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