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.
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