Hilborough, Norfolk

Robin at Hilborough, Norfolk 15/12/14

Exactly a week on almost to the hour, I revisited the vast, open expanses of rolling Breckland countryside at Hilborough.
I decided to spend some time at the location where last week I saw a female Hen Harrier in the hope that the bird was staying with us to winter.
Shortly after sunrise I was very pleased to see the Hen Harrier sailing over farmland before going out of sight behind woodland.  Although this was my only sighting of this scarce bird I was happy in the knowledge that future visits should once again see this beautiful raptor hunting above crops and areas of rough grassland and weedy verges.
A flock of 100+ Skylarks were seen, almost certainly, a proportion of these birds will have continental origins.  A few Fieldfares were seen including a single bird which found a lone roadside crab apple with windfalls to feast upon.  A couple of Redwings passed over and a Siskin was heard calling.
Of interest was an early morning movement of Cormorants, all were flying west to east with the largest flock numbering 14 birds.  Clearly, these birds had departed their roost and were making for Breckland meres, Rivers, and other waterways for the day.
The above delightful Robin decided to pay a visit, a lovely little bird, and very seasonal.