A Chill in the Air

 Sunday 30th August 2020 was clear after a chilly night the North West wind this morning did not seem to affect wildlife. With most trees and shrubs still in full leaf, the many meanders in the river provided shelter and plenty of muddy basking locations in the sun. Clouds scudded rapidly across allowing the sun to warm the landscape.  Grass had greened up completely after having become dry and brown and boughs on the old oaks were heavy with acorns, most still green. The oak tree leaves had been visible affected by the extreme heat and strong winds but remained green but with curled surfaces:

Green Acorns cascade from an oak bough low over the river bank.

Field Maples held bunches of winged seeds ready to spiral down onto the river banks. Fruit trees too remained very green, indicating that there was still plenty of water under the hard dry clay surface

There was a feeling of freshness after months of 'tropical' heat and humidity. The river was running clear and higher than usual but still leaving plenty of muddy islands in places, where birds were bathing and catching insect prey. Most juvenile birds will still prefer insects to seeds - even 'seed-eaters' such as finches at this stage.

Here is a full survey:

Robins (18)  had started their autumnal 'chinking' - one of the first sounds of autumn, rapidly devouring the very last of the Elderberries.  Two dunnocks were lurking in deep shade on the river bank with 3 wrens only - none singing - we know they are present but are still not establishing new territory yet.  

Alarm calls indicated the presence of blackbirds (9) still mostly hiding in moult or bathing and preening whilst there were only glimpses of two song thrushes low under a hedge. 

   Blue ts (about 30) were foraging in various locations with great ts (18) and long tailed ts (3) - but see later.. also searching the bare stems for Elderberries but swiftly moving on. Woodpigeons (33) were lazily calling or dozing on the tops of Field Maples. Only one herring gull was seen and no raptors - perhaps it was too windy. There were however five carrion crows, five noisy rooks and then a flock of about 15 in the air, heading silently north-west. Two jays were calling from the area where a pair had nested in the spring. No need to fly very far this year as there are carpets of acorns already for them to start caching although they will have to wait as the ground is far too dry at present. Seven Magpies were seen, mostly calling from tree canopies.

Nuthatches were quite numerous, with this years young still amongst the trees, calling or objecting to my presence (total 8). One was foraging, treecreeper-like on the bark of an old oak, climbing upwards (who said that they only creep head down?) They forage in any direction and are quite acrobatic. They are also extremely observant and notice any movement, objecting to anything approaching, whilst treecreepers are usually too preoccupied.

Migrant warblers were still very visible with 11 chiffchaff, several giving contact calls but one giving the typical chiff-chaff song and 14 blackcaps, some juvenile. Two had discovered an Elderberry bush with berries, hidden away amongst willows. There may be a few of these warblers which will decide to overwinter here. Given the abundance of fruits and berries here they may do well.

Abundant fruits for birds and small mammals - sustenance for the winter

It was good to see three goldcrests moving fast along very slim branches of a Field Maple, again well away from their conifers. Finches were numerous today, (except greenfinch and chaffinch which were not seen) - with about 40 goldfinches in several groups, some in the air whilst others flew down into the long grasses, now full of seed, then suddenly a large close group of linnets appeared over the expanse of long grasses in the distance, a few more goldfinches amongst them. It was excellent to see about 80 at least, where they have always been seen in the past! They all dropped down onto the grasses then all flew up again, circled around and dropped down again, repeating this many times. They had certainly found a fine location to feed  - the wild grasses and wild flowers all a fine source of dry seed.

House Sparrows, always present in good numbers, were seen in many locations - in hedgerows, verges and bramble banks - feasting on ripe blackberries as well as seeds. (about 80 in total) They have thrived during this hot summer, rearing more broods that usual. Another bird doing well this year is the sparrow hawk - one was seen today in the air - flying purposefully into the wind.

But there was more to come!

Returning over a footbridge with a view of the river banks either side, a 'roving' flock of blue ts, great ts, and long-tailed ts suddenly appeared upstream, through the trees, all heading in the same direction, downstream, not really roving or roaming - not slowing to feed amongst the leaves but all moving quite fast . Amongst them there was an odd bird out, going the wrong way, slightly confused, it avoided them and waited, clinging to a dead branch, then flew out a short distance, caught a an insect, dropped it, caught it again and flew back to its perch. After the 'flock' had gone it resumed its activities, fly-catching. It remained in the same tree with some dead branches, giving a very good close-up view. Definitely a spotted flycatcher! More than 70 birds in the flock had flown past it but it stayed put and continued flycatching long after they had disappeared.

Butterflies and dragonflies were keeping out of the wind in sheltered spaces: A Banded Demoiselle damselfly male was flying close to the surface over the river whilst four Southern Hawkers were ranging low over grasses and banks with one Brown Hawker dragonfly and a Common Darter seen. Large White, Small White  Speckled Woods,  Gatekeeper and Red Admiral butterflies were seen ranging the bramble banks. Fleabane, thistles and Brambles were the main attraction for most of the butterflies.