20th March, the first day of Spring 2013 and Willow catkins only just appearing as small buds on the river bank Willows. Hazel catkins, which appeared some time ago, still hanging on. The ground beneath the hazels now covered in a carpet of Wild Garlic which is showing strong growth in places all along the river banks. Extremely wet weather with continuous rainfall caused the river to reach the top of the banks again, flowing swiftly and muddy from flooded fields well upstream.
A slow start to spring, colder again after the continuous rain.
Today it wasn't raining - and a slight glimpse of the sun appeared in gaps between the clouds but the cold northerly wind chilled the riverside with the river high, muddy and fast flowing.
Many blackbirds (29) were busy all along the river, low on the banks and under hedgerows, with a few foraging on the grass. Two song thrushes, one singing from a low perch under a tree, were seen and a small number of house sparrows (14), not as noisy as usual, were hidden inside a dense hedgerow. Great tits were singing and chasing (26) highly visible in their smart plumage. Blue tits (42) were also very active everywhere with long-tailed tits (14) foraging across tops of thickets following each other closely but some pairs now separated from their winter groups prospecting for nest sites amongst the brambles although they will probably delay nest building until the weather is warmer and drier.
Large numbers of goldfinches were obviously sheltering together well hidden amongst the ivy on some hedgerow trees with more sheltering low down in a drainage basin area. Comings and goings with much continuous singing under cover gave them away (36+) and greenfinches, fewer in number (8) were also calling from inside the thickets. Woodpigeons were also sheltering in large numbers low on the grassy dips of the drainage basins (98) and the fields and crows (19) were busy nest building, carrying nest materials to their individually chosen sites. A single collared dove was seen flying across - far less numerous here in very recent times after settling in large numbers some years ago.
Robins were singing strongly (23) and easily visible happily sharing their territories with other species such as wrens (8) but not with other robins. Just two dunnocks were seen, both singing and 7 chaffinches, a few calling but no full songs yet. A bullfinch was seen for an instant flying into a thicket, not pausing to sing.
The brightest birds today were a flock of siskins (21), some very bright yellow males with dark caps, together with some females were foraging in the top of an old oak over the river. Chattering song gave away many more in a thicket and amongst the branches of the oak - a very welcome sight and sound.
It was very good to see that nuthatches were busy nesting (2), certainly later than last year, one carrying nest material to a tree hole and its mate foraging in the trees behind, calling, then both started calling to each other. Louder calls came from a green woodpecker, very vocal at this time of the year, voices designed to carry large distances across fields. There were 3 in different locations along the riverside.
Apart from singing and chasing birds and some nest building there were few signs of spring, just some tiny willow catkin buds showing and the wild garlic leaves under the trees. Redwings and fieldfares are still present but only one redwing was seen today - a fine view in a thicket with others probably hidden.
Magpies (4) were close to the woodpigeons on the fields and only 6 herring gulls were seen overhead but as the morning advanced a pair of buzzards appeared soaring on the thermals, circling around and around each other, meeting in mid-air. One appeared to have something in its claws, possibly nesting material - a branch, perhaps a nest-building display! Later a third buzzard appeared but remained some distance away from the pair.
Lower amongst the trees a great spotted woodpecker flew across and 3 mallard, 2 males and one female were hastily flying low along the river course.
Smaller birds seen were two smart coal tits foraging in a conifer which they obviously share with goldcrests as two of these tiny birds were seen foraging as well. A pair of treecreepers were seen in another old oak on the river, a tree with ideal treecreeper habitat - very rough bark and old branches with plenty of loose bark forming crevices - all good for nesting and foraging. A third treecreeper was seen foraging on a younger tree - the slight sunshine bringing out some insects.
Last but not least, one of our rarer birds - a peregrine falcon - was seen zipping through the air above, upsetting the casual flight of the gulls before disappearing over the trees.
Large numbers of goldfinches were obviously sheltering together well hidden amongst the ivy on some hedgerow trees with more sheltering low down in a drainage basin area. Comings and goings with much continuous singing under cover gave them away (36+) and greenfinches, fewer in number (8) were also calling from inside the thickets. Woodpigeons were also sheltering in large numbers low on the grassy dips of the drainage basins (98) and the fields and crows (19) were busy nest building, carrying nest materials to their individually chosen sites. A single collared dove was seen flying across - far less numerous here in very recent times after settling in large numbers some years ago.
Robins were singing strongly (23) and easily visible happily sharing their territories with other species such as wrens (8) but not with other robins. Just two dunnocks were seen, both singing and 7 chaffinches, a few calling but no full songs yet. A bullfinch was seen for an instant flying into a thicket, not pausing to sing.
The brightest birds today were a flock of siskins (21), some very bright yellow males with dark caps, together with some females were foraging in the top of an old oak over the river. Chattering song gave away many more in a thicket and amongst the branches of the oak - a very welcome sight and sound.
It was very good to see that nuthatches were busy nesting (2), certainly later than last year, one carrying nest material to a tree hole and its mate foraging in the trees behind, calling, then both started calling to each other. Louder calls came from a green woodpecker, very vocal at this time of the year, voices designed to carry large distances across fields. There were 3 in different locations along the riverside.
Apart from singing and chasing birds and some nest building there were few signs of spring, just some tiny willow catkin buds showing and the wild garlic leaves under the trees. Redwings and fieldfares are still present but only one redwing was seen today - a fine view in a thicket with others probably hidden.
Magpies (4) were close to the woodpigeons on the fields and only 6 herring gulls were seen overhead but as the morning advanced a pair of buzzards appeared soaring on the thermals, circling around and around each other, meeting in mid-air. One appeared to have something in its claws, possibly nesting material - a branch, perhaps a nest-building display! Later a third buzzard appeared but remained some distance away from the pair.
Lower amongst the trees a great spotted woodpecker flew across and 3 mallard, 2 males and one female were hastily flying low along the river course.
Smaller birds seen were two smart coal tits foraging in a conifer which they obviously share with goldcrests as two of these tiny birds were seen foraging as well. A pair of treecreepers were seen in another old oak on the river, a tree with ideal treecreeper habitat - very rough bark and old branches with plenty of loose bark forming crevices - all good for nesting and foraging. A third treecreeper was seen foraging on a younger tree - the slight sunshine bringing out some insects.
Last but not least, one of our rarer birds - a peregrine falcon - was seen zipping through the air above, upsetting the casual flight of the gulls before disappearing over the trees.
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