From my archives. Honey Buzzard over Watton 17 September 2012 (A new garden record)

17 September 2012 (Watton, Norfolk)

Throughout the morning of 17 September 2012, I made frequent visits to the garden to check for overflying migrant birds.  It was a warm and settled day, perfect for raptor passage.

At 1345, I was about to pack up when a large, unusual looking bird of prey appeared in the north-west.  Immediately, I knew this was something different by the birds appearance. 
I raised the camera and started shooting, I could see through the lens that this was in fact a Honey Buzzard, later examination of the photograph showed this to be a dark-phase juvenile bird.

Honey Buzzard (dark-phase juvenile bird) passing over the garden 17 September 2012.

Honey Buzzard over Watton 17 September 2012

A number of features of this bird separates it from Common Buzzard, this shot shows the yellow bill base, solid brown underparts, paddle-like tail, extensive black 'hands' and obvious head projection.

This Honey Buzzard was initially seen approaching from the north-west, I could not believe my luck when the raptor turned slightly and passed directly over the garden, I then continued to watch it as it headed off south.  What a great garden record.

Bodney Camp and Watton 14 September 2026

There had been rain in the night but the morning dawned sunny with a light WSW wind.  The day began with a migrant Chiffchaff in the garden.

Bodney Camp (STW) 0705-0845

The wind has been for some time come from the South-West, West, and North-west, and at the time of writing there seems to be no change in this wind direction for the foreseeable future.  Winds from the North-east and East are more favourable for migrant birds at this time of year, so hopefully a change will come later in the month and especially into October when the first winter Thrushes and Finches are on the move.

My visit to Bodney STW on 14 September was productive despite the wind direction with a few Chiffchaffs present, mostly in Elder bushes, and overhead, the best single count of 15+ Swallows headed south.

Two Grey Wagtails were within the STW complex, along with other common species including 2 Stonechats (female eating elderberry), two Coal Tits, two Great Tits, and Linnet.  As I was leaving two Ravens flew low overhead in a SW heading and calling.

Ravens. This impressive Crow is being seen more frequently in Breckland

Thompson Wood 0905-1000

The most obvious species seen on this visit was Swallow (100+) high and low over grassland, also, 3 Meadow Pipits were my first autumn arrivals of the year.  The best single count of 30+ Skylarks was noted, and in a weed-filled Pingo a single female Reed Bunting was present giving her "tsu" call.  

Watton 1325

I was working in a friends garden when I thought I heard a very distant Raven calling, I listened carefully and grew more confident of the birds identity, after a short wait 3 Ravens were seen together approaching from the Merton area and headed off over Watton in a NE heading whilst continuing to give their wonderful call.

 

Watton/Saham (Private land immediately west of Watton and north of the B1108 road) 11 September 2026 - 0645-0930

With the wind continuing from the west, I chose to walk alongside the sheltered east facing hedgerow which lies south to north through large meadows, with the purpose of finding migrant species which hopefully should be resting and feeding in this long unbroken hedgerow.  The habitat comprises Hawthorn hedgerow with a mixture of Elder, Buckthorn, Blackthorn, Dog Rose, and Bramble.

Blackcap in typical habitat ia autumn where they feast on soft fruits for energy for their journey south. 

I walked the full length of this hedgerow waiting and searching for migratory birds, and with the land immediately adjacent to the west side of the hedgerow being a large area of game cover, the first birds seen were Finches and Buntings which will have good feeding here.  30+ Linnets, 4+ Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers, Greenfinches, and Goldfinch, were all present and as autumn progresses into winter, the flocks of both Finches and Buntings should increase in number. 

My search for migrants eventually paid off with at least 3 Blackcaps present including a male in Buckthorn habitat, also noted was at least two Whitethroats, one of which was a juvenile bird.

In addition to the migrants seen a couple of Snipe were seen on a wet meadow, both birds flew up to relocate on nearby marsh habitat.

Houghton 9 September 2026 (0645-1030)

A bright, cool start to the day with a light to moderate WNW wind eventually NW. It remained dry and later quite warm.

A few migrant Warblers were found with the best observations coming from the sheltered and warm east facing hedgerow.

Upon my arrival a female Kestrel was on the tower of St. Mary's where she was calling, also here was a few Jackdaws.  The sheltered east facing woodland boundary of the churchyard held a mobile flock of Long-tailed Tits along with Blue and Great Tits too.

A gathering of 10 Stock Doves were on overhead wires whilst the same area held a wandering flock of 50+ Linnets.

Blackcap (feamle) at Houghton 9 September. In typical autumn habitat of Elder.

Once I reached the sheltered east facing hedgerow on Houghton Common I decided to watch this habitat carefully in the knowledge that birds would benefit from being out of the wind.  This long and continuous hedgerow is laden with mixed fruits including elderberry, Dog Rose, Hawthorn, and Buckthorn, and it was in this habitat I found 7+ Chiffchaffs (including a singing bird) and another feeding upon elderberries.  At least 8 Blackcaps were seen, again attracted to elderberries where a female bird was taking fruit.  Also seen was a single juvenile Whitethroat, again in elder.

My return walk was productive with at least 10 Grey Partridges seen in stubble.

Hever Castle, Kent. 6 September 2026

My wife Pam has a great interest in history, especially the history of the Tudor times, and one of her ambitions was to visit Hever Castle in Kent, the childhood home of Ann Boleyn.  We travelled from our home in Norfolk to our accommodation near Sevenoaks in Kent on 5 September, we stayed overnight in fairly basic accommodation, but that is all we required for our one night.  

On the morning of 6 September I drove the 15 miles or so to Hever, we arrived early as we wanted to look around St Peter's Church in Hever as well as a walk round the outside of the King Henry 8th pub, both of which are located close to the entrance of Hever Castle and its gardens.

Henry the V111 pub at Hever

St Peter's Church at Hever (Resting place of Thomas Boleyn, the father of Ann Boleyn)

 

Hever Castle (the beautiful gardens approaching the castle)

Here we are at Hever Castle

Hever Castle 6 September 2026

The beautiful lake at Hever Castle

Birds

Shortly following our arrival at the car park for Hever Castle I had a stroll round and located a calling juvenile Tawny Owl.  Also noted here was both Nuthatch and Robin.

Although our main focus was on visiting the castle and its magnificent gardens, our wanderings included the birds seen, and the various bodies of water, including the castle moat and the large lake saw Coot and Mallard being the most numerous of species.  Most Coot were adult birds with a few juveniles seen.

Coot at Hever Castle

The wonderful area of woodland, and indeed solitary trees within parkland, held Robins, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, and Goldcrest.  I noticed several Robins in the beautiful Italian themed gardens, the many cavities in the brick structures undoubtedly providing good breeding sites.

The large lake at Hever Castle saw 4 Great Crested Grebes (a pair with a single juvenile and a lone adult), also Black-headed Gulls and a single Little Egret was seen overflying. 

A walk through woodland to visit the ruins of Anne of Cleves Bower House produced a couple of Chiffchaffs.

Following our very memorable visit to Hever Castle Pam and myself rounded off the day with a lovely meal in the King Henry V111 pub, which along with nearby St Peter's Church, is part of the Hever Castle estate.  

We departed this beautiful part of Kent with a drive through some beautiful old villages and wonderful countryside before joining the main routes for our journey back to Norfolk.

Sparham (Churchyard and immediate surrounds) 1015-1115

Sparham Churchyard is a beautiful well wooded location which holds a range of species, mostly around the boundaries.  The southern boundary typically has some large, old Yew trees, the east boundary has a nettlebed, a dead tree,a plum tree, and a Japanese Mock Orange.  The northern boundary is particularly well wooded with Ash, two Hazel, 2 Field Maples, Hawthorn, Elder, Hawthorn, a large Cedar, Ivy, and Black Bryony.  The west boundary of the Churchyard has a few fruiting Rowans.  There is a small wildflower meadow.

1 Stock Dove singing

1 Green Woodpecker (heard)

8+ Blackbirds

1 Blackcap ♂ singing

Robin

Coal Tit

3+ Blue Tits

2+ Goldfinches (including a juvenile)

3 Swallows

Hardingham and Scoulton 2 September 2026

 I had a short work break between calls, I therefore visited Low Road in Hardingham (1810 to 1845) where I counted:-

26 Egyptian Geese (all S/E)

120+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls in stubble

28+ Stock Doves on wires

Carrion Crow

6+ Rook

1 Swallow (south) battling against the wind

Scoulton (Woodrising Road) 2145  

A beautiful Barn Owl was seen in car light in a hollow within a large roadside tree.