Shorter Days and Longer Nights

At this time of the year the hours of daylight rapidly dwindle meaning less foraging time for most.

Yesterday morning, 28th October 2016 was mostly sunny and mild, with a nuthatch calling,  numerous blackbirds, almost certainly including some migrants from colder land, chasing each other through the dense Blackthorn and Hawthorn thickets, the most aggressive claiming the choicest berries and fruits. Below them the river was flowing clear but still as low as usual as no significant rainfall has occurred recently.

A great-spotted woodpecker flew over - they can be seen frequently here, most easily seen in flight, as are not yet drumming to advertise their presence.

The most common plants can produce the most brilliant autumn colours - here's a brilliant bramble. 

A mixed bramble, hawthorn and blackthorn thicket this morning was full of activity, with blackbirds, robins, blue tits, great tits, goldfinches, long-tailed tits and rapidly moving goldcrests. These tiny birds were busy catching insects amongst the twigs of the deciduous plants and trees, very well camouflaged with olive-green plumage and bright yellow or yellow-orange crests, their colours merging in with the yellowing leaves and light and shade. They seldom stop moving however. Being mostly resident birds, they are within the tree cover all year round - but as the leaves fall, become more easily seen. They are often found in conifers - but forage amongst deciduous trees as well - whichever hold the richest supply of insects and spiders at the time. 

Winter Migrants arrive….

Today, 29th October, it was dark and overcast all day, mild, with no wind. The afternoon was growing  dark at about 3pm (and still British Summer Time!) when, looking up at the leaden sky, I saw two groups of about ten fieldfare each fly across the river. These are the first fieldfare I've seen here this autumn apart from one or two very distant high-flying birds - Winter is coming…..watch out!

    

Autumn brings warm colours and a chill wind

Today, Sunday 23rd October 2016 was a fine clear day, starting cold and sunny with the remnants of frost in the shade. A very slight breeze touched the tops of the oaks and sent leaves flying. The river was low as rainfall has been slight, but was running clear. Various types of fungi decorated the grass and banks and the low sun intensified the autumnal colour of oak, ash, hazel, field maple, poplar and hornbeam leaves clinging to the riverbank trees, Willows had been losing their leaves fast over the past few days and some were almost bare.

Leaves on a young Hornbeam we planted on the riverside -

 it has grown at a fast rate 

this year, amongst other native trees planted at the same time.

The day was promising to be mild and quiet but the gentle breeze quickly turned into a very chill wind from the east north east and small fast-moving clouds started to shoot across the sky sending wildlife to hunker down in sheltered corners along the river banks.

Robins were singing today (17) but not in battle mode yet, as berries abound all the way along the river with several small Spindle bushes with fruit in new locations. These are especially guarded by robins as the fruits usually last into midwinter. Blue tits are now more numerous (40) and far more active, moving from branch to branch clinging upside-down from delicate hawthorn twigs, pecking at the berries or perhaps finding small insects amongst them. Woodpigeons (26) were mostly inactive, sitting high up in the tree tops to catch the early sun. Later they would be seen foraging on the ground below the trees.

Unusually, there were about 35 carrion crows in total this morning, some calling, in pairs high on the old oaks then, when the wind was increasing, about twenty appeared from nowhere, circling high in the air, some calling. They quickly drifted away, probably onto a bare harvested field. Later a group of rooks (22) were seen in the air heading out from their roost well out of sight and 7 jackdaws, most calling, took to the skies too. 

After the sun had warmed up the ground herring gulls appeared (35), heading for mounds of bare earth but only two black-headed gulls were seen;  they have not yet moved in onto the playing fields en masse - but these two were in their winter plumage, perhaps scouts for the rest which will follow soon.

Ripe Guelder Rose berries - there's a very good crop this autumn

  Blackbirds (9) were busy in the Blackthorn, foraging for dwindling numbers of sloes or chasing each other amongst the old Field Maples.   Great tits (12) were seen busy foraging, collecting nuts for storage in a safe place out of the reach of squirrels and jays. One or two were calling half-heartedly, whilst wrens (8) foraged low under the brambles and tree roots, giving alarm calls when  disturbed by larger birds. Just one dunnock was seen flying low across the river and heard when it perched unseen. .Magpies (5) were restlessly flying from tree to tree, calling, the harsh cries of jays adding to the noise (2). Food is abundant, there is more than enough for all, as was evident from the numbers of acorns still lying scattered under the old oaks. In hard times these would have quickly been snatched up  and either eaten or cached but this year the birds and squirrels are not bothered. They will soon go when the nights freeze over. 

Tiny birds have to spend every minute foraging in order to maintain their body-weight - 17 long-tailed-tits were discovered high in thickets in sheltered areas and in near-bare willows on the river. The Willows have lost most of their leaves already, allowing good views of birds moving amongst the branches. Other small birds remained well hidden, but given away by their rapid movements - two warblers - chiffchaffs  - were seen and their contact calls heard amongst the remaining leaves, and one goldcrest was seen after I heard its high call close by. Goldfinches (20) were heard amongst a thicket and seen flying together in a group with others coming and going, easily identified by their flight.

Bullfinches were also calling, a pair flying over the hawthorn,  two more amongst a thicket and another flying in to search for fruits - 5 in total today. They are attracted now to the riverside fruits and are becoming more visible as the leaves thin out. Nine linnets were seen in one group flying over between the trees and eventually, as the sun reached the low bramble bushes, house sparrows (45) started to sing, remaining hunkered down out of the cold wind, only flying out when pushed, preferring to keep their heads down today, with more well inside hedgerows. Nuthatches are becoming more vocal, two, probably a pair, were calling, one softly, from an oak and another much louder, in warning, directly above.

 A great-spotted woodpecker called out from its tree behind the thicket and a buzzard appeared, flying fast and low, then - chased by a carrion crow over the river,  turned and flew back, and was joined by another buzzard - then both flew quickly out of sight - the weather not suitable today for leisurely gliding. 

September summer ends

Today, 30th September 2016 was still as warm as a summer's day but with rapidly moving sharp showers to send people and wildlife scurrying for cover.

The intermittent rain caused the rivers to suddenly increase in speed. Water levels rose temporarily - but we need sustained rainfall to sink in and refresh the earth.

The river Arun became more lively this afternoon after rain.

Here is a summery of wildlife seen in passing by (not full surveys) over this exceptionally warm September 2016

 See also previous post for the full record for 18th and an earlier post for the 6th September

then a short summary for heat-wave August and earlier post for full record for 28th August:

5th September 2016:

a warm day, with intermittent drizzle

Nuthatch calling, 2 Great-spotted woodpeckers calling from different trees, several robins singing, many bees, Large White, Small White and Green-veined White butterflies along the river banks and in the wild field. Large numbers of goldfinches singing in a thicket and just one blackbird across.

11th September:

Warm and humid again

several Large White, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral butterflies,

aggressive Southern Hawker dragonfly, Brown Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies. Robins singing short half-songs, nuthatch, great-spotted woodpecker, magpie, 8 long-tailed tits in family group, wren giving alarm call, blue and great tits, crane flies and large numbers of bees.

13th September:

Very hot

calling young birds in tree directly above me were young fledged bullfinches being fed by adults in the dense foliage.

Good numbers of bees still present together with Red Admirals, Large White, Small White and Green-veined White butterflies.

21st September:

Heavy dew on grass this morning

Juvenile common frogs jumping from the long wet grasses on the river bank, not close to the ponds. These froglets were only one or two cm long.

23rd September:

fine and warm - less humid

Great-spotted woodpecker called and flew out of oak, Common Darter and Ruddy Darter flying over bank, several Red Admirals basking on nettles, brambles or flying over banks, several Large White butterflies in wild field together with many bees (Honeybees and Bumblebees) on flowering thistles.

25th September:

Day of our meet - cloudy at first, becoming warm and sunny.

Lots of Speckled Wood butterflies over the banks, under trees and up into trees.

Common Darter, loud-calling nuthatch, several robins and wrens singing.

30th September:

In the sun, between torrential showers quite early this morning, the trees in the sun were full of birds:

Goldfinches, house sparrows, blackbirds, blue tits, great tits,long-tailed tits a few goldcrests and a nuthatch, with more goldfinches foraging on the sunlit seeding Dock and grasses below.

Some observations in passing by during August 2016:
(see also post with full record for 28th August) 

A general observation - house sparrows were still busy nesting throughout the month of August.

8th August:
cooler start, becoming hot
great-spotted woodpecker with juvenile, 2 goldcrests, chiffchaffs, 4 blackbirds, song thrush, 3 starlings
several Gatekeeper butterflies, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White and Speckled Wood butterflies, goldfinches, robins

9th August:
cool start becoming hot
12 long-tailed tits in oak (mostly juveniles), numerous house sparrows, persistently-calling nuthatch, large numbers of Gatekeeper butterflies along the river bank and field margins, several Speckled Wood butterflies, Large White and Green-veined White butterflies, Southern Hawker dragonfly.

24th August:
very hot
Loud nuthatches 2, robins beginning serious song, more blue tits and great tits seen.

26th August:
hot and humid
Robins singing, chiffchaffs foraging, blackbirds low on river banks, lots of Large White butterflies with some Small White and Green-veined White butterflies and a Holly Blue butterfly, many Speckled Woods. Good crop of Hazelnuts in most Hazel trees.

30th August:
warm
Callling nuthatches 2, few robins and blue tits, 4 buzzards, two 'jousting' together, several blackbirds foraging in the damp shady grass.

Watch out - Autumn is here

A welcome change after the unseasonable heat of the late summer - today, Sunday 18th September was  cooler after the rain of the previous day but warmed up quickly in the early sun. Low clouds quickly moved in but the day remained dry. The lack of wind meant that the riverside was quiet and every small sound could be heard, provided one stood still to avoid crunching dry fallen leaves and acorns under foot, as the rain, only about 7mm, had not penetrated the dense tree canopies of the old Oaks and Field Maples.

The ground under one old oak was thick with acorns, some plundered by impatient Jays and grey squirrels, breaking off twigs carrying unripened acorns. Others have ripened and fallen naturally - too many to be hauled away to a safe hiding place.

 Guelder Rose plants have produced a bountiful crop of berries this year, which the birds will leave until much later in the winter when other fruits become scarce:

Hawthorn with still ripening haws and Guelder Rose on the right

with ripe red berries. The haws will be eaten first however.

Robins took full advantage of the perfect conditions for their songs to carry far along the river with 23 counted, some singing very close to their neighbours, sometimes just in the next tree at present. It seems as if some are increasing the volume to gain advantage. Not all were singing however, some being intent on foraging. It was good to see more starlings assembling in flocks although not in huge numbers (c35) - this morning they were seen flying from various areas to their day roost in a thicket.

Woodpigeons were quite numerous (64), chased off the fields to spend the day in the old oaks or lined up along the fence overlooking the southern drainage basin, a popular location for most wildlife still.

Skulking in low thickets or foraging in the dewy shade grass where the earth was still damp, blackbirds (6) were silent, apart from a sudden alarm call from one low down on the river, the cause a sparrowhawk,  glimpsed dashing through a gap in the trees against the bright sky. Magpies don't need to keep quiet - and advertise their presence without a care, especially where young are still living in a group (8) - today their calls were especially aggressive in attempts to fend off squirrels and jays.

The jays (7) are very smart birds - in plumage and brain - today one was shouting out over the acorn-strewn patch under an old oak as if to frighten off any creature that approached. It needed every single acorn that lay below it - but will take more than a few days to cache them!

Corvids are never numerous here but 10 carrion crows were seen, and some heard, in scattered locations along the riverside. An old oak with branches extending over the river is popular with crows and great-spotted woodpeckers too - and today I noticed several new attempts to make holes in one of the branches, however the branch is not large enough for nesting, therefore it's probable that a crow is responsible for the work, using it's strong bill to prise off the bark and get into the old wood to extract insects.

Great-spotted woodpeckers have been very quiet over the summer and only one was seen today giving a loud but brief alarm call - later they will have the task of finding suitable trees in which to create new nest holes - normally they choose different nest sites each year, unlike the nuthatches.

They also have to adjust to a temporary loss of some potential trees downstream on the Arun where bridge- building is taking place. The oaks are protected but the disturbance will mean finding old trees in a quieter area here upstream. Fortunately the work should be finished within the year and the formerly wild river banks restored to their wildness. Three nuthatches were seen today, two calling loudly and another quietly tap-tapping in a thicket, not making a hole but eating a large seed or nut that it had wedged into a branch crevice. Their large claws are not much use for gripping seeds or nuts but are shaped to enable 'down hill' tree climbing.    

The wren - another bird which has been quite silent, is now singing again - at least some are singing, with numbers increasing over the autumn - 10 were seen today, most singing. Chaffinches are still elusive, only 3 today and likewise song thrushes which are keeping a very low profile out of sight in the cool damp steep river banks, difficult to see in the dense shade as they are silent at present. One was seen flying down onto the river bank. On the river itself two solitary moorhens were seen paddling in different locations whilst out in the sun I heard and then saw about 20 linnets fly across in a group and later another 10 linnets off the field and into the trees - a welcome sight! Goldfinches were also seen in good numbers, total 60 in several groups, most singing in dense thickets and leafy trees, preferring the sunlit side.

Insects were numerous with good numbers of Speckled Wood butterflies, a few Large White butterflies and a Migrant Hawker dragonfly

With the increasing leaf fall, blue tits (about 40) and great tits (about 20) were more easily seen and becoming more vocal, the great tits just trying out their calls. Long-tailed tits (9) were seen following each other in a family group, calling softly, high in the willows over the river. Moving very fast through Field Maples and Oaks, giving contact calls, chiffchaffs (8) were as usual busy foraging and goldcrests (6) were seen in a sheltered blackthorn thicket and others in a conifer.  Ever-present house sparrows were about in good numbers all along the riverside today (about 80) in colonies in the bramble patches, in blackthorn thickets, mixed hawthorn hedgerows and field margins, choosing, like the goldfinches, the sunny sides in which to warm up after the unusually cold night.

As the day warmed up, the low cloud cover increased, attracting house martins (about 20) and a few swallows (c4) foraging for insects between cloud and river and strong thermals meant that flying was easy for lazily circling herring gulls (24). Distant calls alerted me to two buzzards flying very high, then to two more, closer to the earth, close together, touching, play-displaying.

This morning's highlight was a treecreeper foraging on a poplar which I noticed whilst watching two wrens on a Guelder rose tree. The treecreeper was less than 2 meters away from me, making a thorough search for insects on the poplar trunk, creeping up about 3 meters then flying down to the roots and starting again a few centimetres around the circumference from its previous vertical route. I watched for a long time and it was still foraging when I left, after the wrens joined it on the poplar to forage amongst the roots, a robin flew across too and caught a large insect - and a calling chiffchaff foraged in the upper branches - all the while I stood still on the dry fallen leaves.    

Crab apple tree - food for wildlife over the winter

Signs of Autumn on the Riverside

Today, Tuesday 6th September 2016, after early sun, a heavy low bank of cloud settled over the river, with its edge just above blue sky on the horizon, trapping heat and humidity near the ground. No problem for wildlife however - in brighter moments when the cloud thinned, butterflies were active. These were mostly Large and Small Whites and Speckled Woods.

Speckled Wood butterfly perched on Dock seed

A female Brown Hairstreak butterfly was seen flying in a zig-zag way, searching and settling on a ragged Blackthorn branch reaching low over the river, a sheltered, warm location to lay an egg. The Blackthorn was losing some of its yellowing leaves which floated gently down onto the water, as there was no wind. 

More than 20 linnets were gathering in an old Field Maple, flying across in groups to join the singing, with the bounty of seeding Dock below whilst several gatherings of quietly signing Goldfinches, probably more than 40 in total, filled the oak canopies and thickets nearby. A blackbird uttered an alarm call whilst high above, calls alerted me to  two buzzards circling each other under the clouds. A vocal nuthatch moved across from tree to tree not far from a second one perched in an oak.

A Migrant Hawker dragonfly flew around encircling the area between the trees and numerous bees were again present in the damp wild field on the Fleabane and flowering Watermint whilst House Sparrows sang in the hedgerow under foraging blue tits and great tits. A blackcap was busy in the Blackthorn, gaining weight for the flight back to its winter home. A silent wren flew up from the waters edge and several robins sang short songs. It was good to see quite large numbers of starlings flying together again as there have been few around during the summer. 

Just observations in passing by - all seen in a few minutes today.

The Riverside at Night

Last night, August 29th 2016, prompted by the sighting at midday the previous day of a Daubenton's bat happily foraging for insects over the river - not in broad daylight - but in deep, murky gloom  - I decided to check on the riverside wildlife at night. It was a clear warm night, quite dry and no wind to rattle the leaves. Certainly at this time of the year the river comes to life at night..
Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) are usually one of the earliest species to venture out to forage after sunset - often with the western sky still light. This evening several were detected and seen around the very old oaks on the river at the edge of a hedge which they use as a 'flyway'. The sky rapidly became dark and several Soprano pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pygmaus) were detected amongst the others. They are very slightly smaller but can be detected by the higher frequency of their echolocation calls and the call rapidity. Pipistrelles usually fly quite low and can come very close, giving the impression that they are on a collision course with the observer! A single Noctule (Nyctalus noctula) was detected away from the trees, hunting far higher up - and another high flyer was probably a Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) closer to the trees - with a slightly higher frequency than the low frequency call of the Noctule. Walking along the river towards the area where the 'midday' bat was seen revealed the presence of bats certainly identifiable as Daubentons bats (Myotis daubentonii).
These bats were in the deep shadows unlit by path lighting filtering through onto the river.
Good numbers of bats were present along this section of the river and another survey will be done after rain as soon as possible whilst the weather is still warm and insects are plentiful.

Moths are a common prey of bats - therefore vegetation with night scented flowering plants attracting moths will also attract bats.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) or woodbine is a good example, sustaining long-tongued bees during the day and attracting moths during the night.

Honeysuckle in flower attracting bees - and moths at night - in turn attracting bats…

Same Honeysuckle plant pollinated by bees and moths, now a mass of red berries attracting birds.

August/September

Day into Night - a morning in August

Today, 28th August 2016 there was a distinct change in the weather, with a freshening breeze and dark clouds alternating with lighter clouds and glimpses of sun. I did not expect to see butterflies or dragonflies around in the gloom, with most areas swept by an unusually strong south west wind.

After a hot and humid spell with no rain for a week it was a welcome change on the riverside.

One wild plant which is seldom affected by lack of rain here, Purple Loosestrife, usually thrives with its roots in or very close to water - on the edge of a pond or a river bank.

The weak sun didn't last long and dark rainclouds drifted in. The river was clear and flowing well but very low with plants in good condition, the long grass still green with wild flowers such as Musk Mallow, Purple Loosestrife, Knapweed, other thistles and Bird's foot Trefoil still present. The latter has done very well this year, establishing good-sized clumps attracting insects. Blackthorn leaves are turning now and some are falling, leaving good-sized fruits. Some Hazel leaves are also turning yellow now but there is a good crop of hazelnuts on most trees, even some on the young trees. Even the young oak planted where the ancient oak fell, has some acorns this year. The old Field Maples are covered in winged seeds ready to 'fly' soon and Hawthorn haws are turning red , those not yet plundered by squirrels. Rose hips too are turning red, the older Rosa canina climbing high into the canopy, providing easy to forage fruits for the winter birds.

Hazel nuts ripening unseen on a young Hazel tree on the river bank.

Most are plundered by hungry grey squirrels well before they ripen!

Robins (17)  were starting to sing now, mostly still quiet, short songs, from birds quite close together, no sign of urgent territorial disputes and loud competition yet, with many birds still not bothering to sing at all but sometimes utter high contact calls or alarm signals. Most were staying put under the canopies of old trees, in cover from possible downpours. Blue tits (32) an great tits (8) were active under the dense canopies of the old trees, collecting insects, mostly very quiet, not easily visible. Blackbirds (8) were even more elusive. hiding in the shadows of the thickets, only giving themselves away with alarm calls, certainly no singing. Even wrens (6) were scarcely seen today and then only when they started to sing or gave alarm calls from under the tree roots on the banks, with one dunnock seen 

lurking in the dark.

Distinctive calls above came from a group of long-tailed tits amongst the leaves, at least 3 visible but probably more, following each other in the heights and  a high-pitched call from a treecreeper was heard but not seen. Heavier birds such as chaffinches remained hidden too, with abundant food in the trees there was no need for them to forage on the ground where they could have been seen. Only one was heard. The sounds of goldfinches in several places along the river course was most welcome, their singing a reassurance that all was well and sources of food plentiful. At least 50 were present, in smaller groups either flying, singing, across from one old field maple to another, singing from blackthorn thickets, their brilliant colouring, shining out from the darkness and more on the margins of seed-rich dry patches of plants. There were so many that a bullfinch flying across went almost unnoticed - but settled in the back of a hawthorn to call.

The weather has been perfect for house sparrows, birds that love the dry dusty ground, feeding on dry dusty seeds and perching in the sun preening their dry dusty feathers, although they need water too, so the shallow river and its 'sandbanks' are ideal for refreshment. A Blackthorn thicket on a bend in the river held several house sparrows preening and singing, easily visible and other groups were seen together elsewhere, at least 50 individuals. Looking more carefully at the sparrows in the Blackthorn, other small shapes appeared to moving around in the shady background. Three were juvenile blackcaps, their movements giving them away, working lower down amongst the branches, and focussing further behind them, two blackbirds moved like shadows, then several goldfinches could be seen too, starting to sing, whilst a different bird, small and fast moving busily foraged all over the same thicket - a chiffchaff.  On such a windy day the birds have sought out a sheltered corner and share the space available whereas on calm days they will spread out everywhere along the river. 

It was windy on the wild field but low down amongst the long grasses and amongst the young willows there was plenty of shelter and warmth - a whitethroat was seen flying into one from the riverside thicket - it will be off south soon and only return in late spring next year. Plenty of wild flowers are still flourishing here with the dominant scent now given by Water Mint (Mentha aquatic) - attracting many bees and other insects, growing in damp areas. Nearby the Fleabane is still flowering well.

 Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum) on Water Mint

A green woodpecker was heard yaffling briefly in the distance and herring gulls (26) gathered overhead as it became darker with rainclouds approaching. Looking down on the shallow shady river it was so dark that a young moorhen was almost invisible, paddling downstream just making ripples in the water. As I was looking at it  - a bright splash of yellow moved on the bank - it was a fine grey wagtail tail-wagging it's way downstream walking on the shallow mud. foraging for insects at the waters edge, undisturbed amongst the roots under the steep banks. Could it still be collecting food for young? They do have second late broods as do not fly offat the end of summer. Suddenly a second grey wagtail flew very low across the river from the opposite bank and they both disappeared around the meander. Further along a great-spotted woodpecker gave a very short call from an old oak, whilst two rooks flew across over a conifer where a goldcrest arrived probably unaware of the much larger bird perched on the top - a young uncertain crow, looking out for the other 5 (total 6) along the bank where numbers of wood pigeons had gathered too, on the fence and banks of the drainage basin - about 50 were seen in various locations. A noisy jay hid amongst branches with 3 angry magpies not far away and three nuthatches called loudly from the old oaks.

The sky had become even darker as I returned to the river bank where I had seen the grey wagtails - now the oaks looked black and the water too and the rooted banks. Looking down, I saw something flying rapidly straight under along low over the water then turn rapidly and fly back then back and forth several times, appearing to catch flies here and there, small and brown with characteristic flight - not of a bird but a bat!

It was a Daubenton's Bat (Myotis daubentonii) which I have detected before on this stretch of the river but at night, not at midday!

They catch small aquatic invertebrates close to the surface of the water.

 It probably flew from it's roost to do some foraging as it had become so dark.

Green acorns on an oak - there may be a bonanza this year

Finally, on my way back I heard calls immediately above - it was a House Martin, flying alone under the low cloud, catching insects just before it started to rain.