First and Last on the River

After all the recent rain,  the river was running high yesterday 30th December 2017 and amongst all the bare tree branches, the last signs of the old year and the first signs of the new year were clearly visible on the edge of the fast-flowing water.

The last Guelder Rose berries on the river bank - food for birds from 2017 left for later in the winter. The root system of the Guelder Rose is good for preventing riverbank erosion and collapse.

 New Hazel catkins forming lamb's tails on young Hazel trees

on the river bank

Wildlife Record for 30th December 2017 to follow….here it is - at last:

The morning was quite damp after yesterday's rain, with thin cloud giving way to a blue sky dotted with small clouds, brightening the landscape. It was much warmer in sheltered places, with plenty of wild rose hips from the river surface up to the tree tops but not so easy to access. Most sloes had been stripped from the blackthorn but plenty remaining on just one tall tree on the river bank.

House sparrows (approx. 60) were singing from their sheltered hedges and bramble patches - always with one to two acting as lookouts at the top. Robins too (22) were singing short songs, not yet taking  up their positions for maximum effect when guarding their territory. There were larger numbers of woodpigeons than usual, counting wasn't easy as most were crowded into the topmost branches of the old trees. A carrion crow flying in disturbed a group of about 20 which all flew up together and further downstream another group were disturbed in the same way (total about 60). Only one collared dove was seen today.

Trees along the upper stretches of the river, in relative shelter, were crowded with birds, whilst other trees further south, on the Arun were shunned. Foraging or just perching in windswept areas is a huge waste of energy for most birds - they will always find shelter - no shelter-no birds!

Wrens, seen and heard, were not as numerous as usual, with only 6 seen, most of the usual population having probably moved away temporarily from their river bank habitat as the river levels rose, muddy and fast-flowing.

Dunnocks, on the other hand, seemed to think it was spring, some singing strongly, in open places or foraging on paths (7). Blackbirds (36) were seen in many different places, they are definitely birds which brave the rushing waters and are at home balancing on flimsy islands of twigs and debris in the water, foraging for insects, frequently flying up from the river into the trees to investigate other sources of food such as ripening Ivy berries. The river was flowing too fast for Grey Herons to spot any aquatic prey but two birds were seen close up, flying south along the river course and up over the oaks to the drainage basin beyond.  Eight herring gulls wheeled around above and only three black-headed  gulls were visible - none today on their usual playing-field.Even the carrion crows avoided the open grass today - seven were seen, mostly amongst the old bare trees, crowded with starlings (about 25) amongst the smaller birds whilst others hid away in their ivy-covered day roost, singing. Birds that only fly when they have to - the magpies (7) - were also jostling each, other finding space to perch with the many other species including a single jay heard calling.

With many of the choice berries and fruits having been stripped from the thickets, most of the winter migrants have moved on west but 3 redwing and 4 fieldfare were making their way through the dense hedges and thickets along the river plucking the remaining food. Songthrushes (5) some of which could be winter migrants were foraging low, on mossy branches or on the ground turning over the dense mats of fallen leaves in sheltered places often together with blackbirds, also possible visitors.

Of the finches, only one chaffinch was heard and no greenfinches, but large numbers of goldfinches were present,  a group of more than 20 were flying across to the field with others singing in a dense thicket and others feeding off the dry seed heads of grasses and dock alongside the path and on the field, bright in the weak low sun (over 30). 

Ever moving along the riverside trees in the sheltered stretches today were numerous blue tits, some chasing, some investigating holes in tree trunks but most following each other, foraging together. (more than 100) and great tits, finding plenty to eat  at the foot of trees amongst fallen leaves and in the Hazels (30 at least) with several coal tits (about 5). Right above me, 11 long-tailed tits were moving around through the treetop. In the same tree, a huge old oak, foraging restlessly were several goldcrests  flying over from other deciduous trees and a holly.  Further south, there was a good view of another goldcrest foraging continuously along the fresh branches of a conifer (6 in total). Whilst watching the deciduous tree goldcrests, I saw pieces of lichen dropping down from higher up in the tree - this turned out to be a silent foraging nuthatch. Another silent nuthatch was seen further north (2 total).

Two green woodpeckers were heard calling - a sign of rain! and in an oak on a sheltered bend on the river two great-spotted woodpeckers were calling and chasing each other (male and female) whilst in the river bend under the oak a mallard pair were paddling around. Between the tree branches a  sparrowhawk was gliding low, the sun catching its light colouring. It flew around slowly then suddenly took a dive down onto the trees and out of view.

Crab apples remaining on Deecember 30th 2017

(compare with previous post)

A Traditional December

December hasn't quite ended yet but here's a short summary of this month's weather and wildlife. 

(full record for survey to come later)

After a slow autumn with leaves colouring the landscape for longer than usual, winter arrived with cold weather which has continued throughout December, frosts alternating with sleet. About 50% of days this month were damp with misty rain or with heavy rain and gales, the welcome rain starting to replenish water levels in aquifers and reservoirs which had been subject to a creeping drought over the past year.

There have been mild intervals but few signs of an early spring; the autumn glut of acorns was reduced to nothing over a few days, although some could still be found under layers of fallen leaves under the oaks.

The wildlife highlights were three Little Egrets which arrived here over the first weekend in December, icy weather on the coast triggering their winter journey inland, following the river Arun upstream where the water is warmer and faster-flowing, unlikely to freeze, sustaining food for the little egrets in the form of small fish and amphibians. The birds were either perched on oak branches over the river or foraging in the river itself, as it was still quite low, suitable for paddling. They remained for a few days but the river level has now risen significantly and has remained so after successive heavy squalls of rain, brining muddy surface water runoff from fields far upstream.

The winter marginal deciduous trees held calling nuthatches, fast-moving goldcrests, many singing robins, quiet blackbirds many blue tits, great tits and groups of long-tailed tits with a few coal tits this December, dunnocks and wrens with a mallard pair usually visible on a sheltered bend in the river. House sparrows thronged the dense hedgerows as usual and song thrushes have recently been heard singing very short songs.

On the 20th there was a loud racket from scolding great-spotted woodpeckers in the oaks. two were chasing each other and a third joined in adding to the noise. Perhaps they were young birds competing for future nest sites. A fourth great-spotted woodpecker was seen to fly north and started to drum on a distant oak trunk. They calmed down but suddenly there was more noise, this time from herring gulls.

Five were mobbing a carrion crow, which was carrying food, a school lunch sandwich. The crow threw off the  mobsters and proceeded to eat the lunch whilst perched on an oak branch. 

On the 22nd, about 25 redwing were seen flying south along the river course and about 10 fieldfare  were seen flying low over trees, six collared doves were flying around in a group and a green woodpecker was calling from the wild field area.

Some of these crab apples remain to be eaten by blackbirds

which seem to prefer them long after the leaves have fallen.