The Last Day of April

Tuesday 30th April 2019 - there could hardly have been a better example of an April day here -

and near perfect for a survey, no wind, sun with small cumulous clouds drifting across the blue sky, hardly any noise apart from the sound of a distant garden mower for a few minutes. Birdsong dominated the soundscape.

The morning started cool, with Hawthorn and fruit tree blossom now fully in flower and grassed areas covered in Daisies and Dandelions whilst Wild Garlic still covered the shady woodland and river bank areas and Cow Parsley now growing tall along the hedges.
It is proving to be the best spring for Cuckooflower and Garlic Mustard on banks, with many new plants springing up in new locations, last year's seed from old plants having germinated well.
Holly Blue butterflies together with Orange-tips have dominated the banks and are still most numerous. Both species are very restless, Organge-tips ranging ceaselessly along the vegetation and Holly Blues ranging everywhere, high and low:

Holly Blue butterfly  - Celastrina argiolus -  on very small young bramble leaf - the butterfly is very small too.

Orange-tip butterflies have been numerous too but evasive. Below is a female probably investigating a suitable site for depositing an egg. The males are very easily identified with their bright orange wing tips but females lack the orange and can be confused with other white butterflies at a glance. The most obvious sign is that both males and females have patterned underwings - a mix of yellow and black appearing mottled green, seen when they perch closed on stalks - a form of camouflage

The Orange-tip female Anthocharis  cardamines is in the centre facing one of the flowers of the White Dead Nettle plant.

Like the Garlic Mustard plant, the leaves look rather like a common nettle but do not sting.

The first Orange-tip butterflies appeared here on Thursday 18th April 2019 - the same day as they were first seen downstream (Arun) at Pulborough. The first Holly Blues were seen on 15th April 2019.

(my observations - others may have seen them before this!)

It was easy to be distracted by many spring 'firsts' along the river but here is the result of the survey on 30th April:

House sparrows, more that 100 in total all along the riverside, in hedgerows, thickets, clumps of brambles and down on the river, bathing. Easy to locate by their song or chatter. Some were even sand-bathing along the dry path. Their numbers are increasing now, with fledged young following the adults from roof nests to the river banks. The constant background sound of house sparrows was drowned out by several other species, blackbirds numbering 48 were very active, with some singing long songs whilst other males chased each other or foraged, collecting food for young in the nest. Some song thrushes (10) were singing the loudest and most continuous song, most choosing Ash trees, not yet in leaf, to perch on, so that their song travels far and clear along the river rather than being muffled. Others were well advanced with nesting, seen carrying food for nestlings low and far into the undergrowth.

 Some robins were still singing whilst others were silently collecting food (total 14). Most are nesting, which accounts for the lower numbers. Wrens seemed to be singing as usual, with 33 seen all along the banks, making their songs echo. At this stage they were choosing prominent perches for maximum effect. Three dunnocks were seen chasing but none were heard singing today. Goldfinches were also quiet with only short songs heard from around 10 in a thicket. Once the young are fledged they'll form a larger group and forage, roost and sing together. There were only two chaffinches seen in the trees today. A single goldcrest darted into a conifer where it disappeared, probably into its nest on an outer branch.

About 30 woodpigeons were active too, many searching out choice buds which are always at the ends of thin branches. Bouncing woodpigeons were a common sight. Four calling collared doves were occupying trees with dense leaf cover.

Blue and great tits (22 and 13) were less visible now that nesting is occupying almost the whole population; keeping out of sight whilst visiting nests is a priority and flight distances are as short as possible, although great tits are always more adventurous and visible when selecting choice insect food for their young. Long-tailed tits (28) have already successfully raised young and several family groups were seen in different areas following each other through the willows, oak, brambles and blackthorn.

 The loudest song, apart from the resident birds, was the song of the chiffchaff, usually the first migrant warbler to arrive here in the spring (14), Almost all were singing loudly, pausing now and then to snatch insects from blossom and fresh leaves. Easily overlooked as well camouflaged with dull green-brown plumage, they make up for it in persistent song, definitely unmistakable.

One of the young fruit trees in blossom, with clumps of cuckooflower nearby attracting early pollinators such as bees and hoverflies. Seed heads on last year's wild grasses were still attracting finches in the same area.

Common whitethroats (8)  - migrant warblers, arrived some time ago and have settled in their usual territories, singing and displaying whilst blackcaps (15) have chosen territories all along the river and could be heard singing from treetop perches and amongst the river willows. The large 'clouds' of summer insects over the river always attract them when feeding young and later fruits and berries are eaten whilst the birds are preparing to leave for their winter habitats in the autumn. Amongst the singing warblers a singing garden warbler was heard but remained elusive.

In the air above the river, two house martins were seen over a drainage basin and three common buzzards circled over to the north, two displaying. Crows were few in number, (5) one seen carrying a heavy object, probably part of a packed lunch. It was very good to see more than 50 starlings in small groups fly-catching over the river. They are skilled in this but need just the right calm weather conditions where insects are trapped between low cloud and the warm river. Overhead 8 herring gulls flew across, above three jackdaws from the woods. Seven magpies in twos and threes chased into trees and three nesting nuthatches were seen, unusually silent. A Jay sneaked quietly behind a hedge and a loud raucous call came from a grey heron fishing down on the river bed which was disturbed by a carrion crow.

On the river itself, several groups of mallard were seen in different places on the river, with a pair flying up then down again (a total of 10). These are not tame, and instantly paddle or fly away when encountered.

Butterflies:

In addition to the Holly Blue and Orange-tips, several Speckled Woods were seen, with a single Peacock, Green-veined White and Comma 

Hoverflies were seen in good numbers, with a few St Marks flies, bumblebees and large numbers of midges over the river - all a very good sign!

A Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius on one of the thousands of dandelions covering the grass.

  

More April 'Firsts' the second half of April

Monday 15th April - a fine day and another first - Holly Blue butterflies were seen ranging along the south-facing embankment. These were the first of many to be seen this month, in common with many other locations in Sussex. In early summer these butterflies seek Holly leaves on which to lay their eggs but those in the late summer prefer Ivy. Both plants are quite abundant here and of course are extremely good for many species of wildlife, providing food in the form of berries and evergreen shelter over the winter.

A calling common buzzard, a darting sparrowhawk, many blue tits, wrens, blackbirds, song thrush, bullfinch, chiffchaffs, two jackdaws and numerous house sparrows were seen as well.

Another 'first' was seen on 18th April - whilst watching Holly Blue butterflies along the bank, several Orange-tip butterflies appeared. These are also early butterflies but not usually so numerous. Like the Holly Blues, this year they have appeared in large numbers in other Sussex locations as well. 

This year their caterpillar food plants, Cuckooflower (or Lady's Smock) and Garlic Mustard have flowered early and prolifically, the Cuckooflower many weeks earlier than the Garlick Mustard.  The flowering Garlic Mustard over the past few days is now covering the river banks  (27th) and Orange-tips are still numerous.

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae) has leaves 

rather like nettles but smell of garlic when crushed.

Wild Garlic, which is also prolific along the riverbanks under trees at present, has wide fleshy leaves and white flowers but fills the air with the smell of garlic! This has no attraction for the butterflies:

Flowering Wild Garlic or Ramsoms (Allium ursinum). This dies down once trees are in leaf and the woodland floor is in shade, like Bluebells.

The Easter weekend was very warm and Oaks were rapidly coming into leaf but Ash trees were not as advanced - it's certainly Oak before Ash this spring. The Ash tree branches are full of large dark leaf buds but were not yet coming into leaf.

New Oak leaves (left), late Blackthorn blossom (middle) 

and new green leaves of Rosa canina (Dog Rose) 

Brilliant habitat for wildlife.

The next 'firsts' were the fruit trees all coming into blossom, although all being different some were much more advanced than others. Buzzards continued to appear overhead with the same small birds as previously mentioned still singing although with more evidence that many were collecting food for young in the nest.

April hasn't finished yet - a full survey will appear soon…

April 'Firsts' - the first half of April

April this year started off cool with traditional April showers, remaining mostly overcast with occasional drizzle until around the 10th of the month. It was good to observe the sudden bursts of blossom and trees coming into leaf almost overnight with something new every day.

Birdsong has been remarkable this month, with winter migrants well away and settled in their summer breeding lands and new summer migrants arriving in good numbers on favourable winds. They soon filled their chosen habitat with loud song.  By the 5th April migrant blackcaps and whitethroats were joining the resident song thrushes, blackbirds, great tits, wrens and robins in loud song. 

On 6th April two lively common buzzards were flying in circles together, displaying. A nuthatch was calling from an oak with numerous house sparrows chattering in the hedges below- all together with what was now the daily chorus of those mentioned on 5th.

Hawthorn blossom in bud - unlike Blackthorn, the Hawthorn 

leaves appear first whilst the blossom follows once leaves are fully 

open.

The Hawthorn blossom buds on this plant had already opened

(photos both at same time and date) in a less shady area.

April 8th 2019 was a special day, although damp, windless, misty and overcast. There was still much Blackthorn blossom cascading over the river banks but now with previously bare patches filled by fresh green foliage - mainly Hawthorn leaves without blossom yet, and very young Cow Parsley springing up. Many birds were very active and singing, adjusting the volume to intermittent background noise from the south site.

First there was a fine view of a male bullfinch, perched typically on Blackthorn in blossom. A female bullfinch flew across and into the thicket behind. Whilst looking down onto the river, a kingfisher whizzed along just above the surface, between the steep mud sides of the bank.  Looking up, a kestrel was seen attempting to hover, wings flapping fast as there was no breeze to provide lift. A small group of goldfinches flew across into the tops of the Ash trees, leaving another group singing in a Blackthorn thicket. Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs were singing whilst several blackbirds and two song thrushes foraged on the damp grass. A nuthatch was calling, warning off a carrion crow and two wood pigeons.  Robins were very visible and singing loudly with wrens clearly nest-building under the banks. A pair of coal tits were seen in the same area on 10th.

Friday 12th - the first Swallows were seen here, flying low over the riverside in erratic flight, making sudden turns, hunting insects. In addition, three common buzzards were seen overhead and later a grey heron heading for a pond. The usual inhabitants  - wrens, song thrushes, dunnocks,  robins, blue and great tits were also seen.

Migrant Blackcaps Arrive in the Willows

A full survey was done on Monday 25th March 2019, a partially sunny but cool day, with a NNW breeze, becoming warmer later. The river was now running almost clear with young nettles appearing with flowering Dandelion on the banks. The last of the bare Blackthorns were full of buds.  Other trees such as various willow species held catkins. There were patches of new Cuckooflower together with White dead-nettle and more Wood anemone and Celandine flowers appearing.
Despite disruption and noise due to ongoing construction work in several places, wildlife activity was very visible and audible along the river.

Willow catkins are exceptionally prolific this year, like the Blackthorn blossom.
Bees, including Bumblebees have been crowding around the catkins and some bees have become weighed down with pollen, gathered from catkins such as the ones on the twig on the left.
The ones on the right have yet to open.

The first sighting was of a Mallard pair dozing out of general sight under the river bank in the sun and sheltered from the breeze. House sparrows were very fast-flying today, chasing each other in small groups across the river, diving into brambles and the base of hedges, far less static than usual (more than 100 total!) A sudden disturbance in a thicket - and a sparrowhawk flew out after another unsuccessful ambush-  but it's a very persistent and patient bird.  Wood pigeons were unusually active too, some calling and flapping wings, others in groups, feeding together on specific areas of grass, under specific trees.  Singing robins (16) were mostly very visible, some sharing the hedges with house sparrows. One very loud-singing robin was working its way gradually higher and higher in a still leafless Lombardy poplar tree, choosing a perch and singing then flying up a few meters higher to sing again and so on. There were other robins close by and the added height gave it an advantage. Ten carrion crows were seen in various places and two pairs of calling jackdaws flew over, aiming for their nests some distance off, whilst about nine herring gulls assembled over the school field, being the first of the gulls to claim cast-aside contents of lunch boxes. Directly overhead a common buzzard was circling over the river and later a different buzzard was seen and heard calling over the river (2).
There were no black-headed gulls amongst them - most of these have clearly left for the coast.  Eight magpies were seen in various places - being early nesters, they were seeking food for their young in the nest.  

Blue tits and great tits (29 and 15) have started nesting, which halves the numbers seen at this time of the year, as one of the pair will be on the nest most of the time for the next few weeks. Despite the path alterations and noisy road surfacing there were good numbers of small birds foraging for insects for their young in the Blackthorn close to the bridge and on the stones of the bridge itself.
 No long-tailed tits were seen today - as they usually nest close to easily accessible sources of food for their young and their nests are carefully hidden. A goldcrest was seen rapidly moving amongst dense conifer branches, but in profile against the sun.

Blackbirds and song thrushes were seen in good numbers, (19 and 6) possibly also foraging for their early nestlings, but  finding the best food out along the shady hedge margins where the earth is damp. Some were heard singing too. As soon as the sun lit up the banks however, some blackbirds took the opportunity for 'sunning', spreading out wings and tails on the dry fallen leaves of the river bank. Goldfinches (about 12) and chaffinches (2) were singing but could not compete with the wrens (23) which outnumbered all another bird species apart from the house sparrows as usual.  As the male wren usually builds several nests for the female to choose from, the bird probably sings to advertise  each one until a decision is made…Dunnocks were also singing (5) amongst the same type of habitat, mossy roots and banks.
Four nuthatches in different locations were heard and seen calling but these calls were alarm or cautionary call warning off intruders.

A bountiful year for early blossom such as the Blackthorn,

brightening the riverside long before any other flowers appear and this year lasting many weeks.

Summer migrants, the chiffchaffs (4) were heard calling their unmistakable song in several places and it was good to hear blackcaps (4) singing again, softly at first amongst the Willows over the water.
Several butterflies were seen but none were basking. These were Comma butterflies and just one Small Tortoiseshell, on the warm river bank vegetation close Cuckooflowers - but no Orange-tip butterflies have been seen yet.

Magnificent March - a summary

This summary for the whole of March 2019 was left until the last day - just to make sure that the fine start for wildlife didn't take a sudden U turn and pitch us into the gloom. Here in Sussex at least, after a cloudy, cool start this morning, the sun appeared, warming sheltered places against the fresh easterly breeze. 

This time last year this could have been snow - but this year it's just bountiful Blackthorn blossom over the river on 18th March 2019.

Looking back to records of last year, March 2018 was mostly overcast and drizzling - memorable only for the continuing icy Beast from the East. 

This month did start overcast, with some fine rain, but all seven bridge beams for the East bridge were installed during the first part of the day on 1st March, in good conditions and on the second day the huge crane was dismantled by another crane - all work carried out with loud song from robins, dunnocks and wrens in the vegetation and trees close by.

Rain had caused the river banks to burst - a normal occurrence on the riverside and this was welcome as the winter had been too dry. During the week, the first dandelions began to appear and Mallard duck paddled strongly along the river against the flow and grey herons were happy with an endless supply of frogs from the ponds and drainage basins. although the majority of the amphibians escaped into the plentiful pond-side undergrowth.  

Storm Freya arrived on 9th bringing windy weather with the sight of a red kite sailing fast in the wind on 11th. There was a short spell of rain and wind, the river level increased again. On 19th there were good views of two of the last redwing probably pausing on their way back to their summer habitat in other lands to the north and east. On 23rd the first migrant chiffchaffs arrived, filling the riverside with song (well chiff - chaff call) and greenfinches were heard to the north. On 26th the first migrant blackcaps were singing in willows to the south end and several Brimstone butterflies - male and one female were ranging along the banks. The following day a fine Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen in the same place - no coincidence - the attraction was some small clumps of Cuckooflower!

On the last day, 31st, last but not least, the first two migrant common whitethroats were singing in brambles on the river bank.

BEE-FLY on CUCKOOFLOWER  30th March 2019

The fly wings were moving so fast that it was not possible to identify which type this was but it certainly homed in to the Cuckooflowers which had only just opened.

Several clumps of Cuckooflower on the same bank had already attracted several Brimstone butterflies  and today attracted the first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly here.

The Spring Equinox - it's all happening

20th March 2019 and spring is on schedule here after very wet windy weather alternating with some unusually warm days. By 8th March Blackthorn blossom was appearing, Blackbirds were singing and Lesser Celandine flowers were opening on sunny banks.

Blackthorn blossom on a branch overhanging the fast-flowing river in an open location.

Many other Blackthorn trees only have tiny buds or still-bare branches. Early flowering of blossom here is an important source of sustenance for early insects such as bees and later for migrant warblers.

By 11th March singing birds were everywhere amongst the thickets - wrens, robins, dunnock, blue and great tits, long-tailed tits collecting nesting material, song thrushes and blackbirds. 

A fine red kite sailed fast in the breeze over the river course.

A grey heron was seen most days over the river too, on its was to the ponds and drainage basins.

On the banks of the meandering river, young Wild Garlic covers the ground

under the Hazel copse. 

Wood Anemone is flowering in patches along the banks here and there.

The Lesser Celandine and Wood Anemone are usually the first plants to flower.

Nesting in February

Is the continuing spell of warm and even hot weather fooling birds?

A survey for February was made on 26th February when the winter 'summer' was at it's height.

The long run of warm fine weather had changed some aspects of the riverside but the general appearance  was of winter - apart from the presence of Willow catkins. If one relied on sound only it was a different matter - listening - it was most definitely spring! As usual, the morning started cold - but today no sign of frost. It was quiet and remained quiet as there was no wind allowing birdsong to carry far, loud and clear. The river was running quite fast but not high and the sun became very warm.
Song thrushes  (10) dominated the chorus although a few were busy foraging silently on the grass.
Hedgerows and thickets were long since bare of berries and fruits but there were signs of foraging birds on the Alders:

During the winter the Alder tree keeps female cones from the previous year but male catkins (the long ones seen here) grow fast during February. Today there were plenty of cones lying under the tree, indicating action by hungry birds, perhaps linnets or goldfinches.

Alders are quite common here along the river as they do well near rivers on damp or boggy ground.

Blackbirds (18) were mostly foraging on the soft grass and running in and out of the under storey and hedges. There is still plenty of Ivy here but most of the berries have now been eaten. Work on Ivy severing has been carried out on some trees where the ivy was climbing high.

Large numbers of house sparrows (more than 80) were singing in various colonies in hedges, thickets and brambles, with some bathing in the river shallows, flying up to dry off quickly today in the hot sun

on the banks. Given that last years young developed in ideal conditions in the hot dry summer, they should increase in numbers this year as are large enough and strong enough now to withstand any bad weather in the late winter. Robins were numerous too, (24) with most singing strongly now, easily visible amongst the very bare branches and wrens (19) could be heard all along the banks, visible and bold, the males engaged in searching out the best places to start multiple nest-building. The traditional lurking habits of the dunnock (8) were abandoned this month - they could be seen and heard singing loudly, surveying the bare banks and roots. Higher in the trees chaffinches (4) could be heard calling and seen flying across, but again no sign of greenfinches although one was heard briefly. Groups of goldfinches (about 25) were located, singing in dense thickets here and there, and 3 goldcrests were seen - back in the conifers searching for good nest sites amongst the outer branches of the dense new growth of pine needles. They have in past months been seen foraging in deciduous trees - but choose conifers for nesting. They tolerate the huge woodpigeons which often choose the same trees in which to nest. Their considerable weight means that nests have to be built close to the main trunk of the tree, well away from goldfinch nests on the outermost branches. About 30 wood pigeons were seen today, some calling but most feeding on the ground, a favourite place being under an old oak on the river bank. Perhaps they are finding old acorns under the leaf litter? Six magpies were seen in various locations - but no fights with squirrels or jays today. Carrion crows, (10) one cleaning its very muddy beak on an Ash branch, were heard and seen resting in the trees and only 3 jackdaws were seen flying across the woods. A quick check of the playing field revealed 4 black-headed gulls with summer plumage not very advanced but two fine mistle thrushes were with them, foraging together (probably a pair), unconcerned by nearby ongoing construction activities.

Only 3 starlings were seen and heard today, in their day roost. The rest of the flock was probably out on a farm field somewhere.

Reed Mace seed heads - excellent nesting material.

This clump, situated at the drain of a drainage basin is perfect, the reeds helping to filter the surface water in the basin at the same time providing shelter for small birds and amphibians.

Blue tits  (64) and great tits (21) were foraging along the the Willows on the river and other thickets. They were seen again foraging on Willow catkins as well as on small insects which were emerging from the bank vegetation in the heat.  The willows with catkins were again buzzing with various bees, some small species and a few bumblebees. Buckthorn was attracting bees too. Two groups of long-tailed tits were seen (total 9), some foraging through an old oak and moving fast onwards to other trees- and a group of 4, flycatcher-like, catching insects caught in spiders webs on the bridge railings, and spiders themselves. The railings form a very efficient insect-foraging area. (see a previous post). Above me a treecreeper was making its way around the branch of an oak whilst nearby frogs could be heard calling. One of the ponds had frogspawn under the surface covered by a very thin layer of melting ice. This pond was in the shade but frogs were very active in a smaller pond, in the sun.

Nuthatches (7) were calling loudly in the oaks in places along the banks, with nest preparation well advanced whilst below on the river, on a sheltered meander, three male and two female mallard were paddling unseen under the steep banks until they rounded the bend. Suddenly a brilliant white, LITTLE  EGRET  flew up from the river just past the mallard and headed off along the trees towards the ponds and resident amphibians.

A male Brimstone butterfly was ranging along the bank vegetation - the third Brimstone seen so far this year.

As the day warmed up and thermals increased,  three buzzards were seen - two circling leisurely over the river and one seen flying with a herring gull in close pursuit.