Summer seemed to be approaching with even small changes very noticeable today 27th May, after a long winter-like spring. It was a fine clear morning with May blossom now visible everywhere, and some just going over to be replaced by adjacent trees coming into leaf in the full sun. There was no wind just a thin layer of high cloud and numerous pollinating insects. Cow Parsley was growing very fast now forming shelter for young birds newly fledged. Birdsong was echoing along the river which was flowing well after having been quite high after previous rain. Fresh new growth has rapidly displaced the Wild Garlic, with nettles springing up, promising good conditions for most butterflies. Buttercups were flowering everywhere too, attracting more pollinating insects, growing tall for easy access to red and white clovers this year. Bright green Oak leaves were unfurling in the sun and even a sapling, browsed by deer was casting out new shoots. Wild Honeysuckle was full of new shoots too.
Birdsong was loud and wild with no control over volume. The variety and mix of sounds and songs seems magnified this year - perhaps young birds last year learnt how to adjust their songs to the ambient sounds in those confusing times but their continuous song did not detract from what could be seen on the river below:
The first sighting of Damselflies and Dragonflies in a quiet sunlit part of the river where conditions were just right for their emergence. This will be covered in a separate post.
A male Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly perched on a Dock leaf in the midday sun, watching out for passing insects. They have dark translucent wings and an electric blue/green body.
Clinging to the edge of the Dock leaf - Just to get a better view.
The same Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly male showing the shadow
cast in full sun through the layers of wings.
There were good numbers of both Beautiful Demoiselles and Banded Demoiselle damselflies in this area
mostly low down above the water but some ranging further afield over the long grasses on the bank.
There were also Large Red Damselflies, usually the first to be seen in the spring. The surrounding land is almost as important as the aquatic environment for dragonflies. When Banded Demoiselle damselflies leave the river they can often be found some distance away. flying over the long grasses- but when the weather turns cloudy and it starts to rain they simply drop down under the shelter provided by vegetation, and re-emerge as soon as the sun appears, as do butterflies. A a sufficiently tall layer of mixed grasses and wild flowers is required.
Back to the birds present:
Over eighty very vocal house sparrows were seen in their usual hedges- and being a warm dry day dust bathing on several of the paths. Robins were less numerous (18) but nesting continues with first broods of young well fledged and assuming their adult plumage.Wrens (25) were especially vocal all along the river as usual, fortunately not affected by higher water levels after the rain. 5 Dunnock were seen, four singing, their numbers increasing slightly from year to year. Blue ts (15) and great ts (8) were clearly occupied in nesting which was most likely delayed this spring). and two goldcrests were seen in a conifer.
Blackbirds(33) and song thrushes (9) have dominated the soundscape this spring giving louder and more prolonged song cycles than previously.They appear more confident and more numerous too.There has been no lack of available food along the banks with invertebrates thriving amongst the vegetation and the river provided the required damp conditions and mud even during weeks when there was no rain.
Carrion crows (7), woodpigeons (25 ) starlings (36)magpies (7) jackdaws (2) were present with starling numbers improving, possibly due to the proliferation of invertebrates.
Good numbers of goldfinches ( 42) were present, most singing in small groups or flying over.
On to the warblers, mostly spring migrants:
Providing a continuous background chorus whatever other birds were doing, made it a memorable day with only a glimpse of a sparrowhawk dashing into some brambles. The Cetti's warbler was still present this year but had chosen to establish a territory further away across the river probably whilst the weather was still cold.
Blackcaps (18) were present and still visible in the Willows and Hazels in various places with about ten singing. Chiffchaffs (18) could certainly still be heard but some not singing were nesting. Two willow warblers were heard and five common whitethroats were seen and heard near where they were nesting in bramble patches along the length of the riverside. There were three Sedge warblers too singing their characteristic song in different areas.
A swallow was seen flying low over Basin 5
Finally heard but not seen, the quacking of a mallard duck down on the river.
Here is a female Orange-tip butterfly perched on fresh Bramble leaves.
Orange-tips have been numerous this year, all flying in their own areas they are not seen in large crowds.
The females do not have the characteristic bright orange tips to their wings but have mottled hind wings as do the males - visible when the wings are closed. Garlic Mustard has been flourishing along the verges and hedgerows and is one of the main food plants of the Orange-tip caterpillar. The other plant is the Cuckooflower which flowers earlier and was more extensive this year.
More Butterflies seen this day :
Orange tip, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Red Admiral.
