Watton Brook Valley 0750-0920

What a fantastic start to the day with fog, mist, virtually no wind and about 6 degrees Celsius at dawn, very autumnal and atmospheric.
I visited one of my sites along the Watton Brook Valley early morning to check for evidence of passage or arrivals by summer migrants, in fact, all I could muster was a single female Blackcap.  There was no signs of Hirundine movement at all.
Despite the lack of summer migrants, this was a productive visit with 26 species recorded, this included Goshawk, one Kingfisher, and a male Stonechat.
Upon my arrival, many Jackdaws and Rooks were seen in nearby trees before descending into stubble to feed.  My first scan along the valley did not reveal anything, however, a further look a little later produced a lovely male Stonechat on fencing along the brook.
Checking a line of bushes and hedges alongside a track produced a single Blackcap (female), along with up to 20 Yellowhammers.

Blue Tit (juvenile) Watton Brook Valley 20th Sept.

Distant and agitated Crows and Pigeons exploded from a woodland, I had my suspicions, and these were well founded, a Goshawk flying along a hedge low, before entering woodland.  I am always amazed by the effect these awesome raptor has upon other species when it makes an appearance.
I then heard a Kingfisher in the valley, a short wait, then an azure blue rump of a Kingfisher was watched flying upstream away from me.  Much of this part of the brook is choked with burr reed. despite this, the Kingfisher found a patch of clear water and hovered above it for a few seconds before alighting in weeds.
Just prior to my departure, two Meadow Pipits flew east along the valley, undoubtedly migrants from the north.

Birds recorded
Goshawk (1), Buzzard (2), Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blackcap (1), Goldcrest, Wren, Starling, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Stonechat (1 male), Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit (2), Goldfinch, Yellowhammer (c.20)