Game strips/wild bird seed mix plots, buffer areas, and other useful field margin habitats.

 For me, target habitats for birding in autumn and winter are those areas of land created for wildlife and game by farmers. On my Breckland patch as well as other areas of agricultural landscapes, game strips comprising wild seed mixes, field marginal buffer areas (protecting hedgerows and immediate associated ground cover), and other areas left for wildlife such as uncultivated and undisturbed patches of farmland, are extremely important sources of foraging and feeding for our wild seed eating birds as well as providing habitats for game.  Wildflower and game strips also provide a vital habitat for invertebrate species which in turn help to control insect pests on adjoining areas of cereal crops and root vegetables. 

Little Cressingham 9 October

Game strips, wild bird seed mixes, and undisturbed patches of farmland, are often on traditionally used sites, one such area is on a large plot of land in Little Cressingham.  This valuable habitat comprises roadside hedgerows, grass margins, a large area of wild seed and weed mixes, and a large plot of undisturbed land, then the land is cropped.  

Game strip, wild bird seed mixes, and undisturbed land at Little Cressingham 9 October 2024

 I arrived at the above location in Little Cressingham at about 0800 in poor conditions, light quality was variable, often poor with frequent heavy showers and drizzle. Later in the day, conditions improved with better light quality too.

It was clear from my arrival that good numbers of Finches were present, birds I expected to see at such habitats.  Also, there had been a recent arrival of Redwings (18+) which were seen in woodland and scrub habitats where good feeding on winter fruits would provide these migratory Thrushes with sustenance following their flight from Scandinavia..   

The wide margin of weed/seed mixes closest to the hedgerow, as expected, saw good numbers of Chaffinches (80+), Linnets (40+), several Greenfinches, Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers, all of these species will find good feeding here throughout the winter months.  As October progresses, the beautiful Brambling, a migratory Finch from Northern Europe will be seen here.  Bramblings have numbered in three figures here in previous years.

Inevitably, a large concentration of Finches will attract predatory species, and as expected a Sparrowhawk (male) flew fast and low along the hedgerow hoping to surprise a Finch, however, the alert obviously went up and just moments before the Sparrowhawk was seen there was a mass, disorganised departure of Finches, this behaviour immediately told me a raptor was in the area and approaching.  The Sparrowhawk appeared to pass through without prey.

Overhead, a Woodlark was singing, this beautiful songster breeds in the area, however, in winter they wander, sometimes in flocks, to areas of good feeding, the undisturbed land in the above picture would be ideal foraging habitat for this species.

Many Dunnock were both seen and heard with six together in one small area, also, a single Chiffchaff was both seen and heard.

Once I was home the conditions improved with some bright spells of weather with a few showers passing through.  Also passing through (our garden) a mixed mobile flock of Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, and Great Tits, included a single Chiffchaff.  In the autumn months look closely in wandering flocks of Tit species where summer migrants such as Chiffchaff may be seen. 

Dawn in Hockham Forest 5 October 2024

 October is undoubtedly the month for witnessing bird migration.  Most summer migrants would have departed in this month and attention turns to winter Thrush migration.  Fieldfares, Redwings, Song Thrushes, and Blackbirds abandon their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and cross the North Sea into Britain.  Many of these Thrush species will winter with us, however, others may migrate to as far as the Iberian Peninsula. 

I love to stand outside on a cold, clear, and calm October night and listen for winter Thrushes passing overhead.  To experience this for yourself, go outside in the aforementioned conditions and listen for the soft "tik" call of Song Thrushes as they pass over, also, listen for the very distinctive "seeep" call of Redwings, this piercing call can often be heard over noisy towns and traffic.

As dawn breaks on October mornings begin to watch flocks of winter Thrushes moving south or west on their passage.  I have seen thousands of Thrushes passing overhead at varying heights both in October and November.  Included within these Thrush flocks there could be migrating Finches with them, both Chaffinches and Bramblings could be present.

This year I saw my first Redwings (2) on 3 October passing over in a west heading (Seen from our garden in Watton)

5 October in Hockham Forest

Dawn in Hockham Forest 5 October (Beautiful to experience)

What a beautiful morning this was.  I arrived in the forest at about 35 minutes prior to sunrise, it was calm, clear, and a thin mist hung over forest clearings, a very autumnal, and indeed, atmospheric feel. A male Tawny Owl was calling within the the habitat shown above.  What also added to this autumnal morning was the distant roaring of two Red Deer stags, a sound I shall never tire of listening to.  Eventually, I located one of the stags visually as it wandered slowly through marshland habitat where it occasionally continued to roar. 

As the sun breached the horizon I could see a distant raptor in the top of a tall tree, this was a female Marsh Harrier, she spent much of my visit preening and preparing herself for the day ahead.  Both Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers were calling.

Close to where I was standing a Water Rail was squealing loudly, for anyone not familiar with this bird and its pig-like squeal, this could be an unsettling experience.

With light improving birds became quite active, several Jays seen flying over clearings and overhead the familiar "tsu" call of Siskins was heard.  A single Great White Egret approached in a long glide and settled on marshland habitat.  

Before departing I had a final look at the Marsh Harrier perched in a treetop, she continued busying herself with her preening

1st winter Northern Wheatear on Stalland Common, Norfolk 27 to 29 September 2024

On 27 September 2024 I found a Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe on the hardstand at the south-west end of Old Runway Lane on the former Deopham Green airfield. This bird was still present on the morning of 29 September.

27 September  

The previous night saw heavy rain, this was followed at dawn with full cloud and frequent heavy showers and a fresh to strong NNW wind veering later N. Light was poor and visibility was fair.

I had a lengthy work break that morning so I visited the vast open landscape of the former Deopham Green airfield with the hardstand along with its muck heaps at the SW end of Old Runway Lane being my destination. There are currently two tall heaps on the hardstand, one typically a muck heap, the other, a white mound of a chalky like material. This location has over the years produced a good range of migrant birds with passage waders being most memorable. Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail have also been recorded here. Having arrived at the hardstand I noticed Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails. Checking the muck heap I saw the very obvious form of a Wheatear on top of the heap. I only had binoculars and scope with me. I had thoughts of this bird probably arriving here during the previous rough night. It was clear through my binoculars that this Wheatear was a 1^st winter bird, given the buff fringes to the wing feathers.

28 September

A totally different day with bright and sunny conditions giving excellent light quality and visibility. On this visit I remembered to take my camera and obtained some lovely shots of the Wheatear and was able to see clearly identification features relevant to a 1^st winter bird.  Also of interest was a small flock of 14+ Golden Plover over.

29 September

A dry day, however, the variable light due to passing clouds affected the quality of light compared to the previous day.

1st winter Northern Wheatear at Stalland Common 28 September 2024

Identification

Ageing of the Wheatear was quite straight forward, the above picture shows plumage features identifying this as a 1st winter bird. 

Of the three days the bird was seen the 28 September provided the best light quality and as such the Wheatear appeared quite a pale sandy-brown bird, although on other dates the bird did appear darker due to the effects of the light.

The picture above shows a bird with an upright, confident looking carriage, although at times a horizontal carriage was seen.

The crown, nape, and mantle is grey-brown and the supercillium is white, however, there is a small buff area forward of the eye, a feature of the 1st winter bird.  The ear coverts are buff and the loral area is blackish.  The bill is black.  In some lights the neck sides and breast are a rich buff and can look clearly demarcated from the paler buff/white underparts.  The dark brown wing feathers are distinctly fringed buff (another feature of a young bird).  The very distinctive black and white tail pattern was seen when the bird was in flight, this appears an black inverted T with a snow white tail base, rump, and undertail coverts.  The legs are black.

1st winter Northern Wheatear at Stalland Common 28 September 2024 (Note the buff fringes to the wing feathers and tertials - a feature of the young Wheatear)

1st winter Northern Wheatear on Stalland Common (An elegant bird)

1st winter Northern Wheatear

1st winter Northern Wheatear (Searching for food)

1st winter Northern Wheatear (An upright carriage giving a proud appearance)

1st winter Northern Wheatear on Stalland Common

1st winter Northern Wheatear (Seen here with an insect larva for food)

Feeding

This passage Northern Wheatear, along with millions of other migrants in the country, are focussed on feeding to provide the resources needed to migrate south into Africa.  Feeding was the most observed activity.  The picture above shows the Wheatear with an insect larva, the bird was also seen to take and eat a small winged insect.  Wheatears will make flycatching sallies for passing winged insects, this behaviour was seen on one occasion but was a failed attempt.

The Northern Wheatear breeds in the upland areas of Britain and is known on my patch as both a spring and autumn passage migrant.  This is a very rare breeding bird in Norfolk with most historic records coming from the Breckland heaths of Norfolk and Suffolk.  Sadly, the species probably no longer breeds here in Norfolk.