7th September 2024

September is a pivotal month for bird migration.  The weather for the beginning of the month can see very warm and balmy days, however, decreasing amounts of daylight, highly variable weather conditions, and the descent into autumn, sees bird migration picking up apace.  Large falls of summer migrants can be seen along the North Norfolk Coast, which includes interesting movements of birds through my own patch here in Breckland, whilst from the North and East we see the first substantial movements of autumn, especially with winter Thrushes and Finch species.  

7 September Little Cressingham

The early morning weather held promise for finding migrants along the Watton Brook Valley, there was an early morning light mist hanging over low lying areas, it felt humid and calm.  Notable highlights seen were:

1 Sedge Warbler in cover in the valley

1 Water Rail - calling frequently in thick vegetation in the brook

1 Meadow Pipit - An overhead migrant heading south (My first movement of this species this autumn)

1 Whinchat - on fence/posts in the valley

Upon my arrival in the valley I did an initial scan of the fence, posts, and thick cover along Watton Brook and immediately found Robin, Dunnock, and Wren all perched together on fencing whilst more distantly along the valley I could see another Robin, 3+ Yellowhammers, and 2+ Dunnocks together.  A small flock of 4 Egyptian Geese flew S/E.

Beginning my walk along the valley it was apparent that many Blue Tits were on the move in search of food.  Two more Robins were present.

As I stopped to check a dense patch of weeds along the brook a single Sedge Warbler flew up onto the fence and offered good views before it went back into cover.  Sedge Warblers are common migrants as they pass through the valley on their passage.

Migrant Sedge Warbler 7 September

A further good record in the valley was of a calling Water Rail.  Although not seen its frequent squeal-like call and movements of vegetation betrayed its presence.  Close by a couple of juvenile Moorhens were seen. 

As I continued west along the valley I heard a familiar call "seep-seep", looking up a single Meadow Pipit passed over in a southerly heading, undoubtedly this was an autumn arrival which probably began its journey on upland areas of Britain.

Also noted on the visit was at least two Stonechats, two Reed Buntings, and a small flock of 10+ Linnets.  

At the end of my walk I decided to finish where I started by checking the valley, the fence and posts, for signs of migrants, especially given the amount of common bird activity seen earlier on.  Scanning the fence line I picked up a small bird perched on the fence, I had a good idea what it was so I fetched the scope and my suspicions were correct, this was a Whinchat, a scarce passage migrant through the patch.

Whinchat at Little Cressingham (from my archives)

When first located with binoculars, I was confident this was a Whinchat, but being at some distance, the scope was needed to see the salient features.  First impressions at range was of a bird similar in size and structure as the more common Stonechat, however, the plumage is much different.  The head area is particularly striking with the bold, creamy-white supercillium which separates the dark streaked crown from the dark ear-coverts.  Stonechats do not have a supercillium. The overall appearance of the Whinchat is of a paler bird than Stonechat.  The Whinchat often behaved like a Stonechat by flying from the fence to the ground to collect food and return to its perch. 

As with many species, the Whinchat has seen a significant decline in Britain.  The species breeds in the upland areas of Britain, it is most numerous in Wales.  The Whinchat was a former breeder in Norfolk, however, habitat destruction now sees this beautiful bird only as a passage migrant.  

Whinchats are summer visitors to Britain, the species winters in Central and southern Africa.  I have read of a report of a bird ringed in Scotland being relocated in Ghana, West Africa.