Friday 3 February 2023. A walk in the Little Cressingham area with Graham and Lynn Trimmer.

 At 0800 on Friday 3 February I was joined by my friends Graham and Lynn Trimmer for a walk along a beautiful lane in Little Cressingham on what was to be a very productive visit with a good range and numbers of birds seen.  Our walk would pass through mostly arable habitat with supplementary feeding in the form of game strips, hedgerows, temporary grassland, and floodplain.  This was a very mild morning at 11 degrees Celsius. 

The first part of our walk took us through a corridor of roadside hedgerows, here, we saw several Chaffinches, also Yellowhammers were present and we had nice views of a lovely female bird in a hedge. These species are attracted to the feed strips along the field margin.

Overhead, a small flock of Fieldfare headed N/E, these and other Fieldfares were undoubtedly those located in the valley.  Many fields are now holding winter Thrushes as they make their way back to their Northern Europe breeding grounds.

A little further along the road a Sparrowhawk flew from woodland and headed west. In the same woodland a Goldcrest called.

Fieldfare. A beautiful winter Thrush seen on this visit

We then stopped for a coffee break, it was at this time we had great views of many hundreds of Starlings feeding amongst grazing sheep, this large gathering was often joined by more birds arriving from the west. Many Fieldfare were also present and fed amongst the Starlings.  A small flock of Yellowhammers arrived in a Bramble patch close to us.  A singing Mistle Thrush was heard.  On a fence we saw both a male and female Stonechat, the male bird is clearly beginning to develop breeding plumage of Black head, white collar, and deep red breast.  These birds often to flew to the ground to find food and returning to the fence.  

On our return walk, Graham, Lynn, and myself reflected upon the birds we saw on the floodplain.

Stonechat. A stunning little bird

But we were not finished yet. Once returned back at our cars, we chatted much about the morning, it was here we saw several Buzzards, but the highlight here was the presence of 200+ Skylarks on and over temporary grasslands, a very notable count of this familiar songster. It was a timely reminder for us to talk about my favourite piece of classical music, Vaughan Williams 'The Lark Ascending'.  What an incredible man he was and what an ear for a bird and its song which he transcribed into music. I find this piece so beautiful and very moving.

Just as we were to leave for home, a single Raven left a nearby woodland, a species I am seeing quite frequently on my Breckland patch. 

To finish, I wish to than both Graham and Lynn for joining me on our walk. A wonderful morning.