What a change from February! Thursday 24th March 2022 was another fine day in a rare run of fine days, dry with bright sunshine and only a slight breeze. Background noise was low, with many singing birds seen in the hedgerows. The Hawthorn and Hazel trees were just coming into leaf, with Blackthorn covered in dense blossom. It was too early for fruit trees to blossom but all trees, large and small held buds. The new hedgerow trees planted this month and in March last year were growing well, protected by tree guards. Under some of the older trees there was an unexpected profusion of wild flowers with Lesser Celandine still flowering now with more Wood Anemone than ever before and Wild Garlic about to flower. Butterflies had suddenly appeared a few days earlier, emerging as the sun warmed the riverside. (see the next post) .Today a brilliant male Brimstone, a fast-flying Peacock and a Comma butterfly were seen ranging along the banks.
Wood Anemone flourishing in the dappled shade of the
bare branches of the woodland floor.
Cuckooflower just emerging through the thick
layers of last year's stalks and leaves. This is the food plant of the OrangeTip butterfly caterpillar.
Normally clumps of these flowers are seen near and on grassy river banks but this year were also seen on ordinary roadside verges and patches left without being mown. This is a good indicator of how important it is to avoid scheduled mowing regimes in areas where foliage is not obstructing highways and vision.
Large numbers of Buff-tailed Bumblebees were ranging all along the riverbanks, attracted to the wild flowers. The first Hoverflies were out over the warm banks.
Birdsong was striking in its clarity with as yet no heavy foliage to dampen the high notes, with Robins (31) winning in numbers but the summer visitors, the Chiffchaffs (19) again trying to out-sing them.
Great ts (13) were also calling loudly with a variety of confusing notes whilst Blue ts (24) were far too active to sing. Their nesting is often easily observed as they find locations in many of the very old Oaks whilst not yet in leaf. Two Long-tailed ts were seen following each other across the top of a catkin-covered Willow. Blackbirds were seen all along the route, most dashing out from the undergrowth onto the damp grass to forage. (24). One or two were singing full songs but most were silent or making soft alarm calls. There were over 100 House Sparrows in all along the riverside hedgerows and brambles - reassuring numbers. They thrive in dry warm weather and seek out the sun to perch, bicker and sing.
Dunnocks (8) today were seen chasing under the brambles and along the footpath. Wrens (12) were all singing, fewer in number than usual as most remain quietly hidden when nesting under roots and bank vegetation. It was good to see the Song Thrushes (6) with some 'sunning' and drying off after bathing in the shallows of the river. Further downstream - an unusual sight of two Nuthatch together, preening after obviously bathing in the river too, with six others in well distanced locations near probable nest sites, one calling loudly 'don't come near'. (Total 8).
In the background, quite well hidden, at least 5 Goldfinches could be heard singing from a dense thicket and a smart male Blackcap sang more loudly from another Willow amongst dense catkins.
In the air, eleven Herring Gulls flew slowly around whilst 4 Magpies and a Jackdaw followed each other. At least 40 Woodpigeons were seen amongst the Oaks and in the air. Starlings (28) were calling, very unique songs around their nearby roost, in trees and tall undergrowth and a Green Woodpecker yaffled loudly below shortly before a Pheasant called close by.
Hearing loud cries from a Carrion Crow meant a possible Buzzard Alert! Sure enough two Common Buzzards were circling each other, carried up by the thermals. A pair of Carrion Crows commanded the deserted playing field whilst another flew into an oak (4 total). Further downstream a male Kestrel was seen moving high in trees. It perched for a while then dropped down out of sight into an area of tangled undergrowth known to be occupied by small mammals.
