Breckland Birder

Breckland Birder
Red Deer in Breckland, Norfolk Photo by Paul Newport

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Stow Bedon and Ashill

Stow Bedon
The previous night was very wet with heavy rain showers driven along on a fresh to strong south-westerly.  At dawn it was quite bright although plenty of low cloud did bring some light rain.
A brisk early morning 5 mile walk starting at Stow Bedon and following the lanes around the rolling countryside through Lower Stow Bedon and Rocklands produced good numbers of common birds in the area.
With the winds from the south-west, I knew that there would be no evidence of passage today, despite this some previously arrived Redwings, Song Thrushes, and Blackbirds were present in the wooded hedgerows where they would feed upon various fruits on offer.
One Grey Wagtail flew high over Fen Street, Rocklands, and a little further along on Stowlay Lane, good numbers of Crows, Gulls, 20+ Linnets, Meadow Pipits, and Skylarks wandered the vast open, windswept fields.
A check of a muck-heap on Mere Road produced an ever reliable Green Sandpiper.  If we have a wet and mild winter, some of these beautiful waders may stay to spend the winter with us.   Further along the road a Sparrowhawk approached low towards a hedge in the hope of surprising a small passerine species.

Ashill
A late afternoon walk along Common Road produced a covey of 10 Grey Partridges, these comprised adults and young birds.  This was a good find considering the scarcity of this species, however, the Ashill area has always been reliable for Grey Partridge.
3 (1+2) Common Buzzards were seen at two localities and a 2 Golden Plovers passed over west into the strong wind.

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