The Day of the Water Snake Natrix natrix

Much warmer today with continuing fine weather, so returned for another study of the damselfly emergence along the river - but as soon as I looked into the water, there, swimming leisurely along downstream in Boldings Brook, was a very fine large Grass Snake. If it had not been swimming it would have been very well camouflaged amongst fallen twigs and pieces of branch on the river bed. Its beautiful markings also gave it away - raising its head it showed a smart light yellow collar and the dark bands along the whole length of its body were clearly visible under water in the sun. It was well over one meter long, probably a female. Click on the photo below and scroll to the bottom of the page for a larger view. You can count the dark bands along its length.

Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) 

It then swam out of the deeper river into a pile of twigs in the shallows and seemed to look at me with a bright beady eye, the round iris clearly visible. It turned and swam across to the other bank and started to wind its way up the bank taking a zigzag route and pausing now and then to soak up the sun, its tongue flicking continuously. It then quickly moved downstream, through the bank vegetation about a meter above the water and disappeared under overhanging nettles and dry grasses, still muddy from the high water.

 Grass Snake takes the Zigzag route up the steep river bank. 

If its a female it may well be searching for a nice dark warm spot in which to lay its eggs.

 Above - probably a freshly emerged Large Red Damselfly,

its vivid colours not yet evident, perching on a blade of grass whilst it transforms.

There were many Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies and Large Red damselflies again on the river but surveying along the Arun upstream there were fewer than on Boldings Brook, the nature of the river being different in character. 

The Day of the Damselflies

Today, warm sunshine at last, with a slight breeze, perfect for the emergence of Damselflies on the river which is now running lower and less swiftly than of late.

Damselfly emergence is an important occasion on the river, it can tell us more about water quality and the all encompassing health of the river than observance and sample testing.

It is so good to see them emerge as they are very sensitive to pollution and would not be found here if the river water quality and ecology was poor.

A fine male Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly (Calopteryx virgo)

on river bank nettles, its metallic blue-green body shining in the sun. 

The dark brown wings have iridescent blue-green wing-veins.

(click on the photos and scroll down to the bottom of the page for a larger view)

 Another Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly about to fly - there were so many males flying over the river (Boldings Brook) and perching on nettles - will they all find mates?

Above is a female Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly - it has lighter brown wings and a metallic green body, not as easy to see as the male - it's perching on a bramble leaf, all the others choose nettles.

Another very hansom damselfly is the Banded Demoiselle - (Calopteryx splendens). Above is a male

showing its truly blue wing-veins and 'kingfisher blue' body but the characteristic dark 'thumb print' on the wing is not visible here - will have to find one perched side on.

Here again, its presence is a sign of well-managed unpolluted riverine ecology.

Here is a Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) which prefers ponds and slow moving water - it could be the first to colonise the new ponds very close to the river banks where these were seen although today the Beautiful Demoiselle species were by far the most numerous.

May on the Riverside after the rain

Sunday 13th May brought some bright sunshine with small clouds increasing in size as the morning advanced, becoming breezy, the rivers flowing fast and still high through banks full of Cow parsley and  wild garlic in flower and buttercups on the grass.

Hawthorn flowering in profusion on the river bank, a great attraction for insects and birds seeking insects to feed to their young.

Hawthorn flowers - May

and Willow catkins now blowing away like snow in the breeze

On this Sunday, 13th, there was plenty of spring activity with many fledgling starlings noisily taking their first flights together to and from the oaks, hawthorn thickets and hedgerows (69) and large numbers of blackbirds, mainly adults collecting food for their young from the damp grass (26). Blue tits were also intent on foraging, some adults accompanied by fledglings still being fed in the safety of oaks and willows (32). A crow made a clumsy landing near them but they were not frightened off by its noisy flapping. Large numbers of wrens (20) were singing all along the river bank, perhaps making a second start on nesting after losing nests when the rivers were in flood. Many had built nests quite low on the river banks after many months of low water levels during the 'drought', only to have them washed away in the unseasonable heavy rains.

House sparrows had obviously been successful with early broods as there were numerous juveniles and singing adult males in hedgerows and brambles (79) with adult chaffinches (10) singing loudly, somewhat later in raising young. Just a single male greenfinch could be heard. Goldfinches (10) were seen in ones and twos, some singing. Great tits (15) were foraging in the Hawthorn blossom, some with large juveniles still asking to be fed. Just one dunnock was seen low on the river bank, well hidden whilst a treecreeper, also well camouflaged was busy foraging for insects on a willow trunk in the sun. Three more treecreepers were seen in other river trees, two of them juveniles.

Robins were probably quietly busy raising young but 6 were seen, with 3 singing. Carrion crows (9) and rooks ((3) could also be seen carrying food for their young across the fields whilst swifts (2) flew overhead after insects and 2 skylarks could be seen, both singing over their territory.  A group of herring gulls (9) sailed high above the trees and woodpigeons (25) were flying over, searching for some dry grass on which to forage whilst two green woodpeckers called loudly from different grass areas. A third was yaffling loudly from its nest site in an old tree, no doubt fending off a prospecting magpie; several large magpie juveniles were hopping around in the trees with adults nearby. Glimpsed through a gap in a hedge - an unusual sight of a red fox foraging in the middle of a field for earthworms in the short grass, surrounded quite closely by 7 magpies hoping for a share of its find. Two pied wagtails bounced around on some bare earth, catching insects.

Warblers were now more numerous, with 7 chiffchaffs, all singing, in trees along the river, a willow warbler singing and 4 smart male blackcaps all singing in different thickets. A whitethroat could be heard but was invisible in brambles on the river bank. 

Further along a pheasant could be heard calling in the background whilst a song thrush sang loudly under the tree canopy.  

The spring scene would not be complete without butterflies - 11 Orange-tip butterflies over the river bank nettles, Holly Blue high amongst the hawthorn branches, Speckled Wood amongst the oak leaves,  Bumblebees and Ladybirds, many Mayflies over the river and best of all, Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies over the river undergrowth and some higher in overhanging branches.

First Swift of the Summer

Whilst watching the gliding buzzards, hovering kestrel and singing skylarks over the river at midday today - the first sighting of a swift this year, heading around and following the course of the Arun towards the west. It will find plenty of aerial insects to feed on over the river during this very damp weather.
Very faint glimpses of the sun behind the clouds brought some warmth and butterflies out of hiding on the river bank. Orange Tips and Speckled Wood.

Speckled Wood butterfly warming up on last autumn's fallen oak leaf in a glimmer of sun
on the river bank. Fallen leaves have a million uses when left where they fall, including this,
where the dry leaf forms a warm surface on the cold wet ground, encouraging butterflies to
perch and absorb the sunlight. The Speckled Wood enjoys shady woodland and margins where its
speckled markings are perfect camouflage in dappled shade.

Blackcaps, hail and sunshine

Early today it was fine and sunny after over 20mm rain over the past 2 days. The grass covered with a carpet of Common Dandelion and ground ivy. Loudly singing chaffinches, still very visible in the trees, singing robins and wrens in the company of quiet blackbirds which prefer their songs to be heard in the still of the morning and the evening. The weather was now perfect for gliding and sure enough a fine buzzard appeared directly above the river, head down, watching, with no effort at all. Soon a kestrel joined it in the sky and the buzzard glided off out of sight. The kestrel gave an excellent display of hovering, facing into the wind, body completely static and wings beating, studying the spot of ground

immediately beneath it, the base of a Blackthorn hedge. After what seemed like ages, it glided off and flew into an old oak where it perched for a short while, then off again to hover almost over the same spot. Suddenly it disappeared in a dive down behind the hedgerow, a pause then it was back up in the sky, hovering again.

Low down on the river banks, the first blackcap could be seen, silent but busy foraging along the steep banks amongst the brambles, then up into a spindle tree and a mad dash after another male blackcap that had dared to approach. The males are somehow more easily seen, even when not singing but the reason for the chasing - a female blackcap, now appeared from the blossom nearby, also foraging for insects.

Whilst they were busy, a very quiet song started up in another blossoming Blackthorn tree close by - this was another blackcap, singing a beautiful, endless sub-song with short pauses, hidden deep in the thicket.
That was four, as far as I could tell, one pair and two males.
Further along the river, an interesting sight of another smart male blackcap, this time foraging for insects in an old conifer whilst a female blackcap was foraging in another old conifer next to it. Just a short walk to some willows where I found two more male blackcaps, this time singing and 'ticc ticc' ing, probably just communicating a warning to others. That's 8 blackcaps today.

Blackthorn thicket

Perfect habitat for Blackcaps, foraging, nesting, singing, sub-singing, sheltering, cooling, preening - that's the reason for them flying all the way here in the spring after wintering in warmer southern lands.

Chiffchaffs were also busy calling and foraging, now a common sight and sound again. The sun shone warmly on the dandelions and a splendid Peacock butterfly flew across and perched on one, wings open to soak up the sun, its brilliant colours clashing somewhat with the bright yellow of the flower petals. This must be a male, emerged from hibernation, probably in an old hollow tree and now claiming its territory on the river bank. A healthy growth of nettles is needed for egg-laying later.
Lots of Orange Tip butterflies were ranging along the river banks where there are plenty of Cuckooflower plants this year - the choicest plant for the Orange Tip caterpillar.
It was good to see a long-tailed tit foraging, they will usually only be seen in ones and twos at this time of year when they are very busy nesting.
A sudden mixed crowd of birds flew up in the distance, 6 goldfinch, about 20 starlings, 10 woodpigeons, and 5 more goldfinch. More birds, undisturbed, were busy within the shelter of brambles - these were chattering house sparrows, dunnock, robin, blue and great tits and song thrush. Looking up the skylarks today were singing high in the blue sky- then one was seen to land amongst the long clumps of grass whilst its mate hovered over what was almost certainly a nest site. A third skylark landed too but was quickly chased away but didn't fly far - all the while singing - no competition today from usually loud nuthatches and woodpeckers - a good indication that these are nesting in silence.
Low down on the river, now flowing fast after the rain, well hidden amongst some long reeds and grasses was a female mallard surrounded by at least 12 chicks.   

Holly Blue

Today after heavy rain the whole morning (only 5mm though) the warmth of the sun brought out the butterflies

This is the first Holly Blue - Celestrina argiolus to be seen here this spring

warming up in the sun. It's a male - females have a wider dark border on upperwings,

especially the second brood later in the summer. See blog 24th July 2011 to compare.

The first brood will have hibernated overwinter in chrysalis form, hidden in the earth. 

 View showing the distinctive underwing pattern and silvery sheen. It was perched on very rough ground - had to almost stand on my head to take this without falling into the mud.

Holly Blue seen from above next to a seedling, almost invisible,

in line with the midday sun.

The North Wind

Today the scudding clouds were chasing in from the frozen north with the sun providing little warmth when it did appear - birds were using the shelter provided by the steep river banks.

Oak leaves appearing

The old Oaks are at last bursting into leaf in the sunshine - ahead of the Ash trees this spring.

A bright sunny start after a frosty night but the north wind strengthening with fewer and fewer glimpses of the sun as the morning disappeared. The river banks greening up with hawthorn, hazel, brambles and nettles all renewing. The riverbank willows still have catkins but very small leaves are appearing on the tips of branches.

A very loud yaffle from a green woodpecker, loud calls of a nuthatch and a chaffinch, all in the same oak, greeted me on this cold morning. Blue tits were everywhere, some singing or rather calling but although more numerous than great tits, the latter commanded attention by their loud calls and smart plumage. Wrens too were very evident all along the river singing strongly, two were seen 'hovering' with rapidly whirring wings, catching insects low over the river. House sparrows too were attempting the 'flycatcher' action in order to collect insect food, indicating that they probably have young in nests to feed.

Some robins were also singing whilst others were easily seen but silent. A pair were seen in the Hawthorn hedgerow usually occupied by sparrows. One of the robins took advantage of a brief spell of sunshine to 'sunbathe' at the base of the hedge, wings and tail outspread, taking no notice of my presence, whilst its mate watched from the safety of the hedge. This is obviously a popular 'sunning' spot, the dry sandy soil having been spread out flat by small wings. 

The freezing wind had driven most birds down low, out of sight but there was a glimpse of a treecreeper low down, disappearing around an old tree trunk. It would not waste energy climbing high into windswept trees in search of insects, the insects themselves would have hidden away in the bark or moved down closer to the warm river course.

Cuckooflower     Cardamine pratensis

on the river bank - foodplant for the Orange Tip butterfly

The Orange Tips are now ranging along the river bank in the sunshine

White Deadnettle  Lamium album

also growing along the damp river banks here

popular with bees - see bee under the leaf, its head in the flower.

Some exceptions enjoying the wild weather - the crow family, rooks, jackdaws and carrion crows were all seen flying and turning against the wind, calling. The jay doesn't share this ability to show off and use the wind to display - the bird I saw was keeping down low in the heart of a stand of trees. Even the buzzards were hunkered down today. I could hear them calling but only saw one make a low dash into a tree to sit and watch. No gliding or soaring today.

Herring gulls, disturbed from their foraging on a distant field, flew off together also close to the ground, to find another location.

Stocky gregarious finches were keeping together today, occupying a sheltered Blackthorn and Hawthorn thicket on the river bank - greenfinches, the males as bright green as the new spring leaves, were singing and further along a softly singing group of goldfinches were hiding, flying around in small groups and returning to shelter. Sparrows kept to the understorey close to the river. Blackbirds, woodpigeons and blue tits were busy drinking almost out of sight, perched together on some 'flotsam' in a quiet part of the river, together with wrens and sparrows. More blackbirds were foraging with song thrushes on the grass along the bank whilst a very quiet call gave away a bullfinch flying past.

Two tiny goldcrests could just be seen chasing in the lowest branches of an old conifer but the stars of today were blackcaps, one singing from a willow over the river - a smart male, beginning its song with a prelude of very quiet subsong, another flew out of a conifer across the river to a willow where it started to sing but the cold wind cut the song session short and it retreated to the warmth of the conifer to sing there. It was still singing on my return some time later.

No, the chiffchaffs haven't been forgotten - they are very numerous and active now and their calls can be heard all along the river banks from oaks. willows, hazels and thorn thickets. 

The song of skylarks could be heard,  now louder than usual, three skylarks were clearly visible flying across - quite close rather than high up, probably a pair and 'invader' chasing. Their song could be heard over the whole day. The same three or perhaps three more were seen on the way back. They sing to claim and protect their territory, a continuous occupation, they are always on the alert.

  Starlings? only two seen today and only two magpies but a very welcome sight - a swallow whizzed past, skimming the field in the typical swallow style - but one swallow doesn't make a summer and there's no doubt today that summer hasn't arrived yet!