Autumn - Wild Reds

The dry autumn has brought brilliance to the riverside, the lowering sun picking out colours of wild flora and fauna even before most leaves have turned.

A Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) warming up on the stoney path -

not to be confused with the Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)

which has more of a 'waisted' abdomen, the male being even more 'ruddy'.

An increasing North wind kept birds under shelter on Sunday 14th September. The fields, recently shorn of their cereal crop had attracted large numbers of woodpigeons which were silently, solidly foraging, with only one or two in the air. Hundreds of crows, mainly jackdaws, were however noisily flocking low over the land, agitated and restless, foraging for a few minutes then scared into the air again. Two buzzards appeared over the oaks, wheeling low over the hedgerows, hunting. One flew into an oak to watch from a branch whilst the other allowed the wind to carry it high above and out of sight. Close to the bank, a grey heron flew leisurely along the course of the river, upstream to a favourite hidden foraging spot, away from the windswept fields.

A few robins were singing their plaintive autumn songs but keeping under shelter, although their bright red colours could be glimpsed amongst the red berries of the Hawthorn.

Blackcaps were hiding amongst the Blackberries, silent except for occasional cursing. They love the sun and one or two could not resist taking up perches where a gap in the thorns let through the sunlight.

This is the time of year when most are on their way to the south coast together with other massed warblers but some appear to remain with us over the winter or possibly their places are taken by migrants from colder north easterly climates.

Hawthorn berries (haws) are numerous this autumn

Chiffchaffs and even the odd willow warbler and whitethroat could be seen in the thickets foraging, feeding up for the long journey south although some of the chiffchaffs will remain with us, by now with expert local knowledge. Now their voices are restricted solely to the necessary contact calls or signals, usually monosyllabic or disyllabic.

A nuthatch was heard calling and a wren gave a short alarm signal from where it had slid out of sight down into the forest of stems on the bank.

Looking down at the clear shallow flowing water - suddenly a stunning view of a kingfisher flying just above the water between the high banks - brilliant blue viewed from above as it sped past the roots.

Several Common Darters were seen, perched on nettles in sheltered sun or warming up on stones and one Migrant Hawker dragonfly was patrolling the banks of the Arun and a colourful male 

Southern Hawker flew past me many times along the banks of the Brook. To complete the colourful scene, a bright orange Comma butterfly and a Red Admiral were also ranging along the bank side vegetation in the company of many very active Speckled Wood butterflies.

Guelder Rose berries will remain to brighten the riverside until

most other berries have been eaten during the winter.

The plants have done very well this year, mixed with Hawthorn, Blackthorn,

Rosa canina and Field Maple. These will all be kept Hedgerow 

height to provide habitat for wildlife along the river.