Little Cressingham and Bodney, Norfolk.

This morning I decided to check the rolling landscape along the Watton Brook valley for evidence of migrant birds.  Watton Brook is lined with fencing and posts along much of its length in this area and  the dense lush habitat along the banks of the Brook and surrounding ditches has always been attractive to passage migrants, especially Whinchats, Wheatears, and Wagtails.  Although none of these species were found today, one species which was in good numbers was Swallows.  These very familiar migrants were flying low over fields of sheep where they were hunting insect prey, whilst there, I considered how many of these delightful birds were local breeders and how many were passage birds using this area as a staging post for feeding up.

Juvenile Song Thrush at Bodney, Norfolk 18/08/14

Other migrants seen included several Chiffchaffs, and a couple of Whitethroats.  These species were in Hawthorn scrub and woodland edge habitat which they shared with Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Yellowhammers, Goldfinches, and Greenfinches.
The Song Thrush pictured here is a juvenile bird, the age can be determined by the Orange-Brown feather tips on its wings and the pale fleshy gape at the base of the bill.  In the nearby area, the probable parents of this bird were heard giving their soft "tik" call.
On the fields of sheep several Pied Wagtails were seen, these birds are often seen in the presence of livestock where they pick off insects disturbed by the animals.
The only raptor species seen on this visit was 2 Buzzards, one of which was constantly calling, this was probably a juvenile bird.
This coming weekend I actually have a decent break, therefore, with August drawing on and September approaching, things should really be hotting up with migrant birds, I shall be out at the crack of dawn inspecting those lush valleys and other migrant hotspots.