GWCT (Big Farmland Bird Count) 23 February 2025 (The Final day of counting for 2025)

The day dawned bright with calm conditions, however, the promise of deteriorating conditions became evident as the morning wore on, the calm conditions saw an increase in wind to a light southerly with leaves flickering in the breeze, later moderate gusts and increasing high cloud foretell of how the day was to become.

Today was the final day of counting for the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trusts Big Farmland Bird Count for 2025, and it was to be a good one.  I chose my position with a variety of habitats in order to gather a good variety and count of bird species.  I overviewed a large recently turned field with a large game strip comprising brassicas and Linseed, field boundary hedgerows, broadleaved woodland, mature Scots Pine woodland, and distant heathland.

23 February 2025. My view for todays final Bird Count for the GWCT 2025

Some common bird species usually associated with this habitat were present in low numbers, or indeed absent.  Notably, Chaffinches, usually present in three figure counts at this location were seen in single figure counts or low double-figure counts only, but the most notable absentee was Brambling, with non seen during the count period, although prior to the count I did see single-figure counts only.  

The highlights for todays count was the following:

4 Woodlarks (Pair + 2 singing and displaying males)

1 Raven - watched flying west over the woodland in left of above picture (Calling)

Curlew - 2 singing males (my first returning birds of the year)

300+ Linnets - wandering the large field

The birds seemed to know this was my final day of counting for the GWCT, especially with my first record this year of displaying Curlews on the patch, also, the sky was occupied by many displaying Skylarks along with another highlight, the presence of 4 Woodlarks (pair + 2 singing males), sometimes directly above me.  These Woodlarks were visiting the field to feed, they will probably breed on a nearby heath or forest clearing.  

A single Raven was watched flying west over woodland and heathland until lost to view.  Calling was frequently heard.  I am so pleased to see Ravens quite regularly on the patch now.

Both Fieldfare and Redwings were present, this included 50+ Redwings high in distant woodland, despite the distance I could see the beautiful head pattern of this Thrush.

Common Thrush species were represented by two singing Mistle Thrushes, singing Song Thrush (a pair seen fly past me) and a number of Blackbirds, including 3 together high in trees in woodland.

The large field shown above held a large wandering flock of 300+ Linnets moving to and fro over the land and dropping to the ground to feed. Often, I could see this large wandering flock of Linnets with Skylarks singing above along with the beautiful sweet song of Woodlark.

The only raptors seen today was a single Kestrel in a Hawthorn within heathland habitat, a single Red Kite over woodland, and a single Buzzard.

GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count 7th to 23rd February 2025 (An Update)

I am currently in the second and final week of this years bird count for the GWCT (Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust).  I am writing this just to update you on my findings thus far.

Raptor species have been well represented by good numbers of Buzzards (I wouldn't have written that 30+ years ago), also Kestrels have featured regularly and Sparrowhawks have been seen on a couple of occasions.  A female Marsh Harrier was seen passing through the area.  Goshawks have been seen twice including a close encounter with a large juvenile female bird, and scarcer still, I have recorded both Peregrine and Merlin within the count period.

Fieldfare - several flocks seen on the count including some heading east.

What has been particularly noticeable is the variable distributions of common species, some sites for example have seen low numbers of Chaffinches in areas of game cover where I would expect to see them, however, reasonable numbers have been seen at other areas where feeding attracts birds with the highest count of Chaffinches being 100+, somewhat down in previous years.  To date within the count period I have not seen a single Brambling (although I have seen a few prior to the start of the count).  Linnets have shown quite well with the highest count being on the 18th with 300+ wandering over a large field and feeding.  A small Alder wood in the Wissey valley held 40+ Siskins (I have seen flocks of 100-200+ birds).

Fieldfares have been present on most days with the highest count numbering 80+ birds.  Today, the 18th, I noticed an easterly movement of Fieldfares, this tells me these birds are moving towards the coast in readiness for their passage to Northern Europe. Lesser numbers of Redwings have also been seen.

One of most eagerly awaited for songsters is the Woodlark, so far during the count period I have seen 4 displaying male birds, yesterdays bird was a particularly enjoyable encounter because I laid back in the grass (just a bit wet) and watched a Woodlark displaying directly overhead, such a magical experience.  Breckland is one of the UK strongholds for Woodlarks, watching their fluttering display and broad-winged and short-tailed appearance, their flight is likened to that of a bat.

Reeve's Pheasant (Male) A brute of a bird.

A number of bird species seen so far on my count are non-natives which are now considered naturalised residents.  The commonest of these of course is the Pheasant along with Red-legged Partridges, however, one bird I have seen on the count is a male Reeve's Pheasant, my area of Breckland is one of the UK's strongholds for this introduced species.  Reeve's Pheasants are much large than the more familiar Pheasant, it is very large, bulky, strong looking, and has been known to be aggressive towards humans.  The Reeve's Pheasant appears in the 2008 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest natural tail feather of any bird at almost 8 feet long.

Egyptian Geese is another non-native, these are quite common in Breckland, and despite coming from the hot continent of Africa, the species has adapted to our cold winters, their hardiness is seen in February when their young appear, despite any frost and snow.  Egyptian Geese nest in holes in large trees. 

  

Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust - Annual Count (A great start)

I am very fortunate and grateful to the Bowes estate near Watton to be allowed to pursue my passion in very typical Breckland landscapes and habitat.  I am especially grateful to the estates owner, Kevin Bowes, who invited me onto his land some years ago.  The land covers a large area from Saham, Threxton, Little Cressingham, Great Cressingham, Bodney, and Hilborough.  Much of this land lies with Stanford Army Training Area (STANTA).

Every year in February for a two week period the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust holds a nationwide Bird count, these counts are put to great use in assessing the health of farmland birds populations and to act upon areas of concern.

This years count began, as with every year, on 7th February, however, my first counts of the year began the weekend of the 8th and 9th February.

I was rather disappointed in that Finch and Bunting numbers were down, I put this down to the especially cold easterly wind, hopefully, an improvement in their numbers will be seen as the count progresses.

The following is a list of species seen the weekend of the 8th and 9th February.

Greylag Goose

Mute Swan 2

Egyptian Goose 6+

Mallard

Teal 40+

Red-legged Partridge

Pheasant

Little Grebe 1

Grey Heron 1

Little Egret 1

Cormorant 1

Sparrowhawk 1

Goshawk 1

Buzzard

Moorhen 2

Lapwing 250+

Black-headed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Stock Dove (Best single count of 12)

Wood Pigeon

Collared Dove

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

Kestrel

Merlin 1

Peregrine 1

Jay 

Magpie

Jackdaw 

Rook (highest single count of 300+)

Carrion Crow

Coal Tit

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Skylark

Long-tailed Tit 2

Wren

Starling (Highest count of 300+)

Blackbird (Included my first singing male of the year)

Fieldfare (Best single count of 80+)

Redwing (Best single count of 20+)

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush (5 singing males at one location)

Robin

Stonechat (Pair)

Dunnock

Pied Wagtail

Chaffinch (Best single count of 90+)

Linnet

Goldfinch

Yellowhammer

Reed Bunting 3

8 February (Highlights)

My first habitat visited for this years count was a large game strip comprising Maize and Brassicas, a type of habitat which is a good place to begin as such habitats attract Finches and Buntings.  It was here I gathered a count of 90+ Chaffinches, but only a few Linnets.

A walk through Pine woodland produced a very close and calling Goshawk high in trees, but could I locate it visually.

Nearby farmland held 100+ Rooks, 80+ Fieldfare, 300+ Starlings, and about 20 Redwings.

A short visit to the Watton Brook valley produced a few Teal and Little Grebe, the highlight was a Peregrine flying east in a leisurely flight, I watched this bird until lost to sight.

9 February (Highlights)

I was particularly impressed by the numbers of singing Mistle Thrushes at one site, these large Thrushes always sing from the highest point in a tree, they are rightly called 'Stormcock' because they often sing in foul weather.

About 40 Teal were on wet meadows at Hilborough, also, I watched a Little Egret using its feet to stir up silt to look for invertebrate food.

The highlight of the day occurred at Bodney.  I was closing a gate having entered land when I looked up when high overhead a Merlin was being shadowed by a tight flock of small and noisy passerine species, the Merlin then plummeted at speed towards the ground, these are high speed chase predators, I suspect once prey was located the Merlin would begin the chase hugging the ground.  The Merlin is the smallest European Falcon being similar in size to a Blackbird.

A short, but productive visit to Seamere, Hingham 2 February 2025

The morning started with a moderate frost with icy patches.  The day was bright with full sunlight.  I was working in the Hingham area this morning, I therefore decided for my work break to overlook Seamere Marsh in an attempt to collect a good species count and my results were as follows:

Pheasant

2 Stock Dove (including a singing bird)

300+ Wood Pigeons

2 Cormorant

1 Sparrowhawk (female)

1 Red Kite

3 Buzzard

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

1 Kestrel (male)

2 Rook

2 Carrion Crow

2 Raven

4 Blue Tit

3 Blackbird

2 Robin

4 Dunnock

1 Reed Bunting (male)

Highlights

Upon my arrival a single Red Kite drifted low over the marsh watching the ground below for food.  Close to was Blackbird, 4 Blue Tits, and 4 Dunnocks together in a broken hedge of Hawthorn and Ivy.

A female Sparrowhawk drifted overhead and then began circling over the fen.  3 Buzzards and a male Kestrel seen

A check of the habitat within the marsh revealed a single Reed Bunting (male) on an isolated patch of Bramble and Willow.  This was my first observation of this species in typical breeding habitat at this site which would indicate the bird is holding territory for breeding later in the spring.

My clear highlight for the morning was an approaching pair of Ravens, their size and general appearance readily identifying this, the largest of all Crows.  The Ravens passed over the marsh then began circling for several minutes before heading off high west.  The circling behaviour appeared to show one bird shadowing the other, it was during this behaviour I could clearly see the diamond-shaped tail, also, the heavy bill was noted.  Calling heard.     

Ravens (Photo from archives).  A simply wonderful species to have in Norfolk....and that call 💓