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.