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