The Slow Start of Spring in March

Sunday 8th March 2015

Exactly one month since the previous full report - what has changed since then along the Riverside? There has certainly been no sudden bursting into life, it even appears to be regressing with the effects of the cold dry wind.

A sign of hope, however. I spotted a large bumble bee flying along

the river bank, coming to land on the thick layer of last-year's leaves,

to gain some warmth from the hazy sun.

                          

The bee is a Buff-tailed bumble bee - Bombus Terrestris 

with traces of pollen on its head and back taking a rest from

foraging.

A bright morning with a southerly breeze and hazy sunshine with no frost this morning. The river was lower now but not yet clear of mud from fields upstream. The landscape still looks very bare, not much like spring, only the wild garlic shoots and catkins growing longer, the grass still brown and dry - if anything, even barer than 8th February.

Abundant signs of life along the river however from birdsong, robins dominating the river bank, singing from prominent song posts, chasing interlopers or suddenly appearing very close to me on a branch or fence (24), and good numbers of goldfinches chasing and singing from their usual ivy hideouts (33).  Blue tits (36) were very active foraging for insects in the oaks and dodging amongst the catkins, with some bickering but no actual song heard unlike the great tits (20) which were singing strongly, their calls carrying a long way through the bare trees, each seeming to have their own invention of simple song or call phrases.

Blackbirds were still silent but numerous (19) most feeding on the damp river banks where a few hardy Lesser Celandine flowers were appearing, with one or two clumps of snowdrops, usually seen much earlier.  Dunnocks (4) were singing strongly in the same area, with two dashing across the river to perch, tails flicking whilst a blackbird hurried away carrying a large worm. Starlings (34) added their cheerful whistling to the chorus from their day-roost whilst others joined woodpigeons (30) on the dry grass. Other woodpigeons were busy feeding on ivy berries or drinking and bathing down low on the banks sheltering from the increasingly cold wind. Carrion crows (12) were calling or perching in pairs now high in the trees. One was seen walking along the footpath methodically collecting fallen twigs, selecting those of precisely the right length for building or refurbishing its nest. Magpies (4) were seen collecting random twigs to add to their rough nests. Just one collared dove was seen, its mate almost certainly on their nest amongst the ivy. A great spotted woodpecker was seen in flight crossing the river, silently, but 3 jackdaws announced their presence with loud calls. Persistent drumming from the woodpecker was heard later. 

Not far away, a nuthatch was heard calling loudly, in warning, protecting its nest area - and further upstream two more were seen, probably a pair, with one extremely annoyed by foraging blue tits

on its tree (3).

It was very good to hear the far more tuneful song of skylarks (3) over the field, claiming their territories.

Some chaffinches were calling now (12) but most were seen foraging on the ground. Four greenfinches were seen, two calling, never usually seen here in large numbers. A green woodpecker yaffled from the trees and a bullfinch called softly, unseen until it flew across to another tree, a fine bright male.

At last, the river wrens were singing (17) and chasing along the banks, starting to build nests, the birds still very visible. Overhead, 2 long-tailed tits were seen collecting lichen from branches, for nest building in dense undergrowth.  Songthrushes (2) were silent this morning however and sheltering - they are more frequently seen and heard when the wind has dropped in the evenings and calm early mornings. House sparrows (51) were seen in good numbers too, they maintain their presence all year round in several colonies within dense hedgerows and bramble patches and within easy reach of the river where some were bathing today. Two mallard were enjoying shelter under the high banks of the river too whilst 85 herring gulls were seen sailing in groups overhead.

Last but not least, a brilliant white LITTLE EGRET suddenly flew up from the river where it had been foraging unseen behind the steep banks - and flew up amongst the trees, heading south along the river, stopping to perch on an oak. Further downstream a second little egret was perched in a tree branch over the river surveying the water intently:

One little egret, watching from the branch of an oak over the river

Eventually it flew off to join 20 black-headed gulls on the grass field - hoping to blend in with the crowd - but not quite! About half of the gulls were in summer plumage, with the rest in various stages of transition. They all soon flew off together, the little egret diverting off to the river downstream when the gulls went over to the nearby 'scrape'.