The Elusive Demoiselle

Today, 11th June 2017, the weather improved after a cloudy start, with insects very active over the warm shallows of the river and over sheltered banks and riverside grasses.

Only visible because it was flying over the river bank, a female Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly chose a leaf in the sun to perch and lay in wait for prey:

The male Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly is usually far easier to spot, with its brilliant electric blue body and dark wings (see previous posts) but the female is subtly beautiful too, with its greenish-bronze body and brown-bronze wings.The wings have a dull whitish spot near the ends. 

Looking down onto the river from a bridge upstream, thousands of aquatic and other insects could be seen. After a few moments - a disturbance - a brilliant metallic green damselfly suddenly flew across, grabbing one of the insects and returning to perch on a Willow leaf hanging low over the water. It consumed the insect and resumed watching, then flew out over the water again, grabbing another insect and returning to the same leaf. It was a female Banded Demoiselle Damselfly. More were present - 

catching insects downstream - flashed of green over the water. They grab prey in their feet and secure them using their 'spiked' legs.

Bees were foraging all over the Bramble-covered banks, exceptionally numerous in the sun whilst more were foraging on the sweet White Clovers covering the level grass. It was a good time to do a survey -

the result was an average of 8 bees per square meter on the Clover covered areas - a varied mix of Bumblebees, Honeybees and others, working at different speeds. The White Clover flowers suit short-tongued bees but long-tongued bees will use the flowers as well. 

Honeybee on Bramble flower

Volucella pellucens 

Pellucid Hoverfly amongst the brambles

The Bees are back

Friday 9th June 2017 - After torrential rain and stormy winds, the weather was calmer today, although still breezy, sending clouds rushing across the landscape. Overhead the loud cries of five herring gulls and a single carrion crow could be heard over the wind in the poplars. The birds were mobbing a common buzzard, which did not seem too concerned. The river was lower already after running high after the rain:

The river looking upstream, wind ruffling the surface.

The previous day swifts were enjoying the windy conditions flying under low clouds along the river course flying very low at times.

The sun today was very warm, bringing out Meadow Brown butterflies where White Clover, Buttercups and Common Mouse-ear had taken over from the dreaded Ryegrass, providing carpets of flowers attracting a large variety of bees and Hoverflies. Brambles on the verges and river bank were in flower too with large numbers of bees working their way along. The first Banded Demoiselle Damselflies were now also ranging along the banks, looking for large leaves on which to perch and warm up. The Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies are usually first to emerge but the Banded demoiselles seem to have followed later this year.

Common Mouse-ear (Cerastium fontanum)- small delicate flowers

amongst the grasses.

White Clover - fortunately taking over from the useless 'Amenity' 

Rygrass. Bee surveys will be done when the wind drops to find out the number of bees of all kinds to be found in one square meter. 

White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) on White Clover

White-tailed Bumblebee on Dog Rose - the numerous Dog Rose plants that flourish along the river banks have suddenly come into flower as the Bramble flowers finish, ensuring a 

continuous supply of food for insects.

Birds find the greater diversity of the grasses excellent for foraging too.

Blackcaps were singing along the river and one silent male was seen moving around amongst the old Ash tree branch pile searching for food for its young before flying off to the Blackthorn thicket,  beak laden. I looked back at that moment and saw a kingfisher flying over the river, its electric blue back shining in the sun.

Song thrushes, blackbirds, wrens and many more chaffinches than usual were singing, together with chiffchaffs, with robins, blue and great tits and a dunnock foraging. Nesting is continuing, newly fledged young still being fed by adults amongst the branches, whilst other birds are still incubating or feeding young in the nest, many will have second broods.

A short detour through the wild field revealed orchids amongst the various damp meadow grasses:

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

I think

Grey Wagtails Fledge

Way back in April many birds started nesting early along riverine locations, an ideal habitat providing protection from strong gales and late frosts, with the river microclimate always several degrees warmer.

In northern upland areas river water may well be freezing cold, comprising melted snow - but here in the south the water comes from springs and rainfall draining off the land via ditches. As soon as the water is warm enough for insects to emerge, birds will have food for their young when hatched. Fresh leaves on the riverside trees will provide food for caterpillars which in turn are collected by birds.

Grey Wagtails (Motacilla cinaria), which do not migrate, stay with us all year, maintaining territories, usually nesting early. This year two fledgelings were seen enjoying the low but still flowing river, feeding on insects, perched low on river logs, their long tails wagging continuously watched from a distance by parents.

Grey Wagtail fledgelings, well hidden, catching insects

on the low river  - 14th May 2017

This year it was very obvious that it was going to be an 'Oak before Ash' year with Ash trees remaining bare whilst Oak trees came into full leaf. This varies from year to year, indicating variations in climatic conditions:

The first Ash tree leaves appear - 14th May 2017

seen here in front of an old oak in full leaf.

but this young oak, like all young oaks, has only just come into leaf too -

14th May 2017 - having retained last years brown leaves well into the spring,

appearing to some to be very dead.

An ever-changing variety of wild plants clothe the riverside

during the spring and summer. Here a mixture of Cow Parsley and

Green Alkanet flourish on 16th May 2017

The full report was done on 2nd May 2017 (see previous post) but here are some more observations for May:

 8th May   -     Swifts seen over the river course

Many House Sparrows fledging

12th May   -   Jay plundering House Sparrow nest

14th May    -   Grey Wagtails, adult and fledgelings, calling.

Blackbirds, several blackcaps on top of Hawthorn, willow warbler, chiffchaffs, magpie, herring gulls over, hobby, fast flying in a low circle and out of sight over basin 1 alongside the river,  common whitethroat, dunnock, house sparrows, robin, great tits, blue tits, wood pigeons and carrion crow.

Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly,

Several Orange Tip butterflies, Large White, Speckled Wood, two chasing Holly Blues, and Speckled Wood chasing another Holly Blue butterfly

16th May   -  Song thrush singing loudly, blackcap, blackbirds singing and foraging, starlings catching aerial insects, goldfinches, greenfinch calling.

17th May    -   mallard pair, singing song thrushes

19th May   -     Red Admiral butterflies in perfect condition ranging every low over young nettles on the river bank, looking for warm sites in which to lay eggs. Many birds singing - two singing blackcaps, garden warbler singing, song thrush singing, blackbirds singing, wren singing.

Numbers of newly- fledged house sparrows taking first tentative flights over the path from hedgerows to river bank trees. Adults still collecting food - an abundance of insects, including caterpillars  present after the rain.

21st May   -    Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies-  and on and around pond:  Large Red Damselflies, Azure Damselflies mating, also frogs and water boatmen.

23rd May   -   more Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies over river banks nettles and swifts over the river course

   

Mayday Mayday...

A few days ago this would have been the call, as the earth dried up, river levels dropped further and there was no rain in sight. Fortunately this all changed about a week ago as the first significant rain started to fall and we have now had reasonable amounts, enough to refresh the river and sink into the ground.

Going back to the beginning however, after a cool and damp start on 1st, on the 2nd day of May 2017, the riverside was echoing with birdsong - loud, rejoicing in the damp. Rapid changes had been taking place over the past few days - a full record was needed.

Blackbird song dominated at first in the cool but clear morning, the river was still low but growth everywhere alone the river, in shade and sun was flourishing still with undergrowth trapping the moisture,under green leave, keeping the earth below moist. Wild Garlic and Cuckooflower were still in flower and damage caused by one night of frost was small. Young Hazels and Guelder Rose shrubs were growing well 

Over the river, clouds of insects, midges could be seen on the surface of the water but at present there was no sign of Dragonflies either around the ponds or the river. Apart from the young oaks which were just in bud, the old oaks were in full leaf, their bright light green foliage shining in the sun, whereas  Ash trees were only just coming into leaf, with very young terminal leaves having been caught by the frost. It's definitely 'Oaks before Ash' this year. A good mix of Meadow buttercup and Dandelions on the embankments was attracting a variety of insects such as Bumblebees,  honeybees and Hoverflies,

all good pollinators. The air was filled with floating seeds and pollen from catkins.

A dandelion seed head about to cast its seed to the winds

Singing blackbirds (total 34, singing or foraging) eventually gave way to singing chiffchaffs 

(17) and a multitude of wrens (22) most having time to sing whilst others flew across from bank to bank taking food to their young. Song thrushes (8), some singing very loudly, were distributed along the river keeping to the damp shady places. One flew low past my foot into the base of a hedgerow where it probably has a nest. They have persisted in foraging on the grass despite the hard ground, finding grubs amongst the grass roots. With young to feed, they need to forage continuously throughout the day but always have the exposed river bed mud down under the banks in which to forage. They are more numerous this year, as are the blackbirds. Blue tits (25) were busy feeding young with caterpillars from

the oaks or drying off after bathing low on the river bed. Some great tits (13) were calling loudly

although most would be attending nests with young now. Long-tailed tits (6) were still feeding young in some of their bank nests amongst the brambles, a good view of one with a caterpillar in its beak seen just before plunging into the deep undergrowth hiding its nest.

Robins were continuing to sing loudly (18) all along the river, perching on sign posts and prominent branches. 

This robin continued to sing loudly, watching me closely. It is perched in a mature Elder bush which will produce berries during the summer - a prime territory which the bird will protect.

House Sparrows (66) occupied numerous hedgerows, bramble patches, thickets and river bank vegetation, starting to sing as the day warmed up. Most were nesting but males still continue to sing.

Chaffinches (4) were more vocal now as were two greenfinches.

Always present in large numbers but on this occasion mostly remaining hidden - were goldfinches -

about 12 singing in a Hawthorn thicket now fully in leaf. Dunnocks (2) had taken charge of a new territory, old branches, in March and have remained there to nest low in the new undergrowth whilst a moorhen was seen feeding in the river shallows near its nest - it is fortunate that the river has remained shallow for so long, allowing many birds to nest and rear young without the threat of flooding. 

Above, starlings (56) were performing aerobatics, fly-catching over the river course where the clouds of insects are most dense, swirling upwards beyond the treetops, not as graceful as swifts - but most persistent and energetic, leaving carrion crows (5) sitting in the trees. A small group of herring gulls (16) flew over, calling, whilst three rooks foraged on the short grass field. Jackdaws were calling but only one was visible above distant trees. Much closer, a great-spotted woodpecker was drumming and another was seen further downstream flying across to its nest hole in an old tree (total 2).

Nuthatches were nesting and keep silent at this time, with only a very short call heard from one. 

Two goldcrests were seen foraging with a clear view of one moving about in a willow, close to a conifer, the other bird was flying across and back between conifer and willow, probably feeding young in the conifer.  At intervals along the river, a total of 6 magpies were seen and about 20 woodpigeons.

The health of the riverside ecology  can be understood when recording the visiting summer migrants, the warblers, and in winter the migrant thrushes. This spring has seen good numbers of warblers deciding to stay and nest here. Singing blackcaps were spread out along the banks in thickets and willows, 7 today, with common whitethroats (5) singing in different places and two 'dancing' over dense brambles on the banks. A willow warbler was singing from an old willow and two garden warblers were heard singing and glimpsed in Hawthorn and blackthorn thickets. 

A view of the 'scrape' 2nd May 2017, with the banks of the river Arun in the foreground, the basin being a very precious wildlife habitat providing a 'reservoir' of very shallow water and mud, even in these dry conditions. 

In the vicinity of the scrape, a grey heron lifted off where it had probably been watching out for frogs and flew off north.

Two linnets flew across the river  when a buzzard was seen flying in leisurely circles above. The stars today however were two skylarks in song flights over the rough field beyond the river and scrape.  They were still singing and flying high when I returned later.

Amongst all the small flying insects over the river, eagerly snapped up by birds, were two Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfies, Peacock butterfly, Large Whites, Speckled Woods, Holly Blues and good numbers of Orange Tip butterflies and a few Bumblebees.

Waiting for Rain - April ends

30th April 2017 and it looks like rain after a very long dry spell.

The river is still flowing well and the river banks remain damp and green but elsewhere on the riverside the ground is hardening - although the trees and grasses still have plenty of moisture under the surface.

Lowering clouds are again trapping small flying insects over the water.

It looks like a traditional May Bank Holiday tomorrow - rain...

Here's another photo of the first Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly showing the wings:

It emerged on 24th April (see previous post) sharing the river environment with many other insects - no shortage of prey.

This was not the first damselfly to appear this month - the first was a Large Red Damselfly observed

on 21st April flying strongly over the river.

The temperature of the water is the key to their emergence rather than the air temperature and with very little rain, leading to the river running more shallow than usual, the water has a chance to warm up in places where meanders slow its pace and the sunlight warms the river bed. We'll probably see fewer pond dragonflies this spring - unless it rains before they dry out.

The spring green banks of the Upper Arun where Orange Tip butterflies are ranging,  blackcaps and chiffchaffs singing and grey herons are hunting frogs.

A Record for the Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies

Monday 24th April 2017 - was 

a day to remember, marking the earliest emergence of a Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly to be recorded here on the river - at least for the past six years.

The first Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly male observed to have emerged this year 2017 on 'our' stretch of the river Arun. It remained motionless, perched on a fresh nettle leaf on the river bank, warming up. The eyes will become less opaque as it matures and it will be ambushing insect prey for a few days.

This is not just a few days early - as looking back the recorded first observations here were:

2012 - 21st May

2013 - 31st May

2014 - 18th May

2015 - 25th May

2016 - 13th May

2017 - 24th April

These dates, being observations, could be a few days late but not several weeks late.    

            Here is the full record for Monday 24th April 2017:

Conditions were good, with hazy sunshine, cool but no wind. Hawthorn was now in full blossom, the Blackthorn blossom mostly gone except in shady patches late to blossom with Hawthorn only just in leaf. Flowering Cow Parsley is now flowering well, dominating the river bank flora, growing up through young nettles. The young oaks are bare, having now lost last years dried brown leaves but with plenty of new small leaf buds. The old oaks have very fresh green leaves, with some trees burdened with an abundance of catkins.

 Here oak catkins outnumber fresh leaves hanging over the

flowering Wild Garlic on the river bank.

After recent strong winds bunches of these fragile twigs can be found on the ground - just self pruning.

Ground Ivy, Dead Nettle, Meadow Buttercup and dandelions add to the flora on the banks, with clumps of Cuckooflower still flowering in places.

Very dark clouds first seen in the distance were now fast approaching, bringing with them clouds of insects, small midges moving in swarms in the air over the river and fields - welcomed by damselflies and birds. The day grew dark for a while but the clouds brought no rain and it soon brightened up. As I was looking at the clouds, a kestrel flew to a standstill against the strengthening breeze and hovered for a while. Below a nuthatch called a 'spring' nesting' call from an old oak.

House sparrows started to sing amongst the Hawthorn hedges  (60+) and many ventured down to bathe in the now shallow parts of the river, flying up completely soaked to shake and preen on branches in the hazy sun. Others were feeding on the remaining Dock seed, popular too with goldfinches (40+) chaffinches (7), and greenfinches (3) whilst other birds, robins and blackbirds, foraged for insects in the still-damp earth underneath the Dock leaves and long grasses. Any plant with moisture trapping characteristics is valuable to wildlife during long spells of dry weather such as we are experiencing at present, especially now, during the nesting season, when insects are a priority. As soon as the clouds of insects appeared, groups of starlings (c60) appeared from their day-roosts, flying across gaps in the trees, zig-zagging all over the place,  aerial insect-catching - very different from their usual direct flight-style. Later they could be seen feeding amongst the long grass. A group of 5  linnets  flew across the dock and collected a single very bright linnet which flew up from feeding on seed on a dry Dock stalk.

There were more blackbirds than expected (29), some singing strongly from prominent perches whilst others foraged on the grass and undergrowth, all keeping close to the river - the main source of water for drinking, bathing and insects in the mud. There were also more song thrushes than expected (12) with several continuing to sing whilst others foraged under hedges close to their nest locations, often standing still for a while, watching and listening for movements of insects on the ground. 

Wrens (28) however out-sang all the other birds along the river, forming a continuous line of song - holding territories adjacent to each other, certainly within earshot of their neighbours. I was never outside a wren territory. The other most dominant singing bird was the  robin (15)  - it was interesting to note that both the wren and the robin were the first birds to move in, within minutes, when contractors made piles of old twigs and rotten branches from fallen trees earlier this year, and have remained to guard their new territories; most robins seen were singing or watching from prominent branches, guarding their carefully hidden nests. Two Dunnocks were seen foraging but none singing, they are also busy nesting in the undergrowth. In the river itself a Mallard pair was seen and three more flew over the river.(5 total)

The birds most obviously nesting were blue  tits (14) and great tits  (15) as far fewer were seen than usual - some were singing but most were obviously not flying any distance to collect caterpillars for their nesting mates or hatched young. Long-tailed tits (3) were again seen in the same nest areas as previously, just dodging out to collect food immediately adjacent to their nests. 

A silent jay (1),  and five noisy carrion-crows moved around amongst the old oaks whilst three Jackdaws headed for the conifers. Only one gold crest was seen moving fast from branch to branch in a different conifer, with branches now swaying in the increasing wind. Overhead a sparrowhawk was flying with the wind whilst four herring gulls circled high over a drainage basin where magpies (5) searched around, watched by the ever-present woodpigeons (28) in their high seats on fences and oaks.

They seemed to be just sitting in pairs, contemplating the view. Collared doves remained hidden amongst ivy, cooing (3).

Hawthorn blossom (May flowers) - in April..

The migrant warblers have timed their arrivals here to coincide with the profusion of insects and river bank trees such as the willows bearing catkins and coming into leaf together with the flowering of blossom on the hedgerows and fruit trees. One willow warbler was heard singing together with numerous chiffchaffs (15) all along the river with common whitethroats (3) adding to the song from the river bank brambles and blackthorn despite the construction activity talking place close by.

Blackcaps (8) are now more numerous and singing loudly in their chosen locations, in the willows or the riverbank blackthorn and hawthorn. There was a sudden loud yaffle from a green woodpecker across the grass. Back downstream the first Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly was observed on a fresh nettle leaf but it was not the only 'star appearance' of the day - as looking down onto the river, suddenly, out of the steep bank, a kingfisher appeared, flying very low up the river along a straight stretch, disappearing around a bend, bright blue back shining in the sunlight. A fine sight!

Butterflies were not numerous on this cool and mixed dark and light day but several Holly Blues were seen over the brambles and good numbers of Speckled Woods which don't need strong sunlight. A few Orange Tips were seen (male and females) and a single Small Tortoiseshell butterfly. Large bumblebees braving the cold were Bombus terrestris and red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidaries.

Amongst the numerous small insects were good numbers of Hoverflies…..

This Hoverfly is probably Syrphus ribesii - busy feeding on a Dandelion flower - worth its weight in gold!

April Firsts on the Riverside

April is always a month marking the first appearances of birds and insects after a winter spent on warmer shores or, for some insects,  hidden away in hibernation.

Here the first half of this month has seen many early appearances, certainly compared with this time last year. High pressure has prevailed now for a long time, maintaining good weather, mostly warm and clear but in recent days becoming colder again with a chill northerly wind.

Orange tip butterflies had already appeared in late March (see previous post) and became more and more numerous around their food plant, the Cuckooflower which is also more common everywhere this year. Holly Blue butterflies appeared early too and are still numerous.

The first blossom buds appeared early this month on the Crab Apple trees, with most other fruit trees blossoming now.

Crab Apple blossom 11th April 2017

On 4th April 2017 a female blackcap was seen in the brambles, with a male blackcap singing in amongst the Blackthorn blossom so dense that the bird was almost invisible. Further downstream a willow warbler was singing its fine song from a Blackthorn branch over the river, with chiffchaffs seen clearly high up in tree tops singing loudly.  Blackbirds were busy collecting food for young and a fine mistle thrush was seen perched motionless on a branch.

On 5th April the first Speckled Wood butterfly was seen on a hedge alongside the river - and since then the population has increased day by day, with more Orange tips, Small Tortoiseshell and Holly Blues seen too.

Another fine day on 7th April - a green woodpecker was yaffling loudly on the grass whilst a nuthatch called from an oak; chiffchaffs continued to sing with goldfinches joined by greenfinches singing from high in the still-bare trees. It was good to see that the long-tailed tits were still nesting in the brambles - the weather has been kind with river levels remaining low of now.

April 10th marked the arrival of the first whitethroat - heard singing well amongst a bramble thicket, accompanied in song by a willow warbler and a blackcap.

Another first here on 11th April was the presence of a Brimstone butterfly ranging along the bank after coming out of winter hibernation. This butterfly would have first emerged as a butterfly around August time last year, 2016 when it would have been busy on Teasels and Thistles, feeding up to gain weight to see it over the winter which it would have spent in a wooded area or safely sheltered in a Holly or Ivy bush. The warmth and sunlight would have awakened it this spring, when it re-emerged.

This first Brimstone butterfly, on re-emerging, was attracted to the

 bright yellow of the  Dandelions on the bank

This is a female, lighter in colour than the male. She will be searching for a Buckthorn 

bush in leaf - easy to find here as there are Buckthorn bushes not far along the river bank. The eggs will form the next generation of Brimstones which will emerge at the end

of the summer.

Dandelions are excellent plants for pollinating insects such as bees and should be protected, definitely not mown down!

Wild Garlic is now flowering all along shady areas on the river bank under the trees.

Like most flowering wild plants this spring, it is spreading along the river, increasing the diversity of 

plant life here.