Little Cressingham, Norfolk

Due to my workload coupled with my just finishing the first of three 'weekends on' I feel that much will be sadly missed on the patch, although I do have a nice nine day stretch off in the second half of October, the month of all months which sees vast numbers of Thrushes and Finches on the move from Europe.  Despite this, I still have add days and afternoons off to check on things on the patch.  The beauty of my job however is that I travel around a good part of rural Norfolk between Wymondham, Hethersett, and many lovely villages in between, therefore my breaks should bring interest.
This afternoon I had a shortish walk along Fairstead Lane and Green Lane at Little Cressingham.  Although not the best time of day to observe movements of birds I did locate at least 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 of which were part of a mobile Tit flock on Green Lane. This Tit flock comprised Long-tailed, Blue, and Great Tits, also Treecreeper was heard. A couple of Siskins were disturbed from thistle and other weed seeds where they would have been feeding.  A number of Bullfinches were heard.
It was clear from this afternoons walk that most Whitethroats have now departed for their African wintering grounds.
I took a moment to overview a vast area of open, rolling farmland and considered what I could expect to see here in the coming months.  Most likely would be Peregrine which will winter here, an abundant supply of Pigeons should keep this species satiated.  Also, Merlin is a possibility, chasing low and fast after Pipits.  Hen Harrier is also a scarce winter visitor to the patch, the early months of this year saw a female on the patch.

Houghton-on-the-Hill, Norfolk

I arrived at this site at just after sunrise, the skies were clear, wind was a light westerly, and the dawn temperature was an autumnal 8 degrees celsius.

Reed Bunting at Houghton 25/09/15

MIGRATION
Little evidence seen or heard this morning, presumably due to the wind direction, however, a very light overhead passage of Siskins was heard (not seen).
Overhead at the church, 4 Swallows passed over high in a north-easterly heading.  I believe these Swallows are flying north-east where they will head for the Norfolk Coast, and then follow the coastline south before departing our shores.  

A slow walk along the double hedgerows east of the church produced a respectable 15+ Blackcaps and around 6 Chiffchaffs, although I did not locate a single Whitethroat.
Also within this habitat, Yellowhammers were seen with this Reed Bunting.  The latter species has now long abandoned their breeding sites and have wandered away to joing other Buntings, especially Yellowhammers, to spend the autumn and winter in the hedgerows, field edges, stubble, and farmyards in their collective search for weedseeds and grain spillages.
Blue and Great Tits, along with a single Marsh Tit was seen, and Goldcrests heard.
Linnets were present in variable, but small numbers, the largest gathering seen numbering about 20 birds.

Little Cressingham, Norfolk (Peddars Way north of village to the Watton Road and back)

Mid-afternoon: Parked at the north end of School Road and walked north through the village, along the Peddars Way, over Watton Brook, and onto the Watton Road, and back.  The weather was dire with wall to wall cloud and persistent rain.
As expected in these conditions, not too much seen or heard, although the area around North Bridge held most activity.
As I approached North Bridge, Siskins were heard overhead and a couple of Chiffchaffs were heard.
Walking north of North Bridge, the road climbs up to eventually meet the Watton Road, I checked the ploughed fields for signs of Wheatear, but none seen.
At the Watton Road junction a flock of about 20 Linnets passed overhead.
With the rain getting heavier I decided to stop briefly at North Bridge on the way back.  A mobile flock of Long-tailed Tits comprised Goldcrests and Chiffchaff.  A Lesser Whitethroat was heard, as was Treecreeper and Bullfinch.
Finally, a walk back through the village produced a single Swallow.

Ashill (Common Road and Common), Norfolk

Another beautiful dawn this morning, calm with clear skies and a light west-south-westerly.  Dawn temperature was 9 degrees celsius.
I arrived at Ashill Common just prior to sunrise and walked the length of Common Road before turning back and doing a circuit of the common.
A good range of species was seen, this included evidence of passage and visible migration, and recent arrivals/winter visitors.
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Visible Migration (including birds heard)
1 Snipe (high west)
Meadow Pipits - light passage (most heard) heading south
Siskin - mostly heard but flock of c.10 south seen over Ashill Common
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The first noteable observation was of 1000+ 'large Gulls' mostly Lesser Black-backed Gulls and smaller numbers of Great Black-backed Gull over farmland.  These birds have been seen on recent visits following farm machinery turning the land.  Machinery soon started working the land early morning which attracted the Gulls, however, many were also just 'loafing' in fields of stubble.
As I continued my walk east I was soon alerted to calling Golden Plovers (200+) wheeling high above.


Meadow Pipit Ashill 20/09/15

At 0700, whilst watching the Golden Plovers, a single Snipe was seen high above me, it was watched heading purposefully west.  I wonder where it was heading, the Wash, or Ireland perhaps, and what of its origins, Britain or Northern Europe?
Throughout the walk this morning, a light passage of Meadow Pipits was heard overhead, also, good numbers were seen in stubble and roadside wires.  Were these migrating birds stopping off to feed and rest, or possibly wintering birds.
A light passage of Siskins was evident, none were actually seen, too high perhaps.

Ashill Common
My final stop of the morning was on Ashill Common, in particular, the tall hedging and scrub along Devil's Dyke where I hope for more migrants.


Whitethroat (juvenile) Ashill Common 20/09/15

The first bird seen in the hedge was this juvenile Whitethroat, however, the most abundant species here this morning was Greenfinch (about 20), also a couple of Bullfinches were seen here.
Overhead passage continued with small numbers of Meadow Pipits mostly heard, but the most significant visble migrant was a flock of about 10 Siskins which passed directly over me in a southerly heading

Houghton-on-the Hill, Norfolk

I was up at 0400 this morning and took my Toby for an early morning walk down to Merton.  What a beautiful time this was with starlit skies and the very bright Venus rising in the eastern sky.
Following our walk, I prepared a flask of Tomato soup, packed up the car, and headed off for Houghton-on-the-Hill, some 5 miles from home.
I arrived at Houghton at 0630, there was a gentle Northerly wind and clear skies.  Mist was soon burnt off by the rising sun.  By about 0930, a weak front moved in bringing cloud.
The purpose of my visit to Houghton was to check for newly arrived migrant birds and witness migration/passage.
I intially walked the double hedgerow east of the church to get to the western end as the rising sun was blinding, then I walked back slowly with the sun behind me checking for movement.

Arrivals
It became quite clear that the most abundant migrant in the hedgerows east of the church was Blackcap (20+), with quite a few Chiffchaffs (6+) also.  Most of the Blackcaps were undoubtedly recent arrivals given their need to feed upon Elderberries.  Most Blackcaps were heard (including sub-song), those seen were immaculate looking males.  

Passage
A light passage of Meadow Pipits was both seen and heard with birds seen flying in variable directions, however, several others were heard passing overhead in a southerly heading, many were unseen.
Hirundines included a single Swallow heading north and a couple of House Martins high west.
Visible migration by Redpolls was observed.  A single Redpoll passed directly overhead in a southerly heading at 0721, this was followed by calling Redpolls (unseen), heading south at 0805.
A light overhead movement of Siskins (unseen) was heard, again, appearing to be heading south.
I expected to see movement by raptor species, however, I did not locate any in the time I was there.

Local birds included a large female Sparrowhawk being mobbed by Corvid species, initially Rooks, then Magpies and a couple of Jays moving in to join the assault.  The Sparrowhawk clearly had enough when she attempted to turn the table on the Crows by performing mock attacks, she then departed and drifted east.
Local raptors also included a couple of Buzzards.
The thick hedgerows also held many common species, Dunnock, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, and Goldcrest.
A few Yellowhammers were seen, also several small flocks of Linnets, although one flock numbering 30+ birds.

Irresponsible comments by a female 'Twit'cher

I was recently reading a blog entry by a certain female North Norfolk twitcher, in it she states 'bombing along in her car' and being held up by 'Sunday drivers' to get to a particular site/bird.
These are clearly irresponsible comments, and indeed behaviour, and people such as this have the potential to endanger themselves, and more importantly, other road users.
Birding has been my lifetime passion, however, no bird is worth the risk of endangering others whilst in pursuit of our hobby.
I have strong opinions about poor driving skills and it is my belief that people who make such comments as seen here do not belong on the road.

A new Garden record and a visit to Carleton Forehoe, Norfolk

Garden 0730-0745 (New Garden Record)
I sat in the garden enjoying a coffee before going out for the morning, I wanted to check for any overhead passage...fairly quiet at this time.  60+ Goldfinches gathered in a neighbours tree "tinkering' away.  Collared Doves and Starlings were present and a couple of Coal Tits passed through.
At 0745, a panic ensued and birds scattered everywhere, clearly, a raptor, possibly Sparrowhawk was hunting, but no, I didn't expect to see a GOSHAWK pass through at roof-top height and at speed, an awesome raptor.  I suspect this was a wandering juvenile bird.  


Carleton Forehoe 0900-1045
Having dropped the wife off at her little cleaning job in Kimberley, I decided to have a walk along Low Road in Carleton Forehoe, again checking for migrant birds.
I found a calling Chiffchaff in a Oak-lined hedgerow, but could see nor hear anything else.  I walked back along Low Road and checked a small area of woodland scrub.  Checking an Elder, I could see branches moving, a closer look revealed 2 Blackcaps (male and female) and a single Lesser Whitethroat, all were feeding upon the rich supply of Elderberries.  Within range of this I could hear a Chiffchaff singing.

Nuthatch at Kimberley 18/09/15

I stopped at a beautiful Hawthorn hedge and watched birds moving through the hedge to a lovely cottage garden   Numerous Blue and Great Tits constantly moved back and forth, as did Marsh and Coal Tits, a single Chiffchaff was also seen briefly in Hawthorn.
Back at Kimberley, I was given permission to walk around the lovely cottage garden.  Feeders attracted numerous Blue Tits and Great Tits, again, with a few Coal Tits dropping in to feed.  At least a couple of Nuthatches came to feed.  A Goldcrest passed through the garden