Nesting in February

Is the continuing spell of warm and even hot weather fooling birds?

A survey for February was made on 26th February when the winter 'summer' was at it's height.

The long run of warm fine weather had changed some aspects of the riverside but the general appearance  was of winter - apart from the presence of Willow catkins. If one relied on sound only it was a different matter - listening - it was most definitely spring! As usual, the morning started cold - but today no sign of frost. It was quiet and remained quiet as there was no wind allowing birdsong to carry far, loud and clear. The river was running quite fast but not high and the sun became very warm.
Song thrushes  (10) dominated the chorus although a few were busy foraging silently on the grass.
Hedgerows and thickets were long since bare of berries and fruits but there were signs of foraging birds on the Alders:

During the winter the Alder tree keeps female cones from the previous year but male catkins (the long ones seen here) grow fast during February. Today there were plenty of cones lying under the tree, indicating action by hungry birds, perhaps linnets or goldfinches.

Alders are quite common here along the river as they do well near rivers on damp or boggy ground.

Blackbirds (18) were mostly foraging on the soft grass and running in and out of the under storey and hedges. There is still plenty of Ivy here but most of the berries have now been eaten. Work on Ivy severing has been carried out on some trees where the ivy was climbing high.

Large numbers of house sparrows (more than 80) were singing in various colonies in hedges, thickets and brambles, with some bathing in the river shallows, flying up to dry off quickly today in the hot sun

on the banks. Given that last years young developed in ideal conditions in the hot dry summer, they should increase in numbers this year as are large enough and strong enough now to withstand any bad weather in the late winter. Robins were numerous too, (24) with most singing strongly now, easily visible amongst the very bare branches and wrens (19) could be heard all along the banks, visible and bold, the males engaged in searching out the best places to start multiple nest-building. The traditional lurking habits of the dunnock (8) were abandoned this month - they could be seen and heard singing loudly, surveying the bare banks and roots. Higher in the trees chaffinches (4) could be heard calling and seen flying across, but again no sign of greenfinches although one was heard briefly. Groups of goldfinches (about 25) were located, singing in dense thickets here and there, and 3 goldcrests were seen - back in the conifers searching for good nest sites amongst the outer branches of the dense new growth of pine needles. They have in past months been seen foraging in deciduous trees - but choose conifers for nesting. They tolerate the huge woodpigeons which often choose the same trees in which to nest. Their considerable weight means that nests have to be built close to the main trunk of the tree, well away from goldfinch nests on the outermost branches. About 30 wood pigeons were seen today, some calling but most feeding on the ground, a favourite place being under an old oak on the river bank. Perhaps they are finding old acorns under the leaf litter? Six magpies were seen in various locations - but no fights with squirrels or jays today. Carrion crows, (10) one cleaning its very muddy beak on an Ash branch, were heard and seen resting in the trees and only 3 jackdaws were seen flying across the woods. A quick check of the playing field revealed 4 black-headed gulls with summer plumage not very advanced but two fine mistle thrushes were with them, foraging together (probably a pair), unconcerned by nearby ongoing construction activities.

Only 3 starlings were seen and heard today, in their day roost. The rest of the flock was probably out on a farm field somewhere.

Reed Mace seed heads - excellent nesting material.

This clump, situated at the drain of a drainage basin is perfect, the reeds helping to filter the surface water in the basin at the same time providing shelter for small birds and amphibians.

Blue tits  (64) and great tits (21) were foraging along the the Willows on the river and other thickets. They were seen again foraging on Willow catkins as well as on small insects which were emerging from the bank vegetation in the heat.  The willows with catkins were again buzzing with various bees, some small species and a few bumblebees. Buckthorn was attracting bees too. Two groups of long-tailed tits were seen (total 9), some foraging through an old oak and moving fast onwards to other trees- and a group of 4, flycatcher-like, catching insects caught in spiders webs on the bridge railings, and spiders themselves. The railings form a very efficient insect-foraging area. (see a previous post). Above me a treecreeper was making its way around the branch of an oak whilst nearby frogs could be heard calling. One of the ponds had frogspawn under the surface covered by a very thin layer of melting ice. This pond was in the shade but frogs were very active in a smaller pond, in the sun.

Nuthatches (7) were calling loudly in the oaks in places along the banks, with nest preparation well advanced whilst below on the river, on a sheltered meander, three male and two female mallard were paddling unseen under the steep banks until they rounded the bend. Suddenly a brilliant white, LITTLE  EGRET  flew up from the river just past the mallard and headed off along the trees towards the ponds and resident amphibians.

A male Brimstone butterfly was ranging along the bank vegetation - the third Brimstone seen so far this year.

As the day warmed up and thermals increased,  three buzzards were seen - two circling leisurely over the river and one seen flying with a herring gull in close pursuit.

Fifteen Degrees - Wrens and Bees

February daytime temperatures were steadily rising - each day a degree or two (Centigrade) warmer. The 22nd February was filled with the sound of birds singing, with Willow catkins suddenly appearing and many other trees in bud. The sound of bumblebees buzzing added to the impression of spring. Some bees were low amongst the grasses whilst others thronged the Willows where the Catkins were most advanced. These trees held the largest variety of bee-types.

Yes, the sky was really blue and the catkins were opening as the bees watched, too fast moving to photograph here.

Elsewhere, six song thrushes were foraging or singing with those foraging on the grass accompanied by seven blackbirds. Many wrens were singing loudly from high perches whilst others, quite easily seen, were very active amongst the debris on the river banks, mostly made up of dry stalks, twigs and grasses washed down by the high water. Several long-tailed tits were chasing each other high in the branches whilst goldcrests were moving fast in deciduous trees below. They never seem to perch to rest or survey. A group of goldfinches flew across calling and blue and great tits were singing, whilst others were collecting nest material. A chaffinch called whilst many individual robins each tried to ousting it's neighbour. Dunnocks could not compete!

House sparrows were sitting in the sun in groups or investigating inside bramble clumps.

Jackdaws and carrion crows called in flight, with a few Herring gulls circling high. Five black-headed gulls took off from the grass leaving one showing well advance summer plumage.

So far only Brimstone butterflies had been seen but on 23rd a Red Admiral was seen flying low.

This is not so uncommon on the odd warm sunny day in winter but today it was 15 degs. C.

Winter, Spring, Summer all in a few days

Winter weather began to change in the 2nd week in February, with heavy rain causing the river to overflow it's banks. Nothing unusual at any time of the year - it went unnoticed by most as it happened during the night, just leaving some pools of water on the riverside. Looking carefully, one could trace the rush and force of the water by the river bank grasses and dry stalks, all flattened down where the water flowed back into the river.

The banks now looking very bare apart for bramble leaves.

Each day seemed to be warmer than the previous day, the river level dropping, revealing scoured vertical banks. By mid February it felt like April or even May. On 15th school children went on strike to teach their teachers and parents about Climate Change, with appropriate weather!

On the same day, I saw the first Brimstone butterfly ranging quite fast along the hedgerows and another two days later. On 16th Song thrushes were singing loudly, small flocks of starlings were seen and a grey heron flying along the river course, on it's way to hunt for frogs. Nuthatches were calling from trees occupied by numerous long-tailed tits and others.

A green carpet of Wild Garlic bursting through the dense leaf-litter. It will be a while before the leaves grow large and flowers appear.

February - a Frosty Start

February 2019 started with a forecast for snow. On the 1st there was a very thin layer early in the morning on cold surfaces and a very cold wind, but rain came later with the temperature rising to 3 degrees C. then a few minutes of snow fell in the evening.

What happened between then and now is scarcely believable!

A cold sky

So far the winter had been quite normal although trees were late to lose their leaves, when it did happen the landscape suddenly became very bleak. This view however was by no means a dreary aspect as a group of long-tailed tits were easily visible following each other in circles around the canopy branches, foraging, mingling with other small birds.

Ivy provided shelter and sustenance all along the riverside on a lower level:

There were still plenty of Ivy berries in places and the evergreen leaves were providing shelter still with  birds moving amongst the thickest tangles of stems harbouring food in the form of insects amongst them.

Ivy can be encouraged to grow in dense clumps over old logs,  fallen branches and fences and with it will come a large diversity of wildlife.

It was sunny all day on 3rd February after a cold start, with good views of male bullfinch at a Blackthorn hedge and good numbers of song thrushes and blackbirds along the riverside accompanied by robins, dunnocks, wrens, wood pigeons , two jays, a carrion crow, with numerous Blue, great and long-tailed tits. House sparrows occupied the hedges and called from the bramble patches. The two black-headed gulls were commanding the playing field as usual and a grey heron was heading for the long pond near the river.