The Year Ends with mud and sloes

December started with mostly overcast but dry days, sometimes feeing very cold in the north wind. Towards the middle of the month the weather changed, becoming warmer and very wet.

On Boxing Day, Thursday 26th December, a cool misty start with no wind and an uncommon sight - blue skies - after floods on Christmas Eve and hail on Christmas Day. The river was still fast  and muddy - but down to the level it was before the storm, about 1.5 meters below the top of the banks along Boldings Brook.
Robins were singing loudly, bringing the riverside to life (26) each in charge of its own territory. House sparrows too were active inside their hedgerows and bramble patches (30) and woodpigeons (34) could be seen in most trees, with some cooing in the ivy - they could well be nest-building even at this time of the year. Blue tits (48) and great tits (20) were all busy foraging for insects emerging in the sun or on seeds. The sun lit up the colours of our winter visitors, the redwing (19) making their way gradually along the riverside Blackthorn thickets; there were certainly more than could be seen, hiding amongst the tangled twigs and branches, swallowing sloes......but seldom posing, unlike this blackbird:

A Blackbird enjoying a few of the sloes in a Blackthorn thicket

on the river bank.

Many more birds were in the same thicket feeding, some on the fruits and others collecting insects on the floating islands of debris on the river surface - all manner of good things, seeds too from the riverbank grasses and flower heads. Birds delight in floating debris made up of twigs, branches, grasses leaves, fruits, berries and stalks from riverbank plants - as these islands are usually rich sources of food and provide platforms for bathing and preening, sheltered by the high banks.
These islands are shared by blue and great tits, house sparrows, blackbirds, goldfinches, chaffinches (8) today - and a moorhen.

Eleven song thrushes were seen, foraging under hedges, on the river debris, some chasing each other and some just singing from prominent branches - all were much easier to see than the shy redwings. Blackbirds (20) too were easily seen and sometimes heard uttering alarm calls but none heard singing yet. A loose party of long-tailed tits (23) flew into an Ash tree, foraging for a few seconds then moving on to an old oak, leaving some of the group behind. Quiet contact calls kept the large party together, all following in the same direction.
The other winter visitors, the fieldfares (13) were mostly keeping to the trees with one or two foraging on the saturated ground around the pond.  A fine large mistle thrush was lit up by the low sun on a high branch in an oak, where a crow, starling and group of fieldfare were also perched. It was good to see large numbers of starlings - a close-knit group of about 50 flying across over the trees and splitting up to circle around, choosing their trees. Others were already perched together, whistling as if roosting (76).  The soggy conditions had attracted numbers of carrion crows (22), with jackdaws (3) and rooks (2), 4 magpies, 8 black-headed gulls and 6 herring gulls. A small group of goldfinches (5) flew across to join others, invisible in their thicket.
Looking south, droplets of water, melted frost, on the dog rose and blackthorn glistened in the low sun, shining with all the colours of the rainbow - and a great-spotted woodpecker flew from a riverside oak across into another oak where it clung to a branch, a fine sight in the sun, then a second one flew across too, from tree to tree (2).
At last! a loud yaffle from a green woodpecker from the long grasses and another yaffle further down the river revealed a second green woodpecker flying low over grass (2).  Amongst the trees - a good view of a nuthatch quietly foraging, then in another tree, a glimpse of a redwing and an angry call from another nuthatch. In a thicket occupied by elusive redwing, a third nuthatch was seen together with the roaming party of long-tailed tits and a very active squirrels (3). Under the trees and brambles, wrens (5) were too busy foraging to sing. A treecreeper was seen upside down rapidly moving along a branch and 3 dunnocks were seen, one perched high in a tree, starting to sing as if it was fooled into thinking it was spring....
Facing into the sun, looking amongst the dense branches of a conifer, some tiny birds were moving fast. These were 3 goldcrests, choosing the sunlit side to forage. Another small bird, probably a summer visitor which has decided to stay put - a silent chiffchaff - a fine view in the sunshine in a blackthorn thicket.
It is worth noting that both the floating islands of debris and the tangled blackthorn thickets today were full of birds all sharing the available food, with no bickering, attacking or chasing!

The Arun under blue skies 2 days after the storm when it burst 

its banks

After a stormy sleepless night with very strong winds and torrential rain, Christmas Eve dawned with the rivers in flood. The wind and rain abated and eventually the flood waters receded, the muddy waters of the Arun flowing out into the sea at low tide at Littlehampton.

The view from 'the seat on the hill' on 24th December 2013.

The Arun is flowing from the left and Boldings Brook from

the right, forming a vast lake all the way to the A24 and beyond.

On the grass a group of Fieldfare had moved in to take advantage of the fine feeding to be enjoyed on the waterlogged ground. A pair of Mallard were also quite unconcerned.

A Fine Place to Overwinter

What better place to spend the winter?

The Little Egrets seem to think it's fine here on the Riverside

Tuesday 10th December - a fine day after a frosty start and one Little Egret is enjoying the sun

perched on an Ash branch with a view of the river below.

The egret is silent and doesn't attract attention but has to listen to the loud winter calls of the nuthatches 

now very active again in the nearby oaks.

The river is running clear, there's no wind and the river bank is alive with voices - song thrushes singing, nuthatches calling, squirrels cursing, starlings whistling and amongst them a few redwing can be heard.

Now, at last, the oaks are almost bare and Cowparsley shoots are appearing

from under the dry carpet of leaves. 

Little Egrets bring Winter to the Riverside

Old oaks are still colouring the landscape 

December 1st - very dark, overcast all day, cold but no wind. A quick look on the Riverside here, all was still with hazel and oak leaves slowly falling one by one, with the distinct smell of early winter on the banks - of damp fallen leaves and vegetation.

Quiet, yes, but song thrushes were taking full advantage of this, with loud song echoing along the river. At least four singing within about half a mile, each trying to out-sing each other, and now easily seen, taking up prominent perches on base branches, showing perfect plumage. Prospective mates chasing. One singing then another arrives on the same tree and both fly off. In the background of dense Hawthorn and Blackthorn thicket a small group of Redwing could be glimpsed whilst several Fieldfare flew across the sky.

Robins could not match the song thrushes and most remained quiet but numerous, now easily visible, now moving across paths into the undergrowth. Quiet blackbirds were numerous too, with males chasing each other. One female was observed reaching out to pick the last remaining Hawthorn berries (haws) from the tips of twigs, using the fine curved hook at the end of her beak to grab the berry and with a quick flick swallow it. Sometimes a berry would be dropped - food for a small bird or mammal.
In the air over the riverside thicket - flying low - a LITTLE EGRET, neck curved back and feet trailing, with white plumage.
How good to see it! I thought perhaps it was just out on a recce up along the river from the south as they usually decide to visit this area later in the winter when conditions become worse near the coast - and sightings have always meant that bad weather was on its way - usually ice and snow!
As if that wasn't good enough - after walking a short distance south, a white form was just visible down on the river, hidden by overhanging hazel branches. Suddenly it flew up and I could see that it was a second Little Egret. They are usually silent and even though brilliant white, are often elusive.
This sighting early in the winter may mean that they are a pair, possibly prospecting for a nest site, as they breed early in the year, like grey herons. Maybe they will share the heronry at Warnham with the grey herons although they have not been known to breed this far north of the coastal areas which they inhabit.
Maybe, however, their appearance is just a sign that snow is on its way....
Other birds active were pied wagtails, magpies removing moss from a roof (to get at insects hiding underneath), and a very good view of a silent green woodpecker flying low over the grass. Like many birds they have been quite silent recently. A nuthatch was heard calling whilst a jay bounced around from branch to branch in an oak. Dunnocks are more easily seen now, one was seen quite close up on a  tree. Chaffinches, house sparrows and a 'charm' of eight goldfinches flew across and the usual dense thicket was full of singing, mainly starlings. Numbers were seen flying over and black-headed gulls too. Blue and great tits always present were very active foraging in small groups from tree to tree and squirrels were bounding along the grass, pausing to survey, then up into the old oaks in search of the remaining acorns.
Not only the sight of the little egrets but the high activity levels of all the creatures on the riverside predict bad weather to come - they all know when it's time to concentrate on food, eating and storing for future winter weather.
 

     

A Dark November Day

Rosa Canina - rose hips are left until most of the other berries and fruits have gone

but at present there are plenty of Hawthorn berries and sloes.

This shows a fine dense tangled mixture of river bank plants which sustain wildlife 

all year round.

Yesterday song thrushes were heard singing!

The Riverside had been quiet for some time, with numerous birds present but none singing, so its was a surprise to hear sudden loud outbursts of song from several song thrushes posing on branches. Some were chasing each other - usually it appeared to be the singer which attracted another to fly over and attempt to chase it away, following closely.
May the best singer win their chosen territory...
It seems that the best territory, with the most fruits and berries and river bank invertebrates, the most diverse food supply, is won by the bird with the most persistent and varied song. This will usually be an adult, with the juveniles having to move further away.  

Kingfishers and Goldfinches

Friday 15th November was a fine dry day with a cold northerly breeze, the riverside looking autumnal under a clear blue sky. The river was flowing fast but much less muddy than of late , so clear one could see the river bed in places. 

Poplars still clinging on to their leaves

The first birds seen were our winter visitors, fieldfare, in a small group (5) flying across towards the west. A robin flew up from the river into it's own territory, a Hawthorn overhanging the river where it perched in the sun listening to another robin singing in the distance. It had been quiet - but once one robin had dared to sing, more joined it in song, no doubt claiming their territories along the river. (9) 

Making its way surreptitiously along the back of a thicket was a redwing - even seen in the shade its profile and behaviour gave it away before its colours were seen. Obviously hungry it was making short work of the remaining hawthorn berries and choosing small sloes as well. Other shadowy forms indicated more redwing foraging, moving continuously, unlike our 'local' birds which seemed more intent on finding a sunny spot in which to feed, preen and warm up. Other visitors from the cold north were blackbirds (11) and starlings, (53) suddenly increasing the usual population numbers on the riverside - and goldfinches too. The starlings in past years usually roosted or gathered together on two semi-bare oak trees which were felled in order to create the new playing field. Since then starlings have still returned to the area each autumn and this year have taken over a nearby Blackthorn thicket where they can be heard whistling and feeding on the sloes, dropping down onto the damp grass to select invertebrates too. They always station lookouts on the upper branches.

Two Goldfinches were seen in a thicket then a group of 9 flew across, a few more in the sunshine, then large numbers appeared, feeding greedily on the abundant brown Ash keys hanging form the otherwise bare branches. Standing close to a willow and Ash tree they took no notice of me at all, too busy feeding, with safety in numbers. 25 more flew across into another Ash tree - I counted at least 85 all busy on various trees. In places they shared the trees with blue tits and great tits but these were foraging for insects rather than seed (49), (16). Normally a good deal of bickering - and with goldfinches, singing, would accompany the sightings but today all were intent on feeding.

Chaffinches (6) and Greenfinches (4) were quiet too all enjoying the sun. A small bird on top of an oak, silent but fast moving was a Chiffchaff with a second chiffchaff seen nearby, both collecting insects with split-second timing. These small warblers have chosen to stay with us over the winter rather than take off on the long journey south.

A treecreeper swiftly moved up the trunk of an oak on the bank of the river and an elusive bullfinch called from inside a thicket whilst a silent wren flew low across into the tangled roots. Further on another wren was heard singing, the only one heard today (2). A single large bumblebee flew across the river too - climate change means we are finding the large bumblebees such as the Red-tailed bumblebee still flying in November. House sparrows (40) in groups were seen moving around in the dense undergrowth on the opposite bank of the river, giving short calls but otherwise unusually silent. probably indicating that they were aware of the presence of a predator nearby. Urgent alarm calls from a blackbird rang out and a sparrowhawk flew up from the river and plunged straight into a hawthorn bush. It did not emerge - perhaps it had caught what it was chasing, or was just hiding away preparing for another attack. It was obviously still hunting in the same area when I returned later as blackbirds were still giving nervous calls.

In the air, herring gulls (25), black-headed gulls (22) (just one on the grass) and crows (7) flew with and against the north wind whilst magpies (4) jumped around in the oaks with just a single jay heard amongst the leaves, annoying the squirrels. About 20 wood pigeons were feeding on the rough grass and three separate flocks flew over the fields, disturbed from their foraging grounds (120). They soon disappeared, leaving a buzzard gliding high over the oaks. A cry from a herring gull caused me to look up again to see a fine male kestrel being harassed by the gull but it quickly slipped away and headed for  an area of disturbed ground, hovering briefly at intervals where it had a good chance of spotting mice or voles. The sun was so low,  lighting up the leaves still on some trees with a yellow and golden glow and amongst the fallen leaves a song thrush was foraging. It then flew off leaving another thrush higher on a nearby branch, fattening up on sloes in the blackthorn, not moving much. This one was however a mistle thrush, larger, its markings and colour showing up well in the sunshine.

The star of the day, or possibly two stars -

A bright orange flash of underbelly - a bird flew across from the wooded bank turning into the sun, then low down along the river showing a brilliant blue back as it flew upstream between the high banks - A kingfisher enjoying the good conditions now that the river is less muddy. Fallen branches across the river slow down the fast flow and create sheltered backwaters where fish can circulate and feed without being washed downstream - and the kingfishers can survey them from these branches over the water.   

The cold wind was increasing, with clouds running fast over the landscape but looking down onto the river about half a mile further upstream where the steep sides and river-bed willows form a sheltered  environment - a flash of blue low over the water - another kingfisher dashed downstream - or was it the same one? 

Heralds of Winter arrive on the Riverside

It has been difficult to believe that winter was approaching, with such mild weather, trees late to lose their leaves and people outdoors in shirtsleeves...

but today, 14th November the bitterly cold North West wind brought the winter with it. Leaves falling into drifts and crows, jackdaws, black-headed gulls, starlings, mixed fieldfare and redwing flocks

filling the sky, the wind accelerating their flight across the countryside - visible one second and gone the next.

The first sign of winter was on 5th November here with a group of about 16 redwing seen flying across together and a flock of black-headed gulls flying low, surveying their traditional winter feeding grounds. Nuthatches were heard calling, another sign of change.

Poplars on the river bank 10th November

On Remembrance Sunday 10th November 2013 a quick look along the river after midday:

I was looking at goldfinches heard singing in a riverside thicket and spotted a young female Roe deer watching me intently from the opposite river bank amongst the tangled Hawthorn. After considering for a while, it bounded away with a series of high springs over the undergrowth. It had chosen a good area to browse, in an enclosure fenced with chicken wire designed to keep out deer....

The weather was fine after a cold start and very wet underfoot after heavy rain the previous day. Blackbirds were foraging low on the river banks, with large numbers of blue and great tits in the trees taking advantage of the sun to collect emerging insects.

Further downstream, a nuthatch called and flew onto an Ash tree, clearly seen and a great-spotted woodpecker was seen flying into a nearby Ash, also calling, both trees laden with Ash keys.

22 black-headed gulls in near-perfect winter plumage had arrived on their winter grounds to feed but remained wary, moving frequently whilst woodpigeons dozed in trees. Greenfinches were still well camouflaged amongst the yellow and green leaves with one easily visible perched on a tree top.

  A small group of fieldfare flew over the river and higher up, over the oaks, two buzzards were being harassed by a single crow but eventually drifted off, unconcerned.

One thing is certain about this autumn - Ash trees lost their leaves well before the Oaks which still retain  their leaves at present - so it's a case of 'Ash before Oak' 'we are in for a soak' - as we saw yesterday, this could be true!

Our magnificent old Oaks still have their leaves

whilst Ash trees have lost their leaves but the brown 

Ash keys are abundant this year - food for birds

After the Storm

Overnight, the riverside changes with leaves shaken from the trees together with small branches and twigs, now littering the ground creating a brilliantly coloured carpet.

The area was spared the worst of the gales, with no trees toppled and no torrential rainfall, although the river was still rising this morning and flowing very fast, it only overflowed it's banks in places before stabilising this afternoon.

Birds were still hunkered down, sheltering from the gusty blasts, remnants of last night's storm clinging on.

This ash tree still has most of it's leaves but those that fell

last night form a fine carpet

The river takes on a new aspect after heavy rainfall

October - all change on the Riverside

Early October 2013, some highlights from the 2nd, 6th and 8th:
Suddenly, at the start of October, on 2nd, the thickets were full of birds, with hundreds of starlings hidden in the Blackthorn,  quietly whistling amongst themselves and the old oaks full of blue and great tits foraging. A fine treecreeper made it's way along the oak branches and a second was heard calling nearby. Two nuthatch were seen and heard here with another further along and a bullfinch flew across the same thickets, together with house sparrows and chaffinches. Unseen by other birds, a sparrowhawk flew quickly across into a bush. It was mild and very humid after overnight rain, with no wind. As it brightened towards midday, many Speckled Wood butterflies were about, flying low over the river and spiralling high in the dappled shade of the river bank trees. 

A Speckled Wood butterfly enjoying the sun on the river bank

Guelder Rose berries ripe for plucking - but there's a huge variety 

of berries to choose from - which will the birds select first?

Another of the many Speckled Wood butterflies warming up

in its own patch of sunlight

On 6th October, a sunny day, no cloud , no wind and dew on the morning grass. River water clear and flowing normally as there had been little rain. Hazel leaves turning yellow, lots of rose hips, ivy beginning to flower, attracting many bee and wasp species. It was very quiet, with tiny high calls audible. The smell of autumn in the air and acorns crunching underfoot, plenty for jays and squirrels this year.

A short walk but interesting highlights - a kingfisher, calling, flew off from an old root overhanging the river, A nuthatch called and a silent treecreeper was seen foraging. 7 goldfinches were gathered in the Blackthorn hedge and 5 long-tailed tits in the same area. A blackcap in  the Blackthorn gave an alarm call and a single chiffchaff flew calling into a willow. These were just the highlights, many more bird species were seen.
Amongst the long grasses, many small day-flying moths were seen and spiders had left the grasses and low branches strewn with long single strands of their webs.
A Brimstone butterfly was seen flying strongly across rough grass and several Speckled Wood butterflies were as usual flying amongst the riverside trees.
Several late dragonflies were seen - a Common Darter basking on a warm stony path, two Migrant Hawkers in different locations over the river, a strong-flying Southern Hawker and two Brown Hawkers - all taking advantage of the sheltered warm environment of the river.

Two days later, on 8th of October, conditions were similar but with a SW wind and colder weather on the way. The highlights were 2 brambling chasing from an old Oak into a Field Maple - a great view!
A kestrel was flying low over the river with a fine view of its markings in the sun - chased for a second by a magpie. A single chiffchaff was foraging in the ivy and a single blackcap was seen nearby in tangled undergrowth. Down on the river a juvenile moorhen was making its way along a fallen branch over the river to a sunny sheltered bank but the best today was a beautiful view of a grey wagtail perched on a riverbank stump. It flew off downstream hopping onto roots, stumps and branches in the river as it went, yellow colours glowing in the sun.
The usual speckled wood butterflies were present but I was surprised by a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly  which came out of ivy on a tree, gliding straight over me, close up and soon afterwards a Hornet whizzed past,  just as close.

Our Rarest Butterfly makes a last-minute appearance

The summer draws to a close with prime weather conditions for the rarest local butterfly.

On Friday 27th September 2013 - a mild day with a light northerly breeze and hazy sunshine - it appeared on the river bank, just pausing long enough for a photo.

A BROWN HAIRSTREAK butterfly (female), rather worn after it's

egg-laying (oviposting) in the Blackthorn, pausing now to warm up

in the hazy sunshine.

There was plenty of activity on the Riverside with summer still in evidence, the only signs of autumn being hazel leaves turning yellow, poplars losing their leaves and a few acorns falling. The day started cool after overnight dew, the river quite high but clear of mud and flowing well. Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Brambles, Elder, Dog Rose and Guelder Rose heavily laden with fruits and berries, Fleabane seeds dispersing in the breeze.

Chiffchaffs (12) were very busy feeding, characteristically tumbling down inside bushes and foliage to catch insects, fattening up for long journeys south where they will enliven warmer countries, largely unseen.

A few will stay as our winters warm up year on year. Their Hweeeet contact calls were audible today amongst the leaves on the river banks. Some Robins were singing, probably youngsters trying out their voices whilst remaining hidden, whilst others foraged down amongst the undergrowth. (19)

Out on the grass, Blackbirds (6) and chaffinches (5) were foraging silently when a loud outburst from a nuthatch (2) was heard, perhaps an adult sending off a juvenile from it's nesting territory as a second bird called out close by. A very high thin call came from a treecreeper. I have never seen a dispute between the two species although they frequently forage on the same trees for insects. The specialist treecreeper is picking out such tiny insects from inside the bark with a fine curved beak, it would not be in competition.

House sparrows (46) were also concentrating on insects today, choosing sunlit thickets of bramble and hedgerows, leaving the seeds of fruits for winter when insects will be scarce. Amongst them, a dunnock crept around independently.

Wrens (12) were singing but mostly hidden under the bank undergrowth but a few were more visible when disturbed, jumping out, uttering alarm calls whilst perched on a root or twig - the shadow of a larger bird flying over often causes alarm. Woodpigeons are easily startled and can warn smaller birds of unseen danger. Today however, some were flapping around in the ivy where ivy flowers were appearing , tangled with blackberries. Other woodpigeons were cooing loudly - they will still be nesting well into the winter (20). Overhead under the high bright cloud, crows (5), magpies (3) and starlings (12) were flying across in the light breeze in the company of a single herring gull. A jay, preening silently high up in the sun on an oak suddenly took off with a loud shout, perhaps annoyed by grey squirrels, growing fit on a prolific diet of acorns, berries, nuts and fungi - or perhaps it had spotted the sparrowhawk far below, which had just made a startling move up from it's hide-away on the river. A blackcap uttered an alarm call from an overhanging willow, the leaves now turning yellow and falling one by one. 

Bickering blue tits (34) and calling great tits (17) were also after insects which were numerous everywhere along the river - Craneflies, numerous about my feet (walking with Craneflies...) and over the river, hoverflies in the wild flowers, large bumblebees and carder bees across the river on the opposite bank and spiders which had hung their webs in the Blackthorn. Numbers of Speckled Wood butterflies were basking in the dappled shade or flying up higher amongst the branches and a brilliant orange Comma Butterfly was nectaring on Blackberry juice in the sun, close to the place where two had been the first seen this year in March. Several Large White butterflies were seen over the straw left on the fields after the wheat crop was harvested. No bales - good! Over the river - a great view of 2 buzzards wheeling around each other, a pair, dropping, stopping in mid air, touching and turning past each other, then flying upwards, separating and swooping down again. A small flock of 10 linnets flew across  as I was watching the buzzards.

The star today was undoubtedly the fine view of the rare Brown Hairstreak but dragonflies were magnificent too. with Common Hawker, Southern Hawker and Migrant Hawkers over the river banks.

A Migrant Hawker was being chased by an aggressive Speckled Wood butterfly and more dragonflies patrolled the brambles on the river bank, each keeping to it's own large stretch of the river, backwards and forwards always turning in the same place. One seemed to head straight past me, caught an insect and turned back to perch and feed. A very fine end to September.

A Surprise in Early September 2013 when some of the native

wild flower seed we had planted on the bare sub-soil only a few weeks ago

on the river bank site of the old fallen oak produced some flowers -

Field Poppy and Mallow amongst them. 

Wednesday 11th September 2013 was bright with high cloud and a noisy, strong NW wind meant conditions were not ideal for birds but the Blackthorn thicket entangled with rose hips was full of bird-sound and the autumn scents of hay lingered in sheltered warm places. On a tangled berry-filled bank, 18 Speckled Wood butterflies were nectaring on the blackberries. An inquisitive Migrant Hawker dragonfly came to rest on the blackberries too, with another one seen hunting over a bend in the river.

It was too windy for most butterflies although 11 Large White butterflies were seen along the field edges with Craneflies and Bumblebees flying low over the grasses, too distant to identify. Just one Comma butterfly was seen and a Small Copper on the steep dry bank.

A fine crop of acorns this year - how long will they last?

Oaks were laden with acorns, Spindle fruits were ripening as were Guelder Rose and Rowan berries. Elderberries, usually the first to disappear, were still hanging on the trees.

A very quick look this morning:

Stubble fields and no hay bales attracted large numbers of woodpigeons (more than 50) and carrion crows (20) but most birds were in the riverside thickets and willows including blue tits (7) and great tits (5), juvenile chaffinches (6), goldfinches, many preening in the sun (18). Long-tailed tits (7) foraged amongst the willows in a group and 5 linnets flew in to take their place as soon as the long-tailed tits had left. About 15 house-sparrows were amongst the brambles, and most others had left their hedgerows to feed on the stubble. Some 'hweet' contact calls and the chiffchaffs (6) flew in low over the river, sheltered from the wind, into the brambles.

Amongst the nettles and grasses, 3 blackbirds were seen and alarm calls may have meant they still had young to protect. Just one dunnock was seen and heard nearby and 5 robins at various 'posts' were singing short songs. Most Wrens were keeping out of sight but 6 were seen at various locations on the banks, not singing but some giving alarm calls.

Overhead in the canopy two nuthatches were visible when a fine great spotted woodpecker flew across from one oak to another whilst a second one called from an ash. Arriving in the Blackthorn one nuthatch called to another - do they eat sloes I wonder? Looking up beyond the trees, a low-flying buzzard appeared, doubling back, hunting, still heard calling after it disappeared below the tree line and a second buzzard appeared beyond it, circling powerfully in the wind. 

Not yet time to leave Sussex - a group of House Martins whizzed with the wind, catching insects (11).

Bats - active last night on the riverside

Friday night  6th September 2013 - after heavy rain during the day ended the summer heatwave. Many insects were about after dark, especially moths but the sky had cleared and it was becoming cooler. Bats would be feeling hungry, the cooler air reminding them of autumn and hibernation.

Sometimes the moon can be too bright for bats!

But last night there was no moon visible, the sky was a deep blue and almost dark at 20.30.

Yes, the bats were indeed out hunting, very few visible in the rapidly growing darkness but the bat detector was picking them up. Loud and fast. 

There were too many Common Pipistrelles to count as the signals were non-stop here at the base of the bat flyway which starts at the high pond oaks and continues down towards the river via the hedgerow and hedgerow oaks, reaching the river thickets and old river bank oaks.

Amongst the Common Pips were signals from a few Soprano Pipistrelle bats. Walking along under the trees along the river many more Pipistrelle signals were detected, including under the bridge. This new structure may well eventually attract roosting bats. Most of our local species have traditional summer  roosts in the old trees with broken branches, holes, cracks and loose bark which we protect and conserve for birds, bats and hundreds of species of insects. Tidying up the trees, cutting off dead branches and removing loose bark kills bats. Although they may not be present when the work is being carried out, when they return they will find their traditional roosts destroyed. They are unlikely to find new roosts in time and may perish in the cold, having to fly long distances in the open, searching for a new roost.

Further along more Pipistrelles, then different signals - from Daubenton's bats hunting insects low over the river. A very good indicator of water quality - clean water means more aquatic insects attracting predators, fish, birds and bats.   

Lower frequency signals from the sky between the tree canopy and lower around an old ivy-covered broken tree came from Noctule bats - large, strong fliers with summer roosts in old trees, they fly high in search of aerial insects. Occasionally a barn owl appears, silently hunting bats after dark when mice and voles are scarce. Bats have their animal predators but their greatest enemy is Mankind destroying their habitat.

Late Summer Butterflies

The heatwave continues - butterflies and dragonflies are still about.

A Common Blue butterfly, never seen in large numbers, this tiny

butterfly has definitely been less scarce this summer along the dry

wild-flower verges

The Small Copper butterfly, never seen here in huge numbers,

very easily overlooked

A female Ruddy Darter warming up. Not ruddy and not darting!

The male is bright red, hence the name.

Kingfisher in command

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglais urticae)

It's a good year for butterflies - and birds!

Today, 22nd August, a hot and humid day after about 5mm rain, the river was running faster than of late but still low. 

On Monday 19th August I had seen the magnificent sight of three Clouded Yellow butterflies (Colias croceus) flying fast, showing off their deep yellow/orange upperwings over the wild flowers and grasses on the river bank, so decided to have another look today. They were seen with a Brown Hawker dragonfly and a Small Copper butterfly, with two juvenile nuthatch calling, one each side of the gap left by the fallen oak tree last year.

But today only Large White butterflies could be seen. I glanced down and suddenly became aware of a Kingfisher, perched on the top of a section of old oak branch which had been deliberately left overhanging the river last year by the Environment Agency workers 'for the Kingfishers to perch on'.

Great to see that their efforts to create habitat for wildlife from that site of devastation have been a such a success!
The Kingfisher remained for a while intently surveying the river just below it, then dropped down and flew fast and low downstream. It was a fine sight when perched - seen from above the shining blue streak on its back between the darker wings and white neck patches instantly identified it, then when it flew the brilliant 'kingfisher blue' of its back lit up the river for an instant, catching the light.
Kingfishers are with us all year and this year, judging by the calls heard and occasional split-second sightings, it has been a good year for raising young, unlike last year when the river flooded in June, almost certainly flooding the kingfishers nests.

A Small Heath butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

A Seven Spot ladybird heading for the nearest infestation of aphids

  

Bees, berries, brambles - and Butterflies

Perfect summer weather now with sun, clouds, rain showers. On Tuesday 6th August 2013, a fine morning, a very slight breeze, dry after intermittent heavy showers the day before. Excellent conditions for insects on the river banks.

Starting with one of the smaller species - but fascinating in its unique mode of flying -

a hover-fly. This one is the beautifully patterned Episyrphus balteatus, enjoying the

nectar rich Calystegia sepium.

The Bramble provides food for wildlife all through the summer and well into

the autumn and perfect shelter during the winter for many species. Some plants

growing in more shady areas flower late and many plants still have blossom buds

together with ripe blackberries.

This bumblebee is White-tailed bumblebee Bombus lucorum.

Bramble blackberries will soon be ripe enough for birds to eat

Sloes are plentiful this year on the Blackthorn where there were none

at all last year. In late winter they will provide our winter migrants

- the Redwing and Fieldfare, with a welcome source of food, encouraging them

to pause and gather strength to continue their journey.

Guelder-rose  (Vibernum opulus) berries ripening on our
2 and a half year old plants along the River bank, another
excellent source of food for birds during the winter

Ringlet Butterflies are numerous this year along the river - they 

prefer damp secluded habitats and unlike most butterflies can be

seen flying on overcast days, even in the rain. They do feed on the nectar

of  'butterfly plants' such as this  Senecio jacobaea and bramble.

This Ringlet is a female which has easily visible upper-wing 'rings'.

The male is darker and the rings on the upperwings are almost

invisible. 

Today, 6th August - a fine, still day after intermittent heavy showers yesterday. The 'budding' wild flower area of sub soil on the river bank was proving popular with bees, foraging amongst a few unexpected poppies and cornflowers. The river was flowing well with clear water. Blackberries, sloes, Hawthorn and Elder berries, Hazel nuts and forming acorns all numerous this year. In the sun, the ground was very dry with the ground clay cracking.

The conditions were good for butterflies, with at least 23 Speckled Wood butterflies keeping to the shady trees, some low over the river, some spiralling high, chasing. Large White butterflies were numerous too, more than 20 over the grass, in the sun but the most numerous were the Gatekeepers, small restless butterflies, ranging erratically along the base of the bank side vegetation, chasing other butterflies or basking for a moment. (27). There were fewer Meadow Brown butterflies (4) around thistles where the heat of the sun was intense. Here Bumblebees were very numerous, White-tailed, Buff-tailed, Red-tailed and Carder bees, together with some Honeybees and many hoverflies and tiny wasps of various species. A single Brimstone butterfly was seen, and 3 Large Skippers on the sunny bank with just one Ringlet (they prefer cooler, damp conditions). Strong-flying Peacock butterflies were enjoying the wild flowers (7), together with brilliant orange Commas (6) and some fast flying 7-spot Ladybirds. Whilst admiring the abundance of sloes on the Blackthorn, a Red Admiral butterfly perched briefly on my shoulder, the only one seen today.

The first butterfly I saw earlier this morning, however, was the best - having never seen one here before - A fine Purple Emperor, flying high into the top of one of the old river bank oaks from an adjacent field maple. Looking up its markings and colour against the light - and its large size and shape - were unmistakable - brilliant. I was looking up for a chiffchaff as had heard its 'hweeet' call.

One of the last butterflies seen today, to make it even more special, was a White Admiral in a thicket not far away.

Dragonflies were about today as well - a Southern Hawker, 3 Common Darters, a Ruddy Darter and 4 banded Demoiselle Damselflies.

Now the birds - at this time of the year juveniles are busy fending for themselves whilst adults may be keeping out of sight, moulting, unless raising another brood. 

It was very quiet all along the river with woodpigeons cooling off in the river or foraging in the fields (27) and only 3 starlings were seen flying across. The blue tits (34) and great tits

(11) seen were mainly juveniles learning to glean aphids and small spiders from under leaves on the oaks, hawthorns and willows. House sparrows were also cooling off in the river then flying up to perch on the dead hawthorn branches - soaking wet juveniles mostly, there's nothing they like more than communal bathing! Drying off in the early sunshine, well fed, what could be better. (30). Blackbirds were mostly enjoying the shady, muddy riverbanks but one was seen sunning itself, wings outstretched, beak open, balancing in the forked branch of an oak. Chaffinches too were down on the riverbank bathing (7) - silent at this time of the year. A song thrush was foraging in the shade where the ground was still very damp and above it a glimpse of a silent bullfinch as it flew into the thicket. A loud yaffle from a green woodpecker, higher pitched, rang out - probably a juvenile.

Looking up again to the tree canopy for that very elusive butterfly, a great spotted woodpecker flew over and I came across another further along the river, calling, probably warning its young ones. (2) 

 A very short snatch of song from a blackcap alerted me to small movements in a Hazel thicket, the male flew up then back down to catch an insect then a juvenile, with a red cap appeared. More leaves moving on a windless day gave away the presence of 3 more juvenile blackcaps in a Spindle tree (5 in all). Only 4 wrens were seen, just one singing. There are many more down there, hiding. A high 'hweeet' contact call revealed a chiffchaff restlessly moving amongst the insect-laden leaves and a silent willow warbler was seen nearby. Another, louder and more persistent 'hweet' call came from across the river - a nuthatch, again probably a juvenile and its call was answered by a second nuthatch which then flew across to join its sibling. A speckled juvenile robin was busy in an old apple tree and 3 others, adults, were seen in various shaded areas amongst tangles of blackberries and sloes. 

Above the trees 3 black- headed gulls, a single magpie, and a single crow were seen but later, on my way home, 5 swifts appeared from nowhere, flying high and amongst them, for an instant, a hobby.

Butterflies in Disguise

Nearly the end of July, and the end of the 'heatwave' but the days are still warm and it's hot in the sun.

Butterflies which were seen later than usual this year on the riverside have made up for lost time and have appeared in large numbers over the past few days. 

What's this, just a shadow, a dead leaf, a piece of bark?

No it's a Peacock butterfly alive and well, feeding on nectar in the hot midday sun.

The inky black colouring of the outer surface of its wings enable it to absorb heat from the sun more efficiently, even early and late in the day when the angle of the sun is low.

 Another tatty dead leaf?

No, this is a Comma butterfly feeding of brambles on a hot day.

Basking with open wings is only necessary for part of the time. Note the white 'comma' mark on it's wing, from which it gets its name.

What's this unexciting old piece of vegetation?

It's  a fine Small Tortoiseshell butterfly on it's favourite plant, nettle on which the Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars feed when the eggs hatch. These are usually laid on the underside of a new nettle leaf.

In the shade, well camouflaged except of the double eye on the 

bright orange corner of the inner wing...

Two Gatekeeper butterflies mating amongst the riverbank vegetation.

BIRDS first

Friday 26th July 2013 - looking for butterflies along the riverside here - a late start (10.30) as some butterflies don't appear early - being cold-blooded, they need warmth from sunlight in order to gain strength to fly. Other wildlife seen is recorded as well.

Mainly cloudy but bright with breaks in the cloud, becoming warmer, sunny and hot. 

A very good sign for the coming winter, a Blackthorn hedge laden with sloes! There is an abundance of Hawthorn berries too, still green.

Down on the river bank, house sparrows were enjoying bathing, coming up to dry perched on the dead branches to get the most of the sun.  A colony was coming and going from a hedgerow whilst others were chatting in the dense Brambles (36). Blue tits (15) could be heard bickering, for once not busy foraging but just preening (15), watching the Bumblebees whirr past. Great tits (7) were very quiet, foraging in a Hazel tree. 

Hweeet calls from the Willows gave away chiffchaffs (3). These never stop foraging for insects.

Woodpigeons were looking very well fed, with most dozing in shady places in leafy trees (10).

Only one carrion crow was seen, calling - they too are well fed now, with food easy to find. 

In the shade under the bridge a Song thrush (2) was bathing in the clear running river water and another was seen foraging under a hedge, obviously still collecting food for young in the nest. Blackbirds too (5) were still foraging and collecting food for nestlings, searching amongst the moist shady grasses, beaks full with enough food for several young.

Wrens were at their most elusive, only three seen, two of them singing in the Blackthorn. They are all there, hidden on the river bank but have no need for song quite yet, they may have young close by. Robins (2) hiding away like the wrens were even quieter - and two juvenile dunnocks were seen in the same area in deep shade under cover at the base of a hedge. Movements in the Willows overhanging the river, so slight it could just have been the breeze catching the leaves - but long tails can't be hidden - they belonged to 5 juvenile long-tailed tits, obviously just fledged and uncertain what to do next, staying close together, reaching out to passing insects, giving very quiet contact calls. 

Further along, two juvenile blackcaps were quietly foraging.

Up in the sky, a Buzzard was gliding and circling, calling - then it's call was answered by another, unseen behind the trees, whilst magnificent swifts (9) turned and dived, catching insects - far more than last year, they are with us over the river every day, a good indication that they have nests and young to feed not very far away, although if food is scarce they can fly very long distances to forage. Herring gulls (5) were seen scanning the fields then disappeared.

The only alarm call today was from a great spotted woodpecker in an old oak, perhaps a jay or magpie was annoying it, although none were seen.

Now back to the intended species - the insects!

BUTTERFLIES and their companions:

Only five days ago many more birds made themselves visible but there were fewer insects...

Green-veined White butterfly in our landscape - feeding on the riverbank plants in the hot sun.

Each butterfly species has its own characteristics with different preferences  of food plants, habitat and range. The species found here on the riverside are here because of the diversity of the riverside plants, trees and grasses. Some are scarce and some are quite numerous in good years but all species are under threat of extinction in the not-too-distant future, not just here but everywhere in the English countryside. The Large Tortoiseshell butterfly is already extinct.

Here today on the riverbanks a short survey revealed:

Gatekeeper butterflies (21) 'sunning' on nettle leaves awaiting the sun, some nectaring on Brambles, others on Senecio jacobaea, most just patrolling their territories along the riverbank nettles, chasing off intruders.

Green-veined White (7) mostly identified when perching, they have a unique pattern on the wings, sometimes very pale grey-green - the one pictured above is a clear example with a good pattern.

Large White (18) butterflies along the banks and over the fields of winter wheat.

Small White butterflies (6) could be confused with the Green-veined White but behave more like the Large White, wide ranging across the countryside.

Speckled Wood (3) butterflies chasing each other in circles higher into the trees.

Large Skipper (7) butterflies chasing each other along the drier margins of the banks and on bright wild flowers.

Small Skipper butterflies (3) just as the Large Skippers but without such dark markings and without the light pattern on the underwing, also favouring dry long grasses and bright wild  flowers.

Meadow Brown butterflies (17) are quite common, ranging over drier areas with long grasses. They can become worn with paler colours, sometimes basking on the ground.

Comma butterflies (9), always beautiful in bright orange colouring, unique shape and ragged-looking wing margins. The white 'comma' can only be seen when it perches with wings closed (as on the above photo)

Ringlets (22) very numerous today, favouring the damper places, some basking to warm up but being disturbed and chased by bees. They are modestly coloured in dull brown but have beautiful outer wings studded with rings, unmistakable when perched with closed wings. 

Peacock butterflies (5) perhaps the most showy and distinctive of those seen here, emerged into the sunlight late in the morning but clearly needed to warm up more as they perched with closed wings with the almost black colouring absorbing the heat of the sun. Only occasionally did they spread their wings showing the fine Peacock colours and eye markings.

Red Admirals (4) probably the toughest and most brilliantly coloured of all - and the most inquisitive, were investigation our new 'wild flower meadow' patch only recently seeded where just a few flowers were showing. They can be seen much later in the year than any other butterfly, having good furry body insulation. They hibernate in our sheds and outhouses.

Small Tortoiseshell (1) only one,  rather faded, was seen today but this was probably an intermediate phase between the early first butterflies appearing and the later emergence. 

Holly Blue butterfly (1) also just one seen, flying high near Holly and Ivy, it's never seen in large numbers.

and others:

Lots of small day-flying moths were seen amongst the grasses, all food for birds!

Good numbers of Bumblebees, white-tailed, buff-tailed and red-tailed mainly, a few wasps, many hoverflies, good numbers of ladybirds, mainly 7 spot, all on the nettles and trees after the aphids.

Last but not least, Banded Demoiselle Damselflies (8) on nettles, reeds and lily pads in sheltered places on the river and Southern Hawker Dragonflies (2) in different locations, fast-flying over the nettles just as the sun appeared from the clouds, one investigated me with interest, flying towards me then away, then back again several times before flying high up into the trees.

As birds hide, butterflies colour the Riverside

July 10th and still hot with a NE breeze - there are always sheltered areas to be found on the banks of the meandering rivers, varying with the wind direction. Butterflies and damselflies take advantage of this. Today was an excellent day for butterflies, some areas becoming so popular it appeared that species would collide. One sheltered sunny nettled and brambled bank held Small Tortoiseshell butterflies and very fresh Comma butterflies chasing, brilliant colours of the Commas visible high in the Hawthorns and low over the water with Speckled Wood butterflies spiralling up and down in the shade. 

This Comma butterfly was perched on one of the best plants for

many butterflies, the nettle, today. There were more Commas than

I have ever seen here in this wooded corner, they are usually seen in ones and twos.

Small Tortoiseshell butterflies however were the stars of today, mingling with the Commas and perching on the nettles, some laying eggs on the undersides of young nettle leaves, ensuring

another generation sees the light of day. These will seek out flowers and feed up before hibernating over the winter.

Several Gatekeeper butterflies were seen for the first time this summer, ranging along the verges and fences and there were several here over the riverbank today, together with Red Admirals, Large Skippers,  Meadow Browns and Large Whites over the rapidly drying grasses, and a Ringlet in damp grasses.

Over the river, male Banded Demoiselle damselflies chased each other, quite aggressive but beautiful creatures. Low down over the river they dance like dark shadows and suddenly transform when the sun hits them, showing their true colours - brilliant metallic blue males and green females with green translucent wings.

This female Banded Demoiselle damselfly today chose a warm sunlit 

bramble leaf on which to perch whilst watching out for insects, rapidly flying out to catch one, returning to the same leaf to perch and eat - then watch again and dart out for the catch.

There always appear to be more males than females but this is mainly due to the females having near perfect camouflage, perhaps just the white false wing spot gives her away.  

Birds will of course catch insects especially when feeding young, including butterflies, moths, damselflies and dragonflies but with such plentiful insect life of all kinds on the river, these are not endangered.

Today most birds were quiet - but with exceptions -  blackcaps and a whitethroat were singing, but most of the song came from wrens along the river. Robins and blackbirds were seen foraging low down on the river, carrying off food for their young. High above, three buzzards were again seen circling over with some swifts disappearing into the distance.