The Sudden Sun

Friday 28th December 2018 started with a uniformly overcast sky. It was so dark that waiting for a while for the morning to brighten up seemed a good idea - but by 10.30am there had been no change in the light, so there was no option but to start the survey.

 Wildlife has no time to wait and this was certainly evident today.

More than halfway through and a rapid change took place - a glimpse of blue sky in the north west  - and the dense blanket of cloud began to move away. No,  it's not a hill on the horizon but the dark cloud, rolling back to allow the sun to appear in a clear sky.

28th December 2018 was a good day for observing, with no rain, no wind, the ground still damp  and a slight mist disappearing. Quite amazing on such a dark day, when one would expect to find not very much happening…the riverside was full of voices, birds calling and singing all along the banks. The gloom was no deterrent to birds . The river was lower but fast flowing  under the Hazel branches all decked with catkins.

Most birds favoured the treetops for foraging, obtaining the maximum amount of available light, ready to catch the sun if it appeared. There was no need to lurk and conserve energy today in the mild weather. At last the ponds held a reasonable amount of water and there was plenty of mud under the grass, blackbirds throwing leaves aside, foraging.

House sparrows, usually at their best in sunny  dry weather were today the most numerous species, about forty singing loudly in the dense hedges with lots more on the river banks, bramble patches, thickets and low branches (over 100 in total). As soon as the sun appeared, some dropped down the riverbanks into the shallows to bathe, then reappear on the brambles to dry off and preen.

Woodpigeons (about 30) were in small groups or pairs, tumbling around in the ivy clumps scrambling and sometimes falling when reaching out to pluck ripe Ivy berries, plentiful at present.

Blackbirds were about in good numbers (52) along most parts, foraging on the soft ground or amongst Ivy berries, flying low across from one thicket to another, some quite vocal, giving soft calls or loud alarm calls. Singing song thrushes were quite easy to see today, (9) choosing prominent perches but more were foraging largely unseen in the undergrowth. Three redwing were seen flying low across a bank, seeking out the last sloe berries and fieldfare (total 7) were seen here and there, flying across from old oaks to old Field Maples, foraging on the grass and a single one intent on plucking Guelder Rose berries on a small bush directly in front of me.  

Guelder Rose berries amongst the dry branches, attracting birds from a distance

A single very upright mistle thrush was seen on the grass, heavier in build than the song thrushes.

Close by but well hidden, a pair of mallard paddled round the meander in the river where the river flowed more slowly. The lower banks had been scoured by recent high water after rain, but the higher vegetation gave good cover to wildlife where needed. Further upstream a moorhen was just making a splashing take-off.

A small flock of 18 linnets suddenly flew into the treetops of a young copse, stood still for a minute, then took off together whilst another flock of 14 circled low and disappeared into an Alder tree (total 32). Further south, several chaffinches were seen in different places, foraging and even one was heard singing (5) - but no greenfinches. The successful goldfinches were seen in small groups seeking out seed heads of grasses, the important Dock and Teasel their favourite on the wild fields (30). Further numbers remained hidden in a thicket, singing softly where they were joined by 6 starlings.

Willows are always a favourite with birds throughout the year, when in full leaf and when bare. Today a pair of bullfinches were moving around amongst fine willow branches overhanging the river.

At this time of the year corvids are mostly foraging on agricultural land nearby but 5 carrion crows  and 2 jackdaws were seen, with two jays annoying a blackbird and 6 unmissable magpies were high in the old field maples. At times the sky was filled with gulls in flocks - most of these are usually herring gulls (40) - but today a scattered flock of about 50 black-headed gulls outnumbered them with just a single adult foraging on the field. A sparrowhawk whizzed past me through the trees, intent on ambushing a nearby bird, hidden from my view.

Still looking up into the rapidly changing sky, a grey heron was seen circling, working its way south-east over the river, then a second one was hunting low around one of the ponds towards the north, almost certainly hoping to catch one of the numerous amphibian inhabitants (total grey herons 2).

Blue tits were very numerous (75) all along, very active just about everywhere, foraging. Most were high up in the trees, working their way to and fro, seeking out insects from amongst the choicest lichen-covered twigs and branches:

Here's a small fallen branch with a variety of lichens and mosses

harbouring a variety of tiny insects searched for by small birds.

Great tits were numerous too, (41) but more were seen in undergrowth and low branches, not in a mixed flock with other tits this time although 8 long-tailed tits were mixing with the blue tits in the treetops with two coal tits. Further along amongst undergrowth, low hedges and brambles, silent dunnocks (7) foraged, well camouflaged, sharing the rich habitat with wrens and robins. Robins were however very visible, almost all singing loudly (29), with some wrens  choosing to sing whilst others were moving around mossy tree roots (18).

Seven goldcrests were present, two fast-moving in an old oak whilst two more were high in an Ash and three more were foraging together in a conifer, brilliantly lit by sudden sunlight. In the same area, also lit by sunlight, a very good view of a single chiffchaff foraging.

Towards the north a male great spotted woodpecker was visible for a few minutes carefully foraging for insects in a tree on the bank.

Throughout the survey there was hardly a minute when the calls of  nuthatches could not be heard. It has been a very good year for them with dry weather and plenty to eat. Now is the time when the young have to establish their own territories, their parents occupying their 'traditional' sites leaving the young to find new locations, not usually very far away. They have several different calls but all are quite loud, most intended to warn intruders off their territory. There appeared to be two pairs of adults at least and the remaining birds probably youngsters, a total of 12, in different regions along the riverside.

Blackcaps in the Spindle bushes - it must be Winter!

Monday 26th November 2018 was brighter than the previous day which had been very dull and cold with fine rain. The low sun appeared in a blue sky, highlighting the gold and coppery leaves of the Oaks, standing out against the other bare trees. The riverside was full of birdsong here in the Blackthorn thickets still full of sloes and oaks long bare of acorns. Standing in one spot and rotating, a good number of species could be heard and observed all at once. There was not much wind, just a breeze blowing leaves along the grass where sturdy migrant Blackbirds foraged. Blackbirds could be seen just about everywhere along the river, on the ground and in the thickets picking at sloes, some in the sun, preening or sunning, clumsily perched an twigs  (33). The first singing song thrush of the winter was heard the day before and one was singing again today. Two were seen. Redwing have so far been more numerous than song thrushes or fieldfare, with six seen foraging in the Blackthorn or surveying the landscape from hedge tops. Four fieldfare were foraging along the back of the hedges but there may well have been more, well hidden from view across the bank. 

Oak leaves on low branches in the setting sun on 26th November.

As usual in winter, the small local birds form groups ('roaming flocks'), finding safety in numbers. Today there were about 50 blue tits spread out in a disorganised flock, some chasing whilst others were seen on twigs prising the lichen off to access hidden insects. Great tits (38) joined up with them here and there. Long-tailed tits were very active, giving themselves away by contact-calling following each other amongst the willow tree tops (a total of 18 in three groups). Four coal tits flew into the tall hedge at intervals, probably caching seeds or nuts. On the periphery, goldcrests were fast-moving, collecting insects amongst the leaves still on the willows and oaks (5) nowhere near their summer breeding habitat of coniferous trees.

House sparrows have had a very good summer this year and large numbers are heard and seen on the river banks and hedgerows now. They never move very far off from their original colonies. Over 90 were around today in several colonies singing (calling, chatting) loudly. Goldfinches were numerous too (about 60) some singing softly, often in the company of house sparrows, filling dense thickets. Lately starlings (about 40 today) have moved in with them as well, to roost and whistle during the day when there is warmth from the sun. A bullfinch was hear calling from the back of another thicket on the river bank. A group of four linnets were seen flying across over the wild field. Many seeds remain to be foraged later. Bramble seeds on small seed heads are plentiful this autumn.

Robins were singing from perches all along the river (19), some very loud and close. During the week, noise from the development does not put them off. They usually stick to their chosen territories and are not distracted. The worst threats for the males are other males. Wrens too were singing (11) mostly from lower branches and roots. Dunnocks (8) seemed to be more numerous and vocal than usual, not so much singing but calling. A single treecreeper move fast up a sunlit tree trunk and disappeared, possibly disturbed by a jay flying upstream. A second jay was seen nearby - they are elusive during summer months - always present but much more easily seen in the bare trees.

Carrion Crows are always present but in small numbers. Today there were 12 mostly in ones and twos sitting in the old oaks and field maples. Magpies were more active (11) clumsily climbing around in similar trees, they prefer their own company however. Normally Jackdaws are seen flying across to and from the woods only in very small numbers but this autumn the numbers seen have increased dramatically and today 45 were seen most flying together calling, quite high, followed by smaller groups all at a similar altitude, all heading in the same westerly direction as if they were migrant birds from the east. None were landing or diverting from their route. More have been seen since.

Does their appearance mean they have been driven here by bad weather elsewhere? They don't seem to interact with other corvids here. Eight rooks were seen entering the wood but we don't have a rookery nearby. There were only two black-headed gulls on the playing field, nine herring gulls circling in the air further north, a collared dove pair in ivy and 24 woodpigeons in various places, most also amongst ivy, eating the ripe ivy berries.

A green woodpecker was heard calling from the north and another further south (2) and nuthatches (6) have been establishing their territories in several locations, calling out loudly to warn others away.

Two raptors were visible today - a kestrel flying across with the wind and a common buzzard circling.

 The stars for this survey were winter visitors:

A beautiful view of a female blackcap in a small thicket where most of the fruits and berries had already been plucked by larger birds. They had however left the bright pink/red fruits of the Spindle hanging on fragile twigs over the river. The blackcap was plucking these, as a robin would. Another blackcap was higher up at the top of the thicket, clearly seen, These are probably winer migrants.

Last but not least, the largest bird seen today - a little egret was seen flying low along the course of the river, upstream brilliant white in the sun, legs and yellow feet trailing. It, or a second one, was later seen flying downstream. Looking across the river soon afterwards, I saw the little egret paddling carefully in the river on a bend where the water was still shallow, watching the water intently….

More on these later!

Winter Migrants find a Temperate Climate

The middle of November was mostly damp and mild, with the rivers high and fast, carrying some mud from far fields upstream. It will be a while before ground water levels reach the usual height for this time of the year however. 

Conditions east and north of our shores have recently worsened, triggering flocks of birds to head west and south in search of food and shelter, given favourable winds. 

Locating rivers,  lakes and shores from the air is easy for birds and our winter migrants, redwing, field fare, continental blackbirds and song thrushes mainly, don't take long to get here. They drop down suddenly into thickets and proceed to explore the immediate area for food. mostly berries, the numbers of birds in the hedgerows and trees increasing hugely overnight. Splitting up into smaller groups they will select sheltered areas, feed then sit together, resting in the warmest sheltered thickets. Some will communicate by calling or singing, filling the riverbanks with sound where the day before all was quiet apart from one or two local robins and wrens. Goldfinches and starlings often fly to join in.

A Willow seen through the bridge railings, the design perfect for spiders

 to form webs to trap insects carried by the breeze above the river.

In turn, birds fly in to glean the trapped insects!

Nature will win in the end.

On Sunday 18th November 2018, after a cold start, the skies were clear with the sun quickly warming up surfaces. There had been a large increase in bird numbers, with many more blackbirds, more song thrushes, newly arrived redwing and fieldfare all exploring thickets for berries and fruits from top to bottom. Blue and great tits and a few coal tits were also busy foraging - but gleaning invertebrates from the undersides of leaves still left on trees such as willows.

Linnets in flight, bullfinches and goldfinches were also present, with noisy jays still finding plenty of acorns amongst the fallen oak leaves.

  

A Bird's Eye View of the Landscape

As no two days are alike here, following a routine is out of the question for wildlife anywhere in this country, especially in the south, in Autumn. Adapting to circumstances is the key to survival - birds are opportunists, as they don't hibernate, they either migrate in good time or stay to share their habitat with incoming birds, winter migrants. These leave rapidly freezing plains for more temperate lands - there's no better place than here in the south - and once discovered birds will return year after year….

 A view of the river in November with willows on the left and old oaks on the right.

Birds flying over the landscape follow the river, focussing on the glint of sunlight (or moonlight for night-flyers) on the water and the ribbon of trees and thickets along the banks.

Here a bridge was built over the river in 2011 but wildlife soon adapted to make use of the new feature. Kingfishers continued to fly low along the river, under the bridge, even when scaffolding was still in place during construction. Resident birds stayed put in the river buffer zone, the old Oaks and Field Maples, thickets of Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Holly and Ivy sustaining and sheltering them.

It's our responsibility to protect the riverside habitat whatever changes are made nearby- and improve it for wildlife, extending the wildlife habitat in all directions.

The Best of Brambles

Brambles are beautiful all year round, for different reasons. This year most were early to fruit  in the sun and wildlife took advantage, selecting the best fruits and leaving the rest to dry out in the heat. Fortunately rain fell just in time to save the fruits and generate fresh leaves where the old leaves and stems were drying out. After birds and small mammals had had their fill, riverside insects took over, collecting sugars left in the dried fruits. Even now there are seeds left to be foraged by autumn birds.

There are many varieties of Bramble here and some have fine autumn colours:

On 12th November 2018 the colours were vivid along the bank:

Contrasting with the old oak in the background.

The young bare tree in the middle distance is a fruit tree which has thrived since planting due to the protection given to the young growing trunk and branches by the dense bramble shoots around it. Traditional forestry employed brambles as effective protection for newly planted trees, especially from browsing deer, and this has worked well here.

Brambles are good for numerous reasons and help maintain a diverse ecology.

New Bramble shoots appeared after the first rain, the new leaves turning

red after a few weeks.

On the day these photos were taken, 12th November, the riverside had come to life after heavy rain the preceding day, with numerous starlings singing together with goldfinches and house sparrows along the river thickets. Black-headed gulls flew over, fast in the wind. Blue and great tits were foraging along the Blackthorn thickets but there were no signs yet of winter migrants. The river was flowing quite high and fast and a kingfisher dashed across low over the water.

By evening a storm had moved in, bringing heavy hail then rainfall, thunder and lightening. 

Brilliant November

The month of November is not usually described as brilliant  but this year the autumn colours have continued to last well into the month, brightening the riverside even on the most dark and dank days with rapidly diminishing hours of daylight. This was the scene on 10th November:

The contrasting colours of Oaks in the foreground and Poplars in the background, along the river bank on 10th November 2018. The brilliant yellow leaves were fragile and did not last very

long once it became windy - but the coppery oak leaves were a lot tougher.

On the same day, not far upstream along the river, the picture was quite different:

The sun falls on the sheltered river through branches retaining some of their leaves - Willows and Blackthorn - but the colours seem spring-like here! Recent rainfall had refreshed the river, with leaves being carried fast downstream, some to form small islands with twigs which are beloved of Moorhens and smaller birds.

Fruitful October

October's survey showed some rapid changes in conditions, with wildlife adapting fast.

Wednesday 24th October 2018 started just after the early morning cloud cleared. The wind had eased off with most Ash trees having lost leaves, carpeting the ground with light yellow and green. The ground was dry but with no frost although it had become colder during the past few days. A slight breeze wafted the few leaves left on the riverside Willows.  There were plenty of berries untouched by birds and mammals, the riverbanks are still awaiting visiting winter migrants - perhaps they will be late this year as the ground cools down more slowly and with more food remaining in their summer habitats.

A bank Field Maple on 24th October 2018.

The river was flowing well but low - rainfall had still been scarce, but at least brambles and nettles, which had formerly been dying off early, had now been refreshed with new growth. Ivy was flowering and clumps of berries were visible in sunny places. Brambles were buzzing with a variety of insects, mostly wasp-types which will move on to forage on any other late flowering plants. A fine honeysuckle

'hedge' scrambling over an old fence was seen flowering  earlier this month, attracting late bees and at nightfall, bats, foraging for moths.

Late-flowering Honeysuckle on the wild field, attracting bees, moths - and bats! 

It's berries will later attract birds.

House sparrows were the most numerous birds along the riverside today (about 80) in several colonies amongst the Bramble patches and hedgerows. Of the finches, it's strange now to find that Bullfinches are more frequently seen and heard than Chaffinches and Greenfinches! Two bullfinches were calling at an upstream location on the river and another two were on the river-bank Willows some distance away (total 4) whilst no chaffinches of greenfinches were seen or heard. If they are seen or heard here they are never in groups as they used to be, in those days it was quite rare to see a bullfinch. Goldfinches are doing well and are always present in varying numbers - today about 15 were singing quietly in a tangled thicket full of sloes - and house sparrows.

Starling numbers are decreasing almost everywhere but at least we nearly always have a fair number here along the river. Today about 30 starlings were singing together in their day roost - on the sunny side of an old ivy-covered tree. 

Four dunnock were seen, one singing for a short while. With falling leaves they become more visible but quickly move under the cover of roots and undergrowth. Robins (25) were now singing in their territories, their song varying, some only 'chinking' whilst others were singing full songs, sometimes perched only a few meters from another singing robin. There were now a few more singing wrens (16) along the banks, active across the low river, feeding on insects, whilst blackbirds (14) - still only our 'resident' birds - were guarding sources of berries, giving alarm calls at the approach of others. Song thrushes were keeping hidden, low amongst the fallen leaves and under hedges, just two were seen - again no sign of visiting migrant thrushes yet, apart from two redwing moving along at the back of a thicket, probably scouts.

Blue tits (46) were foraging rapidly, high up in the old Maples and Oaks which still held most of their leaves, with no gales to hasten the leaf fall. Great tits (18) were choosing to forage amongst Hawthorn berries, the Hawthorns will probably be bare of berries well before the Blackthorn of Sloes as the berries (haws) are small enough for more species to eat. Two elusive coal tits were seen flying into the tall hedge - they never seem to be seen in large numbers here. There were two goldcrests, seen again fast-flitting in the old riverbank Oaks, nuthatch territory, quite far from where they were most often seen in the past - amongst tall conifers. Four nuthatches were present in four different locations, in Oaks or Ash trees as were a single Jay and 16 woodpigeons, watching from branches. 

Looking above the tree canopy, a common buzzard was gliding over the river course whilst four magpies and six carrion crows were flying from tree to tree, the latter not having spotted the buzzard.

Two jackdaws and Herring gulls in small numbers (12) were seen flying high and a tight group of linnets (8) were flying across the river towards some bare ground.

Finally a kestrel flew past, quite low, to investigate a verge which had just been mown.

The only butterflies seen were a few Speckled Woods and a Red Admiral. 

A Migrant Hawker flying over a sunlit sheltered part of the riverbank was the only dragonfly seen today.

Guelder Rose adds to the rich variety of autumn colours this year

24th October 2018