May rushed through incredibly fast - with so much activity it was hard to keep up with wildlife.
On 20th a pair of buzzards were circling around each other directly overhead, a loudly calling carrion crow soon giving up the chase. After a warm night, the following day was clear, with no wind and birds were singing loudly. It was good to hear the usual blackcaps joined by a garden warbler and then a willow warbler - singing from a Willow. Robins, dunnock, wrens , wood pigeons, collared doves, great-spotted woodpecker(calling), house sparrows, chiffchaffs, goldfinches, blackbird and songthrushes were all singing too and there was a fine view of a grey wagtail in the sun on an 'island' on the river bed. In the same area on the bank there were Large White, Small White and Red Admiral butterflies and several damselflies: - female Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly male, and Large Red damselflies but the best was a White-legged damselfly Fi (immature female) on a fresh Nettle bank.
The 22nd was very windy - perhaps rain was on the way as a green woodpecker was busy on the bridge embankment where there are numerous ants nests. It took off in a flash of brilliant green towards the river then into an old tree where it gave a loud 'yaffle' - it's red plumaged head showing well, then made for the bridge. Known as the 'rain bird', hearing its loud call often heralds rain.
Sure enough the next day, 23rd, was overcast with short spells of sun. From 10.30 several thunderstorms moved over, one after the other, with lightning, heavy rain and hail. This was no deterrent to the birds. There were loudly singing blackcaps, blackbirds giving alarm calls and singing wrens and robins, then twelve swifts flew in directly over the river, catching insects trapped by the low cloud. There were some good views of an Azure Damselfly on a Hazel leaf taking advantage of a brief sunny spell:
Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) on a Hazel leaf on the river bank in the sun.
23rd May 2020
There were more Banded Demoiselle males on the river too.
There was a pile of Woodpigeon feathers on the path nearby - evidence of a sparrowhawk kill.
The following days were fair and warm but growth had been refreshed by the rain, with flowering Rosa Canina, Elderflower in bud, Clover, buttercups, higher river levels and yet more Banded demoiselle Damselflies ranging now across the nettle banks and grasses.
Elderflower in bud. 24th May 2020
On 25th May more swifts were seen again catching insects over the river course.
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