Breckland Birder

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

Friday 27 March 2015

Little Cressingham (Great Cressingham road) and Bodney, Norfolk

A beautiful day today with sunshine from the outset, despite this, the light to moderate North-Westerly dampened temperatures somewhat.
Setting off from just north of 'The Arms' I firstly encountered a small flock of 12+ Redwings flying off north from roadside hedgerows.
Once I reached the B1108 I walked west to Bodney to check the flood-plains and Army training area for possible Wheatear, however, no sign today.  Sadly, I did find a dead Barn Owl on the roadside, a traffic casualty no doubt. 
I continued along the roadside and once at the flood-plain I encountered my first Green Sandpiper of the year.  This wader flew up along the length of a ditch showing its conspicuous white rump.
Sign of courtship and forthcoming breeding was seen with a pair of Blue Tits prospecting for potential nest-sites, this included one of the pair entering a hole in an old dead Elder branch.  Overhead, a male Greenfinch showed off his slow butterfly-like display flight, the female was also seen in a conifer below.  A pair of Coal Tits passed through and male Blackbird and Song Thrush were feeding on nearby heathland.  A single Redpoll passed over calling and heading north-west, a probable migrant on route back to its northern-europe breeding grounds perhaps.
Walking back along the road a pair of Curlews were seen together, this included the male singing its beautiful liquid/bubbling call.  Woodland ahead of me held about 20 Fieldfare, 2 singing male Blackbird, and a singing Mistle Thrush.
I decided to check grassland close to Watton Brook and saw a pair of Oystercatchers probing in the earth for food.
On my walk back to the car I passed the barn where I think the dead Barn Owl found earlier called home, a sad end to this walk.

2 comments:

  1. Done a sketch of this one as requested boss, very basic effort that I'm not a fan of but I grumble about various pics that people like. That said, I don't think I'll use oil pastels again....

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  2. http://s158.photobucket.com/user/Cloons/media/01%20Albums%20by%20date%20order/04%202015/P290315_2120_zpsvd7vt9cy.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

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