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.