Little Cressingham (Watton Brook Valley) 11 September 2025 (0825-1115)

 A pleasant morning, however, the moderate to fresh SW wind had a cool feel to it, despite this it remained sunny throughout the morning.  

My visit this morning was on private land and my focus was on finding migrant species, this includes listening for calls which was a little difficult owing to the noise of the wind.  I had commanding views over this part of my patch from the top of a Bronze Age burial tumulus from where I sat for a while hoping for some visible migration, however, no birds were seen, but the views were spectacular.

Looking west from the Bronze Age tumulus 11 September 2025

Looking north from the Bronze Age tumulus 11 September 2025

The first migrant of the morning was a single Hobby drifting slowly east until lost to view.  I began my walk my slowly moving along Watton Brook whilst looking for movement (which was difficult due to the wind) and listening for alarm or agitated calls.  A few Stonechats were seen on posts, but then I heard a harsh "trrr" call followed by the subsong of a Reed Warbler, I could see some movement in the vegetation and eventually caught a partial sighting of a juvenile Reed Warbler between cover.

Migrant Reed Warbler (juvenile) in Watton Brook 11 September 2025

Continuing my walk along the valley I noticed the usual Stonechats on the fence, however, one similar sized bird was with them and I could see straight away that this bird had a bold supercillium, this was a Whinchat, a scarce but regular passage migrant on the patch.

Whinchat 11 September 2025

This Whinchat was notable different from the nearby Stonechats, even without optics the salient features of Whinchat was the obvious bold supercillium, and when seen head on it appeared a much paler bird, with optics I could see a slight pale peach blush to the breast.

Raptor species seen on this visit included 4 soaring Buzzards, one Red Kite on carrion, and a beautiful ♀ Kestrel which gave great views in direct sunlight on a post.

Given the wind strength, my final part of my visit was along the leeward side of woodland, here I heard a couple of Chiffchaffs, also present was two Blackcaps, including a ♂ bird seen eating elderberries.

East Wretham Heath 9 September 2025 (0650-1000)

 The morning of the 9th of September began cool with mist and some fog over low lying areas, it had a very autumnal feel to it.  

I drove the 10 miles between my home in Watton to the wonderful East Wretham Heath reserve, a stunningly beautiful and large heath where you could spend a whole day exploring a true Breckland landscape and habitat.

I arrived at Wretham Heath at sunrise with the vast open landscape and meres covered in a low lying fog, it looked incredibly beautiful.

The incredible East Wretham Heath at dawn on 8 September 2025.

Setting off over the heath from the car park I was met with about 25 Goldfinches in the Hawthorns, both Robin and Wren noted too.  I approached my regular viewing area over the heath and Langmere, the fog was still yet to burn off, however, it was so atmospheric. Despite the fog and mist I could hear calling Chiffchaffs and Coal Tits in the nearby Scots Pines.

The warming sun soon burnt off the fog and I was given a great opportunity to photograph some of the very fine Scots Pines and Birch trees.  The area of Scots Pine woodland is known as Waterloo Plantation, this beautiful mature woodland was planted in the early part of the 19 century in order to celebrate Wellingtons victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

A beautiful Scots Pine on Wretham Heath

Scots Pine, Birch, and Hawthorn on Wretham Heath

As I was approaching the hide to overlook Langmere I heard a "Good Morning", it was Dawn Balmer, we entered the hide and immediately saw 7 Snipe on the muddy shore of Langmere as well as a single Common Sandpiper. A couple of Chiffchaffs were seen to the left of the hide searching for food amongst the willow leaves.  It was good to see Dawn again and have a catch up. 

One of the 7 Snipe at Langmere

Common Sandpiper at Langmere

Also seen around the muddy shores of Langmere was several Pied Wagtails and on the water common Duck species seen along with Little Grebe.

By the time I left the hide at Langmere the sun had certainly warmed things up and on my return walk I stopped at my regular viewing area which was now bathed in sunlight, it was whilst here that many flocks of Geese passed me to my right, or directly overhead, and settled on Langmere or the surrounding shore.  Some good totals of Geese seen with the highest number being Greylag Geese (100), also a high number of Egyptian Geese (72+) arrived and Canada Geese (64).  A single Meadow Pipit arrived, my first bird of the autumn.

Threxton 8 September 2025

With the wind continuing as a fresh SW, I decided to be very specific about my habitat choice on the morning of 8 September and headed to Threxton for a small area of woodland scrub which have over the years has held migrant Warblers and Flycatchers.  This small area of scrub comprises Elder, Hawthorn, and Bramble and is protected on the south and west side by tall, mature woodland habitat.

Migrant Reed Warbler sharing Elder with Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs in woodland scrub habitat.

The small area of scrub habitat was sheltered from the wind and my search for migrants was narrowed down to a small Elder and Bramble patch.  Movement in the scrub eventually produced 3+ Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, and a single Reed Warbler.  whilst resident species seen included Blue Tits, 2 Dunnock, and 2 Robins (one juvenile).

Migrant Chiffchaff in woodland scrub at Threxton 8 September

Also noted here at Threxton was 3 Red Kites, Kestrel, and a Sparrowhawk which passed through at ground level

2 September 2025 - The Watton Brook Valley at Saham.

 Most of my local birding occurs on a large farming estate, much of which lies within the army training area known as STANTA (Stanford Army Training Area), this unique area of the country includes true Breckland landscapes of heath, grassland, light sandy soils, meandering river valleys, and of course, big skies. This mornings birding was on a marsh and grazing meadows with ditches, a herbage filled Watton Brook, and a long unbroken hedgerow comprising a variety of bushes in heavy fruit.

I arrived at my destination just a mile from home and an initial scan of a long hedgerow with an adjoining game strip saw a flock of 70+ Linnets wandering these habitats and a check of a ditch produced a single Stonechat.  As I walked through a meadow, lots of cattle came up to me to have a check of this handsome stranger 😄, this would have been a good opportunity to see if the cattle had brought Yellow Wagtails with them, but none seen on this occasion.  A Hobby did overfly the marsh in a westerly heading.

Watton Brook at Saham. A great habitat in autumn for finding migrants.

A check of some Hawthorns and elder in the river valley produced just a single Whitethroat, however, a distant check of a broken hedgerow comprising much elder did see a very smart Lesser Whitethroat feeding upon berries.  A Chiffchaff was also present here as well as a mobile flock of Long-tailed and Blue Tits

My final part of this visit included the checking of a long hedgerow bearing much fruit and at least 3 Whitethroats were seen in Buckthorn.  Along the same hedgerow I detected movement, I soon found a migrant Sedge Warbler moving through thick cover, this bird remained hard to see although on one occasion I had a very brief glimpse of the very bold and striking creamy supercillium.  

Finally, a couple of Stonechats, one a juvenile, were seen in the hedgerow and nearby game strip.

 

A summary of highlights for August 2025

 August to November is arguably my best time of year for birding both on my Breckland patch and beyond, especially the North Norfolk Coast.  The following is a summary of local highlights on my patch and as you will see there was a good selection of migrants to report through the month.

Early in the month on the 2nd it was obvious that Swift numbers had dropped significantly.

A visit to Little Cressingham on the 4th saw a single overflying and calling Crossbill, a welcome record of a bird which has been scarce on the patch in recent years.  Also seen was a notable count of 50+ Stock Doves.

Late summer and autumn sees Houghton-on-the-Hill as one of favoured locations to visit for both resting migrants and visual migration and my first visit for this migration period on the 9th proved to be an excellent visit with a Pied Flycatcher in woodland around the churchyard.  Common migrants are well represented here and today I recorded 10+ Blackcaps, 10+ Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, and 3 Lesser Whitethroats.  A single Raven passed over calling. 

A visit to a sewage treatments works on the nearby army training ground on the 10th produced one Reed Warbler, one Lesser Whitethroat, one Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, and 3 Blackcaps, all in a small area of Elder bushes where all species were seen to eat berries.

On the 12th I enjoyed a great field trip to Titchwell Marsh with my good friend Darren Cowles.  The first bird of the day was a calling male Tawny Owl in the car park area and although still dark we could see the calling Owl silhouetted in the trees. 

Highlights on the marsh included 40+ Ruff, 14 Spoonbills, an early morning westerly movement of Little Egrets, and a single Great White Egret on the marsh. A few single Sedge Warblers were in the reedbeds.

Dawn at Titchwell Marsh 12 August 2025 (Unedited picture)

It was my intention to check the overflow car park as our visit wound down, I was surprised to see that despite the numbers of cars in the normal car park, there were no birders checking the wonderful habitat for migrant Warblers.  A check of elder bushes in the overflow car park produced 6+ Blackcaps feeding upon berries, these were undoubtedly passage birds.

Blackcap in the overflow car park 12 August

A walk along the Watton Brook valley west of Hopton Bridge on the 13^th saw at least 12 Stonechats and at least 3 Whitethroats on fencing alongside the brook. A single Sedge Warbler in herbage in the brook was undoubtedly a migrant bird. Later in the garden a Green veined White butterfly was seen.

A visit to Houghton-on-the-Hill on the 14^th began with a walk around the churchyard at St. Mary’s where a single Lesser Whitethroat emerged from thick Ivy where it had probably roosted. Many Blackcaps and Whitethroats were in the hedgerow corridor east of the church. Back at the church a juvenile Goshawk soared low overhead. A Hummingbird Hawk Moth was feeding in Buddleia.

Juvenile Goshawk at Houghton 14 August 2025

A visit to Bodney on the 18^th produced one Yellow Wagtail in an Elder, a single Wheatear along the boundary ditch separating Bodney Slip from the wet meadow east of the STW, 100+ Swallows, one Chiffchaff, and at least 4 Stonechats. Late morning saw a ♀ Sparrowhawk low and fast through the garden.

A check of the skies on the 19^th saw no Swifts, clearly some will be about, however, the majority of birds have now departed.

A late afternoon visit to Seamere Marsh on the 20^th produced a movement of 40+ House Martins which included a single Swift. On the marsh a ♀ Marsh Harrier was seen flying into thick willow woodland possibly to roost.

A very productive and rewarding day on the 23^rd in the Watton Brook Valley west at Little Cressingham with many Stonechats seen, one Whitethroat, Chiffchaffs, a calling Raven, visible migration with an overhead Yellow Wagtail, many Blackcaps in Bodney Slip where also 4 Spotted Flycatchers were found with one individual being a leucistic bird.

A leucistic Spotted Flycatcher at Little Cressingham 23 August (One of 4 birds seen together)

A morning visit on the 24^th to a marsh and meadows in Watton Brook valley produced at least 4 Whitethroats and a single migrant Lesser Whitethroat. Sizeable Finch flocks seen with 70+ Linnets and 100+ Goldfinches noted. At least 5 Stonechats were seen.

Lesser Whitethroat 24 August 2025 (Such stunning Warblers)

An early evening visit to Seamere Marsh on the 25^th was fairly quiet with the highlight being a single Swift over Seamere with a number of House Martins.

On the morning of the 26^th I was working in Wymondham where very high overhead two Sparrowhawks were seen soaring.

I visited the Watton Brook valley at Bodney on the 27^th arriving pre-sunrise and remaining until about 0930. This was a very good visit with a ♀ Blackcap in an elder eating berries and 4+ Chiffchaffs present. Cattle were grazing the grassland alongside Watton Brook, I suspected Wagtails to be present and when checked, 4+ Yellow Wagtails were feeding around the cattle. Also present was 3 Stonechats on fencing and posts in the valley.

On the 28^th I visited Hockham Heath and was rewarded with 30+ Crossbills wandering the treetops, also, a very notable 30+ Chiffchaffs seen in the Hawthorn scrub where 6+ Blackcaps also seen. Three Spotted Flycatchers (singles) seen around the site with one in the very top of a tall Poplar, a recently arrived migrant perhaps. One Little Egret was seen and at least one Raven passed over the Cranberry Rough area calling. A walk through Rule’s Belt produced calling Marsh Tit.

A single Swift was seen over Hethersett on the 30^th. Later on Old Runway Lane at Deopham one Yellow Wagtail was found whilst scoping a muck heap, also present was 12+ Pied Wagtails around muck heaps.