A Feast for Warblers at the End of May

31st May 2014 - where the water ripples, warblers were seen 'flycatching',

watching from perches on the riverbank branches, then flying out low over the river to catch flies, then back to perch and watch.

The flies over the river here were Mayflies - and - Damselflies, mainly Banded Demoiselle Damselflies gathered here to catch small flies but became themselves prey!

Male Banded Demoiselle Damselfly perched on fresh bramble leaves

Such a difference from last year, when Damselflies were first seen on 31st May (2013)!

Summer is well established, with Red Admiral butterflies fast flying high and low together, influenced by the sun. As soon as clouds obscured the sun, they flew high into the tree canopy then back down skimming the riverbank vegetation when the sun appeared again. Peacock butterflies were warming up in more open spaces.

Bramble flowers, long awaited by bees, were now opening along the warmer banks

and it was good to welcome back the Tree Bumblebees

Here's a Record of wildlife for Sunday 25th May (photos on previous blog)

Plenty of sky visible between the cumulus clouds today - cool in the breeze but warm in sheltered areas. Heavy rain yesterday (24th) had left the river running fast but the level had already receded by about  half a meter. The rain had cooled the earth - much cooler than last weekend. It was good to see that some of the brambles were now flowering. Dog rose, Elder and Honeysuckle all flowering too.

Why another record so soon after the last? 

There's so much activity and the natural landscape is changing so fast that every day offers a different  aspect . The length of the day, the water temperature, the flowering of plants, the nesting of birds and emergence of insects all are finely tuned to maximise the mutual benefits bestowed on each living thing along the river. Nothing lives in isolation - everything is dependent on other things. take one link in the chain away - destroy one life form and the rest that depend upon it are destroyed or depleted too.

Today, juveniles were especially evident, with 85 starlings seen and very much heard, most of them fledged juveniles still being fed by their parents. 31 blackbirds were seen, some now singing again whilst others were busy collecting food for their young, often fledged but hiding in the undergrowth.

Juvenile blue tits were very vocal too, calling out from inside ivy cover, willows and oaks 47 in all. Great tits were more visible, juveniles with huge gapes lined up along the branches all being fed with caterpillars by the parents (17). House sparrow adults too had many juveniles to feed, with numerous young hiding in the Bramble thickets, safe from the view of predators (40).

Collared doves were nesting (4) as were woodpigeons (16) now seen in pairs rather than flocks, some carrying nest material to their traditional nest sites. A few Jackdaws on the move (5) were quite vocal, as were the crows (3) and only 2 magpies.

A green woodpecker was seen flying silently across the river to an oak - a sign that it has young to feed. A great spotted woodpecker called from a distant oak - a warning call.

Suddenly two small birds flew across from the fields into an Ash. A fine yellow male and a more subtle -coloured female - they were a pair of yellowhammers - so good to see them - hope they are nesting somewhere safe from predators.

Looking into a conifer, some tiny shapes could be seen moving around - with high voices -

'The Day of the Juveniles' was made perfect by the presence of 4 young goldcrests being fed. One adult made a spectacular falling flight down the tree from one brach to the next below catching insects as it went. The young lined up in a row waiting until one of the adults flew over to fill their gaping beaks.(6 total)

On the river itself 2 mallard were seen, making quiet calls - probably contact calls to young and 2 moorhens certainly nesting, one giving an alarm call. There was plenty of food for 2 songthrushes foraging under leaves on the ground, pulling large worms from the damp earth. They will only turn to snails if the earth dries up and other food is no longer available. Chaffinches were singing (4) - together with singing wrens (7) less numerous than usual as most are still nesting and keeping very quiet. Two goldfinches flew across the river to a nest and a pair of long-tailed tits were busy foraging.

With flies and other insects so numerous, finding warblers along the river was no difficult. Walking under a willow, a sudden loud burst of song made me look up to see a fine male blackcap and 5 others were both seen and heard singing in various willows along the bank. Garden warblers,(7) more numerous this year, seemed to be competing with the others, willow warblers with their unique song joining in (3).

Only the first warblers to arrive this spring were quiet - the chiffchaffs (5) with only two singing or making contact calls.

The silent ones were busy catching insects, the fastest-moving birds.

The most interesting are the whitethroats (10) , some singing - but their characteristic bouncing over their chosen nest sites - usually the same locations each year make them vulnerable birds, in need of habitat protection.

 It was good to see the aerial summer visitors, the swifts (9), catching insects on the wing over the river, following the river course, with some low-flying house martins.(6)

Accompanying the swifts, flying cross-wind was a hobby, gone in a flash, after a dragonfly.

The conditions being near perfect, damselflies were numerous along the river banks with large numbers of Banded Demoiselle damselflies, the males' brilliant metallic blues glinting in the sunshine - and mnay Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies, some dancing high up over the water. Many Azure damselflies were present too, settling briefly on nettle and bramble leaves  before drifting on to the next. Some nearly collided with the Banded demoiselles, there were so many of them. Large Red damselflies were catching insects from vantage points on nettle leaves or chasing each other across the water. One Hairy dragonfly was trying to join the swifts and martins, flying high.

With the brambles coming into flower, the bees were out in good numbers, today mainly Honeybees, with some bumblebees, including Tree bumblebees and red-tailed bumblebees on the Dock. Seven-spot Ladybirds were active, flying from leaf to leaf. At times I was 'wading' through Mayflies making their up and down flight on the banks. Butterflies appeared in the more sheltered areas, with Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White, Green-veined White and a few Orange-tip. A clump of Nettles on the bank were rapidly being eaten by groups of caterpillars - those of the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly - so watch out! If they survive there will be a good emergence of these beautiful butterflies along the river.     

A Summer's Day in May

Today 25th May 2014, although cool, was early summer at it's best along the riverside.

above:  A Green-veined White butterfly perching on nettle flowers

A male Azure Damselfly - one of many today warming up on

the river bank leaves, moving or rather drifting from one perch to the next, never pausing for long.

A male Large Red Damselfly chose a larger leaf to perch on in the sun. These were

quite numerous but I didn't see as many as the Azures today.

A female Banded Demoiselle posing on a nettle leaf, ready for take-off.

Many nettle leaves were host to caterpillars today - these are the

caterpillars of the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly.

Last Monday, 19th May 2014 - a full record of wildlife seen on the Riverside:

A sunny day with a warm breeze, the river quite low but flowing well with cow parsley flowering along river banks and verges, a healthy growth of nettles mixed with brambles and buttercups. The Hawthorn blossom, early this year, like all plant life (except perhaps the Ash), was just finishing.

The river had recently been much higher, obvious from the muddy leaves and grasses on the banks about 2 meters above the present water level.

House Sparrows were by far the most numerous bird today- over 80 seen in various areas, many juveniles, preening in the sun whilst others were catching insects, flycatcher-like, from fences and branches. Blackbirds were also numerous, 23, some singing full songs, others calling softly to young or giving alarm calls when threatened by the presence of squirrels which were noisily chasing each other (4). Woodpigeons (15) never usually cause alarm amongst any birds, but when suddenly taking off can alert small birds to possible danger - Woodpigeons have big eyes and often spot things that small birds don't immediately notice.

Blue and great tits (24, 17) were not as visible as usual, being still busy nesting, collecting food for young still in the nest, although some fledged young blue tits were heard begging, hidden, then glimpsed in a Willow. Great tits favoured the dark, damp ground under trees to find food.

Chiffchaffs (4) were heard singing and calling but those nesting were hidden and silent. 3 song thrushes were seen and heard singing, they should do well this year with no shortage earthworms, caterpillars and beetles. Early nesters, they may already be rearing a second brood. Many robins were singing again (13) as they, like the song thrush, are early nesters and may rear several broods.

Wrens were singing strongly too (12). The very variable weather conditions have caused large variations in river flows and water levels which can affect nest building and survival of young, perhaps the local wrens have learnt not to choose nest sites too low down on the river banks. Chaffinches (5) build more robust nests higher up, carefully constructed to withstand bad weather. A dunnock was heard calling and another feeding low down with the great tits and a single greenfinch was seen. Goldfinches (6) were singing quietly today, no longer seen in flocks but in ones and twos.

New growth on the conifers made it easier for birds to hide away but one goldcrest was seen flying into the sunny side of a conifer to feed. It may have a nest there too.

Starlings are finding favourable conditions, more seem to be around this year, with many young (31).  Three nuthatches were seen but remained silent, clearly still nesting and feeding young, careful not to draw attention to their nest sites. Magpies (2) and crows (2) were nesting as well, with adults seen carrying food for their young, whilst two jackdaws flew over. A buzzard  glided leisurely above the river, no need to flap wings in the breeze, together with 4 black-headed gulls.  A pheasant called but remained hidden in the undergrowth.

Warblers were present in good numbers along the river bank vegetation. Chiffchaffs are always the first to arrive and start nesting in this ideal habitat and are followed later by willow warblers (1). It was very good to see the whitethroats return to their traditional habitat and hear their song again (6). A garden warbler sang from a Willow with others heard along the river  (7) - and a sudden loud burst of characteristic fine song came from a blackcap. Four were seen and heard singing today. 

Another warbler was heard singing - an more difficult song to identify! Sounded like a possible wood warbler but not quite!

Down on the river soft calls alerted me to a male mallard which was slowly paddling upstream

- accompanied by Banded Demoiselle damselflies.. more mallard (6), all male, were seen on and over the river.

The fine weather was good for damselflies, with freshly emerged Azure damselflies, several Large Red damselflies, mostly favouring the hazel leaves and some pairs mating. Banded Demoiselle damselflies were very active, with males and females hunting, giving good comparisons when perching on leaves close together. Freshly emerged Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies very seen clinging to old dry nettle stalks whilst others warmed up on Field Maple, Bramble and Nettle leaves. More were seen ranging low over the grasses away from the river. A few Blue-tailed damselflies were seen low over the river bank and four, almost invisible, fragile damselflies were probably White-legged damselflies, in their special area where they seem to appear each year. 

Huge numbers of small flies and Mayflies were concentrated over the river and near banks - all good food for warblers and many other birds - dragonflies too - and at night, bats.

Other large insects seen were White-tailed and Red-tailed Bumblebees on the new Bramble flowers, Seven-Spot ladybirds - also on Brambles and some flying along the bank; more than 15 Orange-tip Butterflies, a few Peacock butterflies, several Large White, Small White and Green-veined White butterflies in the sunny areas and Speckled Wood butterflies in the shadier wooded areas, with two Holly Blue butterflies ranging along the bank vegetation 

The river warms up and it's time to climb

Today, the 18th of May, was warm and fine, the water temperature just right for the emergence of huge numbers of Damselflies from the river bed. Terrific winter floods, with huge logs carried downstream like matchsticks, seemed to have scoured the banks and river bed of all life and growth, but recovery was rapid and river plants and wildlife have been thriving.

During the past few days, luxurious river bank vegetation has grown to provide just the right conditions  for damselflies, dragonflies and the insects they thrive on. Stems of reeds and grasses to climb up out of the water and hazel and nettle leaves to perch on and dry out. Last year's dry nettle stalks were popular perches for the heavier Dragonflies to cling to whilst waiting for prey.

Orange Tip butterflies were still ranging along the river banks.
 

A Female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly perches of a fresh Hazel leaf on the river bank together with many more in various stages of emergence. They have a very light butterfly-like flight and are found on clean, fast flowing rivers.

Our river here is certainly fast-flowing! 

A newly emerged male Banded Demoiselle Damselfly warms up in the sun on a nettle leaf nearby the one above and can be found on slow-flowing muddy rivers as well. 

Suitable habitats for both species can be found along the same river here, with fast flowing stretches and more sheltered, slow flowing meanders.

The river bank, on this stretch covered with flowering Cow Parsley

after the Wild Garlic has finished. A favourite area for Mallard and Moorhen to spend time foraging unseen in the river below.