December 2024 began very mild, wet, and windy, some rainfall totals causing flooding in many parts of the country, here in Breckland the heavy rain would cause river courses to run high and low lying areas like the Watton Brook Valley would be under much flood water.
Frequent heavy rain on the 2nd eventually relented after dark, much to the benefit of a Barn Owl seen along The Street at Scoulton where it had good opportunity to hunt.
On the 5th I walked a 3 mile route from Great Cressingham beginning at the village hall, along Priory Drove, the Peddars Way, and the Watton Road back to Great Cressingham. The morning began with a south-westerly movement of 200+ Black-headed Gulls in a tight flock over the village.
Leaving Great Cressingham along Priory Drove it was evident there was several Blackbirds present, a single Song Thrush, and a mobile flock of 19+ Long-tailed Tits.
To the north of Priory Drove lies a large undisturbed meadow, very rolling with lots of peaks and troughs and a distant marshy habitat and copse. The meadow is flanked both sides by mature tree-lined hedgerows. A distant Great Spotted Woodpecker seen in damp woodland habitat. A number of Blackbirds were seen including a fine male in an Elder. Nearby, the distinctive song of a Mistle Thrush was heard.
Priory Drove is long narrow lane with quite an ascent on the approach to the junction with the Peddars Way footpath. The large rolling fields to the south of the lane held at least 10 Egyptian Geese and the hedgerows leading up to the junction held 3 Redwings and a noisily departing Song Thrush. At least 2 Bullfinches were heard.
The Peddars Way between the Priory Drove and Watton Road junction held 5+ Bullfinches, this section of the path has always been reliable for this beautiful Finch. A weedy corner of a field held 30+ Goldfinches, some of which drank from puddles in vehicle tracks. Approaching Watton Road a flock of 44+ Golden Plover drifted west.
The last section of this walk was along Watton Road, a long road with some wonderful and well stocked hedgerows either side. A further 3+ Bullfinches were present bringing the total seen on this walk to 10+ birds. My third Song Thrush of the morning was present in the hedgerow close to Great Cressingham.
Following a period of heavy rain low lying land along the Watton Brook valley was under much flood water, therefore, on the 9th it was time to visit to check for wildfowl. A small section of the valley was checked at Little Cressingham and I was rewarded with the presence of 135+ Teal, 24+ Mallard, one Little Grebe, and a male Stonechat on fences alongside Watton Brook.
The 16th of December saw me confined to home with a nasty throat infection, so needing a little fresh air I popped into the garden, looked up, and rather fortuitously, a Peregrine drifted over at height in a NW heading.
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| Siskin (female) |
Alder woods are always a great habitat to search for Finches in the winter months and on the morning of the 19th I visited a small Alder wood in the Watton Brook valley at Little Cressingham and almost immediately I encountered a flock of 100+ Siskins wandering the treetops, often alighting in the canopy to feed upon seeds taken from Alder cones. I find Siskins are tolerant of human presence, these beautiful little Finches often feed in the lower branches of trees, sometimes within a few feet.
Siskins do breed in the Brecks in small numbers, however, the vast majority are winter visitors from Northern Europe. These small Finches are often associated with damp Alder and Birch woods where they will mix with other Finch species such as Goldfinches and Redpolls.
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| Siskin (male) |
Also here on the 19th a mobile flock of 100+ Fieldfare were feeding on fields and wet meadows and then moved west along the valley. Just a single Redwing was seen here.
Early morning on the 24th I visited Thompson to check upon duck numbers, the most numerous species was Mallard (96+), with smaller numbers of other species including Gadwall (20+), Wigeon (22), Shoveler (9), Pochard (7+), Tufted Duck (12+), and a few Teal. I paid close attention to the Wigeon which spent most of the time roosting amongst surface weeds, occasionally the birds stirred from their roost and in unison gave their so sweet "weeoooo" call.
Also noted was 53+ Coot and high overhead a female Sparrowhawk passed over with a slow wing action.
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| Wigeon at Thompson Water 24 December 2024 |
..........And finally for 2024
I would like to wish all my followers a very happy new year. Thanks to everyone who have sent me emails, stopped me in the street for a chat, submitted a comment on my blog, and who have posted supportive comments on Facebook regarding 'The Breckland Birder' blog.
I look forward to continuing with my blog in 2025....and beyond
Paul
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