Monday 26th November 2018 was brighter than the previous day which had been very dull and cold with fine rain. The low sun appeared in a blue sky, highlighting the gold and coppery leaves of the Oaks, standing out against the other bare trees. The riverside was full of birdsong here in the Blackthorn thickets still full of sloes and oaks long bare of acorns. Standing in one spot and rotating, a good number of species could be heard and observed all at once. There was not much wind, just a breeze blowing leaves along the grass where sturdy migrant Blackbirds foraged. Blackbirds could be seen just about everywhere along the river, on the ground and in the thickets picking at sloes, some in the sun, preening or sunning, clumsily perched an twigs (33). The first singing song thrush of the winter was heard the day before and one was singing again today. Two were seen. Redwing have so far been more numerous than song thrushes or fieldfare, with six seen foraging in the Blackthorn or surveying the landscape from hedge tops. Four fieldfare were foraging along the back of the hedges but there may well have been more, well hidden from view across the bank.
Oak leaves on low branches in the setting sun on 26th November.
As usual in winter, the small local birds form groups ('roaming flocks'), finding safety in numbers. Today there were about 50 blue tits spread out in a disorganised flock, some chasing whilst others were seen on twigs prising the lichen off to access hidden insects. Great tits (38) joined up with them here and there. Long-tailed tits were very active, giving themselves away by contact-calling following each other amongst the willow tree tops (a total of 18 in three groups). Four coal tits flew into the tall hedge at intervals, probably caching seeds or nuts. On the periphery, goldcrests were fast-moving, collecting insects amongst the leaves still on the willows and oaks (5) nowhere near their summer breeding habitat of coniferous trees.
House sparrows have had a very good summer this year and large numbers are heard and seen on the river banks and hedgerows now. They never move very far off from their original colonies. Over 90 were around today in several colonies singing (calling, chatting) loudly. Goldfinches were numerous too (about 60) some singing softly, often in the company of house sparrows, filling dense thickets. Lately starlings (about 40 today) have moved in with them as well, to roost and whistle during the day when there is warmth from the sun. A bullfinch was hear calling from the back of another thicket on the river bank. A group of four linnets were seen flying across over the wild field. Many seeds remain to be foraged later. Bramble seeds on small seed heads are plentiful this autumn.
Robins were singing from perches all along the river (19), some very loud and close. During the week, noise from the development does not put them off. They usually stick to their chosen territories and are not distracted. The worst threats for the males are other males. Wrens too were singing (11) mostly from lower branches and roots. Dunnocks (8) seemed to be more numerous and vocal than usual, not so much singing but calling. A single treecreeper move fast up a sunlit tree trunk and disappeared, possibly disturbed by a jay flying upstream. A second jay was seen nearby - they are elusive during summer months - always present but much more easily seen in the bare trees.
Carrion Crows are always present but in small numbers. Today there were 12 mostly in ones and twos sitting in the old oaks and field maples. Magpies were more active (11) clumsily climbing around in similar trees, they prefer their own company however. Normally Jackdaws are seen flying across to and from the woods only in very small numbers but this autumn the numbers seen have increased dramatically and today 45 were seen most flying together calling, quite high, followed by smaller groups all at a similar altitude, all heading in the same westerly direction as if they were migrant birds from the east. None were landing or diverting from their route. More have been seen since.
Does their appearance mean they have been driven here by bad weather elsewhere? They don't seem to interact with other corvids here. Eight rooks were seen entering the wood but we don't have a rookery nearby. There were only two black-headed gulls on the playing field, nine herring gulls circling in the air further north, a collared dove pair in ivy and 24 woodpigeons in various places, most also amongst ivy, eating the ripe ivy berries.
A green woodpecker was heard calling from the north and another further south (2) and nuthatches (6) have been establishing their territories in several locations, calling out loudly to warn others away.
Two raptors were visible today - a kestrel flying across with the wind and a common buzzard circling.
The stars for this survey were winter visitors:
A beautiful view of a female blackcap in a small thicket where most of the fruits and berries had already been plucked by larger birds. They had however left the bright pink/red fruits of the Spindle hanging on fragile twigs over the river. The blackcap was plucking these, as a robin would. Another blackcap was higher up at the top of the thicket, clearly seen, These are probably winer migrants.
Last but not least, the largest bird seen today - a little egret was seen flying low along the course of the river, upstream brilliant white in the sun, legs and yellow feet trailing. It, or a second one, was later seen flying downstream. Looking across the river soon afterwards, I saw the little egret paddling carefully in the river on a bend where the water was still shallow, watching the water intently….
More on these later!
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