Watton Brook Valley, Norfolk

A beautiful early autumn morning began with 9 degrees Celsius, early mist, patchy fog, and stillness with virtually no wind.  The day was very warm with cloudless skies and variable wind.
There was little evidence of migrants in the valley during my visit save for a few Swallows overhead and a calling Chiffchaff in a Sallow.  The high numbers of Swallows seen a couple of weeks ago have now moved on.  With no migrants evident in the valley I decided to look skyward for high migrants, once again nothing seen on this occasion.
I was expecting to see Goshawk this morning as I find September the most productive month for seeing this magnificent raptor, especially wandering juvenile birds.
Four Buzzards appeared over nearby woodland, soaring and chasing behaviour seen, and frequently calling too.
At 1000hrs whilst looking west along the valley, a juvenile Goshawk appeared, soaring, and being mobbed by a single brave Rook which in comparison was smaller than the raptor.  Leisurely soaring continued over open farmland for some five minutes or so before it plummeted into woodland, presumably after a Pigeon or Crow species.  The Goshawk re-appeared at 1030hrs, soaring low over woodland before going out of view.

Goshawk in the Watton Brook Valley, Norfolk 2nd September

A single Kingfisher flew upstream along the valley and the most abundant species on the valley sides was Goldfinch with birds feeding upon teasel and thistle-like plants.