This summary of July to December 2019 - as for the summary of the first half does not include the full wildlife report usually for one single day per month. These can be found in the Archive section in the right hand column. This summary for 2019 contains wildlife not present every day.
JULY 2019 - A month where vegetation along the river remained green and tall, a marked difference from the previous year - 2018 when the lack of rain had a severe effect on growth over the second half of the year, vegetation dried up and died back before producing flowers and seeds for the autumn. Rainfall in 2019 was slight but enough to keep the rivers running continuously - there was no lack of damselflies and butterflies although dragonflies associated with ponds were scarce.
Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies were still present, together with Banded Demoiselle damselflies in cooler meanders of the rivers and groups of Swan Mussels were seen on the river bed as the water was running clear and shallow.
A red kite was occasionally seen sailing over the river whilst song thrushes and warblers were still singing early in the month. Families of blackcaps, chiffchaffs and whitethroats were seen and a lesser whitethroat heard calling. On damp days song thrushes were seen whacking snails on the path and blackbirds were seeking out foraging areas in shady dense undergrowth, together with wrens some still feeding young. In the dry areas small mammals could be detected amongst the dry grasses, pulling down seed heads. It was naturally good for thistles this summer - abundant thistle flower growth meant of course an abundance of butterflies. Meadow Brown butterflies, Ringlets, Large and Small Skippers, Red Admirals, Commas and Holly Blues, Speckled Woods and Large Whites were present throughout the month. By the 14th Fleabane was flowering, attracting more insects and the first sign of Hazel nuts being pulled from branches was noted. These were still green - they are seldom left to ripen on the trees. By the 21st Gatekeeper Butterflies were appearing in the warm grasses on the banks. Goldfinches were now singing again in groups, with loudly singing blackbirds, song thrushes and robins. Nuthatches and great-spotted woodpeckers were calling again. Groups of starlings were more easily seen and heard now.
It is worth noting that on 22nd in the Town Centre, about 20 swifts were seen feeding on aerial insects under the low cloud and House Martins were still on nests in the old facades of some buildings.
AUGUST 2019 - on 1st, Emerald Damselflies, male and females (Lestes sponsa) were seen low over a sheltered unmoving shallow stretch of water. This month saw a change along the rivers with huge numbers of bees and Gatekeeper butterflies thronging the Thistles, creeping and otherwise…and field grasses. Small Copper and Meadow Browns on the embankment, with Gatekeepers and Large Whites on the different varieties of flowering Brambles on the river banks. On 13th, butterflies seen on the field grasses were Common Blues chasing, Small Blues flying fast, Brown Argus and Small Heath. Guelder Rose berries were ripening.
Brown Hawkers and a Southern Hawker were seen on the damp but drying ponds whilst thousands of other insects - bees, hover flies and other flies were on the thistle, knapweed, and common hogweed flower heads - and other wild plants, all perfect pollinators. Chiffchaffs were singing. On 20th Banded Demoiselles and a White-legged Damselfly were seen over the river bank with Speckled Wood and Gatekeeper butterflies nearby and much higher up, amongst the canopy of an old Ash tree, Brown Hairstreak Butterflies (males) were seen moving around.
On 21st very fresh Small Tortoiseshell butterflies and Gatekeepers were seen. It remained very hot and dry towards the end of the month.
SEPTEMBER 2019 - Gradual changes now - the approach of autumn this year is very slow. A fairly large crowd of starlings occupied their usual day roost amongst ivy, singing and whistling and a few black-headed gulls appeared. Butterflies remained numerous with Red Admiral, basking Comma and Large Whites over the bramble. A Southern Hawker dragonfly patrolled the same sheltered area. Blackcaps shared thicket with goldfinches. On 4th a Brown Hairstreak female was seen flying very short distances on a hedge with Blackthorn to lay single eggs and investigate young Ash saplings.
It was close enough to see well.
Hawthorn berries had all been plundered but other berries and fruits remained to attract calling chiffchaffs and singing blackcaps. On 8th, a quiet windless day, several Southern Hawkers were patrolling with two Brown Hawkers and a Migrant Hawker along the banks. In the evening a bat survey was done, the results being good with large numbers of Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle especially along the tree-lined river banks amongst the old oaks. There were more than usual but this may have been due to good timing of their emergence from their roosts, some leaving old oaks at an old pond, flying down their 'bat flyway' to forage along the river which held a good variety of insects over the water. This timing can vary depending on weather and light conditions. The rivers provide very good habitat for Moorhen to breed and forage and were also seen this evening.
House sparrows did well this summer most raising several broods, increasing the size and probably the number of colonies present here, judging by their song. It's called 'Social Singing'. Chiffchaffs were still present. On 18th ecologists came to survey the old oaks for the presence of bats. They were working in one oak where a great-spotted woodpecker challenged them with loud calls. It flew away but returned immediately to continue to object to their presence. They left and calm resumed. On 23rd a kestrel was seen hunting the riverside and a sparrowhawk flew across. Another Southern Hawker was seen patrolling. Low cloud and rain brought barn swallows and house martins out over the river to hunt insects on 24th. Dense Ivy clumps gave shelter to other birds.
OCTOBER 2019 - Butterflies were still present, with Small Copper early in the month and Speckled Woods over the brambles on 30th. Berries fruits and acorns were plentiful now with jays collecting acorns a common sight. Spindle berries, Rosa canina hips, Hawthorn berries, Ivy berries and Sloes, the fruit of the Blackthorn, remained to be plucked, with male and female Bullfinches hiding in the background. Starlings started to gather in large groups and Meadow Pipits made their usual autumn visit accompanied by Pied Wagtails. Buzzards were seen on some days with a group of three calling loudly, gliding, circling together, looking down without being mobbed by crows on 16th. Large family groups of long-tailed tits (up to 20), a few goldcrests and groups of goldfinches frequented the tree canopies, with robins, song thrushes, dunnocks and blackbirds foraging below amongst spider's webs.
The first frosts occurred towards the end of the month and the first fieldfares were seen way down south over the Arun at Pulborough.
NOVEMBER 2019 - a great-spotted woodpecker was seen checking tree holes and on 5th a huge 'roaming flock' of the usual woodland birds was seen following each other and foraging rather than together in a single group - across the bridge, from oak to oak, to field maple to ash to blackthorn and hawthorn. Pied wagtails were foraging together on rooftops.
On 24th, the first winter song of the song thrush was a welcome sound, two birds one each side of the river. From then on, the rain came and the song thrushes sang. The river levels rose and all was right in this part of the land.
DECEMBER 2019 - The rain continued and the river levels were restored to their seasonal status. A large and very noisy flock of Jackdaws flew over heading west on 13th and song thrushes continued to sing loudly. More meadow pipits and pied wagtails, calling, moved across and blackbirds and song thrushes thronged the Guelder Rose plants plucking the fruits, quite unconcerned with the increasing river levels, on 20th, singing increased too. By the 21st water levels were dropping again and the robins and thrushes sang on, content that foraging would be easy for many days to come. Pied wagtails remained on the rooftops with long-tailed tits in the tree canopy. Song thrushes continued to sing loudly and the green woodpecker called. On 27th two goldcrests were seen foraging along a hedge, song thrushes still singing, buzzards seen gliding, wood pigeons collared doves and redwing foraging in the Ivy for ripe berries, dunnocks on the fence and goldfinches on the seed heads of long grasses and dock.
High atmospheric pressure moved in for the last four days of the year.
It was close enough to see well.
Hawthorn berries had all been plundered but other berries and fruits remained to attract calling chiffchaffs and singing blackcaps. On 8th, a quiet windless day, several Southern Hawkers were patrolling with two Brown Hawkers and a Migrant Hawker along the banks. In the evening a bat survey was done, the results being good with large numbers of Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle especially along the tree-lined river banks amongst the old oaks. There were more than usual but this may have been due to good timing of their emergence from their roosts, some leaving old oaks at an old pond, flying down their 'bat flyway' to forage along the river which held a good variety of insects over the water. This timing can vary depending on weather and light conditions. The rivers provide very good habitat for Moorhen to breed and forage and were also seen this evening.
House sparrows did well this summer most raising several broods, increasing the size and probably the number of colonies present here, judging by their song. It's called 'Social Singing'. Chiffchaffs were still present. On 18th ecologists came to survey the old oaks for the presence of bats. They were working in one oak where a great-spotted woodpecker challenged them with loud calls. It flew away but returned immediately to continue to object to their presence. They left and calm resumed. On 23rd a kestrel was seen hunting the riverside and a sparrowhawk flew across. Another Southern Hawker was seen patrolling. Low cloud and rain brought barn swallows and house martins out over the river to hunt insects on 24th. Dense Ivy clumps gave shelter to other birds.
OCTOBER 2019 - Butterflies were still present, with Small Copper early in the month and Speckled Woods over the brambles on 30th. Berries fruits and acorns were plentiful now with jays collecting acorns a common sight. Spindle berries, Rosa canina hips, Hawthorn berries, Ivy berries and Sloes, the fruit of the Blackthorn, remained to be plucked, with male and female Bullfinches hiding in the background. Starlings started to gather in large groups and Meadow Pipits made their usual autumn visit accompanied by Pied Wagtails. Buzzards were seen on some days with a group of three calling loudly, gliding, circling together, looking down without being mobbed by crows on 16th. Large family groups of long-tailed tits (up to 20), a few goldcrests and groups of goldfinches frequented the tree canopies, with robins, song thrushes, dunnocks and blackbirds foraging below amongst spider's webs.
The first frosts occurred towards the end of the month and the first fieldfares were seen way down south over the Arun at Pulborough.
NOVEMBER 2019 - a great-spotted woodpecker was seen checking tree holes and on 5th a huge 'roaming flock' of the usual woodland birds was seen following each other and foraging rather than together in a single group - across the bridge, from oak to oak, to field maple to ash to blackthorn and hawthorn. Pied wagtails were foraging together on rooftops.
On 24th, the first winter song of the song thrush was a welcome sound, two birds one each side of the river. From then on, the rain came and the song thrushes sang. The river levels rose and all was right in this part of the land.
DECEMBER 2019 - The rain continued and the river levels were restored to their seasonal status. A large and very noisy flock of Jackdaws flew over heading west on 13th and song thrushes continued to sing loudly. More meadow pipits and pied wagtails, calling, moved across and blackbirds and song thrushes thronged the Guelder Rose plants plucking the fruits, quite unconcerned with the increasing river levels, on 20th, singing increased too. By the 21st water levels were dropping again and the robins and thrushes sang on, content that foraging would be easy for many days to come. Pied wagtails remained on the rooftops with long-tailed tits in the tree canopy. Song thrushes continued to sing loudly and the green woodpecker called. On 27th two goldcrests were seen foraging along a hedge, song thrushes still singing, buzzards seen gliding, wood pigeons collared doves and redwing foraging in the Ivy for ripe berries, dunnocks on the fence and goldfinches on the seed heads of long grasses and dock.
High atmospheric pressure moved in for the last four days of the year.
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