Lynford Water, Norfolk

An early morning visit to these wonderful site hoping to find Crossbills.  An initial walk to the lakes produced small numbers of Wildfowl including a pair of Mandarin.  I finished off with a short visit to the mainly Larch trees in the Arboretum where good numbers of Crossbills fed high in the trees.

21+ Cormorant
Grey Heron
2 Great Crested Grebes
Mute Swan
2 Egyptian Geese (pair)
Tufted Duck
3 Teal
2 Mandarin (pair)
Wood Pigeon (100's on the move at dawn)
Stock Dove (song heard)
Goldcrest
Marsh Tit
Nuthatch
Long-tailed Tit
40+ Siskins
30+ Crossbills
15+ Brambling

Lynford Water 25th November

Just after dawn (sunrise 0734) whilst walking around the lake, the familiar loud "chip chip" calls of Crossbills was heard, this was followed by 7+ birds directly overhead.  Later, further small numbers seen over Pine trees.
I finished with a visit to the tall Larches just inside the Arboretum where Crossbills were soon found feeding upon cones in the treetops along with Siskins and several Bramblings.  The true number of Crossbills was revealed when they were spooked and flew a circuit before flying back into trees, at this time 30+ birds were seen.
Male Crossbills were easily identified in flight by their distinctive reddish plumage.  Female Crossbills were seen well high in Larches, showing their greenish tones.

Where did this happen.

Further to my last post on this matter, it is likely that those poor Deer seen here were shot on land owned by a conservation charity, or possibly on a private estate whose income may need supporting from the public i.e. summer opening etc.

I belong to a few conservation charities, it is therefore my aim to establish where this unnecessary act occurred, if indeed it did occur on land dependant on support by public/members of trusts etc., then I shall leave that respective charity, making my feelings well known, and would urge others to boycott the estate/trust, if indeed this happened on such land.

I apologise for attaching this sickening photo on my blog, but this must stop.

Last light birding on the patch.

With a typical leaden day (the sort I love in November), it was actually quite dark before 1500hrs. I decided on a check of Finch species at a traditional maize strip habitat, where I witnessed a number of species departing for their roost sites.  The majority species was Chaffinch with smaller number of Greenfinches, Bramblings, and Yellowhammers flying more or less south to their roost.
A mostly Larch wood held a few Redwings, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, and a late mobile Long-tailed Tit flock.  Higher in the trees feeding amongst fine Larch needles was Coal and Blue Tits.
A very close Goshawk passed directly over me at 1505 at just above treetop height, a lovely silhouetted view of the raptor heading low west.

Deopham, Norfolk, 20th November

A very raw day.  Full cloud with a fresh to strong east wind.  Frequent showers of drizzle and rain.  Remained grey all day.  Close to freezing with wind chill.
During a mid-morning work break I visited vast, open expanses of arable farmland with specific interest on a headland, a habitat lacking in the area.
My reasons for choosing this location as it is ideal for Stonechat, isolated bushes and tall weeds to feed within, and of course to take shelter in.

40+ Golden Plover
Carrion Crow
Meadow Pipits
30+ Fieldfare
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Stonechat (male)

Stonechat (male) at Deopham 20th November.  A typical scene in a bleak landscape of a Stonechat on top of a bush. 

Despite the very cold and windy conditions, a single Stonechat was seen in typical open habitat, and perched on occasions on top of one of the few Hawthorns along the headland, it also perched lower down on tall weeds, such as umbellifer species.  The bird flew to the ground and returned to a perch, however, it did remain quite elusive at times, probably sheltering.

Ducks brighten a dull November day (Sunrise 0720)

A very typical November day with conditions I love, dank, grey, drizzle, calm, and misty.
I set off for a walk on the patch in Thetford Forest at 0640, the woodland and clearings was shrouded in grey with trees silhouetted against the dull sky.
Although early, Redwings were heard in woodland along with a close calling Tawny Owl which attracted angry, chattering Blackbirds.  A couple of Bullfinches gave their 'piping' calls in the dark woodland.
Suddenly, I stopped, movement ahead on the trail, a small heard of Red Deer hinds froze to look in my direction, they then continued slowly into a clearing.
A second Red Deer herd seen a short time later, a magnificent stag, a couple of young stags, and hinds slowly moved through a clearing occasionally stopping and looking my way.
With increasing light I visited a local mere where many wildfowl were present including Greylag and Canada Geese, Mute Swans, lots of Mallard, a male Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, and later, 7 Mandarins (4 males) flew in and offered reasonable views despite the poor light and conditions.
1 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, and at least 5 Little Grebes seen.
In dense reeds and Sallow habitat Water Rails called and singing Cetti's Warbler heard.

Mandarins should be easily picked out in this picture 16th November.

Gorgeous Mandarins 16th November

Note the bespectacled appearance of the grey looking female Mandarins

7 Mandarins (4 males) present.

'Suspect' Redpoll on the patch 14th November.

For the last hour so of daylight yesterday afternoon (14th November), I decided to visit my patch within Thetford Forest to check for signs of Finch activity, which, in recent times, has been quite productive, including Crossbills, a species which has been scarce in recent years.
This is certainly turning into a 'Redpoll winter', and today was no exception with good numbers of these and Siskins about.
A small flock of Redwings alighted in a treetop above me, and although high, the strong, late afternoon sunlight did these gorgeous Thrushes justice.  I decided to photograph the Redwings, in doing so I captured, unintentionally, a very pale looking Redpoll.  My thoughts did jump to Arctic Redpoll, however, important identification features are not visible i.e. the rump and undertail coverts. Clearly, I shall be checking the site for this bird to try and secure an identification.

The 'suspect' Redpoll with Redwings on the patch 14th November.

The only certain thing about this Redpoll is the very pale appearance which highlights the black bib and darker fore-crown, and the pale and unmarked breast, flanks, and underparts.

Hockham, Norfolk 0745-0845

A mild start to the day at 10 degrees Celsius. A light mist, high cloud, then sunny and mild by day with a high of 16 degrees Celsius.
What a great start to the day with an hours static watch of several species of birds undertaking early morning movements overhead.  Mostly common species were flying in various directions and there was always something to see, however, some notable species seen too.  This visit was essentially a Thrush and Finch fest.

Redwings
Fieldfare
2 Blackbirds
5 Woodlark high south 0812
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Goldcrest
Siskin
Redpoll - numerous
1 Brambling over
Chaffinches
8 Crossbill 0800
Bullfinch
3 Yellowhammer

A number of Redwings (30+) departed a Holly tree which has been used by this species for years as a roost site.  Fieldfares were also present.  Thrush species then became a frequent site as they either passed over, or spent time high in trees.
It became apparent that a number of Redpolls were present, these were passing over in singles, or two's, however, the best count was of 20+ birds in scattered Birch trees within a large clearing in the forest.  At the same time a flock of 50+ Redwings passed over.
A welcome addition to the days list of birds was a small flock of 8 Crossbills passing in front of me and calling (0800).  Crossbills have been very scarce in recent years, therefore, this is a great record.
Whilst watching Thrushes and Finches, I thought I heard a calling Woodlark, then, a small flock of 5 Woodlarks passed high overhead in a southerly direction (0812).
One flock of Starlings (60+) passed over in a westerly heading.

Annoyed at destruction of habitat at Deopham, Norfolk.

Recently, whilst driving to work along the course of the former runway at the disused WW2 airfield at RAF Deopham, I was very annoyed at the removal of ALL of the bramble scrub and the uprooting and destruction of a large Sallow and some fine old Hawthorn trees/bushes.  These formerly beautiful habitats were the homes to breeding Yellowhammers, Linnets, and Whitethroats.  This 'criminal' act was wholly unnecessary, especially in an area which has a vast, exposed landscape with little cover for wildlife.
All I can say is WHY?

North Pickenham, Norfolk

A gorgeous day beginning with a slight ground frost and a low of 1 degree Celsius.  The day remained bright with a high of 10 degrees Celsius.
At first light it was evident that migrant Thrush species were present with Fieldfare, Redwings, and Song Thrushes present.  With improving light it was clear that Fieldfare was the most abundant Thrush with numbers later around 100-150 birds. A mobile Tit flock comprised mostly Long-tailed Tits with Marsh Tit and Coal Tit seen.  2+ Bullfinches were present.  A stunning female Sparrowhawk passed over the woodland canopy showing off her heavily barred underparts.

Fieldfare at North Pickenham 2nd November

Fieldfare was the bird of the day today, their harsh vocalisation always betrayed their presence.  The nicest gathering was when these stunning Thrushes occasionally swarmed upon a Hawthorn bush to feed upon hips along with smaller numbers of Redwings and a single Blackbird.