First Swift of the Summer

Whilst watching the gliding buzzards, hovering kestrel and singing skylarks over the river at midday today - the first sighting of a swift this year, heading around and following the course of the Arun towards the west. It will find plenty of aerial insects to feed on over the river during this very damp weather.
Very faint glimpses of the sun behind the clouds brought some warmth and butterflies out of hiding on the river bank. Orange Tips and Speckled Wood.

Speckled Wood butterfly warming up on last autumn's fallen oak leaf in a glimmer of sun
on the river bank. Fallen leaves have a million uses when left where they fall, including this,
where the dry leaf forms a warm surface on the cold wet ground, encouraging butterflies to
perch and absorb the sunlight. The Speckled Wood enjoys shady woodland and margins where its
speckled markings are perfect camouflage in dappled shade.

Blackcaps, hail and sunshine

Early today it was fine and sunny after over 20mm rain over the past 2 days. The grass covered with a carpet of Common Dandelion and ground ivy. Loudly singing chaffinches, still very visible in the trees, singing robins and wrens in the company of quiet blackbirds which prefer their songs to be heard in the still of the morning and the evening. The weather was now perfect for gliding and sure enough a fine buzzard appeared directly above the river, head down, watching, with no effort at all. Soon a kestrel joined it in the sky and the buzzard glided off out of sight. The kestrel gave an excellent display of hovering, facing into the wind, body completely static and wings beating, studying the spot of ground

immediately beneath it, the base of a Blackthorn hedge. After what seemed like ages, it glided off and flew into an old oak where it perched for a short while, then off again to hover almost over the same spot. Suddenly it disappeared in a dive down behind the hedgerow, a pause then it was back up in the sky, hovering again.

Low down on the river banks, the first blackcap could be seen, silent but busy foraging along the steep banks amongst the brambles, then up into a spindle tree and a mad dash after another male blackcap that had dared to approach. The males are somehow more easily seen, even when not singing but the reason for the chasing - a female blackcap, now appeared from the blossom nearby, also foraging for insects.

Whilst they were busy, a very quiet song started up in another blossoming Blackthorn tree close by - this was another blackcap, singing a beautiful, endless sub-song with short pauses, hidden deep in the thicket.
That was four, as far as I could tell, one pair and two males.
Further along the river, an interesting sight of another smart male blackcap, this time foraging for insects in an old conifer whilst a female blackcap was foraging in another old conifer next to it. Just a short walk to some willows where I found two more male blackcaps, this time singing and 'ticc ticc' ing, probably just communicating a warning to others. That's 8 blackcaps today.

Blackthorn thicket

Perfect habitat for Blackcaps, foraging, nesting, singing, sub-singing, sheltering, cooling, preening - that's the reason for them flying all the way here in the spring after wintering in warmer southern lands.

Chiffchaffs were also busy calling and foraging, now a common sight and sound again. The sun shone warmly on the dandelions and a splendid Peacock butterfly flew across and perched on one, wings open to soak up the sun, its brilliant colours clashing somewhat with the bright yellow of the flower petals. This must be a male, emerged from hibernation, probably in an old hollow tree and now claiming its territory on the river bank. A healthy growth of nettles is needed for egg-laying later.
Lots of Orange Tip butterflies were ranging along the river banks where there are plenty of Cuckooflower plants this year - the choicest plant for the Orange Tip caterpillar.
It was good to see a long-tailed tit foraging, they will usually only be seen in ones and twos at this time of year when they are very busy nesting.
A sudden mixed crowd of birds flew up in the distance, 6 goldfinch, about 20 starlings, 10 woodpigeons, and 5 more goldfinch. More birds, undisturbed, were busy within the shelter of brambles - these were chattering house sparrows, dunnock, robin, blue and great tits and song thrush. Looking up the skylarks today were singing high in the blue sky- then one was seen to land amongst the long clumps of grass whilst its mate hovered over what was almost certainly a nest site. A third skylark landed too but was quickly chased away but didn't fly far - all the while singing - no competition today from usually loud nuthatches and woodpeckers - a good indication that these are nesting in silence.
Low down on the river, now flowing fast after the rain, well hidden amongst some long reeds and grasses was a female mallard surrounded by at least 12 chicks.   

Holly Blue

Today after heavy rain the whole morning (only 5mm though) the warmth of the sun brought out the butterflies

This is the first Holly Blue - Celestrina argiolus to be seen here this spring

warming up in the sun. It's a male - females have a wider dark border on upperwings,

especially the second brood later in the summer. See blog 24th July 2011 to compare.

The first brood will have hibernated overwinter in chrysalis form, hidden in the earth. 

 View showing the distinctive underwing pattern and silvery sheen. It was perched on very rough ground - had to almost stand on my head to take this without falling into the mud.

Holly Blue seen from above next to a seedling, almost invisible,

in line with the midday sun.

The North Wind

Today the scudding clouds were chasing in from the frozen north with the sun providing little warmth when it did appear - birds were using the shelter provided by the steep river banks.

Oak leaves appearing

The old Oaks are at last bursting into leaf in the sunshine - ahead of the Ash trees this spring.

A bright sunny start after a frosty night but the north wind strengthening with fewer and fewer glimpses of the sun as the morning disappeared. The river banks greening up with hawthorn, hazel, brambles and nettles all renewing. The riverbank willows still have catkins but very small leaves are appearing on the tips of branches.

A very loud yaffle from a green woodpecker, loud calls of a nuthatch and a chaffinch, all in the same oak, greeted me on this cold morning. Blue tits were everywhere, some singing or rather calling but although more numerous than great tits, the latter commanded attention by their loud calls and smart plumage. Wrens too were very evident all along the river singing strongly, two were seen 'hovering' with rapidly whirring wings, catching insects low over the river. House sparrows too were attempting the 'flycatcher' action in order to collect insect food, indicating that they probably have young in nests to feed.

Some robins were also singing whilst others were easily seen but silent. A pair were seen in the Hawthorn hedgerow usually occupied by sparrows. One of the robins took advantage of a brief spell of sunshine to 'sunbathe' at the base of the hedge, wings and tail outspread, taking no notice of my presence, whilst its mate watched from the safety of the hedge. This is obviously a popular 'sunning' spot, the dry sandy soil having been spread out flat by small wings. 

The freezing wind had driven most birds down low, out of sight but there was a glimpse of a treecreeper low down, disappearing around an old tree trunk. It would not waste energy climbing high into windswept trees in search of insects, the insects themselves would have hidden away in the bark or moved down closer to the warm river course.

Cuckooflower     Cardamine pratensis

on the river bank - foodplant for the Orange Tip butterfly

The Orange Tips are now ranging along the river bank in the sunshine

White Deadnettle  Lamium album

also growing along the damp river banks here

popular with bees - see bee under the leaf, its head in the flower.

Some exceptions enjoying the wild weather - the crow family, rooks, jackdaws and carrion crows were all seen flying and turning against the wind, calling. The jay doesn't share this ability to show off and use the wind to display - the bird I saw was keeping down low in the heart of a stand of trees. Even the buzzards were hunkered down today. I could hear them calling but only saw one make a low dash into a tree to sit and watch. No gliding or soaring today.

Herring gulls, disturbed from their foraging on a distant field, flew off together also close to the ground, to find another location.

Stocky gregarious finches were keeping together today, occupying a sheltered Blackthorn and Hawthorn thicket on the river bank - greenfinches, the males as bright green as the new spring leaves, were singing and further along a softly singing group of goldfinches were hiding, flying around in small groups and returning to shelter. Sparrows kept to the understorey close to the river. Blackbirds, woodpigeons and blue tits were busy drinking almost out of sight, perched together on some 'flotsam' in a quiet part of the river, together with wrens and sparrows. More blackbirds were foraging with song thrushes on the grass along the bank whilst a very quiet call gave away a bullfinch flying past.

Two tiny goldcrests could just be seen chasing in the lowest branches of an old conifer but the stars of today were blackcaps, one singing from a willow over the river - a smart male, beginning its song with a prelude of very quiet subsong, another flew out of a conifer across the river to a willow where it started to sing but the cold wind cut the song session short and it retreated to the warmth of the conifer to sing there. It was still singing on my return some time later.

No, the chiffchaffs haven't been forgotten - they are very numerous and active now and their calls can be heard all along the river banks from oaks. willows, hazels and thorn thickets. 

The song of skylarks could be heard,  now louder than usual, three skylarks were clearly visible flying across - quite close rather than high up, probably a pair and 'invader' chasing. Their song could be heard over the whole day. The same three or perhaps three more were seen on the way back. They sing to claim and protect their territory, a continuous occupation, they are always on the alert.

  Starlings? only two seen today and only two magpies but a very welcome sight - a swallow whizzed past, skimming the field in the typical swallow style - but one swallow doesn't make a summer and there's no doubt today that summer hasn't arrived yet! 

Buzzards and Thermals

The landscape is now full of Blackthorn blossom with hedgerows sparkling white and underneath the trees Wood Anemone and Wild Garlic are more prolific than last year, the rains have certainly appeared just in time. The rapidly changing skies bringing dark clouds and heavy rain one minute and warm sunshine the next are very welcome.

An abundance of Blackthorn blossom on the river bank, not just a beautiful sight but indicating a bountiful supply of sloes in the autumn and winter to attract the winter migrants.

Buzzards take advantage of thermals created as the ground warms up during the day in order to glide and soar without much effort. They then have a good view of creatures moving below them but are by no means reliant on thermals, they often prefer just to sit still on a branch or post surveying the immediate area and are just as likely to be seen on the ground foraging for earthworms when the grass is damp with dew or after rain. 

As soon as they sense atmospheric changes indicative of a thermal bubble forming, they'll be off to do some aerial hunting or displaying if it's spring and there's a mate around.  This involves banked turns, side slipping, climbing into the wind and making spectacular dives, just for the show. 

Buzzard country: a view from the river with a fine Blackthorn hedgerow

in the middle distance full of blossom. The hedgerow forms shelter for birds all year round and its understorey of fallen leaves, twigs and dry grasses forms a perfect habitat for numerous small mammals such as field voles - food for buzzards and other birds of prey. The oak tree branches form perfect lookouts from which to survey the fields and hill, a varied landscape. The hill provides good hill soaring for the buzzards depending on the wind direction

April Frost, Blackthorn blossom and Buzzards

A frosty start but sunny, cold in the shade, hot in the sun.  A very quick walk along the river, with singing birds and little background noise. The chiffchaffs have definitely taken over now although chaffinches,  great and blue tits, robins and wrens are all singing.

The river banks are still bare enough to enable frequent glimpses of very busy wrens, nest building and singing from prominent perches.

A still unfamiliar and out-of-place call - a Buzzard hunting low along the huge earth heaps, quite close up, then returning to its nest tree to rest, or feed, then off again over the bare earth. The clear blue sky held two more buzzards immediately above the river, flying in close display mode. A kestrel flew swiftly across, no hovering today, it does this best against a stiff wind.

Three song thrushes and a robin could be seen entering the base of a fine Blackthorn hedge - an indication of how important hedge bases are for foraging and nesting as well as sheltering.

Further along in a clear shallow stretch of the river many small fish were enjoying the perfect habitat - up to 100 in a 'shoal', feeding, turning and returning to the same spot, their shadows playing on the river bed. The river is still flowing well in spite of the drought and the river bank vegetation is flourishing green with new growth rapidly appearing out of last years dead stalks.

Every stretch of the river bank was graced with a singing chiffchaff in the willows, oaks and thickets but greenfinches, goldfinches and house sparrows were singing strongly too, as soon as the sun's warmth could be felt. Male greenfinches in particular seem to pose high up with the sun illuminating their bright green plumage. If its cloudy they are more likely to hide away in thickets. There seem to be more greenfinches than usual singing today.

12 Herring gulls flew across from a distant freshly ploughed field and woodpigeons followed with loudly flapping wings. Blackbirds flew very low and very quietly across the banks and a fine pair of blackcaps were foraging amongst the brambles close to the river - are they new arrivals or have they been here all winter? Most are new arrivals from Northern Europe whilst the birds seen here in winter are thought to migrate south as soon as spring arrives.

A treecreeper was flying across from one tree to another with a bunch of moss in its beak, obviously its chosen nesting tree did not have the best moss lining material.

Butterflies emerged once it became warmer, Orange Tips the most numerous today.

The river Arun on 30th March 2012