Rain, rain, and more rain, but search for migrants goes on.

 Today, the 24th August, saw poor weather conditions, full cloud cover and persistent rain, some heavy, remained throughout the day.  Light was poor but visibility was good. A light SW wind.

I had a couple of locations on my patch in mind to visit today in the hope of finding migrant species. Weather plays an important factor with migrating birds and todays persistent rain may have forced passage birds to the ground and into cover until fine weather allows a continuation of passage.

My first visit was to an area of rough grassland with scattered Elders near Bodney.  A search of the Elder bushes did not produce signs of migrants, however, the rough grassland held a male Stonechat.  Nearby a calling Grey Wagtail was present.  This was a quiet visit so I decided to move onto my next location in the Watton Brook valley at Little Cressingham.

I arrived in the Watton Brook valley with persistent rain becoming heavier.  My first stop was to overview a close section of Watton Brook where thick reeds in the brook and heavy growth of Rosebay Willowherb are the dominant plant species.

Whilst checking cover I noticed a slight movement of a blade of reed, then, a small brown bird flew into Rosebay Willowherb, it was a migrant Reed Warbler, a very neat looking bird.  The bird moved about cover, including reeds, it also flew into a roadside hedge where an agitation call was heard, a short, sharp "trr" or "trret" 

Despite the poor conditions I was pleased with my migrant find.

Also noted was a light westerly passage of Swallows.

Migrant Reed Warbler in the Watton Brook Valley 24 August

Reed Warbler in the Watton Brook Valley 24 August

Migrants in the Watton Brook Valley at Bodney

 The morning started cool with slight mist patches in the valley, it certainly felt like an early autumnal day. The sunshine was hazy and indeed it remained mostly cloudy throughout the day. It remained warm. 

Walking downstream along Watton Brook, a sudden flash of 'black and white' skimmed just above the tops of reeds, my suspicions were realised when a Green Sandpiper climbed away north, then turned west and watched until lost to view.

I reached a large willow wood alongside Watton Brook, I was confident that this habitat would hold migrants and within a short period of time, at least 8 Chiffchaffs were seen skulking amongst the leaves and branches, also here was a pair of Marsh Tits, Coal Tits, Long-tailed Tits, 2 Treecreepers, 3 Blackbirds, (included a male and juvenile female).  The highlight at the willow wood was an unseen Cetti's Warbler which occasional gave a contact call. 

Willow wood in Watton Brook valley 19 August 2024.  8+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Marsh Tits, 2 Treecreepers, Coal Tits and a Cetti's Warbler all present here today

Walking east along the Watton Brook valley, I checked several habitats for signs of migrants, especially a small Hawthorn bush which stands a little higher than surrounding plants.  Nothing seen in the Hawthorn as I passed it, but a turn and check of this habitat once safely passed it saw a handsome male Wheatear alight in the upper branches.  Although partially hidden from view by branches, some striking detail seen on the head was seen.  The crown is brown with a little white above the eye and a black mask through the eye.  The upperparts are brown and the tail has a very striking white pattern which was seen very briefly as the bird settled on the bush.   

I arrived back at the car at 0930 having had a good morning for migrants in the valley.

A trio of Sylvia's - 16 August 2024

 I had a short break this morning, therefore, I decided to check Seamere Marsh near Hingham for signs of migrants, especially given the overnight rain which may have grounded birds.  I arrived at 0945, remaining until 1020 .  It was sunny and warm with a light NW.

Initially quiet, with the exception of a calling Green Woodpecker and two Buzzards overhead, my attention was drawn to a Sylvia Warbler moving about in a broken hedgerow.  I followed this bird, lost it, then quickly relocated it in a Hawthorn/Bramble mix straight ahead of me, this was a very smart looking juvenile Whitethroat Sylvia communis whilst watching the Whitethroat a Garden Warbler Sylvia borin was seen nearby over-reaching in the bush to take and eat a blackberry.  A further search around the bush produced another Sylvia, a male Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla.  At first the Blackcap was sitting quietly, then it became active within the bush and was seen to eat a blackberry.

Seamere Marsh 16 August 2024. Garden Warbler, Blackcap, and Whitethroat were all seen together in the Hawthorn in the centre of this picture. 

I have been and always will be awe of bird migration, especially watching specific locations or habitats for evidence of resting and feeding migrants or indeed witnessing passage.

This mornings records of all three Sylvia species feeding socially and within close proximity of each other is clear evidence of migrant birds sharing mutual behaviour for the purpose of fuelling for migration south to Africa.   

Saham Toney 15 August 2024

 I am fortunate to be allowed to walk large areas of farmland and some parts of the large Army training area known as STANTA (Stanford Training Area), this morning I visited some beautiful habitats within this area.  The habitat visited included the beautiful Watton Brook valley and adjoining marsh and meadows.

This visit began with a small flock of Linnets flying into a willow, the male bird looked stunning with its beautiful bright crimson breast. 

No evidence of passage seen save for a single Whitethroat passing purposefully south through a well vegetated ditch.  The meadows here often hold passage Yellow Wagtails at this time of year, these beauties are seen feeding around grazing livestock.  I think the fresh SW wind probably prevented any notable passage, although I did find 3 Chiffchaffs, one of which was in a small Hawthorn alongside Watton Brook. 

Watton Brook and the adjoining marsh has an abundance of plants which attract invertebrate life, the sides of the brook are dominated by Rosebay Willowherb and Burr reed, the adjoining marsh has an abundance of knapweed and Ragwort. Goldfinches were present in good numbers (80+) and were often seen feeding upon seeds of tall weeds whilst overhead 100+ Swallows gathered to feed upon flying insects.

Watton Brook Valley 15 August 2024 - Just a single Chiffchaff seen in the valley but 100+ Swallows overhead.

A closer look at some fresh cow dung saw some interesting invertebrates, one particular attractive large fly on dung was the Mid Day Fly, this insect has beautiful golden coloured bases to the wings.  Mid Day Flies lay eggs in the dung and I understand the larvae predates other life forms in the dung.   

Mid Day Fly on fresh dung 15 August 2024

Mid Day Fly 15 August 2024 (Showing its lovely golden wing bases)

A walk around a large meadow to finish my visit produced just a single, unseen, alarm calling Lesser Whitethroat in a tree-lined hedgerow.  Finally, given the strength of the wind I decided to walk the sheltered side of a hedgerow filled with various fruits in the hope of finding a migrant Warbler species, I did see something move but was not quick enough to ID it.  I did see a couple of Greenfinches however.

Notes from the garden 11 August 2024

 Today I decided to make visits throughout the day to my garden to check on common species present and to check for evidence of passage.  About eleven years ago, when we arrived at this property, the garden was bordered by Leylandii, these had to go.  In their place I planted a 40 foot native hedgerow purposely created for the benefit of wildlife.  The hedge comprises Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Dog Rose, Dogwood, Ash, Goat Willow, Birch, and Alder.  Checking the hedge today I could see masses of Hawes ripening, hips of the Dog Rose growing, and the fruit of the Dogwood (Dogberry) is heavy in clusters of fruit.  I have found that Starlings especially love dogberries, they strip these in no time, but I expect the odd Warbler passing through has a few.

Ripening Hawes in the garden 11 August.  Winter Thrushes will enjoy these.

  Wood Pigeons bred in the garden this year, their simple platform of sticks was located in the Goat Willow.  For much of the day the juvenile Wood Pigeon remained in the garden with a parent nearby. Wood Pigeons are attractive birds, however, I often think the young squab in the nest takes the prize for one of the ugliest chicks.  Even the juvenile bird has some way to go appear as attractive as its parents. Young Wood Pigeons appear quite dull and lack the white neck ring of the adult bird

An attractive Wood Pigeon in the garden 11 August 2024

 

Juvenile Wood Pigeon in the garden 11 August 2024

House Sparrows are generally present in good numbers throughout the year, sadly, their abundance sees these beautiful birds being overlooked by rarity chasers.  I often have 50+ House Sparrows coming to feed.

A very attractive male House Sparrow in the garden.

 As far as my garden records are concerned, I like to include species I see from my garden as well as those which actually visit.

This morning 5 Linnets overflew the garden in an easterly heading, also Greenfinch, Goldfinch, and a couple of Buzzards seen too.

As the day was getting very warm I heard at least 2 Cranes somewhere to the north-east, however, these magnificent birds were out of sight. 

Migrants in the Watton Brook Valley 10 August 2024

 0815 arrival.  The visit began with a singing Linnet in hedgerow alongside Southwater Lane and just south of there along the track heading south a Whitethroat gave an alarm call from within a Hawthorn.

The area of marsh immediately south of Southwater Lane and east of Watton Brook held a single ♀ Reed Bunting on the top of long grasses feeding from seed heads.

Watton Brook, as with elsewhere in the valley, is heavily choked with Burr reed whilst the bank has lots of Rosebay Willowherb, Purple Loosestrife, and one large Willow.  

The main focus of this visit was the search for migrants, especially acrocephalus Warblers along the river.  The first of two Sedge Warblers was heard from deep within cover near the large Willow, the bird remained concealed in cover.  Nearby, a single “hooweet” call of a Willow Warbler was heard.  Again, in a similar area a calling Yellow Wagtail was heard the other side of Watton Brook on grassland currently grazed by sheep.  A repeated “tsweeep” call was heard from the bird out of sight on the ground, then it flew off and climbed away to the north when it was joined by two more birds (also possibly Yellow Wagtails).  As the Yellow Wagtail flew off the key features seen included a shortish tail and greenish upperparts.

A successful morning for migrants in the Watton Brook Valley 10 August 2024

Continuing a slow walk south alongside Watton Brook the most abundant species seen was Goldfinch with wandering birds seen feeding from knapweed.

An acrocephalus species flew past me low and speed and darted in cover in the valley, it was not located visually although a call of Sedge Warbler was heard.

At least 3 Reed Buntings were seen in the valley typically in lush vegetation, one at least was a juvenile bird showing a lovely reddish panel on the wing.

Having reached the large Willow wood I returned alongside Watton Brook, a couple of Bullfinches were present (one seen) and a little further along a Hobby passed overhead north and then circled above the Southwater Lane area.  Other raptor species seen this morning were 2 Red Kites, Buzzard, and a hunting Kestrel.

At the end of this walk I reflected upon what I considered a good morning for migrant species in the Watton Brook valley.

Watton Brook Valley 7 August 2024

 From August through until late September/early October I spend a lot of time searching for migrant acrocephalus Warblers along Watton Brook in Little and Great Cressingham.  The lush vegetation in the valley which includes the dominant Rosebay Willowherb and Burr reed always gets close attention as I slowly walk along looking for a sudden movement of a blade of reed or of a bird out of the corner of my eye flying low between cover.

A migrant Sedge Warbler in the Watton Brook Valley

The morning of 7 August was spent doing just that, searching for migrants.  As I approached a patch of Rosebay Willowherb I heard a single, short, sharp "chet" call, this familiar call took my immediate attention and a short while later a single migrant Sedge Warbler was seen flying low and fast between the cover of Rosebay Willowherb, Burr reed, and other lush vegetation.  The "chet" alarm was heard a few times coming from within Rosebay Willowherb.  Although not seen too well, the very presence of this migrant is a good local record.

A very elusive Whitethroat was also seen all to briefly flying in and out of dense cover along Watton Brook.  Finally, on this visit I was rewarded by a family gathering of 5+ Stonechats on roadside fencing, a delightful way to finish  this visit.

Houghton-on-the-Hill - 5 August 2024 (0605-0900)

Houghton-on-the-Hill sits upon an elevated ridge of land visible distantly from the north and south. At the west end of the ridge sits the beautiful St Mary's Church, a very old church with 11th century murals depicting characters and events from the bible.  There has been a church on this site since 630, this was constructed of wood, the current church of stone has been in existence since 750. 

The prominent topography of this site along with man-made features such as the church has undoubtedly served as focal point for migrating birds over the centuries and probably millennia.

 

St Mary's Church at Houghton-on-the Hill 5 August 2024

Given its elevated position Houghton-on-the-Hill provides me with a superb migration watchpoint with views to the distant west through to the north-east giving huge expanses of sky to watch and follow migrating birds approaching from the north and north-east.  In the right conditions, common bird passage can be spectacular, I have witnessed the passage of many hundreds of Meadow Pipits and winter Thrushes.  Also, given the right conditions, raptor passage can be very good, examples of birds species picked up distantly from Houghton include Osprey and Honey Buzzard (both species on one September day) and with one record of a passage Montagu's Harrier.  Scarce migrants over the years in the area of the church have included a single Yellow-browed Warbler in October 2017, (I remember driving to Houghton on that day with Yellow-browed Warbler on my mind), Hawfinch and Firecrest.  Common migrants in autumn includes double figure numbers of Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, and small numbers of Lesser Whitethroat and occasional passage Tree Pipit.   

5 August 2024

Today was my first visit to Houghton for the late summer/autumn migration season, this is where I do much of my birding from now through to November.

0605. I decided to begin the morning with a stroll around the small churchyard at Houghton and within a few minutes I could hear several Blackcaps alarm calling in boundary woodland, this alarm is a distinctive "tac", often given if a threat is nearby, such as a local friendly birder !!.  Blackbirds present included a juvenile, also Goldfinch (15+ over), Chaffinch and Blue Tit.  At least 3 Chiffchaff also present.

A well stocked hedgerow corridor runs east from the church and straight away I could hear more "tac" calls of Blackcap, also I could hear alarm calling Whitethroats, a distinctive "churr" or "churrit" and the "hweet" calls of Chiffchaffs.

Whilst standing between the hedgerow corridor I was watching a well stocked Elder bush where 3+ Blackcaps, Whitethroat, and a stunning Lesser Whitethroat were gathered in a social feeding gathering. One word for me describes the Lesser Whitethroat in late summer/autumn, this is 'immaculate', a truly beautiful Sylvia Warbler which even without optics stands out within the hedge as a bird with pure white underparts and throat contrasting strongly with the grey head and brown upperparts.

Common species seen here included Yellowhammer, Red Kite, Buzzard, and Kestrel.  Isn't it strange describing Red Kites as common.

Hedgerow on Houghton Common.  The Elder in the centre of this picture held feeding Whitethroats, 3+ Blackcaps, and a stunning Lesser Whitethroat

 

Whitethroat at Houghton 5 August (eating Elderberry)

The above picture shows a Whitethroat consuming an Elderberry, this is a favoured soft fruit for this and other Warbler species late summer and autumn.  Although insectivorous, Warblers change much of their diet to fruit in order to build up energy reserves for their long journey south to Africa.

Lesser Whitethroat at Houghton 5 August (always a special migrant to find)

As I ended my walk I intended to stop by an old Elder which has always been a good habitat for feeding Warblers.  As I approached I could hear the "tac" of Blackcaps and a short sharp "chit" of a Lesser Whitethroat.  Standing back from the Elder I could see Warblers flying across the path and back, there was clearly several birds involved.  The Elder I watched held Whitethroat, 3+ Blackcap, one Lesser Whitethroat, and a single Garden Warbler.  Resident species included a feeding juvenile Blackbird and Blue Tit.

For my first 'migrant day' I must say I am pleased with my finds.