November Gales

November 9th 2015 - light, fast moving cloud in the strong wind allowed some sunlight onto the riverside today. The river had receded after rainfall over the past few days but was flowing swiftly under the overhanging Blackthorn, Spindle, Dog Rose, Maple and Oak. Spindle fruits were almost as bright red as the rose hips, being a native local species, not the pink cultivated garden spindle.

Birds were drawn to this sheltered area where they spent time foraging, choosing the best of the abundant food. No need to search, grab and fly on yet.

Three boldly marked song thrushes - probably winter migrants - were seen foraging together on the sloes, picking a fruit, rolling it in the beak then swallowing.

Wind-blown Blackthorn, with plenty of fruits for the winter thrushes.

In the same place, two blackbirds were feeding whilst house sparrows flew in from their hedgerow roost where they foraged on insects together with numbers of blue tits and great tits  with smart (possibly ater) coal tits amongst them. A few goldcrests were also seen - foraging underneath the lichen on oak twigs, presumably for insects or spiders. Goldfinches called from higher branches.

Further downstream, a species-rich hedgerow in the open at the field margin was busy with yellowhammers once more, flying from the hedge down onto the weedy margin of the stubble field. A few active linnets could be seen in the dense hedge, with glimpses of bullfinch pair lit by the sun. A group of black-headed gulls were feeding together with a single common gull - a lot larger - on the grass and a great-spotted woodpecker was calling in a fine old Oak, a windswept tree fast losing its remaining leaves, it has weathered many a fierce storm over hundreds of years.

The Oak on the river bank

Wednesday 11th November 2015 was another warm windy day, overcast and becoming very dark towards midday. The wind had sent birds down to shelter and the lack of light meant many were roosting - but the dark day was suddenly turned to light when a kingfisher came flying downstream low over the water surface - A bright orange bullet sped towards me from the right, changing to a stunning blue 'bolt' as it passed very close to me and flew out of sight to the left in a bend in the river as I was looking down onto the water.