October 29th 2022 - Survey amongst the wild crops

 The end of October continued the lasting trend with late fruits and late leaf fall. The weather was gradually brightening on 29th after overnight drizzle. Layers on layers of leaves covered the grassy areas but the ground underneath was still firm. The seasonal mud had yet to arrive and hide the thick carpets of acorns. There was no wind to help create the fall of leaves and trees held many red apple varieties and Crab Apples especially were set to provide a feast for wildlife over the coming months. Sugars were attracting flying insects, with crowds of midges thronging the riverside soon to be consumed by small birds both visitors and residents . It was very quiet apart from Robins singing loudly, already preparing their chosen territories. Ivy was flowering with berries appearing too. Record numbers of Rose hips and Hawthorn berries have been ripening too. October is always a time of transition but this year the change from autumn to winter has been hesitant, even erratic, The last days of October had been dry underfoot with the land clearly capable of absorbing much water. Suddenly on the last day, the forecast was 'Severe Weather Later' and sure enough the rain came:

A view of the river - suddenly flowing fast after the first rain. 

This was in early November and the sun didn't last long.

Back to October 29th with wildlife here well adapted over the summer and the slow autumn to take advantage of whatever was available from day to day. House Sparrows are masters of adaption and today there were several gatherings along the riverside singing loudly as soon as the sun appeared (70). Others had dropped down onto the brambles to feed on the blackberries, most little more than bunches of seeds.

A group of ten Starlings flew together from roof to roof then away, their morning bathing routine completed. Blackbirds (14) flew down onto the shady grass from the undergrowth whilst Robins could be heard and seen all along the riverside some singing loudly,  each in its own space (39). Woodpigeons (28) were mostly perching high up in the Oak canopies, initially to capture the first sun whilst magpies (9) caused a stir calling and chasing each other as squirrels were few in number, not creating much competition in this landscape of plenty. Carrion Crows were calling loudly however (7) always on the defensive. Also very audible, a crowd of 49 Herring Gulls were heading for school grounds nearby.  Three Jays were seen in different trees, there are always more than allow themselves to be spotted, at least 10 in the area, unlike Nuthatches which are now starting to make themselves heard again after a quiet summer, one was seen on this day calling loudly. Keeping well away from most other birds here, Jackdaws have formed their own community claiming certain trees as their habitat- but this is not one of their chosen places and normally they are just seen flying over. Only one was seen  today calling the others.

 41 Blue ts  and 13 Great ts were very active, the latter mostly in the pines seeking out insects in the sun.

Close to these were 6 restless Goldcrests, far quicker than the larger birds.

Long-tailed ts seem to have done well this year with family groups exploring the woodland, (8) today.

Only 7 wrens were seen, most singing or calling very short calls from the banks and a single silent Dunnock foraged along the path just before a close flypast by a Bullfinch. Finally - it was good to see a Grey Wagtail in it's usual habitat flying over the shady steep sided river. 

That was the last of the small birds but the star of today's survey were the larger birds - a Kestrel flew in to perch on the top of of an Ash tree, clearly visible now that the leaves have fallen - then a Red Kite was seen drifting slowly North West after circling above. 

Abundant Choices - the Survey for 28th September 2022

 Wednesday 28th September 2022 was a fine day with a cool start,  probably the coldest morning so far this autumn. Small faint clouds wafted across the blue sky in a gentle breeze. It was shady under the Oaks, with branches still weighed down with acorns, but more underfoot. Insects crowded onto the new nettle leaves which had sprung up after the heatwave had accelerated the drying out of the first growth. Rose hips in large bunches were covered in glistening spider webs linking roses and nettles. Field Maple leaves were still green but decked with dry golden winged seeds, ready for the first windstorm. Crab apples were assuming a uniform colour now and will turn from orange to red for the winter. The brambles had succeeded in producing very mixed bunches of blackberries unattractive to humans  - all the more for wildlife at present and during the winter.

A Speckled Wood butterfly easily overlooked feasting on the

rather unappetising (to humans) profusion of berries but perfect for 

insects and birds.

Speckled Wood butterflies were still a common sight during September, with five seen today and five Large White butterflies too but on the grasses in the sun. Two Southern Hawker Dragonflies were seen patrolling the banks.

Clumps of fresh Fleabane were showing good flowers which had gone to seed, hopefully generating many new plants to attract more insects such as butterflies next year. Unfortunately the heatwaves this year did not allow the first flowers to survive, the petals being singed off before seeds could develop.

It was good to see that insects were attracted to this 'autumn' flowering however.

The first bird this morning was a Grey Heron flying across the river, then two Blackbirds were seen on the shady damp grass under the trees with a third in the undergrowth (3). Passing by the well-hidden but often audible Starling Roost the sound today easily matched the sounds from the nearby school playing fields during break. There were 9 starlings seen but many more well hidden amongst the dense vegetation. Noisy Magpies were chasing competitors in the tree canopy all along the river (10 seen) with mostly immobile Woodpigeons (30) cooing from the old oaks, with old feathers drifting down from their nests, some still in use.  Keeping their distance were 4 Carrion Crows in their usual lookout tree, observing every slight movement below. Four Herring Gulls were seen heading towards the school for break time whilst two Jackdaws flew out from the woods. Further across a field three Roe Deer were quietly browsing on the grass, undisturbed by construction activity not far away. Not a rare sight here,

but not as common as in the past. 

Throughout the morning there was some very impressive birdsong from the small birds with some first 'early winter' song from Robins despite some noise from the construction site, with numbers increasing this month (29). Wrens were starting to sing too but only 6 present today. House Sparrows were calling, flying from the tangled bushes into the sun in good numbers (30). Blue and Great ts, 18 and 7

were not as vocal yet but active in the Ivies, Oaks, Blackthorn  and Hollies. There were no large groups of Goldfinches heard  but 5 were seen. There were probably large groups forming to feed on the grass seeds in the meadows but they are easily disturbed by the shadow of a Sparrowhawk flying across! One Treecreeper was seen on a Willow trunk and two Nuthatch, one calling on the same trunk of an old Oak.

It was good to see a Chiffchaff and to hear a contact call from another close by whilst a Great-Spotted Woodpecker was seen near the top of an old pine, still and silent, watching. A single Goldcrest was seen in a nearby pine fast-foraging. It was now becoming quite breezy, with dark clouds approaching but still sunny.

Finally a Red Kite was seen flying westward above the tree canopy.

Now observations from

September 2022

(note these are not surveys but just noted en route)

1st September - flock of Greylags Geese seen and heard flying over

2nd - Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaffs, Goldfinches

(3rd  - House Martins and nests in TOWN CENTRE)

4th - Robins singing everywhere in full plumage

5th - Giant Thunderstorm at night. Robins joined by singing Wrens

7th - another overnight thunderstorm - river higher and flowing faster

8th - Overnight torrential rain and another am. Birds quickly resumed their song.

9th - Moorhen flapping and paddling in river, Robins.

11th - Robins, Wrens, 2 Nuthatch calling, 2 Brown Hawker Dragonflies, 2 Common Darter dragonflies, many Large White butterflies, 2 Brimstone, spiralling Speckled Woods

13th- Robins, Goldfinches and flock of 40 Starlings

14th - Herring Gulls, Robins, House sparrows, Goldfinches, Moorhen in river, (calmer conditions) Grey Wagtail juvenile across along river

16th - Common Buzzard Robins, Nuthatch, Wrens

21st - Common Hawker Dragonfly, Grey Heron fishing in River

22nd - Robins, Moorhen River flowing well, Southern Hawker dragonfly, Migrant Hawker dragonfly

25th - Southern Hawker dragonfly Speckled Woods, Nuthatch loud, Dunnock 3 

29th - Common Buzzard 

30th - Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff 2, Sparrowhawk, Southern Hawker dragonfly.

 

A Summary of the whole of August 2022 - Heatwave 2

 One heatwave is enough for one year but August suddenly became very hot again, and the heat lasted longer but thankfully less severe.

The month began with drizzle and breezy but with a foreboding Red Moon on 7th heralding the return of the hot weather bringing out the Grasshoppers, Crickets, ants and bees from their nests in the dry sloping ground. Jays were seen investigating the thousands of young acorns in the old Oaks. On 11th it became very hot with a yellow sun which continued the following day with the humidity down to 24%, very dry for West Sussex. Common Darter dragonflies were out. In normal summer weather they usually choose the driest stoney paths on which to bask and warm up.

 Young House Sparrows were performing their first 'Singing Together' chorus in the hedgerows since fledging.

The atmospheric pressure fell on the 14th and it remained very oppressive in continuing heat the following day. On 16th, after eight days  the heatwave collapsed and gave way to very welcome rain in the dark morning with House Sparrows remaining under cover in the thunder and lightning that followed. As the rain cleared it was good to see that the river was running faster, with a brilliant view of a Kingfisher flying low over the water. Blackbirds appeared along the river banks, foraging in the wet undergrowth. The next day, bird activity was remarkable with all the usual summer birds reappearing as it started to rain again. Chiffchaffs were calling to each other and the mid afternoon temperature had fallen to 18 degrees C.

On the 18th a Kingfisher appeared, calling and flying fast heading south along the fresh river, the water level having risen slightly again. There were more birds, including three Dunnock on the path. Fine drizzle continued on 19th with bright Hawthorn berries glistening on bankside trees.

Hawthorn berries remained on the trees

The sight of red Hawthorn berries here is quite unusual as normally they are plundered by wildlife before reaching ripeness every summer, as are often the first berries to appear in the summer.

On 22nd and 23rd there was more reassuring drizzle with active Jays, Speckled Woods and Large and Small White butterflies along the banks - and more rain on 25th. On 26th a Southern Hawker dragonfly was active, and several Gatekeeper butterflies seen amongst the newly flowering Fleabane.

By the end of August it was back to normal along the river with Sparrowhawks hunting again.

The End of August - the survey two weeks after Heatwave 2

 August 2022 recovering at last. By mid August there had been over a week of Heatwave days, making it  an unprecedented summer. It was encouraging to watch the return of normality along the river.

Wednesday 31st August 2022 was mostly sunny but with light cloud and a northerly breeze. The grasses were greening but the paths very dry. Aircraft contrails crossed the sky. Most of the leaves yellowed by the heat had fallen into the lear running water, forming a very green and fresh landscape. It was neither hot nor cold. Woodpigeons (37) were still nesting and cooing amongst the high branches with Rosa canine hips towering above through which Great Spotted Woodpecker holes were now visible, unoccupied, with loud juveniles exploring new territories. Other tree trunks could be seen with attempts at 'drilling' where the woodpecker had given up and moved to more favourable sites.

A loud low helicopter sent the Woodpigeons off, they returned only after the aircraft had double back to investigate my presence,  then lost interest. The wooded area over the meander in the river was thronged with Speckled Wood butterflies amongst ripe bitten sloes, Blackberries and apples. The long grasses, growing in a mix of shade and sun were full of insects, many small grasshoppers and various ant species and grass moths. Most of the fruits were still on the trees, it being far too early for the usual autumn ripeness.

One early windfall, still green

Numbers of birds were quite low, but not unusual for this time of the year. Woodpigeons were the second most numerous, only because they were still nesting and vocal (37) whilst Carrion Crows, never enough to form a flock, were audible but only 6 were seen.. Magpies (12) were quite audible with quarrelsome juveniles and only two Herring Gulls were flying over. Three Starlings were seen, calling.

The most numerous were the finches, not unexpected-  after all they are hot-weather birds, their main source of food being seeds. House Sparrows were fewer in number than usual but visible in their usual habitat, dense hedges and bramble bushes (41) whilst there were at least 50 Goldfinches in a 'charm', a loose flock flying together across the path from the shady Oaks to the meadow full of seeding grasses and Dock where they dropped down to feed. A Sparrowhawk whizzed across and set them up, but there was no catch for the hawk, the numbers must have confused it. Later it was seen again, perhaps trying to hunt single birds but they all kept together. A second Sparrowhawk (2) was seen approaching but turned away.

Over the same meadow, a Common Buzzard was seen heading south, across the A road. The area often has good conditions for raptors using the thermals as soon as the sun rises and when there's a prevailing wind, conditions are good for take-off and landing. Two juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard in the dense shade of the trees, Oaks and Field Maple close to the river.

Of the small birds, only 6 wrens were seen, some calling very short calls, 33 Blue ts and 8 Great ts along the shady river bank trees, with two Blackbirds foraging in the undergrowth. A single Nuthatch was seen in trees nearby, silent.  Robins (7) along the river were making a gradual reappearance but silent, and our summer visitors the Chiffchaffs (4) were still about, making contact calls with others about to leave on migration to their winter habitat, or maybe they'll stay here, some always do.

Speckled Wood butterflies were the second most numerous butterflies with Large White butterflies easily the most numerous everywhere, in sun and shade. Small White butterflies were seen too.

Common Darter dragonflies were seen chasing across a pond with some basking in the sun on the gravel path. A Common Blue Damselfly was seen on aquatic plants on the edge of the same pond  where tall leaves caught the sun in an otherwise shady environment. Lastly a Southern Hawker dragonfly was was seen patrolling the river bank at head height, observing closely.

A summary of the whole of August follows in the next post.

 

A summary for the whole month of July 2022

 Here is a quick summary for the build-up to the heatwave then the gradual return to normal.

July started to heat up from the first week allowing wildlife to become accustomed to the unusual conditions. 

On 1st July clumps of flowering Senecio jacobaea (Common Ragwort) were flowering on the verges, some flowers and stems being eaten at speed by large caterpillars:

Impossible to miss these voracious beings from the path, making short work of the plants, they had finished their work within a day or two and were not seen again, having consumed the whole plants, flowers, leaves and most stems. The brilliant black and red Cinnabar moths were not seen here this summer although they are day-flying moths (Tyria jacobaeae).

On Sunday 3rd a look at the meadow and river bank revealed Male Banded Demoiselle Damselflies on nettles and several Common Blue Damselflies over a pond. Marbled White butterflies , Ringlets, Small Skippers and Meadow Brown butterflies thronged the drying grasses, discovering patches of Birdsfoot Trefoil here and there. On Sunday 6th Meadow Brown butterflies were numerous and Whitethroats were heard singing and seen in the shrubs whilst Blackbirds were seen scuttling in the undergrowth carrying food for nestlings in the deep shade. On 11th a Red Kite was seen being chased by a single Herring Gull and there was a noisy altercation between a Common Buzzard and a Carrion Crow. The crows are fierce defenders of their nests high in the trees.

By the 12th of July it had become very hot along the paths, water was still flowing well in the rivers, Fleabane was flowering in clumps and Banded Demoiselle Damselflies were seen ranging over the banks and nettles. Marbled White butterflies were again numerous together with a few Large Whites, Small Skippers and Meadow Browns. A large singing 'charm' of Goldfinches flew across the same meadow from the riverside trees, separating into groups to forage on meadow seeds then returning into the shade, still singing. The following day the 13th - Goldfinches were still present, singing again. A Grey Wagtail was seen flying low along the river and a song thrush was seen in the dark undergrowth.

A first for July - Gatekeeper butterflies on the Hornbeam hedge over the bridge, restless. They do not usually bask in the sun. All the fruit trees now have fruit in various stages of ripeness.

It had become very hot and very quiet by 17th although male Brimstone butterflies , Large Whites and Meadow Browns were seen.

July 18th and 19th were Red Desert Moon (my description of a highly polluted atmosphere) heatwave days and nights, 'sticky' dust, thunder and drizzle A Red Kite was seen on 21st, then Rain on 22nd. Some birds were obviously moulting with odd feathers missing, all very reluctant to be seen. On 24th some wildlife began to reappear, with two Nuthatch, Common Buzzard and Carrion Crow, Brimstone, Speckled Woods, Gatekeepers, Meadow Brown butterflies,  and many Large Whites and a Southern Hawker Dragonfly.

The 25th July was a notable day for the appearance of swifts flying fast foraging on aerial insects in cloudy conditions, a Common Buzzard, many Goldfinches singing and crowds of juvenile Starlings.

The next day 26th - a Treecreeper was seen together with 7 Long-tailed ts and a Whitethroat.

The 29th was the full survey (see previous post) and by 30th the usual birds (Dunnock on paths, Blackbirds alarm calls, House Sparrows in hedgerows,  and more) were reappearing, although it remained very warm.

August 2022 survey and summary with Heatwave 2 follows in next posts..

Then September 2022.

Catch up with the summer heatwave!! First the survey for July 2022

The Survey for 29th July 2022 marked the welcome end to a month with an unprecedented heatwave. A summary of the whole of July will follow.

Friday 29th July started with bright conditions, high cloud, a slight breeze and very dry but with the short grass still green. Fruits on the trees were doing well but not yet ripe. Occasional walkers were making slow progress as if exhausted still, as with the river, flowing but slowly, audible. Some large but delicate Hazel leaves had turned yellow and started to fall, not through lack of water but as a result of direct heat from the sun. Small birds were flying from the sun into the shady side of the river, having rapidly warmed up after a cooler night. Good numbers of birds were present but very few were singing. They perched above some bitten and over-ripe fruits, ignored for the present. Goldfinches were the only birds to be heard. Oaks held huge numbers of acorns, many still green, different trees holding different loads, branches and twigs moving very slightly in the gentle breeze. Woodpigeons were active in selecting nest-sites all along the coolest banks, this year choosing low, damp, shady sites as most birds and animals will do during excessively hot summers. Brambles were sending their new shoots low along the ground, providing shade and shelter for their own roots and for other plants too. Earlier all bramble shoots and nettles grew fast and vertical, twice their usual height.

Blackberries at various stages of ripening after the first rapid

growth. 

The earlier Heatwave had sent birds under cover, and the abundance of easily accessible food meant there was no need for them to fly constantly from branch to branch or tree to tree during the heat of the day.

Thirty-five Woodpigeons were the most active flapping around inside hedges and Ivies, dropping down to the river to bathe and drink occasionally. They keep cool by not moving much, occasionally wing-stretching. Blue ts (31) in Hazels, Oaks and Blackthorn and Great ts (8) were the most active birds, with the latter mostly hidden in the undergrowth today. Four Long-tailed ts, all juveniles were sitting together in the Willows over the river, their tails now fully grown and close by three Chiffchaffs were calling contact calls with two more flying across the Willows (total 5). House Sparrows (86) were as usual the most numerous, picking at various berries and seeds along the hedges.. The most vocal birds today were Goldfinches (27) very bright, with juveniles. Theirs will be a bounteous autumn with plenty of excellent foraging on Dock and other seeds. It's already apparent. Wrens were quite scarce, only 8 seen and 4 of them calling, keeping very close to the river. There were 4 Dunnock on the shady path, a usual number and usual place, but one near the new pond. Further along the shady river one Blackcap was seen in Willows and one Grey Wagtail very low-flying over the water under steep banks.

No Song thrushes were seen and only four Blackbirds, all within very close proximity to dense undergrowth. A gentle morse code tapping gave away the presence of a Nuthatch in an old Oak whilst a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker and an adult called to each other from an Ash (2).

Carrion Crows were very visibly moulting now, one flying over my head with missing middle feathers from the tail. (total crows 4). Several juvenile Magpies ( 7) were heard nearby whilst a single Jay was seen flying into a tall hedge. Further along between two ponds a Green Woodpecker was calling loudly. It was an area with several ant's nests in the dry cracked border.

Finally just two Robins were seen, one singing. They are usually one of the most numerous birds to be heard and seen but fall silent and remain hidden whilst moulting. 

 Now for the Butterflies and Dragonflies:

It was notable that there were now quite a few clumps of Fleabane all freshly flowering as the previous clumps, flowering during the Heatwave seemed to have not withstood the heat and been singed and 

dried out. ie the yellow flowers had black petals, not seeds.

Butterflies:

Large White, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Small White, Meadow Brown, Holly Blue, Brimstone, Common Blue butterflies on Fleabane, Peacock, also on Fleabane.

Dragonflies:

Banded Demoiselle Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Common Darter Dragonfly

Many bees, grasshoppers, crickets in the dry long grasses which were thick, tangled and going to seed.

Note there were NO areas of bare, dry cracked earth. As soon as it rained the grasses grew up with green shoots.

(Next posts will be some observations over the whole of the HEATWAVE month of JULY 2022

then the surveys for August and September 2022

 

Survey for June - a Startling Summer begins

 The survey for June 2022 was done on 28th, a variably bright sky with sun and cloud and a southerly wind. The air was fresh after a heavy shower the previous day which caused the river level to increase slightly. Meadowsweet on the bank was flowering and Hazel leaves gave the landscape a bright green shade, even under cloud.What a contrast to last year, seeing so many young fruits on the trees. A Blackthorn held surprisingly ripe fruits, some had already been spotted by birds which had stripped off the fruits and left the stones on the branches, perhaps whilst the fruit was not ripe enough to pull away whole. There were bird droppings below the branches.

The growth was surreal, with nettles springing up and brambles twice as tall as is usual. Many bees were frequenting the brambles, tall grasses and strong patches of Bird's foot Trefoil.

Butterflies were the main feature of this survey, several new to some locations which have matured this spring where wild grasses and wild flowers have been allowed to grow un mown.

One of these areas held many Meadow Brown butterflies with some Ringlets in low areas, then suddenly within less than a minute of the sun appearing, a Marbled White butterfly flew across, then many more were seen over the grasses with fast and restless flight. only one perched for a second and then was off, it perched just long enough for a photo: 28th June 2022:

Marbled White butterfly (Melanargia galathia)  not seen before in this location

Amongst the grasses were many less obvious butterflies, the Meadow Browns:

The Meadow Brown (Maniola justina) is quite numerous and is usually seen first in May.

Another butterfly present was the Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)  in good numbers but often overlooked but usually seen in well managed grassland which hasn't been cut as they overwinter in tall grass sheaths. Mowing will destroy the small caterpillars.:

A sign of good land management here!

These areas need protecting. Mowing is incredibly destructive.

In addition to these butterflies there were several Large Whites, , 4 Commas, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Woods, 3 Brimstones, 2 Red Admirals and a rather faded Painted Lady (it may well have flown north across the channel as these are migratory butterflies).

Now for the Birds:

Whilst it was interesting to watch butterfly activity on such a variable day with alternating sun and cloud, when butterflies react within a split second, dropping down under cover when the sun goes in in most cases and flying up resuming activities as soon as the sun shines again, birds also react, often in advance of rain or sun. Birds will often perch on outermost branches waiting for the sun or drop down into dense foliage before rain. Today the first birds recorded were Chiffchaffs (8) some singing in the Willows. Robins were mostly keeping out of sight but 4 out of 8 were singing. Just two Blue ts and two Great ts were seen, a very small number but obviously still nesting under dense cover. Blackbirds were still rearing young but 12 were seen, several giving alarm calls when corvids came too close. House sparrows were also nesting, most in dense hedgerows or on buildings (45) but only two Starlings were seen, close to their roost. There can be larger numbers but usually when there is an overcast sky full of midges and flies! There were 13 Herring Gulls in the air and 10 Carrion Crows in various trees whilst a total of 34 wood pigeons were mostly  calling and chasing, nesting will take place later. A single harsh call revealed a Jay in dense cover, having survived a winter with our acorns, like the squirrels and 9 noisy young Magpies nearby

There was only one Goldfinch seen, with most probably nesting out of sight and a single Green Woodpecker called softly - they have been nesting, not advertising their presence in the trees.The other summer migrant warblers present were loudly singing Blackcaps in the tree cover over the river (7) and  4 Whitethroats. Unusually there were 7 Song thrushes in various places, most singing - a good sign.

There were good number of wrens (38) most singing and a Sparrowhawk which dashed across between trees, over my head. House Sparrows had fallen silent but resumed their song in the hedgerow as soon as the hawk was out of sight.

The huge growth of vegetation has give Damselflies extra cover on which to perch and only a single Banded demoiselle Damselfly and some distant Common Blue Damselflies on the margin of a new rather bare pond were seen.