Pied Flycatcher at Little Cressingham, (Watton Brook Valley), Norfolk

My day started at 0400 when I got up for a walk around Merton Common, the air was beautifully cool at 14 degrees Celsius, the sky was clear, and there was a distant redness to the horizon to the east.  Two Tawny Owls, one Little Owl and an alarm calling Song Thrush were all noted.
I made plans to visit Watton Brook Valley with the intention of searching for migrants.  On my arrival at about 0615, it was still pleasantly cool with a light mist, before the predicted highs today of 32 degrees Celsius.
This turned out to be a great day for migrants on the patch with the following highlights:

10+ Swallows
5+ Blackcaps
1 Willow Warbler
3+ Chiffchaffs
2 Whitethroats
1 Pied Flycatcher
3 Stonechats

Sallows in Watton Brook Valley (which held Pied Flycatcher, passage Willow Warbler, and Chiffchaffs)

For many years I have visited and checked the above clump of large Sallows specifically for Pied Flycatcher, I have always thought this habitat could hold this species, in fact, this species crossed my mind this morning.  A largish party of 40+ Long-tailed Tits passed through the Sallows, some crossing quite open areas to get to the next significant cover.  It was at this time I saw a small bird make a few short but fast 'flycatching' sallies from this habitat, I locked on with my binoculars and the bird flew around the edge of this cover revealing dark upperparts and striking white underparts, it remained active but did settle more a moment on the edge of a Sallow, in doing so it revealed darkish wings with white patterning, this was indeed a stunning Pied Flycatcher, it then resumed its 'flycatching' behaviour.
In addition to the Pied Flycatcher, the Sallows also held a migrant, singing Willow Warbler, and a few Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, and a single Song Thrush.
To see evidence of migration, especially involving a scarce migrant such as this Pied Flycatcher, is always a special find, and this proves more of a challenge inland, whereas on the Norfolk Coast, it would be considered a little 'easier' to find.  It pays to be persistent on your local patch.