Seizing the chance for a survey on 15th December 2020 -just in case the world became even more busy towards the end of 2020 - was just as well. The sun was out after early rain and cloud. The sky was alternately overcast and bright blue with no wind, not cold but fortunately for wildlife, very muddy on the banks.
Young Oaks and Hornbeam retained their brown leaves providing very good shelter for birds and small mammals. Muddy puddles in front of hedges made for good foraging and birdsong was everywhere. The river was fast flowing, high and quite muddy, less than one meter from water out of bank.. the last occurrence being exactly one month ago.
The northernmost Crab Apple tree was still full of bright red fruits, remaining too hard and bitter even for the strong-beaked blackbirds. Hazel catkins were still small, with Alder catkins more advanced. Bramble leaves were yellowing but the lack of frost meant most leaves had not yet fallen. Dog Rose hips were as yet untouched by birds which leave them until the bitter end of winter.
Winter on the river bank with plenty of shelter for wildlife in the dense undergrowth
Thickets, hedges, bramble banks and bracken clumps provided numerous house sparrow colonies with shelter today (total of about 80 birds). These were the most numerous birds as usual but the good news was that there were at least 33 robins along the banks, most singing loudly. Blue ts were also very numerous and active amongst the branches with some foraging on Dock seeds amongst the grasses (63) together with 20 great ts, with just a few calling, in smaller groups. Seven Long-tailed ts, one group of five in a small Maple tree and two flying across were seen. Two coal ts, always more elusive, were seen at the southernmost end of the hedgerow and three goldcrests were seen fast-foraging in a deciduous tree, a sapling , close up, as I was sheltering from a rain shower. Wrens (7) were now more easily found as were starting to give small calls and songs after their autumn silence. Their full numbers won't be known until later when singing from their chosen territories. Dunnocks (3) are always a surprise as they sneak out of cover onto paths then disappear again in a second. As with wrens their song usually gives them away when under cover. Another small elusive bird, a treecreeper, known to be present, was seen on the trunk of an old oak collecting insects from the bark.
Apart from the house sparrows, the only other finches seen were goldfinches (12) clustered in a small thicket, singing quietly. As they usually keep together there's no need for loud song.
Higher in the trees, mostly static but observing all the while, were the wood pigeons (53) single or in small groups - large flocks are very seldom seen here. If they appear to be dozing on a branch, then all's well - but the slightest twitch or head movement signals to other birds to watch out for predators. Carrion crows can be noisy but not without reason. There are just a few resident birds here (7 today). Starlings have a small roost amongst ivy and eight were seen but more remained unseen. Quiet magpies (6) and a pair of silent jays were easily seen in the bare branches.
Good numbers of winter migrant blackbirds have appeared here this winter adding to our resident blackbirds (21) but it's often difficult to tell who's who. Only one fieldfare was seen in a hedge, perhaps left behind by the rest heading west, and five redwing all feeding on the Blackthorn thickets. Two song thrushes preferred to forage on the grass. In the old oak above was a nuthatch calling persistently - they are very territorial at this time of the year and remain as resident birds all year and longer once established. The year's juveniles did very well resulting in some loud altercations over the available territories. Three more nuthatches were present in various locations.(total 4) . The remaining young have probably left to find territories with old trees further away. Also in territorial competition with the nuthatches were the green woodpeckers (1) and and great-spotted woodpeckers (2).
Gulls were active, with 30 Herring gulls circling around the school and four black headed gulls investigating the field which they sometimes occupy as a flock over the whole winter.
Lastly one low-flying sparrowhawk and one kestrel were present over the river course.
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