Hockham, Norfolk

Finally, following many days of greyness, the sun put in an appearance.  The day dawned with a slight frost and little wind.  Light was very good and visibility was also very good.
With today being my only day off this week, I intended to use the fine weather to my advantage and check on a site at Hockham, Norfolk.
This mornings visit to Hockham accrued a reasonable list of 25 species:

2 Mute Swan
Teal
Wigeon
Shoveler
Mallard
Marsh Harrier (juvenile female)
1 Buzzard
Water Rail
3 Pheasant
2 Carrion Crow
2 Jay
Wood Pigeon
2 Stock Dove
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Blackbird
Redwing
Robin
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Goldcrest
Wren
Treecreeper
1 Cetti's Warbler
2 Bullfinch

I love the sight and sound of wintering duck species and this morning was particularly good for Teal, some were seen when put up by a female Marsh Harrier, however, the true numbers were clearly high given the calls of birds heard within marsh habitat.  Wigeon, Shoveler, and Mallard were also present.
A distant raptor was being mobbed by a Crow species, it certainly looked liked at Harrier, and as it neared, it was clearly a Marsh Harrier, a female bird.  The Crow broke off its attack and the Harrier then itself mobbed a perched Buzzard.  Later, the Marsh Harrier spooked several Duck species, including many Teal and a few Shoveler.

Marsh Harrier at Hockham 29th November

Sparrowhawk over Watton 18th November

A Sparrowhawk over the garden on 18th November.  The coarse barring on the underparts suggests this is a juvenile bird.

Ravens at Little Cressingham

0720: I was on an early morning dog walk between Little and Great Cressingham when I heard the call of an approaching Raven, I eventually saw the bird approaching from the north-west and then realised there was two birds.  These impressive Crows passed either side of me and alighted in trees and offered good views, they dropped down into the field before flying off calling.  A memorable sighting of this huge Corvid species.

'Phantom of the forest' in the mist

This morning was a typical November start to the day, fairly calm, a slight ground frost, and thick fog persisting until mid-morning.  The dawn temperature was +1 degree Celsius. By late morning brighter conditions with strong sunlight lasted into the afternoon.
I arrived in the forest near Hockham at about 0720 and remained until about 1030.  Despite poor visibility, Redwings, a few Fieldfare, and lots of Blackbirds, plundered Hawthorn bushes for their fruits.  Higher in trees both Goldfinches and Siskins were present in good numbers.
My frequent visits to this locality over the years has seen me identify specific trees where Goshawks like to perch and survey their surrounding, so, despite the poor light and visibility I positioned myself where I had good views of the said trees.  Time passed by and the fog was reluctant to move, short and promising glimpses of the sun through the fog was often frustratingly all too brief with thick fog covering the sun again.

Goshawk chasing Carrion Crow in fog near Hockham 9th November

I then noticed a tussle between a couple of birds ahead of me, one was a Goshawk literally on the tail of a Carrion Crow, this tussle developed into a chase, however, the Crow got away and the Goshawk alighted in one of its favourite trees just a hundred yards  or so ahead of me, its size indicated this was a male bird.  The Goshawk was aware of my presence and flew leisurely off into the fog.

Deopham, Norfolk, 3rd November

Once again, for my afternoon work break, I headed off to Deopham to check on the species present in the wide expanses of arable.  The habitat mostly watched was maize stubble and a wide weedy strip comprising mostly of fathen.
Golden Plover once again featured with high numbers on the ground with further decent sized flocks arriving.  They remained uncounted on this visit. One Lapwing was on the land.
An impressive 400+ Linnets wandered around the farmland with an emphasis on the birds visiting a weedy strip where they hung from the tall fathen to extract seeds.

Some of the 400+ Linnets wandering farmland at Deopham 3rd November

Also present was at least 100+ Skylarks, however, their movements made it difficult to assess their true numbers which were probably much greater.

Meadow Pipit at Deopham 3rd November

Meadow Pipits are now present in good numbers, their familiar "sip sip sip" calls often heard around me.
Small flocks of Starlings (30+) and Redwings (16) were seen.  Only two raptors seen, a single soaring Buzzard and a hunting Kestrel.

Deopham, Norfolk, 31st October

For my work break today I decided to check on the Golden Plovers on farmland at Deopham.  The following are photographs of that visit when an estimated 2500 birds were seen.