Searching for the Blue Sky

Here is a short summary of the whole year 2019 from notes taken on any day. Full survey records for one chosen day each month can be found in the archive list column on the right of the page.

2019 was a better year for wildlife in general here than 2018 when there was an unusual lack of rainfall

together with some very hot spells which dried up any moisture left in the ground. The young trees we had planted about three years before had to be watered every day or two over many weeks during the summer and at the beginning of 2019 the ground remained extremely dry.

Gradually however sustained rainfall with cloudy weather meant that the water table rose. It was remarkable that the riverside vegetation - grasses, scrub and trees quickly became green again and remained very green throughout the summer of 2019 despite some record-breaking high temperatures on odd days.  Shade created by the green vegetation prevented the ground surface from drying out and frequent showers sustained growth.  Wildlife thrived.

There have been a few days without dark clouds and endless 

misty rain. These are Hazel catkins which quickly appeared on the many young trees

planted here as soon as the sky cleared.

Note that the birds mentioned below accompany 'everyday' birds along the riverside which are almost always present. These include wrens, blue tits, great tits, house sparrows, woodpigeons, carrion crows, rooks, jackdaws, magpies, herring gulls and blackbirds, unless requiring a special mention.

Full Records and surveys always mention ALL bird species present on that day.

JANUARY 2019 - Little egrets were quite frequently seen following the river course downstream and grey herons were a common sight along the river, frequenting the ponds and drainage basins alongside. Blackbirds and song thrushes, some of the latter singing - a mixture of resident and winter migrant birds, were often seen foraging together with a few fieldfare and redwing on some days. Dunnocks were now singing. Long-tailed tits in family groups, bullfinches (usually single pairs) and mallards (also usually in single pairs) with chaffinch, blackcap, mistle thrush, goldcrest and sparrowhawk also present during the month.

FEBRUARY 2019 - the river overflowed its banks on 9th but soon dropped. Willow catkins began to appear. The first Brimstone butterfly was seen on 15th and a second on 17th. A Red Admiral was seen on 23rd. 

 Song thrushes, most singing loudly were present in larger numbers throughout the month.

Bullfinches, jays, dunnock, long-tailed tits, great spotted woodpecker, goldcrests, chaffinch and black-headed gulls were all present at times, in low numbers. February was notable in that there were many birds singing and Bumblebees were out looking for early sources of nectar and pollen.

MARCH 2019 - the river overflowed its banks on 4th but again the water level dropped soon. Two male mallard were seen paddling upstream and grey herons, now a common sight, were seen, usually heading towards the ponds. Song thrushes, some singing loudly were often present and blackbirds were heard singing for the first time this year. Two redwing were seen calling on 19th. Dunnock were singing on the same day with magpies seen feeding young in the nest. On 23rd chiffchaffs were seen and heard calling and a greenfinch was heard singing.  The first breeding blackcaps were seen in willows on 25th.  On 27th a buzzard was circling high . Several more Brimstone butterflies were present on 29th and as the heat steadily rose on 30th the first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen on clumps of Cuckooflower on the river bank. Seven chiffchaffs were calling nearby.

British Summertime on 31st was celebrated by the sound of two common whitethroats singing in the scrub with a buzzard circling above. Along the river bank five song thrushes were all singing.

APRIL 2019 - a typical Sussex April with numerous singing song thrushes, singing blackcaps, singing common whitethroats and singing chiffchaffs, softly calling bullfinches, occasional sightings of chasing coal tits and on 12th, first sightings of barn swallows overflying the river, catching insects. Buzzards were seen gliding over the river course on most days with grey herons seen , watching for amphibians, flying low along the river or perched on banks of ponds. They are probably from the heronry at Warham LNR where they breed early in the year. Mallard were seen paddling under the steep banks, with noisy altercations sometimes giving them away. Above them great spotted woodpeckers flew to and fro collecting food for their young in tree holes. Nuthatches however were elusive, protecting their young. A sparrowhawk was seen lurking, the new growth on the thickets making it easier to ambush birds. A kestrel was seen hovering above the hedges watching out for small mammals. Bullfinches were now finding it easy to hide once more in their favourite thickets. Other small birds were scarcely seen or heard as nesting took priority, These were the finches, goldcrests, robins, and dunnocks. However a kingfisher was seen whizzing low along the river banks.

By the second week in April, Blackthorn blossom was profuse, covering bare branches, with Hawthorn covering the river banks with fresh green foliage together with Cow Parsley- then Dandelions and daisies appeared towards the end of the month. Oaks were coming into leaf but Ash trees were not advanced. Bluebells, Cuckooflower, Garlic Mustard and Wild Garlic soon appeared under the trees canopy and amongst grasses. Fruit trees were all blossoming by mid April.

The first Holly Blue butterflies were seen, then Orange Tips on 18th. Speckled Woods were always present in more shady areas.

MAY 2019 - birdsong continued, now including blackbirds and goldfinches with garden warbler joining in. More grey heron were seen, some heard calling in flight. Red Admiral, Small White and Holly Blue butterflies were seen and common whitethroats were nesting and singing, together with garden warbler, blackcaps and chiffchaffs. Six swifts and several house martins were seen catching insects over the river, with two jays present in the foliage of old oaks (17th). Great tits were nesting amongst the backside nettles. On 18th more swifts were seen under low cloud during a light rain shower and two buzzards were circling together higher up.

Towards the end of the month a Large Red Damselfly was see, then a Scarce Chaser and the first Banded Demoiselle appeared with many more on 31st together with some Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies. Holly Blue butterflies were most numerous than usual and were seen with Green-veined White and Speckled Woods. 

JUNE 2019 - saw large numbers of fledged young and other birds still in the nest. Numerous groups of young starlings together with a few adults were now seen flying across the river. On 6th a Grizzled Skipper butterfly was seen on a warm and sheltered verge. Song thrush, blackcap and whitethroat were all singing and Great- spotted woodpecker was seen flying across to and from an old Ash tree. Dog roses and Elder were in flower. Swifts continued to be seen in the air over the river (8th) ad loud crows were seen chasing a buzzard. Five fledged juvenile nuthatches were seen in a close group in the oaks while Hazelnuts and Blackberries were forming in the hedgerows and thickets.

Peacock butterfies, Meadow Browns, Speckled Woods were all seen over the grasses. Common Blues were also seen on 30th.

See Next Blog for JULY to DECEMBER 2019…..

to be continued there.

The Mist of 2019 Clears, bringing signs of Spring

Here at last is the survey for Monday 30th December 2019
A lot more water having gone under the bridges since then.....
also a summary of the whole of 2019 will appear here soon.

It was a misty start but gradually clearing to a fine day. The ground was still very muddy after the high waters receded from where parts of the rivers Arun and Boldings Brook had spread over their banks.  Some small branches and twigs had been washed up and carpets of fallen autumn leaves had been shifted around but strongly rooted vegetation, shrubs and trees had prevented erosion of the river banks.

One of the old oaks on the riverbank standing strong and full of wildlife.

The low sun lit up fresh Hazel catkins, always a first sign of spring but there were still Hawthorn berries and Rosa canine rose hips still plentiful. Hornbeam, young oaks and most brambles still have leaves, now brown and wind worn but providing valuable shelter for small birds and mammals but as always, Ivy is the best sustainer  of life in a winter wilderness here.

Birdsong was continuous, increasing as the sun rose, with house sparrows in small groups moving to uppermost branches and twigs of bracken and bramble, about 130 in all along the river and probably many more well hidden. Robins (34) were mostly singing. Two were splashing in a pool in the sheltered trailing edge of a debris island - these 'islands' providing the only access to still water in the fast moving rivers. One robin flew over my head and 'plummeted' down into the bank vegetation. It has spotted a wren invading its territory. The high water levels have restricted the habitat of wrens recently but they soon re-establish their territories and ten were seen today but only one singing, the rest were silent or giving the occasional alarm call. Dunnocks seem to have been unaffected, as four were present. Only one chaffinch was seen and one greenfinch heard but 20 goldfinches were present in two groups in thickets, quietly singing.
A great-spotted woodpecker was seen giving loud calls in an old oak and another was heard drumming further north. Nearby another was calling in flight. (3). It was good to hear a green woodpecker calling across the river from a grassed area unaffected by water levels. More yaffling was heard later, probably from the same bird. Good news from the nuthatches as five were seen and heard calling loudly in their established territories in various locations along the river in the old oaks and an old ash.

Song thrushes had been singing for some time this winter, the first heard in late November and today there were 13, each singing in different places, some loudly. Ivy berries were a great attraction. Blackbirds, probably a mix of residents and migrants were all intent on foraging, mostly low on bank vegetation or previously inundated riverside grasses (26) - absolutely quiet. Only 6 fieldfare were seen amongst trees with ivy berries or on the grass - and only two redwing, also foraging. It was good to see a single mistle thrush on an oak, staring down at me not singing.
Carrion crows were very vocal, most in the trees but some in a small flock. Perhaps the mist had delayed their morning take-off to the fields (total 33). The same reason may apply for the numbers of wood pigeons seen here (45). Starlings were present (15) but most just whistling and singing in their Ivy-clad day roost. Scattered amongst the tree tops were about 9 magpies and numbers of collared doves seem to be increasing again now, with 10 seen, most in pairs. Jackdaw numbers have also slowly increased with 20 seen today, all heading purposefully west to distant fields and 7 rooks in the distance. A single jay flew out across the river and eleven herring gulls were seen in the air.
Lastly the small birds, more easily seen now that most trees are bare. Four goldcrests were seen two in a conifer and two in an oak some distance away, fast-foraging. All along the riverside blue tits were busy, more or less anywhere, not conforming to a flock, amounting to 130 with about 40 great tits, some now calling, moving in their own small groups. Long-tailed tits were also seen in small groups, at least ten and last but not least, three coal tits in the pines.