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.
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