The Wind and Rain of August

Early August started as it meant to go on, with strong winds and heavy rain showers. Sunday 6th August 2017 was very damp after heavy rain and thunderstorms the previous day, with dew on the grass and the river running higher and more swiftly. An early start to this short survey - but the sunshine didn't last before fair-weather cumulus clouds moved in. Fruits and berries were ripening fast however. The wind direction unusual, blowing straight into usually most sheltered areas. The rain had brought a spurt of growth along the banks and hedgerows which helped to form low shelter however - and tall grasses were teeming with grass moths, spiders and grasshoppers again. During sunny intervals butterflies suddenly appeared too:

 Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)  basking after very wet weather. The white edges of its wings have been worn away but it was a strong flyer over the vegetation.

A Garden spider, one of many seen today, was making its way along the

strong web strand secured to dry Dock stems towards the centre of the web which held

a pre-wrapped unidentifiable insect prey. 

Woodpigeons (about 30) were cooing lazily from trees or sitting along the fences and two collared doves flew off from the top of a Blackthorn thicket. Six magpies were present at various locations along the river together with three carrion crows.  

Ideal terrain conditions for Blackbirds (16) this morning meant that most were visible foraging on the wet grass, with a single Song thrush, whilst a few were sampling ripe Sloes on the Blackthorn. Most robins were still in hiding with only five seen, some giving short songs. Wrens were also scarce, only 6 seen - but all of them singing, joined by two silent dunnocks amongst the river bank roots.

Eventually, as the day warmed up, house sparrows (about 50) woke up too and started to sing in their hedges. Two juvenile greenfinches were seen and only one chaffinch, all silent.

Walking further along the riverbank, reaching an area with a large old maple next to an old oak, the trees suddenly revealed large numbers of very active small birds, about 40 blue tits,  twenty great tits and more than 30 Goldfinches - these singing. The blue tits (total seen today about 70) and great tits (total seen today about 30) were in a roaming flock and within a few minutes had moved on.

These birds were quiet, but calls heard high in the canopy revealed 4 long-tailed tits. 

The area these birds were moving through contained Hazels, Oaks, Maples, Ash, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Rosa canina, Elder, with nettles and brambles growing on the opposite banks. It also contained a sparrowhawk seen a few minutes later circling over the wild field and river, the sun shining through its translucent wing feathers - no shortage of prey today as many of the small birds were juveniles.

These birds are resident here but a few migrant warblers were still present, two blackcaps and three calling chiffchaffs were seen.

The best sighting was of a pair of bullfinches sat together on low bramble stems on the bank, the male very bright. 

One pied wagtail and two herring gulls were seen in flight over the river and a nuthatch was heard calling from an oak.

Dragonflies:

Male Common Darter Dragonfly on the warm and sheltered stony path.

It was watching a small fly  zipping back and forth - only its head moved, its eyes following the fly.

Although very windy, dragonflies were flying in most places, with strong-flying Southern Hawkers, Migrant Hawkers, Common Darters, and Banded Demoiselle Damselflies under the shelter of river banks.

Butterflies:

as with the dragonflies, most butterflies were keeping to sheltered areas - Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, large numbers of Speckled Woods (about 45) in wooded places and tall hedgerows, a few Common Blues on the tall field grasses, Commas, Red Admiral, Silver-washed Frittilary and last but not least, Brown Hairstreak butterflies - four or five on the high canopy of a mature Ash tree  amongst other trees on the more sheltered morning sunny side, flying erratically fast-disappearing into the foliage then reappearing.

This was intended just to observe butterflies and dragonflies - but large numbers of moths were seen too.

See future August post.

    

A Summary of Summer in July

This July has been very active on the riverside and there has been much to record as new plants mature and attract more wildlife, with the great benefit of good weather.
Butterflies were very numerous this July, with Gatekeepers easily the most frequently seen species in most locations, especially ranging along riverbank vegetation and amongst the long grasses and wild flowers in the wild field. They were not seen on areas of cut 'amenity grass' until wild flowers grew up amongst the grass. As mentioned and shown on the post for 14th July, Holly Blue butterflies began to appear again early - first seen on 9th July with subsequent sightings on 17th and 18th. Meadow Brown butterflies were present on most days, some looking rather faded. Large, Small and Green-veined Whites were also present on most days, as were solitary Red Admirals looking very fresh.
Ringlets were seen on rare damp days and Comma butterflies were seen on several days as were Small Tortoiseshell butterflies amongst young nettles or basking on warm stones. Skipper sightings became scarcer this month, most being Small Skippers, on warm dry grasses. It was good to sight a few Purple Hairstreak butterflies high in the canopies of old oak trees before the wind strengthened

and clouds covered the sun.

Meadow Brown butterfly basking

 28th July 2017

This summer has so far been good for dragonflies too, with Southern Hawkers frequently seen ranging along the riverbanks and Banded Demoiselle Damselflies being especially numerous, ranging low over the low river (mostly females) and along the river banks and grasses (mostly males), on a hot
day often preferring semi shaded locations, their brilliant metallic colours shining where the sun touched them.
The star of the riverside this July was a Male White-legged Damselfly on 17th which will be featured in an later post, with a photo. (September 30th, summer summary)

Guelder Rose berries beginning to ripen

17th July 2017

Birds (see full record on 28th July) were mostly keeping a low profile this month, moulting and recovering from nesting but with many continuing to nest and feed young. Swifts were seen on most days flying over the river course, also small groups of foraging House Martins. A red kite was seen gliding over the river course on 15th and more frequently several buzzards were seen and heard. With large numbers of juvenile birds on the riverside, sparrowhawks were waiting under cover  and could occasionally be seen dashing through the undergrowth and into hedgerows. Green woodpeckers were heard and sometimes seen on the grasses and great-spotted woodpeckers were kept busy with young in the old oaks over the river. Nuthatches could often be heard calling amongst the branches whilst the only true song came from lone song thrushes sometimes singing all day but mostly during the long evenings. Blackbirds are always present along the riverside but in July remain quiet, most having several broods of young.

Males are most often seen foraging on the damp shady long grass where the ground underneath has remained wet. Silent robins follow and benefit from the loosened earth.  

Some snatches of song from summer migrants - blackcaps could be heard and chiffchaffs remained very vocal - contact-calling. Towards the end of the month large numbers of 'yellow faced' juvenile blue tits and great tits were seen being fed by adults or foraging on insects under leaves on the trees,

most remaining silent. Goldfinches were beginning to group together to sing in dense thickets close to plentiful supplies of seeding grass and dock seed. Jays were foraging, competing with squirrels for early  Hazelnuts and ripening Hawthorn berries - leaving signs of their foraging - a carpet of empty nut shells under the trees:

Hazel nuts will not be left to ripen but will rapidly be taken by jays or squirrels

but with large crops of fruits, berries and nuts this year there will be plenty of choice.

Ripening Hawthorn berries on a young tree. Older trees have

already been raided of large amounts of more mature haws.

The Heatwave Ends

Since mid July, the riverside has gradually returned to normal, refreshed with traditional summer showers alternating with warm sunshine, the baked earth cooling down, producing a diversity of plants and flowers, with a good range of insects associated with them. Growth had been delayed during the very hot dry weather, grasses began to go to seed early and go brown, then suddenly, almost overnight new fresh green growth appeared like a second spring.

Today, 28th July was perhaps not the best day to do a wildlife survey as the sky was overcast and the southerly wind in the trees made it noisy - but the rain only arrived later, after midday. As usual at this time of the year, birds were hiding and most remained quiet - the only calls heard were those from juvenile birds demanding to be fed, or warning calls from adults sensing danger.

Despite the lack of sun, very large numbers of Gatekeeper butterflies were ranging along the riverside bank vegetation and on the wild field areas where there were tall grasses and thistles alternating with numerous patches of Bird's-foot Trefoil, Vetch and now Fleabane just starting to flower.

   Fleabane on the field today, 28th July. The flowers remain open during overcast weather, a magnet for insects, including butterflies, notably the Small Copper.

Listening carefully, numerous small calls from juvenile birds well hidden amongst dense foliage could be heard. Adult blackbirds (9) were seen foraging for grubs and worms on the grass and in muddy areas it was clear that many birds, blackbirds, song thrushes and robins had been working, probing the surface, larger birds making it much easier for smaller birds to find food. Blackbirds were seen with beaks full -carrying food across to the hedges where there were nestlings calling. Older juveniles were calling from the safely of Willow trees where adult males were flying up with 'ground food' to feed them.
Woodpigeons (30) were the most easily seen today, several cooing drowsily. Blue tits (41) and great tits (28) were difficult to see - hiding in the more sheltered thickets. Most seen were juveniles, the yellow plumage on some individuals as bright as a canary!
Normally robins are numerous, advertising their presence and guarding their territory by singing from prominent perches but only two were seen and heard today - with large numbers still present but having time off to rest and moult, gaining strength and bright new plumage after breeding. soon we will be hearing their first 'chinks' of the autumn. Dunnocks (4) were traceable by the thin high calls of their young in a dark shaded tree with Long-tailed tits (3) foraging not far away, also traced by their calls.

Bird's Foot Trefoil and Vetch on the damp meadow

Wrens (10) were more visible, some still nesting and collecting food for young, with fledged youngsters  exploring roots and fallen branches near their old nests. They may roost together in these at night. 

The loudest birds on the riverside today were nuthatches (3) one giving sudden loud alarm calls from an old maple over the river. Two others were heard calling in different locations - also giving alarm calls, warning their young. A great-spotted woodpecker, probably a juvenile called from an old riverbank oak but magpies (5) were quiet for a change. A green woodpecker called from the high drainage basin banks which are good areas for ants.

Summer migrants are still present with chiffchaffs (6) continuing to sing, both adults and juveniles contact-calling and a single blackcap giving alarm calls whilst foraging amongst the brambles over the river. Further along a whitethroat was seen flying out of the brambles - the fruits ripening fast now.

House sparrows (47) were slow to appear this morning with most deciding to stay put in their hedgerows, some calling. Only one chaffinch was heard and no greenfinches - but small groups of goldfinches were seen flying over from the wild field (12).  A jay flew across the river whilst two carrion crows were foraging on the short grass and a third was seen flying over with a discarded sandwich. Three herring gulls were flying high whilst a buzzard sailed in the strong breeze under a cloud, flying into the cloud followed by an angry herring gull.

The stars of the day were the insects, which despite the lack of sun and the presence of a strong wind

were present in good numbers.

The gatekeeper butterflies were very numerous in almost every location, along the riverbank vegetation  - ranging over the wild field, over and amongst the long grasses on both the north and south embankments:

A Gatekeeper butterfly on flowering Water Mint on the damp meadow.

One Gatekeeper was chasing a Small Skipper but most were basking on brambles and grasses, remaining closed until the sun appeared when they opened to catch the warmth, closing again immediately the sun went in, flying on to gain a warmer location.

Meadow Brown butterflies were active too, looking rather faded compared to the bright Gatekeepers.

Ringlets were seen in damper areas, low down amongst the vegetation, whilst Speckled Woods, still numerous, ranged high and low, pausing to bask on bramble leaves. High amongst the canopies of two old trees, an Oak and a Maple, erratically flying small butterflies were seen - Purple Hairstreak butterflies, their action typical of the Hairstreak.

A Red Admiral was seen in a windy location, basking in the shelter of a steep river bank on the Arun on the brambles.

Two Southern Hawker Dragonflies were seen ranging back and forth under the trees and several Banded Demoiselle Damselflies brightened the river banks when the sun emerged.

On the wild field and the embankments, hundreds of small grass moths flew up from the damp grasses, always flying a short distance then landing to perch on blades of grass, rapidly swinging around to the underside where they remained hidden from view, making it very difficult to identify them. Small Grasshoppers and Crickets

were numerous too, especially on the banks of the large pond - and also easily disturbed.  At least one was identified as a Roesel's Bush Cricket (Metrioptera roeselii).

Gatekeepers Guard the Banks

July 14th 2017 - July so far has been very hot but more humid with recent rainfall on 11th and 12th soaking into the ground - gradually replenishing the river supply. Large numbers of butterflies have been ranging along the river banks and through the long meadow grasses. Meadow Browns are still flying but Gatekeepers are more numerous now both in the fields and on the banks and the long-flying Speckled Woods continue to chase in the dappled shade under and through the trees.

Small Tortoiseshell butterflies often prefer dry, stoney places:

This Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen today investigating fresh nettle shoots

springing up from disturbed ground, then choosing a flat stone on which to rest and bask

in the warm sun for  while.

It may be a female searching out suitable nettles on which to lay her eggs. When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars will feed on the fresh tender nettle leaves.

Brambles are continuing to flower and many sunny patches have small green fruits. Holly Blues are now appearing again:

A small fragile-looking Holly Blue butterfly keeping to the shade

where brambles only get the sun in evening. (9th July)

Gatekeeper butterfly - showing the underwing - not to be confused with the 

Meadow Brown. Gatekeepers are restless and can frequently be seen chasing each other

and other species of butterfly and insects away from their 'territory'.

This alert one is perched on a bramble leaf on the river bank  (10th July).

Red Admiral butterflies have been quite numerous - but they usually fly alone. This one was today seen flying from tree to tree over the grass, frequently perching then moving on. I was standing in a glade and it twice perched on my shoulder but then returned to its favourite perch in the sun. 

Red Admiral today 14th July 2017 on the riverside vegetation

On 10th July, the day before the rain came,  clouds had cleared fast after a cool start. Huge numbers of butterflies were present, most on the south embankment amongst the long grasses and dock. Gatekeepers were the most numerous but Large skippers, Small Skippers and Meadow Browns were all present in good numbers with a few Large White, Small White and Green-veined White butterflies too. Banded Demoiselle damselflies were present too, some over the water, others over the grasses.

Only very seldom seen here, a Silver-washed Fritillary glided down through the trees over the river, looking almost wren-sized and ver bright.

In the same area, many juvenile blue tits and great tits were bathing in the dappled shade, flying up to perch and preen - occasionally attempting to catch any butterfly which flew past.

Long Days and Short Nights on the Riverside

The end of June 2017 - it seemed like a very long month with endless days - but now the nights are lengthening again. The heatwave ended but the days have remained warm - good conditions for butterflies prevailed - far more have been seen already than last year which was a bad year for most species of mid-summer butterflies.

Today, 30th June started overcast but brightened later, the air was filled with the scent of Meadowsweet.  It was good to see Gatekeeper butterflies now ranging along the banks, taking advantage of the weak sunlight:

A very fresh male Gatekeeper butterfly on Bramble flowers on the river bank today,

 30th June 2017

There were still plenty of Meadow Brown, Ringlets,  Skippers (good numbers of Small Skippers, in a local colony) and Speckled Wood butterflies  with Banded Demoiselle damselflies perched on Nettles and numerous bees and Hoverflies foraging on the scented flowering Meadowsweet. 

A Dragonfly, probably freshly emerged, was seen on the river bank, basking in the warmth:

This is a Common Darter dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum),

probably an immature female.

 The wings are almost invisible - but are held forward. The dark spots near the end of each wing are just visible.

Day and Night

The days during mid-June were becoming hotter and the nights remaining hot too - it was easy to awaken at 03.45 just as dawn was breaking and hear birdsong. On 20th June,  by 04.00 the Dawn Chorus was well underway - the sky in the east was brightening and it was time to sing! A 'curtain' of song, no one bird dominating - a perfect chorus, blackbirds, song thrushes, wrens,  a few robins and warblers, their song echoing along the river course. By 04.45 cries from overflying gulls could be heard with the first hesitant calls from house sparrows in the eves. By 05.00 the mass chorus had receded, with just a few individual birds taking over from the hundreds.

 A few days earlier, on the evening of Friday 16th, after the breeze had dropped, insects over the river course were being snapped up by numerous swifts - and a song-thrush was singing loudly. The sky was still light in the west at 22.00 when I started a bat survey, but it was completely dark by 23.00.

The bats were easily visible at first - mostly Common Pipistrelle - only just flying from their roosts in the old oaks along the bat flyway, whizzing very low,  just clearing my head. Most bats were detected along the river course, as this is where they find the most insects. There were large numbers, including Soprano Pipistrelle with some Serotines - and a few Daubentons bats low over the water. The sky remained clear but it soon became completely dark under the trees. The song thrush had stopped singing - and the bats were invisible - but using the bat detector, very audible, echolocating.

Midsummer Heat - before the rain

As predicted in the previous post, June is nearing its end with some torrential rain today, Tuesday 27th June 2017.  The rain started around midday, after almost three weeks of hot, dry weather. The river has been flowing clear all the time but at low levels, attracting more and more birds as the surrounding land dried up. Foraging for insects for nestlings and fledged young amongst the long grasses and wild flowers in the riverine habitat remained good, with early morning dew keeping the ground surface damp. As each day warmed up, butterflies emerged in large numbers, with the first Gatekeeper butterfly seen this morning on wild Honeysuckle (Woodbine) growing along the fence, before the rain.  

Large and Small Skipper butterflies were first seen on 19th June -another hot and sunny day, on the wild field and over the river banks, some being chased by Meadow Brown butterflies.

Skipper numbers have steadily increased and their numbers are greater here this year.

A Large Skipper male (Ochlodes venata) butterfly on the river bank (Monday 26th June 2017)

hoping for a female to fly past.

The difference between Large Skipper and Small Skipper is not in the size but in the markings:

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) Monday 26th June 2017- these love tall grasses and disappear into the dense 'forest' of stalks to rest, out of sight. The wing markings are plainer and less dark than on the Large Skipper.

This morning, still very dry but with rain threatening, birds on the riverside were very active, collecting food and feeding up - they certainly knew it would rain. A fine grey wagtail was flying swiftly along the river course - just above the water and great spotted woodpecker juveniles were heard calling from the trees. Several song thrushes were seen foraging under the hedgerows together with blackbirds and robins. A common whitethroat was calling from a thicket across the river and a blackcap was singing in a Willow. Above, a common buzzard was gliding in circles evading the idle threats of a carrion crow which soon gave up and plunged into a treetop. Blue tits, great tits and house sparrows (mostly juveniles) were all foraging low on the banks or bathing.

The appearance of large numbers of Ringlet butterflies (Aphantopus hyperantus) usually means rain, or at least more humid weather - and sure enough it had been more humid over the past few days, with Ringlets joining Meadow Browns on the river banks - but preferring dappled shade, like the Speckled Woods.

Yesterday, 26th June was a fine sunny day, although cooler - and there were good numbers of Banded Demoiselle Damselflies visible foraging over the river from perches on overhanging leaves, the females   

being quite numerous their emerald-green bodies shining  in the sun over the dark water…

Compare this female Banded Demoiselle damselfly (Calopteryx splendens) with the female 

Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly on a previous post - this one has green wings (also with a white spot, but brighter) and a bright green body and thorax, rather than a bronze-green body and bronze, brownish wings with a dull white spot.

Although still not easy to spot when amongst vegetation, this Banded Demoiselle female certainly shines when catching insects over water.

The Banded Demoiselle Damselfly is found in old flowing streams and rivers rather than ponds,

although they often fly away from their rivers, they will return to breed. 

The first Southern Hawker Dragonflies (Aeshna cyanea) were flying out earlier this year, probably because the heat had warmed up the still water (19th June) of one of the nearby ponds:

This Southern Hawker dragonfly was resting - quite well camouflaged

- hanging up amongst the river bank vegetation. It's much larger 

and heavier than the damselflies and can easily be seen flying to and fro hunting for flies

on the riverside.

It is clutching some dry vegetation and appears to be clinging on to the dry stem with

just one foot. Its eyes, large pale grey-green, are partially in the shadow of leaves above it.

The dragonflies usually perch or hang with wings outspread, unlike the damselflies which perch with folded, or semi- folded wings.

Mid-summer Meadows

The weather had been steadily getting warmer - and it seemed a good time to record events along the riverside before the summer suddenly ended, as it often does in June, with torrential rain.

Wednesday 14th June 2017 started bright, with no wind, just a slight breeze. Singing blackbirds dominated the soundscape - although some were not easily seen amongst the trees and thickets, now in full leaf. The chances of seeing birds were much reduced but loud song gave them away. The river, running low but clear formed a focus for birds in the hot weather, providing cool shade and water to drink and most importantly in which to bathe. Overhanging branches formed preening posts where birds could sit in the sun, preen and dry off. Blackbirds (26) seemed to command continuous territories along the river - I was never out of earshot of their song. Those singing now will probably be nesting again, raising a new brood whilst wrens (32)  - also singing loudly  all along the shady banks are certainly still nesting. Faint, high-pitched but persistent calls could be heard near a bridge - I looked down and saw an adult wren taking food into a hollow under the roots of an old oak. These birds have the perfect habitat here, with moss and grasses for building nests and many choices of hiding places.

I had walked half the distance without seeing of hearing a robin, but eventually found several, all silent, in various places foraging in dense shade (7). Some may be nesting but many will be hiding away, moulting. 

Out in sunnier areas, grasses and wildflowers are abundant, forming exceptionally fine feeding grounds for bees and other insects this year.

Meadow Brown butterfly on buttercup

Meadow Brown butterflies are more numerous this year than ever before, being particularly fond of wild flowers growing amongst tall wild grasses - but could also be seen ranging along flowering bramble on he river banks. This habitat also suits house sparrows which are also numerous this spring (over 100) with fledged young everywhere, chasing adults, asking to be fed, even when they can feed themselves. Adults will soon be raising the next broods, providing the weather remains fine.

Back in the shade, three dunnocks were seen and heard( two of them juveniles) - whilst Speckled Wood butterflies circled, rose high and low over the water along banks lined with brambles and tall trees.

Speckled Wood butterfly on bramble leaf

In the same area a mallard gave soft calls, out of sight from the banks.

Blue tits (40) moved across from shade to sun and back, never settling unless they are preening after bathing in the river. There were many vocal juveniles accompanying the adults, learning fast how to glean insects from the undersides of leaves, no shortage of food here. Seeing several in a blackthorn thicket and looking more closely across the river, many other birds were with them. All had been bathing in the river immediately below the thicket: blackbirds, great tits, house sparrows and chaffinches were gathered together drying off, silently.
Chaffinches however, have been more vocal in general this year, or perhaps there are more of them (6). This is still low, but numbers may be recovering after a gradual decline, together with the greenfinches - two juveniles were peering out from a thicket across the river.
Goldfinches are usually hiding and quiet at this time of the year but at least five were seen, chattering together in an old Field Maple tree.
Further along the Arun, a juvenile goldcrest was busy foraging in a dense conifer, probably not alone but the blazing sun prevented further sightings.
The playing field was empty of bird life, with usual occupants foraging elsewhere, with one lonely herring gull sailing overhead. Nine magpies were seen in various trees - unmissable, as fledged juveniles were loudly begging for food from reluctant parents, chasing them around in the branches. Only fifteen woodpigeons were seen, several coooing or flapping around in the trees. Four collared doves, (two pairs) were nesting again amongst ivy. Carrion crows (10) were noisy too with one spotted in a clumsy attempt to predate the contents of a nest in a Hazel tree. On seeing me, it tried, with a great deal of crashing through leaves and twigs to get away and flew off. In the distance, a total of four rooks were flying into the woods. Starlings were out foraging (47), some 'flycatching' again, taking advantage of the numbers of high-flying insects over the river.

No trace of the place where the old Ash tree was removed by the EA -

new natural growth covers the bare ground left by the winch tractor and JCB digger

during March this year

Moving along to the location of the old fallen Ash tree, removed by the EA earlier this year, three juvenile great tits  whizzed past into the dense bank vegetation almost covering the old roots lodged in the bank, left as habitat for wildlife. A pair of great tits had moved in on the day that the old tree was winched away and have clearly taken over, nesting in the root. Now their young have fledged but still forage and possibly roost in amongst the other old trees.Elsewhere several families of great tits were seen foraging (21 total). It is good to see that the surrounding ground, left as a large, bare muddy patch in March, is now green, with a good variety of native plants. Wild Garlic was soon covering the banks later in March and now Dog Rose is in flower on the opposite bank, all growing naturally.

Even better - a nuthatch was calling in an adjacent Ash - its call indicative of the presence of young and a second nuthatch was heard giving an alarm call nearby. This is good news indeed, as nuthatches have traditionally nested in the old Ash which fell - last year they nested in a hole in a horizontal branch of the same tree, where the tree fell. Three pairs of nuthatches in total are occupying territories along the river, with five heard calling this time.

Summer migrants, the warblers were present but most well hidden in their thickets. Chiffchaffs (13) were very busy, most adults singing whilst numbers of juveniles foraged amongst the leaves, oe or two trying out agile 'flycatching' which they do well. Three blackcaps were seen and heard making short songs - perched on willows over the river whilst two willow warblers and one garden warbler were singing too - and a common whitethroat was singing amongst hawthorn branches across the bank of the Arun.
A common buzzard drifted over, this time unaccompanied by the usual gang of noisy herring gulls and crows.

Back amongst the wild flowers, bees, hoverflies and butterflies were numerous feeding on White Clover and bramble flowers:

A Hoverfly, sometimes called a 'Marmalade Hoverfly'

(Episyrphus balteatus)

collecting pollen and nectar on a bramble flower.

This is a very important insect to have on the riverside as not only is it a good pollinator, but its larvae consume large numbers of Aphids of all kinds.

As mentioned, Meadow Brown butterflies were numerous in many different habitats but a few Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were present too, along the nettles on the banks - and two Comma butterflies and a Large White butterfly were flying over the steep bramble banks.
Lastly,  Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies were seen over the river and good numbers now of Banded Demoiselle Damselflies, both male and female, with some electric blue males  ranging further afield off the river, exploring.