The Peddars Way footpath between South Pickenham and Little Cressingham 16 November 2024

The Peddars Way is a 46 mile long footpath beginning at Knettishall in Suffolk and linking up with the Norfolk Coast Path at Holme-next-the-Sea.  Approximately 6.5 miles of the Peddars Way passes through my patch and at its closest is less than a mile from my home.  On the morning of 16 November I conducted a number of 'spot counts' on the Peddars Way between South Pickenham and Little Cressingham.

Parkland at South Pickenham Hall 16 November 2024

My first stop of the morning was to overlook the beautiful parkland at South Pickenham Hall.  Wood Pigeons was the most abundant species, the smaller but compact Stock Dove (6) were also seen.  The Stock Dove. although smaller than Wood Pigeon, has a more proportionate appearance and when in flight the pearl grey upperparts contrast with the black borders on the wings and a black terminal band on the tail.  The Stock Dove also lacks white in its plumage (cf Wood Pigeon).

The beautiful Beech tree (closest middle right in the picture) held a few Chaffinches (4), also, two Blackbirds flew into the top of the tree, perhaps these were continental migrants.

Peddars Way at South Pickenham 16 Nov 2024 (Looking North towards the Priory Drove junction)

The Peddars Way between South Pickenham and Little Cressingham is quite undulating in places, in fact the path passes through a few steep climbs, its not hilly, however, it is not flat either as some outsiders would describe it.

The section of path shown in the above picture has good, thick hedgerows either side, here a couple of Bullfinches passed low along the hedge before turning into cover, their white rumps being a conspicuous feature of the birds plumage.

Looking east from the Peddars Way at Great Cressingham.  The small copse in the distant centre of the picture held a few Fieldfares.

My next stop was at the above site on the Peddars Way at Great Cressingham.  I often spend time overlooking large open landscapes, as seen above, the clumps of thickets, small copses, hedgerows, and scattered thorny bushes is suitable habitat for a beautiful but scarce, Great Grey Shrike, this species is well suited to open, bleak looking country, where they perch up high watching its surroundings for prey such as Finches, small rodents, and beetles etc.    

Searching the above open country I eventually focussed on the small copse in the centre of the above picture, here there was a number of Fieldfares feeding upon rosehips and probably other wild fruits. The Fieldfares were quite distant, however, salient features of their appearance could be seen, their large size, the grey head and nape, dark mantle, ochre breast, and large grey rump were all noted. 

Also seen at this stop was a single Bullfinch which gave its soft "piu" call, and a lovely Robin which came close to see what I was up to.

Fieldfare - a stunning winter visitor from Scandinavia (from my archives)

My final stop of the morning was at an area known as North Bridge on the Peddars Way just north of Little Cressingham.  The beautiful Watton Brook flows gently under the bridge and  through Alder Carr, and through grazing meadows.   Once again, the landscape here is very rolling.  Sadly, a beautiful bank of Blackthorn has been grubbed out, for why, I really don't know, this habitat ran alongside a ditch and formed the boundary between the ditch and the grazing meadow, it was wholly unnecessary.  This gorgeous habitat supported Bullfinches and Thrush species, as well having great aesthetic value.

A habitat with abundance in the valley is Alder and Alder Carr, this type of habitat supports flocks of Goldfinches, Siskins, and Redpolls, however, this morning all I could manage to see was a couple of Moorhens on the brook and a single Jay in a small copse.