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.
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.
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.
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.
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