May Damselflies and Butterflies from 2022 Survey

 Added to the 27th May Survey (previous post) are the insects seen:

Butterflies:

Two Speckled Woods basking on a leaf, two Small White, three Large White, a House Sparrow unsuccessful in its attempt to catch one; too many bees to count everywhere on brambles in the sun on the river banks, a Holly Blue, two Green-veined Whites, and a Comma butterfly. There were large numbers of Hoverflies, most over grasses on the embankment slopes.

Damselflies:

In addition there was a fantastic mix of the two most prevalent Damselflies here seen emerging from the river and others chasing over the surface, hunting insect prey or basking on leaves on the banks in the sun. These were Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies (six male and three females) and Banded Demoiselle Damselflies. (one male and two females). Most of the males were low down on river perches ie twigs and branches following small insects eg midges with their large eyes and flying up to grab the prey and return to a perch. Females were seen further away on bank-side leaves or flying over grasses.

These are not the typical pond dragonflies but are river specialists. Here, having two rivers providing different habitats, they can fly to areas close by to locate optimum habitats. One was seen chasing a Large Red damselfly.

The day of the survey was not the first time the damselflies had been seen this spring. They were present on the river on 17th May, a fine warm day, with two Red Kites sailing above.

A male Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly (no demarcated 'bands' on the wings)

There were several other males but with with clearly demarcated  'banded' wings which refused to remain still, being actively aggressive towards other males. These are simply called Banded Demoiselle damselflies.

A female Banded Demoiselle Damselfly warming up on a leaf further from the water.

The females are not visibly  'Banded' but have quite fine greenish wings with a metallic green body and a white false wing spot near the end of each wing. There is a photo of two perched on leaves in the previous post. They favour large flat leaves facing the sun, such as Nettle or Bramble.

These will not be present in polluted waters.

After May showers - survey for 27th May 2022

 Friday 27th May 2022 was a bright, fine day with a slight breeze and dry after slight drizzle the day before. There was some noise from the nearby construction site. The landscape over all was brilliant green with all trees now in leaf. Rosa Canina was flowering everywhere with abandon, arching fronds and shoots climbing vertically through tree branches. Hazel is fast-growing this year, likewise nettles, springing up, taking over from Cow Parsley and providing the best food for for many butterfly caterpillars.The winged seeds of Field Maple trees were already clearly visible and looking closely, small apples were appearing after profuse blossom had finished on each tree. Young brambles were coming into leaf covering the old woody branches from last year, which had held very few fruits. There were reassuring numbers of midges and other insects. Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) with its small deep blue flowers and white centres was flowering in shady grassy areas of the embankments and buttercups were still numerous in the sun. It was good to see that very small fruits were appearing on the Blackthorn - hopefully there will be sufficient rain this year to produce more food for our winter migrants such as Redwing and Fieldfare.

Today House Sparrows were collecting insects for young nestlings amongst the fruit trees and hedgerows (83) in most dry and sunny areas along the riverside whilst Chiffchaffs (19) were now largely hidden by leaf cover but still calling and well distributed. Goldfinches (32) were singing in several groups mostly hidden in thickets and tall hedges - they prefer medium-height habitat within easy take-off locations. A call now seldom heard was that of the Chaffinch with 3 present, which is more than on some days in recent times - there were no Greenfinches seen on this survey. Blue ts (10 and Great ts (8) were present, almost all still nesting, some of the latter calling loudly and others seen drying out in the sun after bathing in the river shallows not far from where Wrens (15) were nesting. Others were calling quite persistently.

Three Dunnock were present, two singing and two Whitethroat were heard in dense wild small trees. Adding to the diverse songs were Blackbirds (14), Robins (13) (many more were silent nesting birds), and two Song Thrushes but today the song of Blackcaps was the most impressive (9), mostly from perches in the riverbank Willows and with (2) females seen but silent. There were 9 Long-tailed ts in all, with three juveniles calling and perching together in the branches in an area where there are perfect conditions for foraging fo insects. The tall tree trunks attracted not only these birds but three Goldcrests and a Grey Wagtail with two juveniles (3 total) which flew off down to the steep river bank. Elsewhere, most foraging on grass were 31 Starlings, many of them very noisy juveniles. In the old Oaks a Nuthatch called briefly whilst not far away two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen with one calling and a single one was seen flying across (total 3). A Green Woodpecker was visible high up in an old Oak. Six Magpies were present in the trees. Woodpigeons were present as usual (25) with several nesting. A sparrowhawk flew fast across the trees, just missing a Goldfinch whilst a Common Buzzard flew over the distant earthworks. Only one Herring Gull was seen and only two Carrion Crows.

 

Good News for the river

A first sighting of Damselflies was in May

These were seen on the day of this survey, 27th May 2022

Here are two freshly emerged and warming up on Bramble leaves on the river bank.

More to follow on these in the next post.

April Blossom, a Survey for 26th April 2022

 Tuesday 26th April was a fine day with the last trees coming into leaf. The oaks had very bright but delicate green leaves. The fruit trees were now in full blossom although each being a different variety  and in different locations meant some were much more advanced than others. The advantage for wildlife is to provide the longest possible season sustaining a diverse population. The NE wind and clear blue sky was a bonus after a very mixed month beginning with snow flurries on the 1st, then becoming quite hot mid month and 16 oC on 26th. Cow Parsley was showing up above new planting and Wild Garlic was everywhere with young nettles appearing.  Recent rain had brought out the midges over the clear water, a good source of food for nestlings. An important study on Insects, published on 20th, produced or rather announced that there is a World Insect Apocalypse with more and more populations being wiped out.

Invertebrates are not only essential for the pollination of crops but are an irreplaceable link in the food chain of wildlife.

Blossom on one of our Crab Apple trees

15th April 2022

The first song heard was that of the Chiffchaff (7) which will be with us until autumn when most will fly  back to Africa, to an uncertain winter together with many other birds which breed here. Some Chiffchaffs do however decide to stay here in Sussex over the winter. The loud song of Robins (21) was heard in most areas along the river as they continue to guard their territories, usually the best habitat for food sources such as berries and insects. As usual Dunnock (4) were seen briefly, foraging on a path. They retreat into the undergrowth when approached. With the rapid growth of riverbank vegetation the Wrens were quite numerous and singing loudly (19). They are very successful here in all weathers as have a good variety of locations in which to nest or shelter unseen. Always the most numerous, House Sparrows (70) are also successful here, choosing the same or similar locations in which to nest each year, given the tolerance and interest of local people who know that humans and House Sparrows have always co-existed . Beware the district without Sparrows!

Blue ts (15) and Great ts (9) were very active, several of the former demonstrating how they use fruit blossom, they are very versatile feeders in the spring, often seen on Willows sampling the first pollen-filled catkins, carefully removing the brown outer cases to get into the catkins, when other food is scarce.

Goldfinches were numerous (23) with several groups singing amongst Ivy the numbers present were probably greater than this. Blackcaps (5) were easy to see when singing boldly and the vegetation not yet fully grown to provide cover, but only one Bullfinch was heard calling from Willows.

The bird most welcome on this survey was the Song Thrush with 12 seen, several singing loudly, all occupying different locations which they usually keep as their own whilst nesting although here some were sharing grassed areas with Blackbirds when foraging.  Some of the Blackbirds were seen bathing in the river shallows or drying off in the sun (total 15). It was also good to see increasing numbers of Starlings (26) silent, even those approaching their roost, most foraging on grass.

Looking up, there were 2 Nuthatch keeping very quiet as they usually do when nesting and a single  distant drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.  Very close to me, in a tree behind my back was a Jay, quite quiet as were 14 wood pigeons also quiet in various trees. Birds in the air were 12 Carrion Crows, 6 Magpies, and 3 Herring Gulls.

Lastly there was a disturbance amongst the Woodpigeons - a Red Kite was seen flying over, then 3 Common Buzzards sailing on the midday thermals.

Butterflies (mentioned in previous post) seen on this survey day were:

Orange tips (10), Speckled Woods (3), Large White (2), Green-veined White (1).

The fine warm weather and quite shallow river levels will mean that the watch for Damselflies

and Dragonflies has started. Their presence will indicate the quality of the river water!

Watch out for the May 2022 survey.

First Butterflies of 2022 March and April

 A look back at the year so far gives a mixed picture dominated by the variations in the weather.

It was a good start with Buff-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) seen fairly early on, coinciding with the first flowing of Lesser Celandine here, which turned out to be magnificent and long-lasting, starting around 25th February 2022. This led us to expect the early appearance of butterflies - but then came the Saharan dust storm on 16th March- what effect would it have here? Only 2 days later on 18th March the first Brimstone butterfly was seen, a warm, clear, breezy, sunny day. On the same day, a surprise in the form of 5 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies two appeared out of a Hawthorn hedge and three more were seen in Brambles nearby. Another was seen basking on a stoney path not far away from the hedge which was providing shelter from the breeze.

A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly and its shadow on the stony path. It has chosen a flat, warm stone, just the right size to bask on. 18th March 2022.

The following day with similar conditions (high pressure and a NE breeze) the first Comma butterfly was seen on the verge of a path, then on 19th March the first Peacock butterfly was seen over brambles.

On 21st March in a grassy area a Peacock was seen chasing a Comma butterfly in quite fierce long chase when it managed to frighten the more fragile Comma to take cover. This was clearly Peacock territory.

A Peacock butterfly perched on a bramble leaf

21st March 2022

A Comma butterfly clinging on to a dry stalk in the wind,

March 2022

On 22nd March several Peacocks were seen basking on a path (same weather conditions prevailed)  with more Peacocks seen on 23rd March with the first female Orange-tip butterfly.More Peacocks were seen on 24th March but the weather then changed and became cooler with lower pressure bringing rain.

On 11th April a male Orange-Tip butterfly appeared and a male Brimstone was seen along the river bank. The good weather lasted with more Peacocks and more low-flying Orange-tips and Brimstones.

A speeding aggressive Peacock was this time seen chasing and Orange-tip. The powerful Peacock always wins!

The first Holly Blue butterflies were seen on 17th April and a Speckled Wood butterfly was

seen on 26th April.

The variety of Wild flowers has so far been excellent with far more appearing than in recent years, in more locations. Hopefully this will continue throughout the rest of the year.

March and the riverside Springs to Life - a survey for 24th March 2022

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.

Bright Sun through the Branches - February 2022 Survey

 The survey for 25th February 2022 was done on a fine, dry, clear day only a week after the Storm on  the18th and 19th.

It was cool and dry with a slight breeze.Apart from scattered twigs and small branches carpeting the ground, there were few signs of the storms. The branches and small trees that fell here were perhaps fragile but valued as part of the landscape. Now the sun shone through the bare trees onto the woodland floor, warming the earth -  but the full display of wild flowers would come later. It was certainly very bare.

Hornbeam winter leaves cling on forming

a barrier for sheltering wildlife and a windbreak

during the worst of the weather. Soon new green leaves will replace the old to create a thick hedge.

Wild Garlic leaves were growing strongly, interspersed with fresh young Cow Parsley and Nettle leaves.

There was no new growth  yet on the ponds, harbouring frogs and their spawn and tadpoles. The banks will be green by the time froglets are out and about.

Birds were fast-flying today, with wrens singing at last.

House Sparrows were out in force in the sun today (over 100), in the Hornbeam and other hedges, the Bramble patches and the drainage basin undergrowth. Only one Goldfinch was seen however.

Blackbird numbers were increasing (24) with most very active, either singing or giving alarm calls, preparing or already using nests. Song Thrushes were very elusive, as not singing but preparing nests. Only 2 were seen. Robins were everywhere advertising their presence (36) most singing loudly. Wrens too were singing strongly (25), winning the song contest with Great Ts (13). Blue Ts were numerous (37) but their song is usually diminutive, used for contact-calling. They were seen selecting small buds to eat but insects will soon be their main diet when raising young. Four Long-tailed Ts were following each other from branch to branch in the Willows over the river. possibly a pair with two helpers completing their intricate nest entangled within the steep bank vegetation, invisible to predators.

  Three Dunnock were busy nest building in the undergrowth whilst a Bullfinch called quietly from the branches above them.

Calling loudly from different Oaks along the river were 4 Nuthatches already using their nests, carefully reconditioned over the winter months.

Woodpigeons seem to have survived the storm well, with 26 in the high branches of old trees. They almost certainly hunkered down low on the riverbank, avoiding the madly swinging branches.

Magpies (9) and Carrion Crows (12) were active, feeding on the grass whilst a single Jay carefully avoided them. Very good numbers of Starlings were present - about seventy, most singing in their traditional roost well hidden amongst dense vegetation. Not far away 45 Black-headed Gulls were very easy to count, evenly spaced on the sports field, thinking perhaps of their summer coastal breeding grounds. Surely it must all be an improvement on this inland site! On the other hand the coast would have been a dangerous place the previous week during the storm. Two Jackdaws, a single Collared dove and 19 Herring Gulls were seen flying across the drainage basin and new sports field near the river.

Looking at some Deer footprints in the mud a sudden mix of angry calls came from a nearby thicket. Looking up I saw a Common Buzzard being chased by Carrion crows very close up across the river. The commotion didn't last long, only one Crow persisted but soon gave up,  once in the open sky the Buzzard is the winner.

The survey for March 2022 follows soon.

Lesser Celandine, the First Woodland Flowers

OUR AIM IS TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE HABITAT IT PROVIDES FOR WILDLIFE ALONG THE RIVERSIDE 

Our February Meet was held on 27th -  a cold start but fine weather all day, with a dry SE breeze.

The sun had brought out the first flowers of the Lesser Celandine, well known to have traditionally been a welcome sign of spring in woodland for hundreds of years - and this year was no different with the first sign of sun in late February awakening the plants which are fortunately spreading steadily along the river banks and verges. 

Lesser Celandine bursting through the thick layers of last autumn's leaves

on 27th February 2022

Many birds were very active, with Robins singing in their territories everywhere.

Goldfinches were also singing loudly along the riverside walk but were less visible

in the thickets. With the flowers came the Bumblebees, Bombus terrestris.

This Bumblebee (Buff-tailed bumblebee), together with Bombus lucorum 

(White-tailed bumblebee) are usually the only bumblebees to appear as early as February.

We were lucky as the rest of the week was cloudy and damp, spring was on hold.