Dark December 2022 Survey postponed until 2nd January 2023

 With very few days to choose from the November survey was done but Dark December offered too many Adverse Weather Conditions on the available days. Monday 2nd January 2023 was the best for a long while with a rare occurrence - a blue sky.

With the temperature 6 degs C lower than the usual run of wet and windy days at least it promised reasonable visibility and audibility! It was above freezing. I was immediately struck by loud birdsong and sharp glimpses of active birds foraging amongst the bare branches of deciduous trees. Even evergreens were giving away the fast movements of hungry small birds. The river was flowing well, not at a high level bu fast nevertheless.

Growth of spring Hazel catkins had not advanced since the previous survey,  with most trees and bank vegetation even more leafless than before. It has been what seems like many years since there had been such conditions. I can remember the winter of 1981/82 when there were snowdrifts halfway up the doors and other times when the river was partially frozen, it bordered farmland then, with little shelter.

The sun on January 2nd 2023 was very low in the sky, illuminating the landscape with a very subtle light, with raindrops attracting birds to drink the freshest water from the Hollies and Ivy, the best of natural sustenance for wildlife at  this time of the year, together with dried out blackberries and leftovers on the hedgerows and fruit trees.

An old Oak (Veteran) on the river bank, this is one of the most 

valued in the district together with quite a few of a similar age

along the nearby riverbanks. Full of wildlife all year, hibernating or foraging.

This photo was taken on 12th December 2022.

On the day of the Survey was, apart from birdsong, quiet, with no wind. the available light was good but short-lived going from dawn to dusk in no time despite the sun.The most visible birds were the woodpigeons (50) most static, perched on treetops and Ivy, conserving heat in their thick down by maintaining immobility as far as possible, House Sparrows were the next most numerous but mush more agile (73) although in groups, some soaking up the sun out on the Bramble-tops and hedges, singing, whilst others kept low under dense cover, eating blackberry seeds and singing.

Starlings can be elusive but today there were 26 flying in small groups whilst others, unseen, remained in their roost tree. Fourteen Carrion Crows were seen in various trees, most prefer Oaks here some calling loudly to each other, easily seen on the bare branches. Also in the Oaks and Field Maple, Magpies were active and noisy, bickering and re-arranging their perches (11). Their calling was ignored by a nearby Songthrush concentrating on its perfect and very audible song, whilst another Songthrush (2) started a perfect song on a branch directly above where I was standing and took no notice of me. Both continued their songs which greeted me on my return after walking to the other footbridge and back.

Herring Gulls were very active in the area near the school, mostly flying across to join others on the school playing flied. Arriving in group there were about 47 in total, most calling loudly on approach. Two Rooks and two Jackdaws were seen flying across from the distance trees. There were 18 Blackbirds, most foraging on the grass but no Fieldfare or Redwing this time - perhaps they had flown off west when the weather had turned cold as they were seen in November.

Of the small birds, there were 7 Goldfinches, flying across to reach seeds on remaining plants such as Dock, no Greenfinches or Chaffinches as usual now but three Goldcrests, moving about in a conifer, foraging. Along the route there were 27 Blue ts, 14 Great ts and 5 Long-tailed ts some appeared to be chasing and some were calling.

The leaders at this time of the year are always the Robins, often very visible and calling loudly. Today there were 35 all guarding their own territories along the banks and hedges. Three dunnock were seen on the footpath and low branches, one was calling. There were 4 wrens, only one calling at present on the banks. High in an old Oak a single Nuthatch was calling whilst a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen flying across. 

A Common Buzzard flew up from the branches of an old Oak and later a Red-Kite was seen circling lazily above another Oak not far away, drifting on the first .thermals .

The most interesting bird today was a female Kestrel seen perched for quite a time on a horizontal Oak branch over grass  where a few Woodpigeons were feeding. It flew off - perhaps missing a small mammal that it had been watching on the river bank below.