Little Cressingham 27 August 2026

A dry start to the day but with heavy thundery showers predicted. Some heavy and prolonged showers arrived around midday and it was great to look out of the window and finally see some decent rainfall following the long very dry spells and many days of very high temperatures.

My day began with a visit to a nearby army camp where I had to go through my annual safety briefing and pass renewal for the training area, an efficient process.

Little Cressingham (Watton Brook Valley within the training area) 0810-0930.

I arrived at my destination with full cloud and a muggy feel, the wind was an easterly shifting to a light south-easterly.  The morning had a feel of migrants about it.

The first birds I noticed was a couple of Red Kites perched in a dead Oak, in the same tree two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, one of which was chiselling away at dead bark.  A Goshawk was heard calling. Several Stonechats (c.10) and Whitethroat along the valley sides. I also saw a very brief acrocephalus species dart into cover, I suspected Reed Warbler.   

Before proceeding along the valley I decided to scope rolling grassland and in doing so located 3 Northern Wheatear.  Even watching from distance these Wheatears were easily identified migrants, firstly, I checked areas of short grassland at this time of year knowing that this kind of habitat supports passage Wheatear, I saw a distant bird standing upright and still before running fast over the land, then the birds were seen to fly short distances and showed their very distinctive white rump which appears as an inverted T.  

As I slowly walked towards the grassland a Marsh Harrier approached from the west then headed south. 

Wheatear at Little Cressingham 27 August 2026 (one of 3 birds present)

Wheatears are birds of open country and although a few pairs breed in the Brecks the vast majority of birds seen are migrants passing through both in spring and again in autumn.  I encounter these delightful birds every year on the patch.

The Wheatears seen today were easily identified from range by their upright carriage, short, fast runs over the land, stopping and once again upright as it looks around, often these Wheatear chose the highest perch in the area, on fence posts on top of a hillock.  The Wheatear pictured here is a juvenile bird, the other two birds were either female, or again, juveniles.  As previously written the most distinctive feature of a flying Wheatear is the very conspicuous white rump in the form of an inverted T shape.

North Elmham Chapel 25 August 2026

During a short work break on 25 August I visited the beautiful ruins of North Elmham Chapel in Norfolk. My apologies for possibly not getting the information panels in the correct order. I hope you enjoy this little tour.

The approach to the chapel

St Mary's Church North Elmham

Little Cressingham (Watton Brook Valley) 18 August 2026

It has been a long time since we had any significant and meaningful rainfall here in the Brecks, therefore, could you imagine my absolute delight that at just after midnight on the 18 August when it began to rain steadily and continuously for around 3 hours, it was a wonderful sound listening to the rain beating down on the conservatory roof.

I had only a short time for birding this morning and I chose to walk along the Watton Brook valley off Great Cressingham Road for a migrant search. 

Firstly, a single Red Kite perched rather statesman-like on a dead branch high in an Oak and nearby on wires were perched 5 Stock Doves.  Before entering the area of grassland an initial scan saw 25 Lapwings on the hard, dry land.

I walked along the valley through lots of grazing cattle which were being fed on a good supply of supplementary food as the usual lush grassland is looking more like a desert due to the current drought conditions.  I noted that 6 Pied Wagtails were feeding around the cattle. 

The lush green habitat alongside Watton Brook separates this feature from what otherwise appears as an arid looking surrounding landscape, as expected, the valley produced most birds.  My quick visit along Watton Brook produced at least two Whitethroats, Wrens, Dunnock, several Goldfinches, Great Tit, and in excess of 10 Stonechats, of which most were juveniles. 50+ Swallows flew low up and down the valley in their search for food. 

Thompson Wood 17 August 2026

The vast open grassland with areas of broken hedgerows and scrub habitat was my intended destination at dawn on 17 August, and my reasons for covering the site this morning was to check for signs of migrant bird species.

My initial walk beside a long and well stocked hedgerow looked promising for migrant birds, especially given the fruit laden bushes within the hedgerow.  A couple of Robins were heard, then a single bird darted between cover, I managed a short view of the bird, a lovely juvenile Whitethroat.

A habitat I was particularly looking forward to visiting was a long broken hedgerow with lots of scrub growing between the breaks.  As I walked slowly along the hedge I detected movement and very soon after this I was rewarded with at least 3 Stonechats, 3+ Whitethroats, and a single Whinchat, all three species remained more or less together as they moved along the hedge and scrub. 

Whinchat

As I continued my walk I made my way to another area of hedgerow scrub, specifically bramble scrub, where I located at least a further 4 Whitethroats, a species I expected to see given the availability of fruit.

At least 3 Kestrels were seen together, a likely sign of local breeding success, the only other raptor species seen was Buzzard.

A few House Martins were seen distantly over houses in the village and at least 120 Swallows passed over.

A distant "korrp" call was heard, undoubtedly a Raven, the call was getting closer and then a single Raven passed over heading east.

As I approached the end of my walk a Little Owl was calling in a roadside Oak, this prompted a second Little Owl into calling in another roadside Oak.

Saham Toney (St. George's churchyard) 13 August 2026

The 13 August was dominated by a day of full sun and heat with a temperature high of 38°C (100° fahrenheit).  Very sadly, parts of Britain have been experiencing wildfires and there is still no sign of any significant rainfall.

Driving north through Saham Toney, the most dominant feature ahead of you is the tall tower of St. Georges church, and as you arrive it becomes clear that this is a large church which has some equally very large tree specimens, these include magnificent Cedar and Yew trees along the southern boundary of the churchyard and some impressive Beech trees along the eastern boundary.

St. George's Saham Toney (Magnificent Cedar and Yews flank the approach)

The Cedar which produced good numbers of Goldcrests 13 August

What a spread on this Cedar

Goldcrest in Saham Toney Churchyard 13 August 2026

Goldcrest in Saham Churchyard 13 August 2026 (at least 10 birds in the large Cedar)

This was a particularly productive visit for Goldcrests (10+) which were seen in the Cedar and Yews alongside the southern boundary of the churchyard, these birds were seen from eye level right into the canopy of the trees where they foraged amongst the needles.

Also seen in the largest Cedar was a couple of Coal Tits, Blue Tits, foraging Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch, and a female Sparrowhawk passed through low then continued off beyond the churchyard.

Saham (Meadow and Marsh in the Watton Brook Valley in TF8900) 12 August 2026

 Today was to be sunn and hot again with wall to wall sunshine. The site visited early morning on 12 August is private land in the Watton Brook Valley close to the western limits of Watton. The habitat here comprises marsh and grazing meadow, a couple of good lengths of fruit bearing hedgerows, a large game strip, and Watton Brook.

12 August - searching for migrants

Can you tell who is the real me (Courtesey of my dear daughter)

Habitats visited was the Watton Brook valley where I expected acrocephalus Warblers, and a long and well-stocked hedgerow and game strip.

As I walked north along a scrub lined ditch I first of all saw a single male Stonechat on fencing and bushes and as I reached Watton Brook the dominant species was Goldfinch, but as I walked alongside the brook I could see something different on fencing which was perched alongside a Goldfinch, the Goldfinch had an upright posture, however, the other had a horizontal carriage, I had a pretty good idea what this bird was  and checking with optics it was indeed a migrant Reed Warbler, this bird was seen a few times on the fence but also went to cover in thick herbage and reeds. 

Watton Brook at Saham 12 August (check herbage and fences for migrant birds)

The above picture was looking west along Watton Brook, it was here where I saw a Goshawk circling low over trees and farmland, also, 3 Red Kites were seen.

My return walk took me along a long and well-stocked hedgerow and gamestrip where Linnets dominated.  Also here was another Stonechat and at least two Whitethroats, one of which was a juvenile bird which picked at a blackberry.  A bit further along the hedgerow a single Chiffchaff was present.
  

Bodney Camp and Watton Brook valley 8 August 2026

Not only do I have favoured sites to visit at this time of year, I also have specific habitats within those sites I like to watch. On the morning of 8 August I visited an area of rough grassland by Bodney camp which included Watton Brook and some old Elder bushes I always check for migrant birds, especially Warblers which feed on fruits in order to build energy for their passage south. 

The most obvious birds seen overhead at first was several House Martins and Swallows, with some House Martins feeding at a considerable height.

A large Hawthorn held a preening Chiffchaff whilst other presumed early migrants included a single Willow Warbler and a couple of Blackcaps, one of which was seen to pick at an elderberry. Later, a Willow Warbler, possibly the one I saw earlier flew off strongly and low to the south-west.

At least 3 Stonechats were present, the rough grassland habitat here provides a good habitat for invertebates which Stonechats hunt for.  The 3 Stonechats seen included a male, female, and a young juvenile bird, the female was watched flying to the ground where a small inverebrate was collected and fed to the juvenile bird.

Stonechat (female) at Bodney. This bird was seen to feed a juvenile.

 Also seen on this visit was many Goldfinches (adults and juveniles) which wandered the area feeding from thistles.  Also noted was a single Stock Dove, two Grey Herons, Coal Tit, an alarm calling Whitethroat, Robin, Wren (including juveniles), and Linnets.  Raptor species were represented by one Red Kite and two Buzzards.