The sun wins for a while

At last, on 29th December 2015 the morning started with a blue sky, much brighter than usual but it was not long before the rain-bearing clouds sped in and it was a case of dodging showers.

A rare sight - the landscape with a sunlit oak, just seconds before it was plunged into semi-darkness!

Only 22mm of rain fell last night (28th December 2015) and the river was flowing fast and muddy but quite low. As usual over the past few days, it was not cold, but windy and overcast, with some blue sky just visible in the gaps. Hazel catkins were appearing on every Hazel tree and sapling and fresh green growth - young nettle leaves and cow parsley was sprouting amongst the deep 'compost' of fallen

leaves.

I had been walking for about 20minutes without seeing or hearing much activity along the river, except for a very welcome sound -   two green woodpeckers calling every few minutes, the 'yaffles' sounding louder as I got closer. It had quickly and steadily become darker….'False Roosting Time', dusk at 10.30am. The rain clouds closed in and I waited, sheltering amongst some bramble branches still with leaves in a hedge, close to the river bank.

 After a while the rain gave up and the sun suddenly appeared, lighting up the dripping branches. Moving under some ivy I stood still and watched. It was hard to believe that so many birds had been under cover, out of sight and mostly silent during the rain. Robins and blue tits and great tits were the first to appear amongst the branches of oaks and ash over the river, then several fieldfare moved in, clumsily climbing around to reach remaining berries and fruits whilst more agile blackbirds sped low across the banks. High up a carrion crow called and two goldcrests began to forage in the sunlit branches above me. 

Several redwings arrived, following each other behind the thickets and house sparrows started chatting in the dense hawthorn hedge where they had been sheltering. Suddenly a great spotted woodpecker called out from somewhere very close - showing well when it moved around an oak tree trunk towards me, in the sun. Then another appeared next to it - possibly a pair. A bullfinch male flew low across to the opposite bank, then a nuthatch called noisily, flying from oak to oak then move down into the sun onto an old wooden fence where it pecked at a wooden post joint - a very close view - it may have wedged an acorn into the joint in order to eat it. Just behind it in the grass a green woodpecker called  again and another was heard answering further away.

This was all happening in the same place, within a few minutes, triggered by the sunlight after the rain, I had not moved at all but had observed the activity from under the ivy-clad branches.

Taking advantage of the short spell of sunlight, I then continued along the river. Woodpigeons (30) were visible in the trees or flying up from the field to forage in the ivy for berries.

House sparrows were heard and seen in their usual hedgerows (43) and a total of 27 robins were recorded most in full song at quite close intervals. They do continue to sing during the rain if they have found good shelter such as a Holly bush. Evergreens are an essential part of the ecology of the river bank. Blackbirds were numerous too (32) many foraging under leaves but not yet singing, only alarm calls. Large numbers of blue tits (60) and great tits (22) some now calling were working their way along the banks, frequenting blackthorn where the twigs and branches are covered with lichen where they find insects under the layers. Clouds of insects (midges) had appeared after the rain over the water too, surviving in the warm climate.

In the air, herring gulls (14), jackdaws (2),  carrion crows (5) a rook and 4 magpies were seen flying across but no raptors were seen today. The winter black-headed gulls (14) were seen foraging on the grass and seem to spend very little time in the air and 2 collared doves were looking out from the ivy. Song thrushes (3) were seen amongst leaves on the bank but those singing remained unseen in the under storey. Chaffinches (4) were now calling but only 2 greenfinches were seen, they probably prefer dry habitats rather than wetlands.

A group of linnets (20) were seen flying together into a dense species-rich hedgerow which held several fieldfare (total 8 seen today). The redwing (6) were all seen in the first group of birds observed after the rain on the riverside as were the 2 great-spotted woodpeckers. Starlings were moving around in small groups (20) but not in their usual day roost as this was very exposed to the wind and rain today. Goldfinches (40) were also seen and heard in groups, moving round to find the best sunlit 

locations whilst long-tailed tits (16) were very active and easy to see - one family group in a bare polar tree and others heard first then seen directly overhead in the dense bare branches of the tree canopy. Goldcrests (4) had abandoned their usual conifers in favour of the outer branches of oaks giving very good views - and taking their place in the conifers were at least 2 very vocal coal tits. A single dunnock was perched in a small bare tree, commanding a silent vantage point whilst most wrens (8) remained hidden but singing. A very quiet call from a bullfinch revealed one on the bank near the dunnock (total 2), then a fine treecreeper flew up onto an oak tree trunk right in front of me, soon moving round to get to the sunny side out of view.

Green woodpeckers had started the morning's observations and loud calls were heard again as even darker rain clouds raced across towards us at the finish. (total 2) 

Hunkered down in the gales

The gales this winter seem to be continuous, with a thick layer of cloud and intermittent rain.

Today, Boxing Day 26th December 2015 was no exception. A quick check on the river levels, water quality and flow revealed the levels rising and water flowing fast, carrying mud and silt from upstream fields, indicating that the earth is definitely saturated. The levels are still short of flood level, with no overflowing banks yet.

A sign of spring - catkins growing well on a young

Hazel tree on the bank of the muddy fast flowing river.

The noise of the south-westerly gale in the trees and traffic noise carried far today - birds and mammals were hunkered down with the mild weather making urgent foraging less necessary.

Robins were however singing loudly from prominent perches low down in sheltered areas, clearly audible but the first species seen was a family group of about ten long-tailed tits all foraging in the same bare tree, prising small insects from lichen-clad twigs and branches, very close to me, calling softly.

Even the carrion crows were keeping low today, sat on branches, wiping beaks after muddy meals. Magpies and jackdaws were heard and seen in the distance and herring gulls were ever-present in the sky - flying against the wind. Forty-five black-headed gulls were enjoying easy foraging in the very soft ground on a playing field where they spend most of the winter. There was a brief glimpse of a fast, low-flying sparrow hawk through the trees, taking advantage of the waving branches and vegetation to target a wood pigeon - missed. A group of linnets flew fast across into a tree and small groups of goldfinches braved the wind to fly into cover. Blue tits and great tits were visible in good numbers making their way along the river bank thickets and one or two chaffinches and greenfinches 

allowed themselves to be driven across gaps in the thickets by the wind. Blackbirds were numerous everywhere, on the grass and inside thickets, but always in sheltered places on the river bank, together with one or two song thrushes. A nuthatch was heard in the distance - and down on the river itself (Arun) five mallard, three males and two female in a close group were paddling upstream slowly around a quiet backwater, the steep river banks giving perfect shelter from the wind.

It was very good to see that a few redwing were still present - amongst tree branches in view of thickets still bearing fruits and berries. With the redwing were about four goldcrests, moving around directly above me. They had abandoned their usual conifers which were bearing the full force of the wind to forage amongst the branches of sheltered deciduous trees.

This was not a full record, only a quick look as the weather was so bad. Hopefully there will be a better day for a full record before the end of the year!

Just another view of 'the scrape' taken today. Wildlife around the 

area was sheltering well out of sight.

Redwings on the move!

December - although it's warm enough to be October.

A very rare fine day today, Friday 4th December 2015, after a series of windy, dark, damp days and torrential rain last night.

Last month had been the most overcast November on record - about time for a glimpse of the sun.

The morning started clear and bright , cooler than usual but no frost - and the ground very wet after the overnight rain.

The most noticeable feature was the amount of singing along the river, as if birds had all suddenly woken up after a very very long night lasting days..

Blackthorn thickets were the loudest with birds crowding in to sample the sloes, some now drying out and wrinkled - but maybe tasting better than the younger berries. The other most popular fruits were the wild rose hips. 

The redwings had arrived in force, ahead of the fieldfares which yesterday were trailing behind, still visible in large numbers down in the lower Arun valley at Pulborough.

 An Oak on the bank of the Arun, windswept but still clinging on to golden leaves.

 Although cooler now, the morning was still warm for this time of the year with the ground thick with fallen leaves fast turning into a rich compost allowing easy  access to invertebrates for ground-feeding birds - a slight kick to move the leaves and a feast is revealed.
Robins (23) were singing in many parts of the riverside, some answering each other from across the river. Four dunnocks were seen silently foraging under the dead stalks of nettles on the bank and amongst the leaf litter. Starlings were quite numerous today - a good sign - (70), about 15 whistling and singing in a Blackthorn thicket, well hidden but very audible and other small gatherings could be heard and seen in many places where there was plenty of cover - hollies and ivy.
It was very reassuring to find so many house sparrows (more than 150) in several colonies in hedgerows and bramble thickets. Never 'early' birds, perhaps the unaccustomed sunlight had woken them up when it hit their roosts and started them off, singing and preening. Once fully awake, they will, however, happily sing in rain, provided they have some cover from the worst of the weather.
Woodpigeons (28) were scattered in the trees along the banks - once suitable branches were found where they could sit in the sun, most dozed off - until disturbed by a squirrel or jay. Collared doves are now not as numerous as they were here a few years ago - and today only two were seen, a pair sitting close together on a branch, preening each other. Three noisy jays were heard first and then seen - and on the field and grass, 14 carrion crows were foraging, whilst 6 magpies, almost as noisy as the jays, were restlessly flying and chasing amongst the trees. The carrion  crows were accompanied by  small numbers of rooks, about 5 and 2 jackdaws were seen flying across.
Herring gulls were enjoying the clear sky (38), most flying high south towards the coast and the smaller black-headed gulls (35) were, as usual in winter, feeding amongst the short grass or flying around low above the field when disturbed, ready to land again as soon as possible.
Still looking up, scanning the unusually cloudless sky, I saw a lonely cormorant making its way south, following the river course - and then below, looking down onto the bank a sparrowhawk was seen dashing low along the river. Further upstream a single moorhen was walking along the bank next to the path, unconcerned. An old tree with branches overhanging the water had obviously just been chosen as a good place to nest in the spring - a great spotted woodpecker had been at work making a largish hole in the trunk. The woodpecker was probably watching me - but I didn't see it.
Three nuthatches were heard and seen in different territories along the river - they establish nesting holes early on and spend the winter guarding and refurbishing their old nest holes but the great-spotted woodpecker usually chooses to create or use a different one each year.
 It was very noticeable, with the low sun warming the trees, that large numbers of insects were active on and around the tree bark, mostly small flies and occasionally a solitary bee. A treecreeper was seen foraging briefly before it disappeared, taking advantage of the abundant insects.
Back to the singing - Song thrushes (11) were singing strongly today - they have been singing since last month, mostly early and late in the day - but it was remarkable how they had to compete with so many other singing birds today. Massed goldfinches were singing together in a large Blackthorn thicket (about 55) together with numbers of singing starlings, robin, a song thrush (loudest voice). Two greenfinches were eating rose hips, about six chaffinches were present - and a mistle thrush was perched in the sun.
There were good views of several redwing moving through the same Blackthorn eating sloes, 15 in total today.
Even more remarkable was the duration of the chorus - the occupants of the thicket were singing for over two hours, most of them on the sunlit southern side. 

In addition to the 'static' chorus, large numbers of blue tits and great tits were visiting the same thicket, part of several roaming flocks seen in different locations along the river. A total of 120 blue tits and 53 great tits were counted -  and 4 coal tits with an independent large, silent family group of 17 long-tailed tits in the willows.
High calls alerted me to goldcrests active in the lower branches of the conifers (4) and several wrens were seen, some heard singing short songs in various locations under the tangle of nettle and bramble stalks on the banks -  8 in total but only a few were singing.
  Three fieldfare were seen on ivy (berries) and flying across between berry-laden bushes, but redwing have suddenly become more numerous here, together with large numbers of visiting blackbirds - today 42 in total were seen but none singing but all concentrating on the berries and fruits along the banks.
A memorable day, with unexpected numbers of birds and unexpected song.