November 2024 - A summary

 Calm, settled overcast and grey conditions (some may call depressing) often accompanies the month of November and the thoughts of a Great Grey Shrike sitting like a sentinel on a bush top in the vast openness of a bleak Breckland landscape, is always at the forefront of my mind when watching suitable landscapes for this solitary species.

The 1^st day of the month I was working in the evening and being in isolated surroundings in almost complete darkness my focus was on listening for Tawny Owls, I was in luck with birds present at two locations in the small village of Carleton Rode. The first was a calling ♀ on Rode Lane in the village, the second bird was one seen flying in a small wooded area on the Old Buckenham Road.

A target habitat for me in autumn and winter are those large game strips and plots of wild seed mixes, so early morning on the 2^nd I visited one such large habitat at Little Cressingham traditionally used annually for the purpose of providing game cover, these habitats also benefit our Finches and Buntings.

Having positioned my self where I had good views of the game strip/seed mix plot, it was apparent that Finches were present in good numbers alongside the roadside by the game strip. Highlights seen included 100+ Linnets 100+ Chaffinches, a few Greenfinches, and also my target species for the morning, a beautiful ♂ Brambling with Chaffinches. Bramblings are winter visitors from Scandinavia in varying numbers. Although just the single Brambling seen this morning I am confident numbers will increase. Numbers are variable year to year, in particularly good years I have seen three-figure numbers of Bramblings. Although now in their winter plumages ♂ Bramblings are still distinguishable from ♀♀ from their brighter orange breast and scapulars and dark heads. Bramblings will remain with us until late March by which time ♂♂ begin developing their breeding plumages, their solid black heads and bright oranges make this a very attractive Finch species.

Sparrowhawk - Often seen where good numbers of Finches occur (from archives)

Inevitably, with high numbers of Finches present, Sparrowhawk is always at the forefront of my mind and as expected a mass ‘putting up’ of Finches announced the arrival of a ♀ Sparrowhawk in a small tree close to me, but rapidly departed as soon as it arrived.

Also seen on this productive morning was a single Goshawk drifting in a slow glide towards woodland, this raptor would not be interested in Finches, its quarry would be larger species like Pigeons, Crows, Pheasant, and duck species.

On the 3^rd I visited the vast expanses of arable habitats and dense field boundary hedgerows in the Great Cressingham area. Highlights once again saw good numbers of Finch species (100+ Linnets) and Chaffinches. In excess of 30 Blackbirds were seen with some feeding upon Hawthorn berries, also a small flock of 17+ Fieldfares dropped into a dense hedgerow where a Bullfinch was seen. Also in the hedgerow was a small flock of 12+ Tree Sparrows, a very scarce species now. Overhead a small flock of 13 Golden Plovers circled.

The main highlight of the morning was seeing 3 Ravens passing overhead calling. I initially heard Ravens calling to the west of my position, not too long after 2 Ravens flew east calling, these were shortly followed by a single Raven following.

 A short work break on the 5^th was spent overlooking Seamere Marsh at Hingham. Thrush species were the highlight with 8+ Blackbirds in a broken hedgerow and in a young Ash tree a small flock of 12+ Fieldfares were seen along with a single Song Thrush which was a probable migrant.

A flock of 8+ Stock Doves arrived and a large number of Wood Pigeons (1000+) were ‘put up’ by a possible passing raptor.

 Early morning of the 7^th I visited a beautiful Alder and Willow Carr in the River Wissey valley at Bodney. The old Alders within the Carr held good numbers of feeding Finches, most notably, a large flock of 150+ Goldfinches which wandered the canopy and settling to feed upon cones. A few Siskins were also present. At least 70 Skylarks were wandering the fields and a similar number of Fieldfares (of which 50+ NW) were noted. A small southerly movement of 14 Lapwings passed over.

On a nearby wet meadow, a single Great White Egret looked very stately.

Great White Egret at Bodney.  Increasing in numbers

The morning of the 11^th was particularly notable for movements of birds. I paid an early morning visit to Little Cressingham to check for Finches and Buntings at a large game strip, this was productive with good numbers of Chaffinches and Linnets present, also a single ♀ Brambling was seen. Two Song Thrushes in treetops were probably migrants.

Whilst watching the Finches and Thrushes I could hear to the distant SW approaching Geese, within a few minutes a skein of 126+ Pink-footed Geese came into view, they passed directly overhead and off in a NE heading in a long and strung out V formation. Later, as I was preparing to leave, a flock of 100+ Lapwings passed directly overhead in a NE heading, these birds approached and departed along the same path as the earlier seen Pink-footed Geese.

A short afternoon visit to Watton churchyard on the 14^th was intended to check for winter Thrushes in the Yew trees, of which there are some fine examples. 32+ Redwings and a few Blackbirds were seen, a good visit.

Redwing - A common winter visitor often seen in Yew trees in churchyard settings

The 14^th was a bright but cold morning with excellent light. I visited Little Cressingham to once again check on Finch numbers at a traditional game strip habitat. Chaffinches and Linnets were the most numerous species, also one Brambling seen.

A large Goshawk was seen flying quite leisurely along woodland edge then chased a Pigeon into woodland. A few minutes later I saw large numbers of Pheasants in a panic flying fast and low over the land, the Goshawk reappeared and was seen to give a half-hearted attempt at chasing another Pigeon. On the last occasion the light was particularly good, this showed off the Goshawks all grey upperparts, which showed this as an adult ♀ bird.

Thompson Water on the 21^st was to prove very productive as the day was to provide me with my highest ever count of Mallard on the water. Several species of ducks were on the water including a couple of sawbills.

I arrived at Thompson Water at 0640, some 50 minutes prior to sunrise and the first birds heard was ♂ and ♀ Tawny Owls in the dawn woodland.

It was clear a high number of ducks were on the water, however, those seen were silhouetted against light of the dawn sky, so in order to wait for light to improve my attention was given to the very noisy chatter of Starlings in their roost habitat of reedbed and Willow Carr. The incessant chatter went on for some time, then at 0712, some 18 minutes prior to sunrise, a noise likened to thunder was followed by the mass departure of 5000+ Starlings, initially a spectacular murmuration was seen before the birds rapidly departed Thompson Water for the day.

Thompson Water

With improving light, it became apparent I was faced with high numbers of Mallard on the water along with several other duck species. With my clicker counter in hand I went through the birds on the water and reached a count of 322+ Mallard on the water, my highest ever count of this species here. Without doubt many more Mallard would have been present but out of sight in reeds, reedbed inlets, and channels.

Other ducks present were 8+ Shoveler, 20+ Gadwall, 37+ Teal, 10+ Pochard, 5+ Tufted Duck, and 2 Goosander, a scarce winter visitor.

Also on the water was 60+ Coot, Great Crested and Little Grebes, and in the surrounding woodland was Marsh Tit, Redwing and Song Thrush.

During a work break on the morning of the 23^rd I visited the wide open and vast expanses of land at Deopham at the site of the former wartime bomber base. It can appear quite bleak here, especially so on this visit when there was fast moving cloud, frequent heavy rain, and poor light due to the cloud cover and reduced visibility due to the rain, but as I have written before, I love bleak. I was parked on the former runway which used to have some fine scrubby cover and Willows, however, in recent years this was grubbed out by the greedy landowner. This former habitat provided good shelter within vast arable land for farmland birds as well as breeding habitat for Warblers, for me, this was tantamount to criminal behaviour.

The wide open expanses of land holds good numbers of Golden Plover and winter Thrushes, I have also seen Merlin here on a couple of occasions, a bird well suited to this bleak landscape.

The visit here today produced little, however, it was just good to be there. 1 Red Kite was seen in awful conditions over the land and clearly demonstrated its mastery of the air in such conditions. A couple of Stock Doves passed by too.

A return to Thompson Water on the 26^th saw less Mallard than the 21^st, however, a pleasant surprise came in the form of a ♀ Goldeneye, a very attractive little diving duck. A Marsh Harrier was briefly seen.