Deopham, Norfolk

A foul day of weather with full cloud, heavy rain, strong N/E wind, and a high of 7 degrees Celsius. Not a good day for birding some may say, however, birds are to be found if you choose the right habitats to watch.
On my way home from work I decided to check upon a muck heap for signs of migrants, and immediately upon my arrival I saw a white rumped bird fly around a heap of muck....yes...Wheatear.
I stopped for a while and eventually saw 2 male Wheatears at this site making use of this good feeding station before continuing their passage.

Wheatear at Deopham (One of 2 male birds seen here)

Wheatear at Deopham

Wheatear at Deopham 

Yes........Whitethroat !!

Being really concerned about the late arrival of our Whitethroats, I was determined once again to locate 'nettlecreeper' for the very short window of opportunity I had before visiting a local antiques fair this morning.
I arrived at the habitat in Little Cressingham, this comprised a long, but low section of bramble alongside a quiet road.  I initially approached slowly to a stop when I heard a male Whitethroat singing in this habitat, a big smile and a sense of elation came over me...he's back.
Having parked up it was apparent that another male Whitethroat was singing in a small patch of scattered hawthorn within an area of rough grassland, not the same bird I thought, then two Whitethroats sang together.

I positioned myself where I was hoping to see the Whitethroat pop up on a sprig, he did, however, this was only a very brief appearance as the bird decided, wisely, to sing low in cover due to the cold, north-easterly wind.  It soon became clear that a pair of Whitethroats were on territory here.  What must these birds feel having spent the last few months in semi-desert, arid conditions to our weather today of very cold wind and well below temperatures for late April.  A bad day of weather is due tomorrow, however, the latter part of the week sees improving conditions, conditions which will see this Whitethroat singing and displaying from his patch of bramble, proudly announcing his return to this beautiful part of Breckland.

Mixed fortunes for migrants

The very warm weather earlier this month was clearly beneficial for the arrival of migrants onto my patch, and indeed, in the wider country.  The first migrant of note was a male Ring Ouzel on 6th April at North Pickenham, this was one of my target species for that particular day.   Returning breeding birds which benefitted from the brief warm spell included Blackcap, but especially Lesser Whitethroats, my first being seen on the patch on 16th April with many more singing males seen and heard to date.
Probably the most unexpected migrant was a Nightingale at Lynford on 9th April, this bird was seen in relatively open habitat and overflying large clearings with some sense of urgency.  The same day saw my first Swallows and House Martins at Lynford.

Lesser Whitethroat at Little Cressingham 22nd April.  Many present since the first on 16th April

Many suitable habitats were checked for Willow Warbler, however, the first singing birds were not noted until 19th April, a good two weeks later than usual.
A visit to Croxton Heath on the 21st April was productive for Willow Warblers with many singing birds as well as a pair seen and heard with the female nest-building.  Also on the 21st at Croxton Heath my first Garden Warbler, a singing bird, was located in a small patch of Birch, Bramble, and Bracken scrub, quite an early bird.
Perhaps the most worrying dearth of records are that of the Whitethroat.  My first Whitethroat was a sub-singing bird at Little Cressingham on 22nd April, since that date, only a handful of records have been gathered with the most recent birds (2 singing males) being seen at North Pickenham yesterday, the 27th April.  I have checked many traditional Whitethroat sites with none present, patches of bramble and scrub appear so empty without this gorgeous bird.  Thoughts have been passing through my head of the significant crash in Whitethroat numbers in 1968/69 following the severe drought in the Sahel region of Africa where our Whitethroats go to winter.  I sincerely hope these are just thoughts, I can't wait to see this Warbler back in force on our commons and hedgerows.

and finally......Whitethroat

I have been struggling to locate Whitethroat on my patch to date, their arrival clearly later than last year.  But a check of traditionally used habitat produced my first bird of the year, a male skulking in a hedge giving short bursts of sub-song and alarm notes, and a brief visual as it moved through the hedge.  Great to have him back.
Lesser Whitethroats on the other hand have been seen at several localities on my patch since the first bird appeared on 15th April.

Lesser Whitethroat at Little Cressingham 22nd April

I checked the Watton Brook valley for signs of migrant activity and saw little on this brief visit, however, and of note, a Greenshank overflew calling its very distinctive "tew-tew-tew"

East Wretham and Croxton Heaths, Norfolk (With Ken Wood)

It is generally about this time of year when I ask friends if they would like to join me in a search for Adders.  This morning my good friend Ken Wood joined me and we duly arrived at East Wretham at about 0650.  Early cloud moved away to give warm sunshine.
Our first stop was the hide overlooking Langmere where a pair of Shelduck flew in, a male Shoveler on the water, and a pair of Egyptian Geese were seen.
Having joined the Harling Drove we walked towards Croxton Heath where Ken picked out two lovely Roe Deer on the track ahead of us.
Many singing Willow Warblers were heard in the young Birch plantations and at one location we were lucky enough to both hear a singing Willow Warbler and at the same time watch the female bird carrying nesting material to the nest site close by a patch of bracken.
A few Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps sang, and most notably a Garden Warbler was singing in a patch of Birch, Bracken, and Gorse scrub.  Garden Warblers are one of our later returning migrants, this is quite an early arrival.
The main focus of our visit was to search for Adders.  Cloud was initially reluctant to move, however, it did, and warm sunshine followed.  The search was on.

Adder (female) on Croxton Heath 21st April

Ken and myself concentrated our efforts along one of the forest rides where dried bracken, dead leaves, and plenty of cover was great habitat for Adders.  Following a prolonged search, a beautiful female Adder was found under a small Gorse bush where it blended with the ground cover of dead leaves and bracken.  I was really pleased that Ken got to see the Adder, one of my fears when sharing my passion on a walk is that our subject does not show.
Walking back along Harling Drove a Buzzard was being pursued by a Crow species when a second Buzzard appeared.  A Sparrowhawk was circling well above the Buzzards.

A stunning male Pied Wagtail on East Wretham Heath 21st April

Finally, on our return walk over the heath, a pair of Pied Wagtails fed upon the short-cropped grass.
Finally, I would like to thank my friend Ken for joining me, great company and a great walk.

South and North Pickenham, Norfolk 18th April

Blackcap at North Pickenham 18th April

Warbler numbers are now building nicely and this morning I located two Lesser Whitethroat territories and increasing numbers of Blackcaps singing also.

Lesser Whitethroat (My target species for today)

The day started foggy followed by warm, sunny periods developing by mid-morning.  Temperatures eventually lifted to a nice 16 degrees Celsius.
My plan for early morning was to walk roads around the Great Cressingham area to check for migrant/arrival activity, specifically with Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat in mind as target species.
Whilst approaching the Peddars Way I heard the distinctive 'rattle' like song of a Lesser Whitethroat. , I eventually visually located this migrant in a hedge where it skulked and continued its song, the uniform mousey brown upperparts, dark grey head and ear coverts and contrasting white throat were seen.

South Pickenham
A late morning visit along a section of the Peddars Way, the sun had burnt the fog off and it was beginning to warm up.
The first bird of not was a fine, calling male House Sparrow, unusual to see this species in such an isolated location.
A couple of pairs of Long-tailed Tits seen, one pair watching carrying nest materials into Ivy.
A lovely pair of Marsh Tits also seen well.  Only evidence of passage was a single Lapwing flying north.

Marsh Tit - one of a pair at South Pickenham 15th April

Long-tailed Tit - one of a pair South Pickenham 15th April.  Watched entering nest site where nesting materials included lichens and mosses.

Nightingale - an unexpected migrant on the patch.

It remained cloudy all day with poor light and occasional spells of mostly light rain.  The wind was a light north-easterly.
A visit to the Lynford area early morning was used to check on migrant species and, Woodlark.
Blackcap and Chiffchaff numbers are certainly building now, although Willow Warblers remain absent in checked areas.
A few Hirundines were seen, at least 2 Swallows and House Martins were confirmed.
Two areas of recently cleared, harvested woodland produced 2 pairs of  Woodlarks.  The habitat occupied by these birds comprised clear ground with very young rows of sapling pines.  Once these pines reach about 5 years of age they begin to fill out rendering the habitat of no further use to Woodlarks, however, due to the rotational harvesting of pines in the Brecks, habitat is created for Woodlarks to move in to.

Woodlark at Lynford 9th April

At 0850 I was walking along an open area when a bird flew into a Sallow, it was certainly something different, I managed a short check of the bird through binoculars when it flew away over the clearing in a fast, strong flight, it entered a small thicket, in doing so revealed a lovely rusty coloured tail, it was a Nightingale.  This is my first observation of a passage Nightingale, additionally, this is quite an early date for this species.
Nightingales are rarely encountered on migration, either on the coast or inland, therefore, an exciting record.

Ring Ouzel on patch

This was another one of those mornings when I decided to visit my patch for target species, notably, Wheatear and Ring Ouzel.  Conditions were promising, clear and sunny at dawn with a moderate, increasing to fresh to strong SE wind.
An increase in Chiffchaffs (4+ singing) was welcome, but I only managed a single singing Blackcap, arrivals appear later than last Spring.
A male Snipe was displaying and singing at a traditionally used site.  Watching this delightful bird splaying its tail feathers to produce 'drumming' is a reminder of how much this is a privileged sighting these days.
I checked a number of open fields for Wheatear, however, I could find none, although they are certain to be on the patch.
I also checked a number of suitable sites for Ring Ouzel without success.  I covered quite a lot of ground this morning and it wasn't until I was within sight of my finish that I checked hedgerows for migrants, a very early Whitethroat perhaps.  A couple of Song Thrushes flew up and away, could these have been Northern European birds?   I came to a gap in the hedge to check for Wheatear on a large field when I heard a different 'Thrush' call and immediately thought Ring Ouzel.  Looking along the hedge as carefully as I could, I saw the rear half of a 'Black-bird' but with noticeable silvery wings, I was about twenty yards from the bird.   The bird then flew north-east, I followed it with my binoculars, a very smart male Ring Ouzel.  I watched the bird as it flew low over the field and into a tree-lined hedgerow where I had earlier walked along.  This was a classic bird showing in flight the beautiful and very distinctive white crescent on its breast.  This bird had similar proportions to Blackbird, although appearing a little more slender.  In flight the wings showed the distinctive silvery colour.  Alighting in a distant tree, I could easily still make out the stunning white crescent marking on its breast.
Ring Ouzels will migrate with winter Thrushes such as Fieldfare and Redwings, thoughts did occur as to whether this passage Ring Ouzel was on the move with the two Song Thrushes I saw earlier in the same area.

Blackcap

First singing male Blackcap found at Thompson on 31st March.  This time last year many Blackcaps were singing.  This clearly shows the impact poor weather has upon returning migrants.