Thompson Common 8 March 2026

 Spring has come early this year with some very warm days at the beginning of the month accompanied by warm southerly winds.  These conditions saw a number of early Chiffchaffs on the patch with my first singing bird of the year on March 2 at Wretham Heath.  I did think that this may have been an overwintering bird, which it may well have been, however, with numerous records of Chiffchaffs in the first few days of the month, then the bird on March 2 could have been a genuine migrant.

On the morning of 8 March I visited the beautiful Thompson Common, a large area dominated by numerous pingos, dense thickets, Willow scrub, and open common.  The moment I arrived the small parking area saw two singing Stock Doves, two singing Song Thrushes, Coal Tit, Wren, singing Great Tit, Chaffinch, and two drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Thompson Common 8 March 2026

As I set off through the wooded area and onto the common another Great Spotted Woodpecker was watched drumming.  Common species on the common included 6+ singing Song Thrushes, a singing Mistle Thrush, Blackbirds, numerous Robins and Wrens, and a singing Yellowhammer.  At least 4 Chiffchaffs were located in song.  At least 3 Greenfinches were noted in song, also, 2 birds were seen overhead performing their song-flight. A total of 3 Nuthatches were recorded and a total of 5 singing Stock Doves noted.

Much of the common is dominated by patches of Gorse, here, as expected, a number of pairs of Linnets were seen in typical breeding habitat.  At least 3 Reed Buntings seen, these included a singing ♂ and a pair in suitable breeding habitat.  3 Grey Herons were seen.

Goshawk (female) overflying Thompson Common 8 March.

I heard a number of Crows in what appeared to be a state of panic, as expected, moments later a ♀ Goshawk appeared through trees and then overflew the common, whilst a second Goshawk was heard calling in woodland.

A pair of Ravens appeared over the common with either one, or both birds, attempting to rob the contents of an active Crows nest.  A third Raven overflew the common.

Two calling Water Rails were in good breeding habitat comprising dense reeds in a pingo and rank vegetation.

As part of the reserve management plan the Norfolk Wildlife Trust uses the hardy, and beautiful, Polish Konik ponies, these ponies graze the common and keep encroaching scrub down which in turn benefits ground nesting birds. I watched one pony eating Gorse without any concerns.

Two of the beautiful Konik ponies on Thompson Common 8 March.

East Wretham Heath 2 March 2026 (0707-1100)

 Following a clear night the morning dawned dry but with a cool moderate southerly wind. As the morning progressed the warm sunshine certainly gave the morning a feel of spring.

This was to be a productive visit with 42 bird species recorded, but, my reasons for visiting this wonderful heath was to search for Adders.

I arrived in the car park at 0705 to the cacophony of calling Crows in the trees around the reserve house, it was clear there was occupied nests in the tall Scots Pines.  Leaving the car park and walking over the heath saw a Kestrel amongst the scattered Hawthorns, and as I approached the stunning Scots Pine woodland I could hear Song Thrush, Coal Tit, Robin, Wren, and Chaffinch, all in song.

I took a short coffee break on a wooden seat, from here, I saw a single Curlew pass over at height and heading west.  Also here I heard a singing Stock Dove and Chaffinch.

I then headed off through Waterloo Plantation where another singing Chaffinch was heard along with a ♀ bird in a Hawthorn. Continuing through the woodland I met a lovely couple, Anita and Chris, with whom I had a good chat with about Wretham, during this meeting I could hear a Woodlark singing high above the wood, and a calling Nuthatch was high in the canopy.

Waterloo Plantation Wretham Heath (Planted 1815 to celebrate Wellingtons victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

By the time I reached the Harling Drove the sun was bringing some warmth but the wind still had a cool edge to it.  With conditions improving I started my search for Adders alongside the track amongst heather and bracken habitat.

Ringmere and Fenmere

Ringmere was to prove to be most rewarding, especially so as there was still plenty of water in the mere. Birds noted on and around the mere included 60+ Teal, 58+ Mallard, 4 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 7 Shelduck, 9 Egyptian Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, Moorhen, Coot, 2 Mute Swans, and 4+ Little Grebes. Other species noted here was Greenfinch, Green Woodpecker, singing Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, and Dunnock.

At the beautiful Fenmere, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Mallard, 1 Gadwall (♂), 2 Coot, and in the dense woodland and scrub habitat a single Chiffchaff was briefly heard in song.

First views of the partially concealed Adder on Wretham Heath 2 March 2026

Leaving Fenmere I decided to revisit my earlier route, it was getting warmer and more suitable for Adders to show.  I explored a wonderful area of grassland/heath habitat with Hawthorn scrub and lots of Bracken. Notable species here included a calling Marsh Tit and an overhead and calling Crossbill.

I next decided to visit a grassy bank where I have previously seen Adders, a slow and careful walk alongside the bank eventually produced what I was looking for, a beautiful Adder sunning itself in a sheltered warm position.  There was a little movement seen and whilst I could only initially seen the body, I soon saw through the blades of grass the beautiful head of this snake. .

Adder on Wretham Heath 2 March 2026

Each year in spring I invite people to join me for an 'Adder Walk', but before that I like to recce the area for productive sites for Adders, therefore, this mornings visit to the beautiful Wretham Heath was rewarding in readiness for the walk.