Survey for 26th November 2020 - winter is here

The 26th November was another dark and cloudy day but slowly brightening. We can now see how important hedges are for wildlife. A thin, closely-cropped  decorative hedge with tidied and raked roots is not much use, providing no cover or sustenance for wildlife. A genuine old hedgerow would have been planted for a good reason, always strong and dense enough to prevent a rampaging bull or herd of stock from breaking through and escaping onto a neighbouring farm or disappearing down the lane. Wildlife would take full advantage of these old species-rich hedgerows which would always contain berry and fruit-bearing species and remain year on year. If you can see through a hedge in winter - it's not good enough.

Spindle fruits - an unusual clashing mix of colours - bright pink with bright orange seeds. This occurs in ancient woodlands and old species-rich hedgerows growing at random mixed in with other hedgerow plants.  It's unnoticed until the autumn when the fruits ripen. As with some other fruits birds can cope with the inedible seeds. It's one of the most favoured by robins which claim and guard  'their' bush.

Blackthorn is a good hedgerow example, with an unruly and generous habit sending out shoots in all directions from roots to the very top, swathed in blossom in early spring and bearing sloes in autumn in time to provide sustenance to flocks of winter migrants together with our resident thrushes. 

On 26th, after high water levels on 15th, the river was flowing well but had done no damage. A Blackthorn tree branch had spread itself across the river, an old branch covered with lichen and sloes, presenting no difficulty for most birds trying to reach the fruits. Overhead a typical winter sight, a small flock of pied wagtails flew over heading south whilst house sparrows (about 60) were active in small groups flying across and calling from hedges. Many were just visible under dense bramble picking at seed heads of uneaten blackberries and thistles. Good numbers of robins (26) were now singing loudly, several answering each other along the banks and Hazels. Four Dunnock were seen, two of them on a path and the others into a hedge. It was good to see increasing numbers of wrens now (15) , most visible flying low from undergrowth and banks and a few now singing.

Other small birds, blue ts  (27) and great ts (15) were calling and moving quickly from tree to tree and a single coal t was seen in a hedge. Of the finches, only a single chaffinch was present and again no greenfinches. About 20 goldfinches were active, five flying across in a group and about 15 singing from a thicket together. A bullfinch was heard calling for a second, on the opposite bank and a winter blackcap was present in a thicket nearby. Three goldcrests were seen moving fast amongst the needles of pines further south.

Loud calls came from a great-spotted woodpecker which gave good views perched on a branch directly above whilst eating an unknown item. There were very good views too of a treecreeper creeping up branches of a bare tree. It soon moved aside onto an oak, a far more interesting tree. As usual, nuthatches were present (4), one calling from a maple and the others in various oaks along the river. They seemed to know each other and were probably related.

  Blackbirds,( 41), their numbers augmented by visiting birds from Eastern and Northern Europe, were perched on the Blackthorn or foraging in the dense undergrowth, the migrants probably recognised by their heavier build. Two fieldfare, definitely migrants, were also seen amongst them. Later they were joined by a few redwing (9) also definitely winter migrants, reaching out to grasp and eat sloes as they made their way along the hedges. Song thrushes (5) were more elusive, foraging low, darting into undergrowth and brambles - one gave a very short song from a branch.

Looking up, several carrion crows (13) were scattered in various trees, three in an old oak calling loudly, whilst others selected similarly high lookout perches. The loudest were the jays (5) again appearing very aggressive and unusually visible.   14 herring gulls and only two starlings were seen flying across the river together and  6 magpies flew into trees, strangely silent. A single jackdaw flew across the woods.

The most memorable bird today was a sparrow hawk which suddenly flew out of a thicket across to a tall hedge. It made a level dash into  the  branches and set up many birds including at least 30 wood pigeons which all flew up together whist the smaller birds scattered in all directions. All along the riverside there were about 65 wood pigeons in various places. 

The sparrow hawk was unsuccessful and the birds settled again after a while but then were all set up again by a police helicopter which arrived to hover over the bridge area, circle for some time then disappear. For the second time the birds returned and settled once more. After this the sparrow hawk was seen again (or could have been a second one) this time perched in a tall tree not far away.

November summary - the first frosts and high river water levels

Octobers rain and wind continued into November but with mild temperatures. Wind had caused some minor damage but mostly served to clear leaves from the trees.  Robins were singing strongly on 3rd, with active, silent blackbirds and a few fieldfare seen along the river bank blackthorn thickets. They always appear to be awkward and unaccustomed to foraging amongst the thorns at first. Blue ts, great ts, wrens, house sparrows and dunnocks were present too.

The first frosty morning occurred on 4th but frost quickly disappeared in the sun. A  common buzzard was seen after thermals developed in the afternoon, casually circling whilst being harassed by two carrion crows - it didn't bother to fly away. Robins were again quite numerous as were house sparrows and starlings. The usual dunnocks were visible too. 

Thursday 5th November started under dense fog and mist - with a slight frost. The mist remained for most of the morning. More dunnocks were foraging on the path, robins, carrion crows, herring gulls, blue ts and great ts, blackbirds and nuthatches were present as the mist cleared. It was good to see that new planting, including Hornbeam was being carried out along the new bridge access road. If allowed to grow dense enough it will be used as shelter by small birds as is the existing hawthorn hedge.

By the 9th, more Hornbeam had been planted and the weather had become warmer. Carrion crows, were calling loudly but could not match the local jays. Quiet calls were from a bullfinch - with house sparrows, dunnock, blackbird, many robins, two fieldfare all present, and a green woodpecker was heard calling.

A young mixed hedgerow growing well and now forms habitat for blackbirds and song thrushes, together with small mammals. 

Wednesday 11th was warm but very dark with thick cloud but robins were singing well with good numbers of blue ts, great ts and a family group of long-tailed ts flying across a gap in the trees. A nuthatch called from an old oak. Suddenly a small raptor appeared, flying very fast over the bridge then made a rapid turn out of sight as a group of finches, probably goldfinches flew over. Was this the same raptor seen before - again too small to be a sparrowhawk, It had a greyish back and slim wings which it closed as it  twisted and disappeared fast - merlin? It is possible that it had taken the opportunity to follow its prey down to the river from the fields near the railway line, where an area has been levelled and sown, eventually intended to become playing fields....The birds it hunts will feed in fields elsewhere and it will follow them quickly.

Sunday 15th was memorably for the speed at which the water rose in the river after a very wet and windy couple of days. By Sunday afternoon water was out of bank in places on the riverside  - a normal occurrence here - after all, the whole riverside is formed by the ancient river bed which was split into different channels and streams over the years. By Monday 16th the river level was down again.

There was overnight frost again on Friday 20th but the day warmed up quickly with foraging birds out in force - notably three or more redwing, many blue ts, great ts, blackbirds calling nuthatches (3) carrion crows, wood pigeons, herring gulls, house sparrows and robins all very active. The same birds were seen on 24th when it had become warmer with dunnock, herring gulls harassing a grey heron flying with prey then four redwing along the river thickets,  two songthrushes, one singing a short song, and a foraging goldcrest in an oak.

On 27th several small groups of goldfinches were seen flying quite fast but not being chased, and there were good views of nuthatches,

Our scheduled meet was held on Sunday 29th observing Lockdown 2 rules, each person working independently. Standing on the bridge I saw a little egret fly north across it just above the trees then land on an oak from where it had a good view down onto the clear river. Sitting very still it is hardly noticed despite its gleaming white feathers. Every winter two or three little egrets fly upstream from the coast as soon as it becomes cold and frosty, seeking warmer waters and sheltered perches to watch out for prey. The larger grey herons are with us all year as their traditional heronry is just upstream on the banks of open water. They are picked upon by herring gulls seeking an easy meal if they can grab the grey herons catch.

A full survey for  26th November is coming on the next post.

 

Survey at the end of October - dark skies , bright fruits

The 30th October 2020 was probably not the best of days to choose for a survey but was typical for this time of the year.

Very low light levels were expected but misty rain early on cleared somewhat and it became brighter but remained overcast. Healthy Ash leaves had been falling and formed a scattered bright carpet whilst Hazel and Hornbeam leaves were turning colour, most remaining on the trees. Under the oaks fallen acorns had ripened and crunched underfoot. The river was high and fast-flowing, the highest it has been since early this year, and water was visible in the ponds.

Crab apples added to the brilliant reds of Rose hips, the fruits of the many riverside Dog Rose plants, some growing incredibly high, an attraction for overflying birds. Spindle plants now suddenly became more visible with bright pink fruits appearing. Honeysuckle was still flowering on an old fence.

A dark sky fails to darken the riverside landscape here with shining red Guelder Rose berries. Note that the old oak in the background still retains its green leaves. October 30th 2020.

Nuthatches (3) were the first birds to be heard today, calling from the old Oaks, establishing territory.

Next were blackbirds (10), some foraging under a young bank side species-rich hedge. The blackbirds were just giving quiet contact calls rather than loud alarm calls until a magpie approached one.

House sparrows (76) were easily seen and heard, some singing in a hedge and about twenty active in a Blackthorn thicket. Further along there was a another colony at the other end of the long hedge, audible from quite a distance. 

 Goldfinches (7) were quietly singing in a low thicket unaware that a foe had just flown swiftly past, making a rapid change in direction, stooping directly down. The group flew up in a closed group, away from the trees. It was a raptor, too small and swift for a sparrow hawk. Later it was seen again, perched for a while on a tree with its back turned, looking over its shoulder - a Merlin?. It hasn't been seen since, having probably returned to fly low over the fields where there are flocks of small birds to chooses from.

Blue ts (11) and great ts (5) were seen in the trees, fewer than usual but perhaps this was due to the brief presence of the small raptor..as large roaming flocks of ts have been seen in the area on other days.

 A Jay was shrieking from an oak, its call by far the loudest, with another nearby answering back. As I walked under a large oak bough yet another Jay called out, and moved along the branch to give a good view of its very smart plumage.(total 3). Robins (23) were now singing in good form after a long summer. The dark grey skies are no problem for them, their large eyes being perfectly adapted to dark days and nights. Four dunnocks were seen, two in undergrowth and two exploring the footpath surface for insects. Most woodpigeons were out in the fields foraging but there were about 32 seen along the river, some dozing in the trees and the rest foraging groups on the damp grass.

A single magpie and a single herring gull were seen flying over whilst carrion crows(6) were calling from trees or foraging on a field.

Finally a song thrush was singing, just a short song at present.

and a large Bumblebee flew past - they are certainly still flying strongly.

These bright red Crab apples will last all through the 

winter as emergency sustenance for birds when most of the more palatable fruits have been eaten.