What an exciting month for birding September is, this is a pivotal month for migration with the departures of summer migrants and the arrivals of the first winter visitors. Departing summer visitors can turn up almost anywhere, I always marvel at how species such as Warblers defend their territories in the breeding season but in autumn become more sociable in their behaviour, for example, a typically seen behaviour for me in autumn is finding a number of Blackcaps or Whitethroats feeding in one Elder bush, sometimes with a Reed Warbler as well, all of these birds are just interested in feeding upon berries to fuel their migration to the Mediterranean basin or further south into Africa.
September also sees the arrival of the first winter Thrushes from Scandinavia, these species are Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, and Blackbirds, all of which abandon their breeding grounds in Scandinavia to seek milder conditions and food. Similarly, winter Finches such as Bramblings, Siskins, and Redpolls abandon their breeding areas in Scandinavia due to food scarcity and harsh winter weather, all three of these species occur on my Breckland patch in winter.
September 2025 (A Review of observations)
A good start to the month on the 1st with a Yellow Wagtail at Bodney, also one Grey Wagtail and a single Willow Warbler in an elder where berries were consumed.
The 2nd of the month began clear and cool, it's beginning to feel like autumn. A visit to Threxton produced a flock of 70+ Linnets wandering a large game strip. A Hobby overflew in a westerly beading. A check of a field boundary hedge saw a very smart looking Lesser Whitethroat in an elder. Nearby a hedgerow held 3+ Whitethroats and in a ditch an elusive Sedge Warbler was seen in dense cover.
Later the same morning a Marsh Harrier was seen high over Saham in a more or less southerly heading.
The 6th of the month saw an interesting series of events in Little Cressingham beginning with a ♀ Marsh Harrier flushing and chasing a Partridge, the Harrier was then chased by a Goshawk, the two raptors appeared to have a little tussle, the Goshawk broke off and flew into an Oak and the Marsh Harrier resumed hunting.
Evidence of visual migration seen with two Yellow Wagtails overhead in a southerly heading. A single Whinchat was seen on fencing at a field boundary.
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| Migrant Reed Warbler at Threxton 8 September |
A visit to Threxton on the 8th was productive for migrants. I decided to visit a roadside woodland which at its boundary has plentiful scrub and over the years has held migrants in autumn because of it being sheltered from the prevailing wind. A small area of Bramble/Elder scrub held 3+ Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, one Reed Warbler feeding upon elderberries, and two Dunnock, a juvenile Robin, Blue Tits, and Chaffinch. 3 Red Kites soared overhead and a Sparrowhawk shot through.
Dawn at Wretham Heath on the 9th looked spectacular with low lying mist and fog eventually clearing to a warm, sunny morning. My aim was to visit Langmere to check for evidence of wader passage, it was also very productive for the numbers of arriving Goose species. Entering the hide at Langmere I was immediately greeted by 7 Snipe on the muddy shore of the mere, also present was a single Common Sandpiper.
An overview of Langmere saw the arrivals of 100 Greylag Geese, 72+ Egyptian Geese, and 64 Canada Geese.
A visit to the Watton Brook Valley near Threxton on the 10th saw a single Little Egret flying along the valley. A large flock of 300+ Rooks was put up by the appearance of a low and fast Peregrine Falcon. Two Whitethroats were seen together in a bramble patch by the brook as was two Stonechats, one of which fed upon blackberries.
On the 11th in the Watton Brook valley between Little Cressingham and Bodney the visit began with a single Hobby drifting east over farmland and woodland until lost to view. Migrants in the valley included one Whinchat, a Reed Warbler in thick cover, and two Blackcaps which included a ♂ taking an elderberry. Beautiful scoped views of a ♀ Kestrel on a fencepost were had.
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| An elusive juvenile Reed Warbler at Little Cressingham 11 Sept (subsong was heard) |
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| Whinchat at Bodney 11 Sept. |
An early morning watch of the sky from the garden on the 12th saw two Little Egrets high over the town in a NW heading. 25+ Goldfinches seen in adjoining gardens and a ♀ Sparrowhawk passed through the garden low and at speed.
A pre-sunrise visit to Hockham
(Rules Belt then Hockham Fen) was quite productive with ♂♀
Tawny Owls calling
in Rules Belt area. At Hockham Fen at least 10 Chiffchaffs
present (some song heard). Hawthorn and Birch scrub held Long-tailed
Tits,
Blue Tit,
Coal
Tit,
Nuthatch,
and Chiffchaff.
Two Kestrels
and Sparrowhawk
seen and on the fen two Stonechats
seen with a ♂
collecting a Zebra spider from long grasses.. At least 5 Siskins
overhead.
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| Stonechat at Hockham 21 September 2025 (With Zebra Spider) |
I visited Houghton on the 22nd with the
aim of finding migrants as well as doing some vismigging.
The morning began with a Barn
Owl in the former
village site. A calling Raven
was scoped in conifer woodland N/E of Houghton Common, later, two
Ravens
were seen north of the path leading to the
church, these birds were engaged in chasing display and calling.
10+ Blackbirds
and a Song Thrush
were seen in bushes and hedgerow on Houghton Common.
Migrants included several
Chiffchaffs
(some singing), 3 Blackcaps
(2♂♂
and one♀) seen with a
♂ seen to take an elderberry. A single Whinchat
was very briefly seen on the hedge east of the church
Stepping out into the garden early on the 23rd I was immediately greeted by two Ravens quite low directly overhead flying in a SW heading..
On the 26th at Carbrooke a mobile Tit flock included a single Willow Warbler, this was a particularly yellow bird.
I was working on the 27th and a short stop by the beautiful River Wensum at Billingford produced a calling Kingfisher , this bird flew towards me and briefly alighted on a tall weed before flying off again. A Green Woodpecker was calling.
On the 29th a single migrant Chiffchaff passed through the garden.
An overview of farmland near 'The Arms' at Little Cressingham on the 30th saw a flock of 250+ Rooks wandering over the land feeding. 4 Carrion Crows, two Ravens directly overhead heading west, a single Chiffchaff occasionally singing, two Marsh Tits, 40+ Chaffinches, 60+ Linnets, and a ♀ Sparrowhawk flying fast and low, an expected bird given the Finch activity. An overhead movement of 4 Cormorants in a westerly heading.
Late afternoon in the garden a Hobby passed directly overhead fast and with intent.
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