Hockham Fen, Norfolk (at dusk)

What a wonderful early evening visit this was to Hockham Fen.  I arrived sometime following sunset, it was calm, fog was forming low over the fen, it was getting dark quickly, and I had the fen to myself.  The only thing spoiling this wonderful visit was the sound of distant traffic.

Hockham Fen at dusk 01/11/15

Despite the quickly fading light this short visit produced memorable birding.  The first bird seen was a large Goshawk which appeared directly above me and then overflew the fen, above the bank of fog and into distant trees.  Shortly afterwards a few Redwings departed woodland scrub and flew off over the fen.
A flock of Starlings appeared over the fen, these joined other birds to form a murmuration numbering several hundred birds.  The Starlings then proceeded to perform their simply wonderful pre-roost flights which saw them passing over the fen back and forth in a single tight flock which sometimes appeared almost perfectly circular in shape.  This wonderful gathering of Starlings for me is one the the most beautiful sights in nature.  I shall certainly be visiting this locality as winter progresses to see if numbers of Starlings grow to spectacular proportions.
A single large bat species flew over the fen, very similar to the one I saw at Kimberley yesterday, a Noctule Bat possibly.
With fog almost completely blanketing the fen I decided to leave, but not before listening to the squealing call of a Water Rail somewhere in the fog.
Walking back through the almost pitch black woodland a female Tawny Owl called, this was soon followed by a male bird responding.  A second female Tawny Owl was calling near the car.
Finally, a few Pipistrelle Bats flew up and down the forest rides.....a great ending to this short but wonderful visit to Hockham.