Wednesday 24th November 2021 was a cold day with a cloudy sky but bright as the cloud layer was thin and there was no wind. The ground was quite dry as there had been no rain the previous day but a slight frost. The river was low, with fallen Oak leaves floating on the surface. The young Oaks retain their leaves which were turning a subtle shade of brown - no stunning golden colours as these leaves will last on the trees until the late spring. The old Oaks still retained plenty of leaves, brown and gold, ready to fall in the next gale. New nettle growth had halted, the strong stems falling across the banks forming structure for winter habitat for small mammals and insects. The fruit trees had shown very different characteristics throughout the year and one young tree still had fresh green leaves, a second set after the first leaves disappeared during bad weather in the summer.
Looking at the very old trees along the river became easier and it was interesting to observe how younger trees had established themselves at the foot of each of the old trees, with stems emerging from spaces between the old roots. They would invariably be completely different trees, smaller, as found in old hedgerows. Old Oaks and other old trees harboured Hawthorn, Hazel, Blackthorn and Spindle for example, all easily distinguished from their protective tree. Spindle is a good example and suddenly shows itself in the winter by producing vivid red and pink fruits often on thin branches against a huge old live tree trunk. The presence of a Spindle tree is often a sign of ancient woodland or old species-rich hedgerows which is certainly possible in our location. The berries have bright orange seeds which do not usually last long on the tree which is often closely guarded by a Robin.
Spindle berries on a small bush at the foot of an old tree,
probably part of an ancient hedgerow near the river Arun.
Looking up from such a tree I noticed a brilliant white bird flying across along the river. It was easily identified by its trailing legs, beak colour (blue-black) and brilliance and in an area where at least one had been seen in previous years. It was a Little Egret. They have appeared at about the same time of year each year, even during major bridge construction works. The trigger for its short-range migration always being the first frosts of the winter. Another sighting about an hour later later was of two Little Egrets flying together upstream, almost certainly a pair. They only have a short flight up from the Sussex coast, not a real migration but it's a good sign that they are still present after being becoming extinct as a result of human misuse. They survived in Northern France and gradually established a colony on the south coast of England when the fashion for outrageous designs in hats abated.
They were the highlight of this November Survey but the other birds seen (no butterflies! not even a Red Admiral) were reassuring after a very strange year weather-wise. Twenty-six Blackbirds were seen, most foraging on the ground or uttering alarm-calls from the hedges and a single Redwing. No Song-Thrushes!
There were 23 Robins most giving loud outbursts of song with a pair occasionally answering each other.
Two Dunnock were seen on a path, and only two wrens, many more probably present but invisible.
Large numbers of Goldfinches have been seen on other days but only four visible today. No Greenfinches of Chaffinches seen - as is often the case these days. A single Bullfinch was present in a thicket and at least 60 House Sparrows with thirty at least in the bramble hedge, some taking the last of the dried-up blackberries and others in Hawthorn hedges.
A single Goldcrest was seen very busy in a pine tree and a single Great-Spotted Woodpecker was pecking at the bark of an Oak tree then calling. A Green Woodpecker was calling from a grassed area. Nuthatches have been quiet but 4 were seen with one calling. With visibility improving as the leaves fall, Blue t numbers are increasing again with 32 seen today and 12 Great ts fast-foraging on mulched ground around newly planted trees. Five Long-tailed ts were visible high in the trees.
Two groups of Starlings were visible, 21 in total, and 32 wood pigeons in various places, eating ivy berries being the most popular activity at present with bathing in the river a close second.
Ivy berries, a feast for early winter
Three Carrion-Crows, seven Jackdaws, one rook, 17 Magpies, 34 Herring Gulls and 12 Back-headed Gulls were present with the Black Headed Gulls trying to land on the football field. They are courageous and persistent and will win in the end!
Finally a female Sparrowhawk, now established on site, was seen flying over its territory.
