Rooks

Counts from the lake area:
- 7 Canada Geese
- 2 + 5 (1 brood) Greylag Geese
- 2 Mute Swans
- 7 (6♂) Mallard
- 1 (0♂) Pochard
- 4 Moorhens only
- 33 + 19 (6 broods) Coots
- 5 Great Crested Grebes only
- *3 Common Sandpipers
- 1 Cormorant: arrived and later departed

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 1 (1) Cetti's Warbler
- 20 (18) Chiffchaffs
- 2 (2) Sedge Warblers
- 10 (10) Reed Warblers
- 19 (17) Blackcaps
- 2 (2) Garden Warbler
- 1 (1) Lesser Whitethroat
- 1 (1) Common Whitethroat

Noted on the West end street lamp poles pre-dawn:

Moths:
none

Flies:
several different species of midge.

Noted later:

Butterflies:
Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines: males only
*$ Large White Pieris brassicae
*Small White Pieris rapae
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

Moths:
*Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella

Bees, wasps etc.:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
*Megachile sp.
*Nomad Bee, almost certainly Flavous Nomad Bee Nomada flava
sawfly Aglaostigma aucupariae

Hoverflies:
*Cheilosia albitarsus agg. either C. ranunculi [Early Buttercup Cheilosia] or C. albitarsis [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]
*Parsley Blacklet Cheilosia pagana
*Spring Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans [Spring Smoothtail]
Tapered Dronefly Eristalis pertinax
Migrant Field Syrph Eupeodes corollae [Migrant Hoverfly; Migrant Aphideater]
Tiger Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus
Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]
Grey-spotted Boxer Platycheirus albimanus [Grey-spotted Sedgesitter or White-footed Hoverfly]
*$ Common Twist-tail Sphaerophoria scripta [Long Hoverfly; Common Globetail]
Syrphus sp. S. ribesii / S. vitripennis

Alder Flies:
Alder Fly Sialis lutaria

Other flies
*Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major
*$ Dagger Fly Empis livida
many unidentified flies

Dragon-/Damsel-flies:
none.

Beetles:
Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni
*$ Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp.

Spiders:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

The trio of Common Sandpipers, seen here pre-dawn.

I was very pleased the camera managed to pick these seven Tufted Ducks up. They were high and well past when I saw them. I pointed the camera and hoped for the best. I originally thought six birds but look closely and a group of five is pursued by two birds close together. I can only make out three drakes.

"Whites" can be tricky from above and size is not always apparent with a single individual. The shape of the black around the wing tip is the best guide. Here with the black extends as far down the outer edge of the wing as along the trailing edge and the well-defined inner area curve points to it being a Large White Pieris brassicae The two spots on the forewing means it is a female (males only have one).

The pattern on the underwing of Small White P. rapae recalls that of Green-veined White P. napi but without the strong outlining to the veins.

A Green Long-horn moth Adela reaumurella on a dandelion. The iridescent wings makes the colour hard to determine. I tried to get a better angle but the moth flew off...

...and I luckily saw where it had landed in a bush. This is not much better though it does show the two tone antennae.

I did manage to move slightly without disturbing it.

One I will try and get help with from the Shropshire recorder. This is a species of Megachile bee, some species of which are leaf-cutters (to block up the holes containing their prey into which they have laid their eggs).

Another view showing the "wasp waist" that bees, wasps etc., all show.

The Nomad bees were fighting this morning and almost by luck I managed this photo of one with its wings open and showing the abdomen markings with great clarity. Even then specific identification is tricky but I think almost certainly Flavous Nomad Bee Nomada flava.

On a buttercup is a hoverfly from the Cheilosia albitarsus aggregate: either C. ranunculi [Early Buttercup Cheilosia] or C. albitarsis [Late Buttercup Cheilosia]

Another of the difficult all-black Cheilosia species of hoverfly. This is Parsley Blacklet C. pagana.

A Spring Epistrophe hoverfly Epistrophe eligans.

I think this is a Grey-spotted Boxer hoverfly Platycheirus albimanus despite the abdomen not showing any grey spots and the 'manus' (feet) not being 'alba' (white).

My first Common Twist-tail hoverfly Sphaerophoria scripta this year.

A Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombilius major in flight. Note how the "fur" sticks up from the abdomen. Also this photo shows the head much better than any I have taken previously. It is now over six weeks since I logged my first of this species – that seems a longer flight-period than usual.

My first dagger fly of the year the lines on the thorax identifying it as the Dagger Fly Empis livida.

 A somewhat different looking midge that was on the street lamp poles. No idea as to species.

And another unidentified midge. It shows unusually thick but un-plumed antennae.

No chance of a specific identification on the Pollen Beetle Meligethes sp. feasting on a dandelion.

(Ed Wilson)

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In the Priorslee Avenue tunnel:

Flies
1 St Mark's Fly or Hawthorn Fly Bibio marci
*2 cranefly Limonia nubeculosa
1 Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]
9 midges of at least three species

I am not sure why this cranefly is sitting with its wings partly spread. Very helpful in identifying it as the cranefly Limonia nubeculosa. One of two on the ceiling of the tunnel.

(Ed Wilson)

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The Flash: 06:10 – 07:10

(106th visit of the year)

Bird notes:
- a duck Mallard with at least six ducklings keeping close to the island and hiding between tree-roots
- no Great Crested Grebes found today!

Bird(s) noted flying over here:
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Cormorant
- 2 Jackdaws

Noted on / around the water:
- 17 Canada Geese
- 5 Greylag Geese
- 1 Mute Swan: the other resident presumed to be on the island.
- 21 (17♂) + 6? (1 brood) Mallard
- 1 (1♂) feral Mallard x ?
- 7 (4♂) Tufted Duck
- 4 Moorhens
- 26 Coots
- no Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull: adult very briefly

Hirundines etc. noted:

None

Warblers recorded (the figure in brackets is birds noted singing):
- 8 (6) Chiffchaffs
- 4 (4) Blackcaps

Noted around the area:
On various street lamp poles:

Moths:
*1 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata : moth species #5 at The Flash for me this year.

Hoverflies:
1 Chequered Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare [Long-winged Duskyface]

Other flies:
*6 Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly]

Alder Flies:
*1 Alder Fly Sialis lutaria

Beetles:
2 Alder Leaf Beetles Agelastica alni

Bug:
*1 nymph of a Striped Oak Bug Rhabdomiris striatellus

Spiders:
Long-jawed Orb-web Spider Tetragnatha sp.

Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata is one of the easiest moths to identify. For some reason I have never (yet) managed a really crisp photo of one and this continues that trend.

One of at least Psychodidae sp. [Drain Fly, Moth Fly or Owl Fly] that were on several different street lamp poles.

Here is another. It may or may not be the same species. Who can tell – certainly not me when there are over 100 to choose from.

An unidentified midge. I have included it as it is a very clear photograph that shows the features well so it is rather frustrating that none of my apps. get beyond "non-biting midge".

Alder Flies Sialis lutaria are common at the Balancing Lake, less so here. This one seems to have ended its day as breakfast for a spider.

Find of the morning was this nymph of a Striped Oak Bug Rhabdomiris striatellus. Sadly the background is a bit messy but you get the idea of this very smart bug.

(Ed Wilson)

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Between the Balancing Lake and The Flash:

Nothing of real interest.

 

Yesterday's Reed Warbler not heard.

(Ed Wilson)

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2013
Priorslee Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
6 Cormorants
3 Reed Warblers
2 Common Whitethroat
8 Blackcaps
9 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
2 Greylag Geese
1 Richardson's / Cackling-type Canada Goose
17 Tufted Duck
2 Song Thrushes
3 Blackcaps
4 Chiffchaffs
3 Willow Warblers
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
16 Wheatears
1 Lesser Whitethroat
3 Common Whitethroats
1 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
3 Fieldfare
5 Linnets
4 Yellowhammers
1 Raven
(Ed Wilson)

Long Lane, Wellington
2 Whimbrel
(JW Reeves)

2011
Priorslee Lake
2 Common Sandpiper
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Raven
(John Isherwood)

Priorslee Flash
1 Common Sandpiper
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Whinchat
4 Wheatear
2 Garden Warbler
(John Isherwood)

2010
Priorslee Lake
5 Reed Warbler
(John Isherwood)

Nedge Hill
1 Whinchat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
22 Wheatear
(John Isherwood)

2009
Priorslee Lake
7 Swans
3 Common Sandpipers
Sedge Warbler
Garden Warbler
9 Reed Warblers
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
(Ed Wilson)

Lanes to the E / SE of the lake
2 Lesser Whitethroats
3 Whitethroats
(Ed Wilson)

The Flash
8 Tufted Duck
2 Willow Warblers
1 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcaps
(Ed Wilson)

Nedge Hill
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat
Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
2 Linnets
2 Yellowhammers
5 Wheatears
4 Skylarks
2 Jays
(Ed Wilson)

The Wrekin
5+ Tree Pipit
3 Redstart
Wood Warbler
Garden Warbler
Wheatear
7 Meadow Pipits
(Ed Wilson)

2008
Priorslee Lake
13 Mute Swans
(Martin Adlam)

2007
Priorslee Lake
Whimbrel
4 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Ducks
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Stock Doves
2 Grey Wagtails
2 Sedge Warblers
4 Reed Warblers
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Jay
119 Jackdaw
3 House Sparrows
(Ed Wilson)

2006
Priorslee Lake
4 Great Crested Grebes
1 Heron
1 Tufted Duck
2 Ruddy Ducks
1 Dunlin
1 Whimbrel
5 Common Sandpipers
8 Swifts
1 Skylark
97 Sand Martins
31 Swallows
3 House Martins
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Reed Warbler
2 Lesser Whitethroats
1 Garden Warbler
10 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Warblers
6 Greenfinches
1 Linnet
4 Reed Bunting

Lanes to the east of the Lake
3 Mallards
1 Lesser Whitethroat
5 Whitethroats
3 Jay
3 Skylarks
2 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
4 Greenfinches
3 Linnets
4 Bullfinches
8 Yellowhammers.
(Ed Wilson)