Autumn Equinox

The morning started very autumnal with thick fog and a cool 7 degrees Celsius.  The fog was stubborn to clear, however, by 1000hrs, most had been burnt off and the day was then sunny and warm.

Houghton-on-the-Hill 0700-0930
Thick fog greeted me on my arrival along with various bird calls which gave a very typical autumnal feel.  Although hidden in the fog, Robins gave their familiar "tick" calls and Goldcrests a thinner "see-see-see".  A Chiffchaff sang, but what else was moving about within the fog.  Blackbirds gave their "chuck chuck" calls.  The only evidence of passage was calling Meadow Pipit, again hidden in fog.
Conditions slowly improved and it became clear to me that Chiffchaffs were present in good numbers, both adults and juveniles, but strangely, I never saw or heard a single Sylvia species.
A check of the churchyard at St Mary's produced more Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests, Blue and Great Tits, a pair of Marsh Tits, and a Treecreeper.

Watton Brook Valley (Little Cressingham)
By the time I reached the valley the fog had just about all burnt off, conditions were then bright with very good visibility.

Watton Brook Valley 22nd September 

 Rather disappointingly, the valley appeared quiet with just Robin and a single Meadow Pipit being seen. An in-flight and calling Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen.  A check of nearby Bramble scrub and other potential 'migrant' habitat seemed quiet.  I bet there was something hidden, watching me and ready to pop up once I had gone.
A Small Copper Butterfly landed in front of me giving a lovely show.

Small Copper Watton Brook Valley 22nd Sept.

Little Cressingham (Great Cressingham Road)
Warm, sunny conditions on this mid-afternoon visit to high ground north of Watton Brook valley produced a nice showing of four raptor species.
A small flock of 30+ Goldfinches were tinkering away in small roadside tree.  Juvenile birds are now starting to develop their familiar red faces.  Both adult and juvenile Goldfinches show the beautiful gold wing-bar, always a good identification feature in both age groups of this species.  
A single male Kestrel was seen in a roadside tree and above me, 4+ Buzzards, 2 Red Kites, and a Sparrowhawk, were all soaring against the beautiful blue sky.