The end of a Wild Year on the Riverside

The last few weeks of 2012 have indeed been wild, weatherwise, with torrential rain or continuous drizzle, strong gales and racing clouds over land under water.

Look up from the mud and get a glimpse of the blue sky.

The oaks, looking so bare, are actually teeming with life

during the winter, supporting a huge variety of invertebrates which

in turn provide a rich food supply for birds.

An old oak in the evening light, its shape formed by the weather.

Tuesday 18th December, an interlude - it was very damp but hadn't rained, the landscape lit by watery sunshine and the wind turning through WNW, the rivers swift and muddy but the floodwater had fast receded since Friday leaving the steep banks even more scoured and depositing piles of leaves, branches and twigs on the riverside in drifts like seaweed on the seashore. The cheerful sound of a flock of starlings came from one of the old oaks on the bank with more arriving to join in the whistling chorus (40). A fieldfare flew into a hedge thicket which led me to glimpse two more through the branches. Berries and fruits are scarce this year so it's unlikely that we'll see the large numbers that visited last winter. A jay flew into the same oak as the starlings and was followed by two magpies, then another. Great tits could be seen foraging in another oak, with more foraging on the river banks and in thickets, one or two calling (35). Restless blue tits ranged between the oaks and thickets everywhere, just counting them working their way along the river at all levels...quite a few! (c99). Blackbirds too were scattered along the riverside, some busy flicking aside piles of fallen leaves, rich pickings as the ground was soft and others foraging on the river mud (17), a single song thrush with them.  

Apart from the starlings, robins (14) were the only birds singing loudly, they have done well this year, wet weather was not a problem and produced an abundance of food when young were being fed. House sparrows (c30) were as usual chattering in their hawthorn hedges and sheltered bramble thickets.

Down on the river a moorhen was dabbling where the current was not so strong, they prefer to keep well out of sight under the banks. A mallard pair flew across, looking for a calm backwater where they could feed and not get washed downstream. Wrens, silent except for the occasional loud alarm call were visible only when they flew across low over the water (4) and dunnocks foraging on the river banks amongst grasses and reeds swept flat by the force of the water were only visible when they too moved (4). Calls from the branches directly overhead revealed a group of foraging long-tailed tits (11) which try to seek out trees sheltered from the wind, being tiny birds, not strong fliers. Goldfinches in a small group (5) flew over in search of seeds, following three chaffinches into a dense thicket where a bullfinch was calling but didn't show itself. The Blackthorn is still very popular with birds even though it holds no sloes, these having been stripped earlier this winter. A group of trees nearby forms an ideal woodland area, perfect habitat with a diversity of heights from understorey to the top branches of the tallest trees, plenty of mosses, dead wood and tangled brambles, holly and ivy. There are far too many woodlands that are managed out of existence, allowed no understorey, where no fallen branches or dead wood are allowed to lie and are not surprisingly devoid of wildlife, empty of song and nests all year. 

Here amongst the old oaks and ash, nuthatches were active, busy collecting and storing food - these are birds which always remember where they cached their autumn haul.(4) Tiny movements amongst the brambles - two goldcrests hovering to feed on small insects or perhaps the small seeds of the remaining dried-up berries. Two more were seen very high up in a conifer, their more usual habitat.

Out over the field a kestrel hovered, lit by the low sun, and another dropped down over the back of a hedgerow, then up again swiftly.

Winter frosts and winter warmth

Frost on the Hogweed - goldfinches have long since eaten the seeds

December so far has been a mixture of warm and very wet days contrasting with a few frosty cold nights and mornings obscured by falling fog and mists along the river. The frosts gave way to warmer weather with torrential rains on 14th December, clearing to leave very damp but sunny days. Birds have to adjust quickly to the changes - well before we are aware of incoming bad weather they are preparing for the worst, frantically feeding up or collecting and storing food in the few short daylight hours.

A perfect day for planting, before the frosts with the ground still soft

but not waterlogged. The Riverside robins were watching from a distance.

Treecreepers and nuthatches are now clearly visible in the trees.

Autumn leaves - where's winter?

After a very wet day and a very windy night, Sunday 25th November started out in sunshine with robins singing strongly, the river high, flowing swiftly, herring gulls sailing overhead, a nuthatch climbing upside down along a branch and another calling close by, heading for the first bird.

Blue tits and great tits operating low down, just above the water, skimming off insects amongst the floating debris - the river alive with birds, soaking wet house sparrows preening amongst the twigs after bathing in the river. Millions of midges dancing over the sunlit water.

No place to hide? Fly to the Holly and Ivy

 A third nuthatch flying across and a goldfinch feeding on seeds on a tree and eight more flying into a riverside tree, their soft calls drowned out by the loud chattering of house sparrows deep in a dense hedge. Blackbirds foraging amongst more open Hawthorns and Blackthorns with occasional soft calls and alarms, with more feeding along the base of the hedges where piles of leaves are caught up in the roots. A grey squirrel climbing high up in the Blackthorn settling itself in characteristic pose with tail curved over its back in a fork in a branch, eating a large sloe.

Layers of fallen leaves - and now twigs

The ground is covered in small twigs and branches after the overnight gales, forming a fresh carpet over the now dark carpet of old fallen leaves. The colour of the landscape changes day by day. 

Formerly dense thickets of deciduous Hazel, Willow, Hawthorn and Maple now offer no hiding place amongst their branches, today the only hiding places are in Hollies and Ivy and undergrowth close to the ground where piles of leaves provide shelter. A Jay flying across in search of acorns, usually plentiful at this time of the year but very rare after a lean year. Another nuthatch arrives in one of the oaks almost falling down the trunk head first in its eagerness to collect insects it has spotted. Smart silent chaffinches are easily seen in trees now but very well camouflaged when foraging amongst the fallen leaves. Black-headed gulls keep their distance from groups of woodpigeons feeding on the grass.

Dark now, threatening heavy rain, in turning back, a fine close-up view of a kestrel as it flies over to the river and hovers over the bank in front of me, low down, then drops like a stone. It's caught its prey, probably a bank vole scurrying for shelter.

As with the sparrowhawk, predators such as these take advantage of the general confusion a sudden change in the weather can generate - master opportunists. 

November after more rain

Early November brought more rain onto saturated earth, no problem for most inhabitants of the Riverside at this time of the year - with abundant insect life in the still mild temperatures. 

The river overflowed its defined channel and banks to fill its ancient river bed, spreading out where once it ran as several channels wherever it wished.

The river showing its true nature as it spreads out over its ancient course

Oak leaves are still clinging to trees whilst new leaf buds form. Sharp frosts will change the scene and snow complete the process if it comes.

A quick look on the morning of 7th November - the river had burst its banks on 4th November, shown in the above photo - but the water had receded, leaving river bank vegetation flattened by the floodwater and huge piles of leaves driven downstream were left on the riverside banks - perfect hiding places for small creatures when the weather turns frosty. There was a chilly southerly wind but the sun offered some warmth when it appeared.

Blackbirds were foraging very close to the river (5) and robins were singing or 'chinking' (4). Blue tits (36) and great tits (13) were performing acrobatics on the willows overhanging the fast-flowing river, catching insects whilst a few fast-moving long-tailed tits could be seen on top of a Hawthorn hedge, feeding amongst the twigs (3). Many woodpigeons were busy on the field and grasses, with others close to the water (35). Chaffinches were more visible now, very smart in new plumage (6) but still quiet unlike the house sparrows which were chattering loudly in the brambles and hedgerow (16).

The river, sought out by birds, sustaining life.

A fine view of a goldfinch preening in the sun - it had obviously been bathing in the river - and looking down, a glimpse of more on a branch just above the water level bathing and preening and even more goldfinches flying down to join them (17). They appear to be more numerous this year, joining forces to search for wild plant seeds. Wrens were calling loudly (4) but not a full song, and a dunnock flew up to have a good look around , perched at the top of a Hawthorn before dropping back down into the undergrowth at the sight of magpies (3) flying across. A loud alarm call gave away a nuthatch in an old oak.

Even after all the rain and floodwater, birds are always seeking out the river, its water for bathing, its riverine undergrowth for insects, its trees for berries and nuts, its banks for warmth and shelter.

Leaves, lichen and fungi

A very cold NE gale, the coldest this autumn on 27th October caused a rapid change on the  Riverside with leaves falling in drifts from the trees, no gradual and subtle change this year. On 29th the wind had dropped and wildlife was adjusting to the colder weather with more activity and urgency.

Many robins were singing, still quite close together - in adjacent trees - with blue and great tits very active and now more easily visible catching insects amongst the twigs. In a thicket a silent chiffchaff was foraging - certainly one which will be staying here over the winter. Blackbirds were now more numerous, probably some migrants amongst them, all along the river bank and under the hedges. Quiet voices from a party of long-tailed tits were heard - where? They came into view flying low along the river course one by one, to land on an overhanging blackthorn - a lot safer than scattering amongst the treetops when hungry winged predators are around. The finches are bolder birds - a group of five goldfinches flew high across and into a thicket where some bright chaffinches were feeding and a linnet  was perched on a high branch. Lower down close to the water, wrens were now more visible with one or two singing. House sparrows were active along the hedges with two pied wagtails finding insects in the mud on the field and twelve black-headed gulls in winter plumage landed on the grass to feed together with numbers of woodpigeons and a few magpies.

A very fine view of two smart treecreepers collecting insects from deep crevices in the bark on the same old oak completed the River bank scene for the day.

In the days preceding the cold blast from the north, the autumn had been working its magic:

covering the mud under the trees with a soft and brilliant layer of leaves

with more gently spiraling down, adding to the riverside carpet.

Lichen on the branches shone with the same colors as the fallen leaves

- birds will be making use of this in spring.

Shaggy Inkcap mushrooms suddenly appeared

at the foot of a tree - they won't last long, rapidly disintegrating into 'ink'

once they have opened.

  

October Invertebrates

A very wet start to the month following a very damp September meant ideal conditions for invertebrates along the riverside with temperatures still warm and no frosty nights. Birds of course benefit from the abundance of insects especially those feeding up on their migration routes south such as warblers, swallows, martins and pipits.  Birds have also been very quick this autumn to start feasting on berries and fruits, aware perhaps that winter migrants are on their way here and the feast will not last long!

A perfect combination of flowering Ivy and Blackberries.

Insects are attracted to the Ivy flowers and warblers are

attracted to the insects. The insects can be so numerous that

the warblers can happily feast all day before heading for the 

coast and the long flight to warmer climes.

Other birds will be attracted to the ripening berries.

A bird's eye view of berries on the Guelder Rose - focus on the surroundings,

watch out for predators, whilst the beak is plucking the attractive fruits!

A female Hoverfly feeding on Ivy - still have to identify this one.

Hoverflies are very important indicators of the healthy ecology of any location - few Hoverflies and few types present mean something is wrong.

Fortunately they are very numerous here along the river and environs and many different types are present. As with most invertebrates, they need plenty of shelter - dead wood left lying where it fell, fallen leaves, twigs, branches and rotting tree stumps.

Autumn Hazel and Ash tree against a rare clear blue sky.

So far this month the sky has been active with groups of barn swallows, house martins, linnets,

and on 6th October - a strange day with clouds indicatiing two wind directions, the higher layer indicating a south westerly wind and lower layer indicating  a north easterly wind, a buzzard was gliding over the river course and an OSPREY flying towards the south, over the river course. I had seen it enjoying a large fish at Warnham Local Nature Reserve on 2nd Oct.

On 9th October a flock of very beautiful but well camouflaged meadow pipits had flown in and were foraging for insects amongst the mud, together with many active pied wagtails.

Grey herons were seen flying low over the river on several evenings and on 14th October, after the first overnight frost of the autumn, many Red Admiral butterflies were still active, high flying amongst the trees or around and on the flowering Ivy. Robins were more visible now, with some singing loudly amongst the thickets. Rosa canina, Spindle, Hawthorn, Guelder Rose, Blackthorn and Brambles all held berries and fruits - and large numbers of blue and great tits foraging for insects. A green woodpecker jaffled and house sparrows chattered in the hedgerow and a 'charm' of goldfinch flew across the river. Black-headed gulls had taken over the grass areas whilst Herring gulls wheeled and circled in a 'stack' overhead.  

16th - 20th October,  chiffchaffs and Red Admirals several nuthatch, jays and large family groups of long-tailed tits have been seen on the riverside

Swallows and Admirals

The end of September already - a rather mad month weather wise.
30th September, cloudy but dry, becoming windy. Swallows and House Martins still foraging for insects over the river course on their way to the coast whilst a Sparrowhawk glided over with the wind carrying it across to the east. The Blackthorn was full of foraging blue and great tits, joined by a family group of at least ten long-tailed tits all intent on extracting the insects populating the thickets. Chiffchaffs were foraging here too, their swift acrobatic flights making the other birds look quite ponderous. A great spotted woodpecker made a dippy flight back into its oak and below, in the holly two robins were singing tentatively, starting up with thin high notes. Red Admiral butterflies basked on a sheltered bank whilst a jay flew across in the trees. Over the field a kestrel flew in to hover against the wind above the hedgerow.

Red Admiral butterfly and its shadow on the river bank

28th September - overcast but fairly bright, damp after overnight showers and a chill SW breeze. The river was down about 2 meters from its height after recent heavy rains, as seen from the mud on the riverbank vegetation.
An autumnal picture today with vivid orange rose-hips against bright yellow hazel leaves and a spindle tree shining red with fruits and - after our worries, the Blackthorn holding enough sloes to attract the winter migrants. Hawthorn leaves still green but plenty of berries and over the river Craneflies and other insects in abundance.

Sloes on the Blackthorn - awaiting winter migrants

Robins (8) were singing loudly now, in the process of sorting out territory, at present still close together in adjacent trees with silent but active great tits (16) highly visible in their winter plumage. Blue tits (31) were flying amongst the ivy, mixed up with Red Admiral butterflies! Amongst the thickets of Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Dog Rose, Ash and Field Maple, a high area of flowering Ivy was the centre of attraction for more Red Admirals than I'd ever seen before here. I counted 22 just in this small patch, basking, feeding on the Ivy flowers, together with Comma butterflies (8) and flying high into the sunlit hawthorn and basking low on river bank nettle leaves - all appeared brightly coloured with undamaged wings, clearly freshly emerged. Chiffchaffs were foraging here too, as other insects were also attracted to the Ivy flowers. More Red Admirals and Comma butterflies were seen all along the riverside in sheltered places, up high, down low, on the paths and banks. Only 4 Large White butterflies were seen and only one Speckled Wood.

A Red Admiral butterfly basking on the stoney path,  freshly emerged

Looking up higher than the high-flying Red Admirals, many swallows were foraging over the river course, their elegant flight style contrasting with the flight of foraging House Martins amongst them. Difficult to count but at least 50 swallows with smaller numbers of House Martins, in no hurry on their migration route to the coast. I was being buzzed by Red Admirals, so moved on past a bramble patch full of house sparrows (44) which had left their usual hedgerow for the rich pickings across the river.
Wrens and blackbirds were still very quiet, with only 2 wrens and 5 blackbirds seen, some of these still obviously in moult - they will soon have smart fresh plumage for the winter. Chaffinches (6) were still very quiet too. Nuthatches, (8) however were now making themselves heard, calling from oaks or giving their presence away by the tap-tapping sound made when opening an acorn or nut wedged in a branch. In the same area, a great spotted woodpecker flew across and a bullfinch, usually heard but not seen, showed itself briefly dashing from one thicket to another and a busy willow warbler, singled out from the chiffchaffs only by its huuee-eet call was seen in - a willow over the river.
The ever-present woodpigeons (28) were active, seeking out new sources of food, with magpies (4) carrion crows (4) and jackdaws (6). Above them 6 herring gulls flew over and 5 black-headed gulls, now in their winter plumage, foraged below on the grass. A jay flew across the new bridge whilst two squirrels bounded from tree to tree - there will certainly be noisy arguments amongst them soon as acorns are in short supply this year. They disturbed a blackcap which gave a call of alarm.  Amongst the conifers - an unmistakeable call revealed a very smart coat tit feeding on the tiny pine cones and 3 goldcrests flew across to join it. Nearby a group of 5 goldfinch attempted to fly against the increasing wind, heading for patches of thistle on the bank. Their favourite seeds are often found in exposed locations, so they are adept at feeding whilst clinging on to stalks bent double in the wind.
Suddenly a buzzard appeared, just above the hedgerow, a fine close view of it hunting low and a grey heron flew north along the river, no doubt heading for the communal roost at Warnham.


 To start with, at the beginning of the month, a closer look at the Small Tortoiseshell butterflies which emerged on the riverbank in

late August. In September they are searching for nectar then later

they'll find somewhere dry and warm to hibernate until spring:

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly catching the sunlight

Underside of Small Tortoiseshell wings - it's moved across to its 

favourite habitat - nettles

Small Tortoiseshell with wings closed - the pattern still visible

but looking more like a dead leaf

Autumn Approaches

The last day of August and a chill to the air after a cold night but clear and sunny. Robins were singing in the hawthorn, Blue Tits bickering in the hedgerow and a squirrel made a huge leap across the river from Oak to Hazel tree where it scrambled amongst the leaves in search of green, unripe hazelnuts.

Chiffchaffs were calling whilst searching for insects where the sun had reached the treetops. A group of house sparrows were chasing very low over the river to join others under overhanging brambles from where they dropped down to bathe in the river then back up into the sunshine to dry off and preen.

A woodpigeon entered a dense oak where a large nest was just visible - they nest late into the year, being such large birds, they can easily keep their eggs and young warm over cold nights.

An autumn scene - Speckled Wood butterfly basking on brambles

Speckled Woods were by far the most numerous butterflies along the river in the dappled shade of the morning, as it was still early. Tapping noises and faint calls gave away a nuthatch in an oak, soon they will be making louder calls as the young search for their own territories. A soft call from a Bullfinch came from the far side of a thicket and an blackcap gave an alarm call from dense ivy about to flower - insects will be attracted to the ivy in even larger numbers - a good place for birds to forage. Wrens were present too, but silent apart from occasional alarm calls.

A puzzling 'ch ch ch' sound out of sight low down on the river became louder and looking down onto a small bank I saw that it was a juvenile moorhen which had chosen a sunny sheltered spot warm up and preen, flicking its tail. Suddenly it was surrounded by Banded Demoiselle damselflies - all males chasing, the warmth of the sun had brought them out.

On a stoney path along the riverside a Common Darter dragonfly was also warming up and starting to dart off after the small flies which were also gathering over the path.

Common Darter dragonfly waiting to ambush insects on the path

Dragonflies perch with their wings open whereas the most damselflies perch with their wings folded back.

Down on the steep banks of the Arun two demoiselles chased, Emerald Damselflies, which are still to be seen in August but here only in small areas, in small numbers. More Banded Demoiselle damselflies were seen warming up on the high bank of nettles and yet more in another sunny nettle bed where spiders webs flung across the stalks glistened in the sun. A treecreeper called up in an oak and two more nuthatch were also calling, certainly juveniles, chasing each other off the oak and onto the river bank willow. Great Tits were busy flying around in circles, flycatching, an easy task today with mists of insects over the river. 

A Red Admiral butterfly glided along to perch on an oak leaf but then, its wings battered by the wind, it flew down onto a leaf in the shelter of the river bank. Near the area where the caterpillars were seen previously, a fine Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was perching on the nettles - obviously a favourite patch for them, dense, with a large variety of young and old nettle leaves to choose from to lay eggs, probably the last of the season.     

     

A few more minutes of sunshine

Thursday 23rd August and the sun appeared in gaps between the numerous cumulus clouds. The day was warm and with little wind. Banded Demoiselle damselflies were still active over the lily pads with a group of 7 males chasing a single female ten meters along the river and back again several times. They soon lost track of the female which perched on the river bank nettles and continued chasing each other around the lily pads. More Banded Demoiselles were chasing in groups  over aquatic reeds on the Arun and several Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies  were also chasing over a separate patch on the river. Few have been seen for a while now, after an early appearance in May so it's good to see they are still present.

Butterflies were out with Speckled Woods all along the river where ever there was dappled shade, usually several together spiraling in close circles from down on the banks to high in the trees and back again. They also need to bask and usually choose bramble leaves to warm up on.

The star today was a fresh Small Tortoiseshell butterfly I encountered basking on the footbridge:

This Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was soaking up the warmth on

 a non-slip strip on the wooden boards of the footbridge, 

close to the nettles on the river banks.

Being late summer, this fresh butterfly will soon be seeking nectar, feeding up before choosing a suitable place to hibernate for the winter. Its name Aglais urticae indicates its essential foodplant -

common nettle (Urtica dioica) when in caterpillar form. Further along the river I found  Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars on the nettles:

Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars, probably final stage (they change 

skins 4 times as they grow). 

They create their own protective webbing to deter predators as they are very conspicuous, moving from one nettle plant to another, munching their way through the leaves and leaving bare stalks. They have to go through the chrysalis stage now, before emerging as butterflies.

Other butterflies seen today along the river banks were red Admiral, Comma Large White and Gatekeeper

In a drier area this Dark Bush Cricket male 

Pholidoptera griseoaptera was hiding. 

Being flightless, almost wingless it travels fast, springing a few feet over the vegetation using its very long legs. It has fine long antennae (unlike the Grasshoppers) and feeds on aphids, caterpillars, nettles

 and brambles. It usually stays out of sight as it makes a good meal for ground-feeding birds.

Birds seen today were Blue Tit  (31), Great Tit (15),  Woodpigeon (24), Collared Dove (2), Green Woodpecker (2), Chiffchaff (9), Willow Warbler (3), calling Nuthatch (5), singing Wren (2), Sparrowhawk, Goldfinch (5), Robin (2) Herring Gull (7) and Buzzard heard calling. It had been siesta time for all the small birds which started to become active again only when on my way back.  

Solar Powered Insects

The summer has appeared intermittently so far this year, with insects suddenly powered up as soon as the sun found a way through the clouds onto the river and banks. For aquatic insects such as Dragonflies and Damselflies the sun has to warm up the water before they can emerge. They also need vegetation to make their way out of the water,  climbing out to transform and warm up before taking to the air.

White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes in July

This was unexpected - a small, fragile damselfly which I saw making its way amongst the nettles on the riverbank then settling briefly on a blade of grass before flying off again. There was another not far away on the nettles which had probably emerged from the river at the same time.

This was confirmed as a White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes. It is of great interest as is very localised in Sussex and vulnerable to pollution and is found in clean flowing waters where there is plenty of mature vegetation. Its greatest threat is vegetation clearance. The fields alongside the river are important as well and need to be considered together with the river habitat in conservation plans. 

So good to see them here - they were still on the same stretch of riverbank the following day.

Small Skipper butterfly on thistle

Away form the damp river bank, in a patch of naturally occurring wildflowers, the Skippers appeared as soon as the sun shone, flying restlessly from flower to flower. They enjoy warm, dry weather and are increasing their range as the climate changes year by year.

Longhorn beetle Stranglia melanura

As soon as the Hogweed starts to flower all types of insects gather on the easily accessible nectar source, plenty for all, this one is larger than most.

Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum in thistle on the riverbank. 

Note its long tongue.

The Garden Bumblebee is a specialist, a long-tongued bee, foraging amongst deep flowers which other bees cannot reach. It has a longer face as well as long tongue and is in steep decline as flower-rich grasslands disappear from our county and the country as a whole.  

White-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lucorum on Bramble flower

Bramble flowers are very important sources of nectar for a large number of insect species and have the great advantage of flowering throughout the summer.  Brambles in warm areas flowering earlier and those in shadier locations flowering later, a constant food supply with berries ripening often on the same bush where buds and flowers are still present.

The Warblers in the Willows

Today, at last, a summer's day - warm, dry, with sunshine and a slight breeze. It would be a good time to have a quick look in the afternoon for butterflies, before the clouds moved in.

Sure enough, there was plenty of activity on the river banks with butterflies and dragonflies patrolling their territories without having to fly low to shelter from the wind or hang up under a leaf to shelter from the rain, or in the case of dragonflies, not bother to emerge at all.

Banded Demoiselle Damselfly male, resting on a favourite perch 

overlooking the river - a nettle leaf

Concentrating on the river bank damselflies and butterflies, looking down in all directions at the patrolling colours, brilliant orange, red, blue, green and more subtle shades of camouflage brown and buff, I became aware of soft calls from the direction of a river bank willow and - there being no wind to blow the leaves, slight movements in the branches must indicate the presence of birds. These proved to be a family party of long-tailed tits, mainly juveniles, busy collecting insects. They never stay to feed in one place for long and soon followed their leader to another, larger willow leaving me watching the first tree. A very smart adult willow warbler appeared and proceeded to feed on aphids on the undersides of the leaves with meticulous precision. It was finding plenty on each leaf, especially near the base stems, finishing with each leaf then moving on to the next, aphids still on its beak. Another movement, another willow warbler foraging, then some short 'hwit' calls indicated the presence of chiffchaffs nearby... and a glimpse of a whitethroat in the thicket, it may still have a nest with young down in the brambles below.
Still watching the same tree when suddenly more birds started to arrive,  flying out of the oak and ash trees, not together but singly, one after the other all landing in the willows on the bank. More and more, the total must have been around fifty, mainly blue and great tits and more long-tailed tits, intent on a share of the insects. They moved off again, leaving the willow warblers and chiffchaffs. Blackbirds and wrens were seen but not heard low down on the river banks.
Looking up, a common buzzard in moult leisurely glided on the thermals, with depleted feathers, it wouldn't fly so easily in bad weather.
Butterflies seen on the riverbank today were:  numerous Gatekeepers patrolling, keeping others away,  Meadow Browns, Red Admirals, Commas - more that usual,  Holly Blue, Common Blue, Small Heath, Speckled Wood in the shade, Large and Small Skippers in the sun, Red Admiral and Large White.
Damselflies on the river and bank nettles were: Banded Demoiselle, males still chasing low over the surface of the water, females on the bank vegetation and over the water,  Emerald Damselflies and some freshly emerged quite colourless damselflies perching on leaves whilst they gain strength and colour, a fast flying Brown Hawker dragonfly and a Migrant Hawker dragonfly perched on the tip  of a nettle in the sun, making sorties over the river, frightening off butterflies and hoverflies,  returning to the same high perch then flying off high into the trees.

A summary of the days since the previous record on 11th July and before the record on 9th August above:

Blackcaps were still singing during the second half of July but with songs reduced to short snatches and swifts were seen most days flying high over the river course catching insects carried up in the thermals with house martins flying at lower levels.
During sunny intervals butterflies, especially Red Admirals were seen flying strongly over the river bank vegetation, together with Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Small Copper, Holly Blue, Comma and Ringlet, 6 spot Burnet moths and Gatekeepers, the latter becoming more numerous. Certainly, when the sun shone, butterflies have been more numerous than last year along the river banks and Damselflies far more numerous. This in a summer where butterflies in general throughout the country have been scarce, due to the bad weather. Large numbers of Damselflies emerged on fine days, Banded Demoiselles especially numerous and a rare surprise on 20th July (see special report on Insects to come soon). The protection of the River bank vegetation here this summer has made a big difference. 

Rain, rain, thunderclouds and more rain

Since June, sunny intervals have been short and the river has been running fast and at high levels. Wildlife of all kinds have been affected, some doing very well and others having numerous setbacks. An account of recent days follows:

10th July 2012 - no change in the weather, dull with intermittent drizzle but chiffchaffs were singing together with 3 blackcaps and an elusive garden warbler.  A moorhen was busy in the river under fallen branches still with leaves - an ideal hideout. Swifts were wheeling fast over the river accompanied by house martins and a Comma butterfly was seen basking on nettles in a brief spell of sunshine. A yaffle indicated the presence of a green woodpecker in the wild grasses.

The Day of the Ringlets
11th July 2012 - yet another cloudy day but with some blue sky followed by threatening clouds and the ground very soggy. The river was quite high and fast-flowing.
Starting with the birds, those making the most noise today were magpies, some giving alarm calls whilst clumsy large juveniles were falling off branches trying to attract the attention of the adults. Several more were finding plenty to eat in the long wet grass (9).  Woodpigeons (20) were sheltering, hunched up, under the tree canopy as if expecting the deluge from the south west soon. Only 6 crows were seen, they favour the open spaces - but will take to cover when moulting starts.
The abundance of insects in the damp weather has been beneficial to the blackcaps, some giving very short songs but most busy 'fly-catching' amongst the Hawthorn and Blackthorn (5). Whitethroats too, after a late start are doing well and still singing (4), as was a single chiffchaff.
 As I walked along, lots of small (micro) moths emerged from the grass and nettles - all excellent food for birds which can spot the moths under the nettles - these are not day-flying moths which are usually more brightly coloured - but the well camouflaged brown moths. Robins, some singing (7) and wrens (10) also singing or busy catching some of the numerous midges close to the water - the wrens still feeding young together with blue tits (about 20) and great tits (about 12), mostly juveniles were seen all along the river. The hedges were full of chattering house sparrows but blackbirds remained hidden, except for adults flying low into the base of the trees and hedge rows, beaks full of food for young.
Looking up to the sky, 2 skylarks could be seen singing strongly, the only birds in the sky, no gulls or swifts today.
Flying silently across the river a great spotted woodpecker visited its nest then flew back to adjacent trees to collect more food for its growing young. A grey heron was seen flying south along the river and a common buzzard came into view, flying directly into the dark thunder cloud to the west, making its way home to shelter in the oaks.

Ringlet butterfly in the damp grass

This threatening and increasingly windy weather meant only a partial survey was possible but large numbers of insects were observed in sheltered places on the riverbank. It was good to see so many Ringlet butterflies, some flying rapidly along the riverbank nettles and amongst the grasses, with some even basking when the sun appeared. Ringlets favour damp places so are quite scarce during dry summers, they are certainly more numerous here this year.

Hoverfly feeding on Hogweed flowers

Bees and hoverflies were covering the large umbels of the flowering Hogweed (not Giant Hogweed, aptly named Heracleum mantegazzianum but just the ordinary plant Heracleum sphondylium) and some 16 spot ladybirds were seen on the nettles.
Several Red Admiral and Comma butterflies were also seen in the shelter of the river thickets during sunny intervals.
What will it be like when the rain stops and the clouds clear? We'll have to wait some time.

No, that's not blue sky, it's a dark thundercloud approaching over

the field of flowering linseed in the distance.

After the Flood - riverside inhabitants recover

Sunday 17th June and it's life as usual on the river but with a sense of urgency, making up for lost time.

 Birds with nests that were destroyed by the floodwater started building anew the day after the floods receded which meant breeding activity had to start from scratch, with males perching on prominent branches, singing loudly - a second April.

The day was windy with sun and cloud alternating. Dog roses all along the river banks were now flowering together with Elder with buds and flowers just appearing on the brambles. The rich hawthorn blossom that dominated the riverbanks only a few days ago had disappeared, leaving small green berries which will sustain our winter migrants when they arrive.

There was abundant insect activity amongst the nettles, brambles and wild flowers on the river banks with the river flowing swiftly. In some areas the sound of the wind tearing through poplar leaves drowned out birdsong but poplars are not so popular with most birds - given a choice, oak, ash, willow, hawthorn, blackthorn, field maple, hornbeam, pine and all the hedgerow plants are preferred.  

Rosa canina - Dog rose - excellent for wildlife.

Heres a summary of wildlife seen on 17th June 2012:
Birds which were most likely to have been affected by the floods were busy singing or building new nests - wrens (17) were singing and rebuilding on the banks dashing across for moss and grasses - higher up this time; they had been used to low river levels during the months of 'drought' and have been caught again by the river in flood. Whitethroats (4), summer visitors, were late this year and had only started nesting recently here, with probably more to come. Blackbirds (17) were singing strongly and others were carrying food for young in hedgerow nests whilst numbers of robins (8) were singing too
with some thin calls from speckled fledged juveniles asking for food. House sparrows (54) were doing very well with large numbers of juveniles still being fed. Lots of chattering in the riverside bramble thickets and some expert 'flycatching' action over the river indicated that all was well with them.
Chaffinches (9) were calling and singing loudly and 2 goldfinches were singing from the top of an oak but only one greenfinch was heard. Appearing well before the whitethroats this year was another summer visitor, the chiffchaff (7). It's always audible as soon as the sun appears and never seems to give up during its season here. Much less easily distinguished, a garden warbler was singing, with only glimpses of it seen, also late to arrive this year. Blackcaps (9) arrived in very good numbers and have settled in well along the river, the males just giving very short snatches of their varied song as most adults were very busy feeding fledged juveniles or still busy carrying food to nests on the banks.
In a conifer where a blackcap family was foraging for insects, two goldcrests were also feeding - characteristically never still for a moment. Nearby a noisy racket broke out - a magpie had just flown into the tree - was it a fight to the death perhaps? A nest being raided?  No, just an adult bringing food to some hungry magpie nestlings. The small birds in the same tree continued foraging, unconcerned.
Keeping very quiet in a quiet bend on the river were 3 mallard, the female well camouflaged in the debris under the bank and close by a dunnock flew across to sing a short quiet song. The weather was  not ideal for the treecreepers (3) but one was seen flying from one tree to another more sheltered from the wind where two juveniles were calling.      
 Song thrushes (2) were quiet, flying low to collect food in the muddy banks and a single nuthatch was heard - a soft contact call to juveniles. Although they have several calls, the green woodpecker is always unmistakable - one flew across between the trees, giving a short yaffle and became visible.
Blue tits (43) and great tits (15) were very unlikely to have been affected by the floods, with numerous fledged youngsters being fed by exhausted-looking adults. With all the recent rain and very damp weather there would have been no shortage of caterpillars for the nestlings in the oaks and now some of the more daring fledged youngsters were seen foraging for themselves low down on the banks amongst the undergrowth and in the willows.
Each tree seemed again to have its own sentinel woodpigeon (28) which would fly out with a commotion of flapping wings when it spotted danger, alerting the smaller birds which would instantly take cover.
They all play their part in the diversity of the river habitat and although large, have predators seeking them out. A pile of woodpigeon feathers under a tree indicated a recent successful attack, probably by a sparrowhawk  - shortly afterwards a sparrowhawk was seen darting across the glade, perhaps the culprit.
The song of skylarks (3) alerted me to happenings in the sky where several swifts were flying extremely fast and low in the wind, catching insects and starlings (45) flew towards the riverside trees in groups. 4 crows followed and there was a fine view of a common buzzard, gliding over its territory, using the thermals created by the ground warming up in the sun.

Female Orange-tip butterfly of riverbank flowers

In a stretch of the river sheltered from the wind some Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies,

Banded Demoiselle damselflies and Large Red damselflies were flying low, settling on the nettles that had been well submerged only a few days ago. There were some micro moths low down amongst the grasses , 7 spot ladybirds amongst the nettles and bumblebees (white tailed) and hoverflies were busy on the newly flowering Elder.  It seemed too windy for butterflies but soon several Speckled Wood and a Red Admiral appeared together with a number of female Orange-tip butterflies flying strongly over the riverbank.