Little Cressingham, Watton, and Deopham, Norfolk

The day started cool and misty with a low of 4 degrees Celsius.  The morning was bright, however, by mid-afternoon heavy rain moved in.

Little Cressingham (Fairstead Lane and Watton Brook)
The most numerous Warbler present in the area this morning was Chiffchaff, with both juveniles and adults being seen and heard from several sites along this walk.  An old, mixed hedgerow off Fairstead Lane has always produced good birds, this morning Chaffinches dominated although one male Blackcap was seen emerging from what might have been his overnight roost.  The occasional Meadow Pipit was heard passing overhead.
A check of Watton Brook valley produced another single Chiffchaff in a large Sallow.  No other migrants seen along the valley.
                                                                                                   
Watton (Garden)

Several House Sparrows watched feeding upon blackberries.  These beautiful birds are often overlooked due to their abundance, familiarity, and by birders who are bent upon searching for rarities.  House Sparrows are highly social birds, their squabbles and chases through a hedge gives great comedy value.
3 Swallows flew north and a very high Sparrowhawk was being pursued by a Corvid species.  Once again, Meadow Pipit was heard overhead.

House Sparrow (male) 15th Sept. (Eating blackberries)

Deopham (mid-afternoon)
This visit saw some very threatening cloud and rain moving in from the west.  This short visit started dry but ended very wet with heavy and persistent rain.
A check of the regularly visited muckheap did not produce anything other than a few Wood Pigeons.
Walking along the road/former runway was generally quiet although over the road on a large field 200+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls were standing around.  Wood Pigeons and 20+ Starlings roamed.
Plentiful habitat of mostly Bramble, Gorse, and Dog Rose, line the edge of the former runway, this habitat was very good for Whitethroat, but now stood quiet for now, until winter Thrushes arrive to feed on the good stock of blackberries.
The only evidence of visible migration was of a single Meadow Pipit watched flying south until lost to view.