Little Cressingham, Norfolk

Time is getting on now with no Whitethroats seen so far, therefore, I paid a short visit to the Great Cressingham Road NW of 'The Arms' with this being my target species.  I went as far as the Watton Brook valley and returned back along the same road.
A cool morning with sunny spells and frequent light showers driven along on a moderate Northerly wind.
It wasn't too long after starting my walk that I detected some movement within the roadside hedge, the behaviour of the bird looked very favourable, then I heard a very familiar "tschair" call, the alarm call of Whitethroat, also heard was an equally familiar "ved ved ved" and then I heard brief bursts of song and sub-song, to top this I then saw a bright white throat low in the hedge, a lovely male Whitethroat, and very close by, a second male Whitethroat, perhaps these were recent arrivals.
These two Whitethroats mostly kept to cover, however, one or two brief glimpses of a bird was seen in a gap in the hedge, one view saw the lovely rusty wing panel, he was also giving sub-song.  One Whitethroat announced his arrival with a showing of its song-flight, but the conditions mostly kept the birds to the relative warmth of cover.

Whitethroat

A singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff were heard in the wooded pit.
I moved on to the Watton Brook valley with the intention of finding another Whitethroat, or another summer migrant species somewhere along the valley, this was not to be.
Although there was no success with further summer visitors, a single Fieldfare arrived in a small area of woodland by the Brook and announced its arrival with the familiar "chack chack" call.  The Fieldfare remained here for a few minutes before flying off, gaining a good altitude and heading off in a Northerly direction, I watched this winter visitor Thrush for some time as it headed off into the northern skies.  This is now getting quite late for Fieldfare, this straggler looked a lonesome figure for a species with a very gregarious nature.  My latest ever date for Fieldfare was 1st May.
Other notable species this morning included at least 3 singing Song Thrushes and a single Mistle Thrush on grassland searching for food.

Hockham, Norfolk

Hockham, Norfolk 22/04/16

1 Little Grebe
1 Snipe
3 Lapwing (pair + intruder seen off)
Moorhen
6+ Grey Heron (birds seen carrying nesting material)
1 Sparrowhawk
Stock Dove (pair)
Wood Pigeon
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Mallard
c.10 Swallows
Mistle Thrush
Song Thrush
Chiffchaff widespread
Blackcap several heard
1 Garden Warbler - first of year
1 Sedge Warbler
Goldcrest many singing
Treecreeper 4 or 5 localities (including pair nest building)
2 Reed Buntings (males)
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit

A very grey morning with low cloud greeted my arrival at Hockham Forest.  Visibility was good but light was poor throughout this visit.
As soon as I was out of the car, Blackcap, Goldcrest, and Song Thrush were amongst the songsters greeting my arrival.
I checked a number of habitats for sign of summer migrants, notably Cuckoo and Willow Warbler, however, no sign at this stage.  The recent run of northerlies had undoubtedly held up arrivals.  Despite this, Chiffchaffs were numerous and there was a few Blackcaps singing to affirm their territories.

Treecreeper at Hockham 22/04/16

An initial check over the fen at dawn produced a  singing Sedge Warbler within reeds and Sallow scrub.
Relocating to another part of the fen, I found a pair of Treecreepers flying back and forth to an old Alder, I decided to stop and watch and remained for an hour watching these delightful little birds carrying nesting materials into a crack in the tree.  Nesting materials comprised moss, fine grasses, and wool.
Also in this area, my first Garden Warbler of the year was singing in a thick clump of Bramble scrub.
Having spent a rewarding hour watching the Treecreepers I then made my way back to my original position where at least 10 Swallows were hunting low over the fen.  The Sedge Warbler was still in fine voice.
Also noted here was Little Grebe (calling), 1 Snipe, a soaring Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove (pair).







Merton
I decided to have a cycle ride early afternoon.  I checked a former small Pine plantation (felled a few years ago), the clearing has now been taken over by low lying scrub, here, a Willow Warbler was heard in fine voice.

Lesser Whitethroats

Further arrivals of this stunning Warbler found in the week at Kimberley and Downham, near Hethersett, Norfolk.  Both records were of singing males.

Migrants week ending 17/04/16

Northerly winds in recent days have probably held up migration to a degree, however, such is the urgency to return to reaffirm territories for breeding, many migrants do make it through adverse conditions and announce their return with a wonderful variety of song.
Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps are now widespread and singing within their chosen habitats.  It is still evident however that many suitable habitats have yet to be filled by returning Blackcaps.  My first Blackcap of the year was a singing male at Hethersett on 29th March followed by a more local record at Thompson on 3rd April.
Willow Warblers appeared to arrive later than usual this year with the first not heard singing until 11th April at Thompson.  The same day saw a pair of mating Marsh Harriers on the patch, a great local record.
My first Hirundines were seen on 12th April with a House Martin at Barnham Broom, a little while later a single Swallow was seen at Barford.
The 15th and 16th April were particularly wet days with drier conditions finally arriving early afternoon on the latter date.  On 16th April I visited Little Cressingham (The Arms) with the intention of finding my first Whitethroat of the year, as I approached The Arms I heard a quiet scratchy sub-song which stopped me in my tracks, I saw movement and a short while later I saw a stunning male Lesser Whitethroat skulking in roadside hedgerows, its constant picking at branches and Blackthorn blossom suggested this might have been a recently arrived tired migrant.  This is one of my earliest returning Lesser Whitethroats.
A visit to Bodney on 17th April saw and heard 3 migrant Warbler species on territory, these were Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, and at least one Willow Warbler.  As well as summer migrants, winter visitors will also still be on the move.  A single Fieldfare on heathland looked quite lonesome given the usual gregarious nature of this species.  Finally, at least one Redpoll overflew in a northerly heading, a possible outgoing wintering bird.

Little Cressingham, Norfolk

We have seen a long and almost continuous period of rain, some heavy, and driven along on a moderate to fresh northerly wind.  By this afternoon, a more settled spell of sunny spells was welcome, however, the Arctic wind was a noticeable feature.
This afternoon I decided to walk from 'The Arms' along the Great Cressingham Road to the Watton Brook valley.  Evidence of the recent rain was seen with high levels of water in the Brook.
I expected to see and hear evidence of summer migrants on this walk and indeed a couple of male Blackcaps were heard in song along with the repetitive song of Chiffchaffs.
At the brook I checked the valley for signs of migrants but none were seen, in fact, it was generally quiet with just Buzzards seen over nearby woodland.

Lesser Whitethroat at Little Cressingham 16/04/16

As I approached The Arms I heard a quiet scratchy warble which stopped me in my tracks, movement was seen and I suspected a Sylvia Warbler.  My suspicions were confirmed when a splendid male Lesser Whitethroat appeared in the hedge occasionally giving bursts of its familiar rattle-like song.  This bird was watched moving along the hedge, clambering within cover and sometimes appearing to show quite well.  The constant movement through the hedge was accompanied by a search for food, often picking at twigs and amongst Blackthorn blossom, this urgency to feed suggested this was a recent hungry arrival intent on feeding.  This must surely be one of the earliest Lesser Whitethroats in Norfolk this spring.

1930: A Peregrine passed north over Watton

East Wretham and Croxton Heaths, Norfolk (with Ray and Pam Perry and Ian Smith)

It is always about this time of year that I invite friends to join me in a search for Adders on both Croxton and East Wretham Heaths.  Today, my very good friends Ray and Pam Perry, and Ian Smith, all joined me for a search of good Adder habitats.  Although initially cool, overnight cloud was slowly moving away to eventually give sunny and warm conditions.
I met my friends at the East Wretham Heath car park at 0730, and the plan was to walk over the heath to meet up with Harling Drove, and then on to Croxton Heath.
Once on Harling Drove we walked west towards Croxton Heath.  With the sun behind us we had a good opportunity to overview Langmere.  Firstly, Lapwings reacted angrily, and gave chase to Crows which entered their territories.  A pair of Lapwings were seen closely one of which, the male bird, appeared to be involved in courtship. 

Chiffchaff on Croxton Heath 02/04/16 (many heard and seen)

Langmere is fed by aquifers, the water levels are therefore subject to fluctuation and at the current time there is plenty of water supporting a variety of species, although the high water marks indicated levels have been higher.  This morning Tufted Duck, a few Shoveler, several Teal, and a pair of Egyptian Geese were seen. 
Leaving Langmere behind us we continued along Harling Drove.  A large recently cleared area of forestry held a pair of Woodlarks.  The dominant species along the Harling Drove was Chiffchaff, with many singing males present, especially in areas of scrub and Birch habitat.
By the time we reached one of the

Common Lizard on Croxton Heath 02/04/16

forest rides which is reliable for Reptiles, the cloud which was slow to move, eventually gave way to Sunny, and quite warm conditions, especially in areas out of the wind. It was along the forest rides that we spaced ourselves and walked back and forth searching woodland edge for Adders, the first good sign was a sunning Common Lizard on dead wood, this surely was a sign that our main quarry wouldn't be too far behind.  With careful searching I eventually found an Adder sunning itself beside a Silver Birch on Bracken.  I managed to call Ray, Pam, and Ian t me and we all

A well concealed Adder at Croxton Heath 02/04/16 (found by Ray Perry)

enjoyed quite brief views of this Adder before it retreated into thick bracken habitat.  A short while later I found a second Adder, slightly bigger than the first, and again, sunning itself on woodland edge.
We then moved from this site to a known hibernaculum for Adders, and although not initially seen I was sure they would show sometime soon.  I was looking elsewhere when Ray summoned me to say he had seen an Adder around the base of a dead tree stump.  We watched this Adder for some time as it remained still before making slight movements within cover.
I must say that I breathed a sigh of relief at seeing 3 Adders this morning as I don't like to disappoint people if I aim to show them a target species, this was especially so with Pam Perry as she had not seen an Adder until today.
Walking back along Harling Drove, Chiffchaffs continued to dominate, however, no other summer migrants were seen or heard.  As we walked past Langmere a Curlew dropped in calling.
Leaving the woodland behind us the final part of the walk took us over open, exposed heathland, it was at this time that we discovered that despite the warm conditions in the sheltered woodland, the wind was quite cool.
Finally, I wish to thank my good friends Ray and Pam Perry and Ian Smith for joining me on this walk.  We all thoroughly enjoyed the morning, especially so as Adders were seen.

On this day....

31st March 1999
Thompson Water, Norfolk

On a cold, clear morning back on 31st March 1999, I walked from my home in Watton, Norfolk, to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Water, some 4 miles distant.
Approaching Thompson Water, but still some distance to go, I began to hear something I had never heard previously, a barking-like call which had me completely stumped.  This strange call became louder as I approached and my heart started racing as to what it could be.
The sun rising at Thompson Water meant that I had to position myself along the southern side to avoid whatever it was being silhouetted from the west bank in the early morning bright light.
I could not believe what I was looking at, the bird was located in open water, it was a male PIED-BILLED GREBE in summer plumage, and to date, constitutes my rarest ever personal find.

Pied-billed Grebe

My first impressions of this bird was of an oversized Little Grebe. The thick stubby bill was pale with a bold black vertical band. The chin was black, a feature absent in winter.
As I watched this bird, it continued to call.  Calling was accompanied by the bird extending its neck forward to give it an almost flat appearance on the water, the throat was puffed out as it gave its loud "coo-coo-coo-coo-coo-coo" call.  Aggression was seen towards the resident Grebes as it called.
My next thought was what to do....I had no mobile phone.  I walked back to the village of Thompson to the phone box.....the phone box had recently been removed...great.  I met a man in his garden and stated to him that I needed a phone to call a friend about a bird I had located at the water, he very kindly allowed me to use his phone.  Not long to wait, and my friends, Micky and Matthew Stainthorpe arrived at Thompson Water to enjoy this extreme rarity from the Americas.  The Pied-billed Grebe remained until May of that year.

I have found some scarce and rare birds throughout my birding life, and NOT being of the twitcher fraternity I decided to keep the presence of this bird to a few close friends.  I may be criticised for doing this, a suppressor is the term used I believe, however, I had the welfare of this Pied-billed Grebe in mind.  The reasoning for this was because this very rare bird was previously watched at another site some distance from my patch, and it came to light that irresponsible twitchers had thrown sticks into reeds in an attempt to force the bird into open water, this is wholly unacceptable behaviour and I didn't want to risk a repeat of this behaviour on my patch.