Friday 3rd January 2014: In the early hours of the morning another low moved across country bringing gales and very heavy rainfall but this cleared suddenly, with the wind dropping with a final torrential cloudburst at its trailing edge. We were getting used to the pattern now and knew there was more to come, with extra high tides and storm winds off the sea. Flood warnings were in force for the Arun, Littlehampton and Shoreham.
A quick look on the Riverside between 11 and midday, during the brief calm - the river was very high and fast flowing but not over the banks at this time. In a sheltered area on a bend in the river I was able to stand still and observe - only for a few minutes, certainly less that 10 - yet saw a huge amount of activity, all in the visible area.
A fine view of a grey wagtail as if flew out from low on a drain, its yellow colouring flashing in the light, tail bobbing, and further downstream, amongst all the other birds, a second grey wagtail flew out upstream, keeping low over the water.
Numerous blue tits and great tits were busy feeding on debris thrown up onto the bank by the flood, under the trees. Lots of leaves and twigs, tennis balls, bottles, bark and branches, an area packed full of insects. The large numbers of birds gave away their preference for invertebrates.
A loud call from a nuthatch - I looked up - a very good view of it feeding on insects amongst bark and freshly broken branches, then another nuthatch appeared, making contact by calling softly. A treecreeper was also present, starting off up a hazel tree from very low down on the roots and trunks.
Suddenly a fieldfare flew across from Hawthorn to Blackthorn and was followed by a patrol of fieldfare, one by one over the river all into the same thicket. Then a redwing was heard giving short calls as it flew over to the same thicket calling to several more, which joined it as the wind strengthened and the sky darkened, indicating rain - but the colours of the redwing's plumage showed up in fine detail when they perched. The attraction was clearly a thicket of Blackthorn still heavy with sloes.
Chaffinches were also busy and blackbirds numerous, most flying low between the river banks.
Several wrens were also very active low in the undergrowth of brambles, their warm red-brown plumage giving them away in a glimpse of sunshine. Robins were singing, starlings could be heard whistling and a song-thrush gave a short burst of song. House sparrows had joined the other birds foraging on the debris and in the air woodpigeons were showing off a completely new style of fast, swirling flying with the wind. Higher still black-headed gulls and herring gulls were wheeling around in full command of the gale. Across in the tall hedge, a mass of singing came from a large 'charm' of goldfinches in the ivy, their favourite place to roost and shelter.
It was starting to rain, blasted by the wind, so I returned, glancing down onto the river to see a female mallard, escorted by three quietly murmer-quacking males, totally at home in the sheltered corners of the muddy, furiously flowing river.
The inhabitants of the riverside would soon have to hunker down for the rest of the day, only resuming their frantic foraging when the next storm had flown out east.
A mighty oak on the river bank
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