Survey 28th May 2020

After a dry and sunny day the 28th May was windy - from the east north east but very clear and bright. The riverbank was still in the shade and the grass damp. All along the banks here the Rosa canina was in flower, with spectacular flowers hanging in fronds caught up and supported by tall trees, part of an old species-rich hedgerow with Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Field Maple, Elder, Hazel, Bramble Holly and of course oaks.

Dog Rose - Rosa canina, climbing high

over the river.

The first birds seen and heard were Song thrushes one foraging on the damp ground and one singing from the tall hedge. (2). Robins were mostly still nesting but eleven were seen and most heard singing.The largest number of birds today were house sparrows, more than seventy, their colonies distributed within short flights from the river. Most were in thickets on the banks awaiting the sun when they would bathe and preen, this years juveniles with adults. Others were busy with second or third broods on the nest.

Blackbirds (23) were numerous too, the conditions have been perfect for them so far and their song carries far without the usual background sounds his year. They are the stars of the Dawn Chorus.

Fifteen goldfinches were present, many more were nesting but unobtrusive until the young fledge and join a group with adults. Many wrens were singing (26) along the banks but the real number would be much more than double with those nesting. They have chosen good sites in the undergrowth this year. Dunnocks are always elusive (7) but those seen were mostly singing, with 16 woodpigeons seen watching over the activities of the smaller birds in various places. A pair of collared doves were well hidden in the ivy.

Blue tits (30) had already found areas where the sun was warming up the river and several juveniles were in a group, dishevelled after bathing. Adults were seen collecting caterpillars from fresh oak leaves and darting around amongst the branches before disappearing into nest holes. 

Fourteen great tits were seen but very quiet, with only a juvenile calling from the undergrowth.

Long-tailed tits were heard - with only three visible following each other through the dense canopy.

A great-spotted woodpecker and a single nuthatch both gave short calls from the oaks whilst a single goldcrest flew across between the same trees.

A magpie gave an alarm call but did not cause panic. Two others were seen (3).  Five carrion crows were seen, two on the grass, with very glossy plumage and three more in the air. Later two jackdaws also flew across, but corvids were certainly few and quiet today. Only one herring gull was seen flying over - and two starlings.

A sparrowhawk enlivened the airspace several times, searching for the best site for an ambush, and a fine bright male grey wagtail flew low over my head and landed on a shady bend in the river whilst a female flew around their river bank nest (2).  

Lastly, the migrant warblers:

Nine blackcaps were seen, a pair foraging for food for young in the nest, not singing, whilst another seven foraged and sang in different locations along the banks, mostly in Willows. Three common whitethroats in various locations were busy amongst the nettles and brambles and six chiffchaffs were heard, also mostly in willows. Contact calls were also heard. A garden warbler was just visible singing, in the Blackthorn.

Honeysuckle with bee

28th May 2020

Damselflies were emerging in the sheltered parts of the rivers, with three Large Red Damselflies, twelve male Banded Demoiselle damselflies and five females around the nettles near the water, a single Azure Damselfly and two male Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies chasing and one female.

Butterflies seen were:

several Speckled Woods and three Orange Tips.

Mayflies, Ladybirds - seven spots - and many bees were ranging the banks and grasses.