Long Days and Short Nights on the Riverside

The end of June 2017 - it seemed like a very long month with endless days - but now the nights are lengthening again. The heatwave ended but the days have remained warm - good conditions for butterflies prevailed - far more have been seen already than last year which was a bad year for most species of mid-summer butterflies.

Today, 30th June started overcast but brightened later, the air was filled with the scent of Meadowsweet.  It was good to see Gatekeeper butterflies now ranging along the banks, taking advantage of the weak sunlight:

A very fresh male Gatekeeper butterfly on Bramble flowers on the river bank today,

 30th June 2017

There were still plenty of Meadow Brown, Ringlets,  Skippers (good numbers of Small Skippers, in a local colony) and Speckled Wood butterflies  with Banded Demoiselle damselflies perched on Nettles and numerous bees and Hoverflies foraging on the scented flowering Meadowsweet. 

A Dragonfly, probably freshly emerged, was seen on the river bank, basking in the warmth:

This is a Common Darter dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum),

probably an immature female.

 The wings are almost invisible - but are held forward. The dark spots near the end of each wing are just visible.

Day and Night

The days during mid-June were becoming hotter and the nights remaining hot too - it was easy to awaken at 03.45 just as dawn was breaking and hear birdsong. On 20th June,  by 04.00 the Dawn Chorus was well underway - the sky in the east was brightening and it was time to sing! A 'curtain' of song, no one bird dominating - a perfect chorus, blackbirds, song thrushes, wrens,  a few robins and warblers, their song echoing along the river course. By 04.45 cries from overflying gulls could be heard with the first hesitant calls from house sparrows in the eves. By 05.00 the mass chorus had receded, with just a few individual birds taking over from the hundreds.

 A few days earlier, on the evening of Friday 16th, after the breeze had dropped, insects over the river course were being snapped up by numerous swifts - and a song-thrush was singing loudly. The sky was still light in the west at 22.00 when I started a bat survey, but it was completely dark by 23.00.

The bats were easily visible at first - mostly Common Pipistrelle - only just flying from their roosts in the old oaks along the bat flyway, whizzing very low,  just clearing my head. Most bats were detected along the river course, as this is where they find the most insects. There were large numbers, including Soprano Pipistrelle with some Serotines - and a few Daubentons bats low over the water. The sky remained clear but it soon became completely dark under the trees. The song thrush had stopped singing - and the bats were invisible - but using the bat detector, very audible, echolocating.

Midsummer Heat - before the rain

As predicted in the previous post, June is nearing its end with some torrential rain today, Tuesday 27th June 2017.  The rain started around midday, after almost three weeks of hot, dry weather. The river has been flowing clear all the time but at low levels, attracting more and more birds as the surrounding land dried up. Foraging for insects for nestlings and fledged young amongst the long grasses and wild flowers in the riverine habitat remained good, with early morning dew keeping the ground surface damp. As each day warmed up, butterflies emerged in large numbers, with the first Gatekeeper butterfly seen this morning on wild Honeysuckle (Woodbine) growing along the fence, before the rain.  

Large and Small Skipper butterflies were first seen on 19th June -another hot and sunny day, on the wild field and over the river banks, some being chased by Meadow Brown butterflies.

Skipper numbers have steadily increased and their numbers are greater here this year.

A Large Skipper male (Ochlodes venata) butterfly on the river bank (Monday 26th June 2017)

hoping for a female to fly past.

The difference between Large Skipper and Small Skipper is not in the size but in the markings:

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) Monday 26th June 2017- these love tall grasses and disappear into the dense 'forest' of stalks to rest, out of sight. The wing markings are plainer and less dark than on the Large Skipper.

This morning, still very dry but with rain threatening, birds on the riverside were very active, collecting food and feeding up - they certainly knew it would rain. A fine grey wagtail was flying swiftly along the river course - just above the water and great spotted woodpecker juveniles were heard calling from the trees. Several song thrushes were seen foraging under the hedgerows together with blackbirds and robins. A common whitethroat was calling from a thicket across the river and a blackcap was singing in a Willow. Above, a common buzzard was gliding in circles evading the idle threats of a carrion crow which soon gave up and plunged into a treetop. Blue tits, great tits and house sparrows (mostly juveniles) were all foraging low on the banks or bathing.

The appearance of large numbers of Ringlet butterflies (Aphantopus hyperantus) usually means rain, or at least more humid weather - and sure enough it had been more humid over the past few days, with Ringlets joining Meadow Browns on the river banks - but preferring dappled shade, like the Speckled Woods.

Yesterday, 26th June was a fine sunny day, although cooler - and there were good numbers of Banded Demoiselle Damselflies visible foraging over the river from perches on overhanging leaves, the females   

being quite numerous their emerald-green bodies shining  in the sun over the dark water…

Compare this female Banded Demoiselle damselfly (Calopteryx splendens) with the female 

Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly on a previous post - this one has green wings (also with a white spot, but brighter) and a bright green body and thorax, rather than a bronze-green body and bronze, brownish wings with a dull white spot.

Although still not easy to spot when amongst vegetation, this Banded Demoiselle female certainly shines when catching insects over water.

The Banded Demoiselle Damselfly is found in old flowing streams and rivers rather than ponds,

although they often fly away from their rivers, they will return to breed. 

The first Southern Hawker Dragonflies (Aeshna cyanea) were flying out earlier this year, probably because the heat had warmed up the still water (19th June) of one of the nearby ponds:

This Southern Hawker dragonfly was resting - quite well camouflaged

- hanging up amongst the river bank vegetation. It's much larger 

and heavier than the damselflies and can easily be seen flying to and fro hunting for flies

on the riverside.

It is clutching some dry vegetation and appears to be clinging on to the dry stem with

just one foot. Its eyes, large pale grey-green, are partially in the shadow of leaves above it.

The dragonflies usually perch or hang with wings outspread, unlike the damselflies which perch with folded, or semi- folded wings.

Mid-summer Meadows

The weather had been steadily getting warmer - and it seemed a good time to record events along the riverside before the summer suddenly ended, as it often does in June, with torrential rain.

Wednesday 14th June 2017 started bright, with no wind, just a slight breeze. Singing blackbirds dominated the soundscape - although some were not easily seen amongst the trees and thickets, now in full leaf. The chances of seeing birds were much reduced but loud song gave them away. The river, running low but clear formed a focus for birds in the hot weather, providing cool shade and water to drink and most importantly in which to bathe. Overhanging branches formed preening posts where birds could sit in the sun, preen and dry off. Blackbirds (26) seemed to command continuous territories along the river - I was never out of earshot of their song. Those singing now will probably be nesting again, raising a new brood whilst wrens (32)  - also singing loudly  all along the shady banks are certainly still nesting. Faint, high-pitched but persistent calls could be heard near a bridge - I looked down and saw an adult wren taking food into a hollow under the roots of an old oak. These birds have the perfect habitat here, with moss and grasses for building nests and many choices of hiding places.

I had walked half the distance without seeing of hearing a robin, but eventually found several, all silent, in various places foraging in dense shade (7). Some may be nesting but many will be hiding away, moulting. 

Out in sunnier areas, grasses and wildflowers are abundant, forming exceptionally fine feeding grounds for bees and other insects this year.

Meadow Brown butterfly on buttercup

Meadow Brown butterflies are more numerous this year than ever before, being particularly fond of wild flowers growing amongst tall wild grasses - but could also be seen ranging along flowering bramble on he river banks. This habitat also suits house sparrows which are also numerous this spring (over 100) with fledged young everywhere, chasing adults, asking to be fed, even when they can feed themselves. Adults will soon be raising the next broods, providing the weather remains fine.

Back in the shade, three dunnocks were seen and heard( two of them juveniles) - whilst Speckled Wood butterflies circled, rose high and low over the water along banks lined with brambles and tall trees.

Speckled Wood butterfly on bramble leaf

In the same area a mallard gave soft calls, out of sight from the banks.

Blue tits (40) moved across from shade to sun and back, never settling unless they are preening after bathing in the river. There were many vocal juveniles accompanying the adults, learning fast how to glean insects from the undersides of leaves, no shortage of food here. Seeing several in a blackthorn thicket and looking more closely across the river, many other birds were with them. All had been bathing in the river immediately below the thicket: blackbirds, great tits, house sparrows and chaffinches were gathered together drying off, silently.
Chaffinches however, have been more vocal in general this year, or perhaps there are more of them (6). This is still low, but numbers may be recovering after a gradual decline, together with the greenfinches - two juveniles were peering out from a thicket across the river.
Goldfinches are usually hiding and quiet at this time of the year but at least five were seen, chattering together in an old Field Maple tree.
Further along the Arun, a juvenile goldcrest was busy foraging in a dense conifer, probably not alone but the blazing sun prevented further sightings.
The playing field was empty of bird life, with usual occupants foraging elsewhere, with one lonely herring gull sailing overhead. Nine magpies were seen in various trees - unmissable, as fledged juveniles were loudly begging for food from reluctant parents, chasing them around in the branches. Only fifteen woodpigeons were seen, several coooing or flapping around in the trees. Four collared doves, (two pairs) were nesting again amongst ivy. Carrion crows (10) were noisy too with one spotted in a clumsy attempt to predate the contents of a nest in a Hazel tree. On seeing me, it tried, with a great deal of crashing through leaves and twigs to get away and flew off. In the distance, a total of four rooks were flying into the woods. Starlings were out foraging (47), some 'flycatching' again, taking advantage of the numbers of high-flying insects over the river.

No trace of the place where the old Ash tree was removed by the EA -

new natural growth covers the bare ground left by the winch tractor and JCB digger

during March this year

Moving along to the location of the old fallen Ash tree, removed by the EA earlier this year, three juvenile great tits  whizzed past into the dense bank vegetation almost covering the old roots lodged in the bank, left as habitat for wildlife. A pair of great tits had moved in on the day that the old tree was winched away and have clearly taken over, nesting in the root. Now their young have fledged but still forage and possibly roost in amongst the other old trees.Elsewhere several families of great tits were seen foraging (21 total). It is good to see that the surrounding ground, left as a large, bare muddy patch in March, is now green, with a good variety of native plants. Wild Garlic was soon covering the banks later in March and now Dog Rose is in flower on the opposite bank, all growing naturally.

Even better - a nuthatch was calling in an adjacent Ash - its call indicative of the presence of young and a second nuthatch was heard giving an alarm call nearby. This is good news indeed, as nuthatches have traditionally nested in the old Ash which fell - last year they nested in a hole in a horizontal branch of the same tree, where the tree fell. Three pairs of nuthatches in total are occupying territories along the river, with five heard calling this time.

Summer migrants, the warblers were present but most well hidden in their thickets. Chiffchaffs (13) were very busy, most adults singing whilst numbers of juveniles foraged amongst the leaves, oe or two trying out agile 'flycatching' which they do well. Three blackcaps were seen and heard making short songs - perched on willows over the river whilst two willow warblers and one garden warbler were singing too - and a common whitethroat was singing amongst hawthorn branches across the bank of the Arun.
A common buzzard drifted over, this time unaccompanied by the usual gang of noisy herring gulls and crows.

Back amongst the wild flowers, bees, hoverflies and butterflies were numerous feeding on White Clover and bramble flowers:

A Hoverfly, sometimes called a 'Marmalade Hoverfly'

(Episyrphus balteatus)

collecting pollen and nectar on a bramble flower.

This is a very important insect to have on the riverside as not only is it a good pollinator, but its larvae consume large numbers of Aphids of all kinds.

As mentioned, Meadow Brown butterflies were numerous in many different habitats but a few Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were present too, along the nettles on the banks - and two Comma butterflies and a Large White butterfly were flying over the steep bramble banks.
Lastly,  Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies were seen over the river and good numbers now of Banded Demoiselle Damselflies, both male and female, with some electric blue males  ranging further afield off the river, exploring.

The Elusive Demoiselle

Today, 11th June 2017, the weather improved after a cloudy start, with insects very active over the warm shallows of the river and over sheltered banks and riverside grasses.

Only visible because it was flying over the river bank, a female Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly chose a leaf in the sun to perch and lay in wait for prey:

The male Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly is usually far easier to spot, with its brilliant electric blue body and dark wings (see previous posts) but the female is subtly beautiful too, with its greenish-bronze body and brown-bronze wings.The wings have a dull whitish spot near the ends. 

Looking down onto the river from a bridge upstream, thousands of aquatic and other insects could be seen. After a few moments - a disturbance - a brilliant metallic green damselfly suddenly flew across, grabbing one of the insects and returning to perch on a Willow leaf hanging low over the water. It consumed the insect and resumed watching, then flew out over the water again, grabbing another insect and returning to the same leaf. It was a female Banded Demoiselle Damselfly. More were present - 

catching insects downstream - flashed of green over the water. They grab prey in their feet and secure them using their 'spiked' legs.

Bees were foraging all over the Bramble-covered banks, exceptionally numerous in the sun whilst more were foraging on the sweet White Clovers covering the level grass. It was a good time to do a survey -

the result was an average of 8 bees per square meter on the Clover covered areas - a varied mix of Bumblebees, Honeybees and others, working at different speeds. The White Clover flowers suit short-tongued bees but long-tongued bees will use the flowers as well. 

Honeybee on Bramble flower

Volucella pellucens 

Pellucid Hoverfly amongst the brambles

The Bees are back

Friday 9th June 2017 - After torrential rain and stormy winds, the weather was calmer today, although still breezy, sending clouds rushing across the landscape. Overhead the loud cries of five herring gulls and a single carrion crow could be heard over the wind in the poplars. The birds were mobbing a common buzzard, which did not seem too concerned. The river was lower already after running high after the rain:

The river looking upstream, wind ruffling the surface.

The previous day swifts were enjoying the windy conditions flying under low clouds along the river course flying very low at times.

The sun today was very warm, bringing out Meadow Brown butterflies where White Clover, Buttercups and Common Mouse-ear had taken over from the dreaded Ryegrass, providing carpets of flowers attracting a large variety of bees and Hoverflies. Brambles on the verges and river bank were in flower too with large numbers of bees working their way along. The first Banded Demoiselle Damselflies were now also ranging along the banks, looking for large leaves on which to perch and warm up. The Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies are usually first to emerge but the Banded demoiselles seem to have followed later this year.

Common Mouse-ear (Cerastium fontanum)- small delicate flowers

amongst the grasses.

White Clover - fortunately taking over from the useless 'Amenity' 

Rygrass. Bee surveys will be done when the wind drops to find out the number of bees of all kinds to be found in one square meter. 

White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) on White Clover

White-tailed Bumblebee on Dog Rose - the numerous Dog Rose plants that flourish along the river banks have suddenly come into flower as the Bramble flowers finish, ensuring a 

continuous supply of food for insects.

Birds find the greater diversity of the grasses excellent for foraging too.

Blackcaps were singing along the river and one silent male was seen moving around amongst the old Ash tree branch pile searching for food for its young before flying off to the Blackthorn thicket,  beak laden. I looked back at that moment and saw a kingfisher flying over the river, its electric blue back shining in the sun.

Song thrushes, blackbirds, wrens and many more chaffinches than usual were singing, together with chiffchaffs, with robins, blue and great tits and a dunnock foraging. Nesting is continuing, newly fledged young still being fed by adults amongst the branches, whilst other birds are still incubating or feeding young in the nest, many will have second broods.

A short detour through the wild field revealed orchids amongst the various damp meadow grasses:

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

I think

Grey Wagtails Fledge

Way back in April many birds started nesting early along riverine locations, an ideal habitat providing protection from strong gales and late frosts, with the river microclimate always several degrees warmer.

In northern upland areas river water may well be freezing cold, comprising melted snow - but here in the south the water comes from springs and rainfall draining off the land via ditches. As soon as the water is warm enough for insects to emerge, birds will have food for their young when hatched. Fresh leaves on the riverside trees will provide food for caterpillars which in turn are collected by birds.

Grey Wagtails (Motacilla cinaria), which do not migrate, stay with us all year, maintaining territories, usually nesting early. This year two fledgelings were seen enjoying the low but still flowing river, feeding on insects, perched low on river logs, their long tails wagging continuously watched from a distance by parents.

Grey Wagtail fledgelings, well hidden, catching insects

on the low river  - 14th May 2017

This year it was very obvious that it was going to be an 'Oak before Ash' year with Ash trees remaining bare whilst Oak trees came into full leaf. This varies from year to year, indicating variations in climatic conditions:

The first Ash tree leaves appear - 14th May 2017

seen here in front of an old oak in full leaf.

but this young oak, like all young oaks, has only just come into leaf too -

14th May 2017 - having retained last years brown leaves well into the spring,

appearing to some to be very dead.

An ever-changing variety of wild plants clothe the riverside

during the spring and summer. Here a mixture of Cow Parsley and

Green Alkanet flourish on 16th May 2017

The full report was done on 2nd May 2017 (see previous post) but here are some more observations for May:

 8th May   -     Swifts seen over the river course

Many House Sparrows fledging

12th May   -   Jay plundering House Sparrow nest

14th May    -   Grey Wagtails, adult and fledgelings, calling.

Blackbirds, several blackcaps on top of Hawthorn, willow warbler, chiffchaffs, magpie, herring gulls over, hobby, fast flying in a low circle and out of sight over basin 1 alongside the river,  common whitethroat, dunnock, house sparrows, robin, great tits, blue tits, wood pigeons and carrion crow.

Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly,

Several Orange Tip butterflies, Large White, Speckled Wood, two chasing Holly Blues, and Speckled Wood chasing another Holly Blue butterfly

16th May   -  Song thrush singing loudly, blackcap, blackbirds singing and foraging, starlings catching aerial insects, goldfinches, greenfinch calling.

17th May    -   mallard pair, singing song thrushes

19th May   -     Red Admiral butterflies in perfect condition ranging every low over young nettles on the river bank, looking for warm sites in which to lay eggs. Many birds singing - two singing blackcaps, garden warbler singing, song thrush singing, blackbirds singing, wren singing.

Numbers of newly- fledged house sparrows taking first tentative flights over the path from hedgerows to river bank trees. Adults still collecting food - an abundance of insects, including caterpillars  present after the rain.

21st May   -    Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies-  and on and around pond:  Large Red Damselflies, Azure Damselflies mating, also frogs and water boatmen.

23rd May   -   more Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies over river banks nettles and swifts over the river course