The morning dawned very bright with a temperature of 9 degrees celsius. The wind was a moderate to fresh southwesterly.
I arrived at Houghton-on-the-Hill at about 0800 and took a short walk east along the corridor formed by dense hedgerows to Houghton Common. The first section of hedgerow at the west end of the path held a number of Song Thrushes, all giving their presence away by their short "tick" call from within cover. All along the length of the path to Houghton Common a number of Song Thrushes were heard as was Bullfinch and Goldcrest. Good numbers of Yellowhammers flocked in the hedge and a Reed Bunting was heard.
Once on Houghton Common, and with the bright sun behind me, I looked back at the hedge and saw a fine looking Song Thrush on the hedge along with a Blackbird. The Song Thrush then flew off, climbing as it went, and continued its passage south.
The numbers of Song Thrushes seen and heard, along with visual migration, clearly shows these are recently arrived continental birds.
Heading back along the path, a couple of Blackbirds were seen, and near the church, a flock of 18+ Long-tailed Tits passed through, and overhead, several single Song Thrushes continued to to be seen flying in variable directions.
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