From a birding perspective February was dominated by the two week long (7th to 23rd February) Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust's Big Farmland Bird Count. This is an annual count on the same dates every year and my count is conducted on a large Breckland farming estate, much of which lies within the army training area known as STANTA (Stanford Training Area) between Threxton, Little Cressingham, Great Cressingham, Bodney, and Hilborough.
The 1st day of February was work day, so I was therefore able to gather a few casual records whilst on my rounds. At Cranworth was 2 Red Kites over the village and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard. At Hingham (Seamere Marsh) was 2 Cormorant, one Buzzard, and a male Kestrel. Singing Mistle Thrushes were at Garvestone and Scoulton, and a singing Greenfinch was also heard at Garvestone.
On the 2nd, a late morning work break visit to Seamere Marsh produced one Sparrowhawk (female) soaring over the marsh, also present was Red Kite, Buzzard, one Kestrel, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A pair of Ravens overflew the marsh and circled for a few minutes before heading off west.
On the marsh a male Reed Bunting was on a large patch of Bramble and Willow, probable nest site for this species.
.JPG) |
| Raven (seen at Hockham) An increasing species in Breckland |
I used the morning of the 4th to conduct a recce for the forthcoming Game and Wildlife Conservation Trusts bird count. I visited a mixture of habitats where I could maximise my species count, this comprised wet meadow, a large block of game cover of Brassica and traditional weeds and grasses within, farmland and hedgerows. Notable highlights included Fieldfare, Chaffinches, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammers, a few Brambling, and a count of 40+ Linnets.
And so onto the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trusts Big Farmland Bird Count between the 7th and 23rd February. I have provided three posts of this count period, starting notes, a mid-count update, and the final day of counting, therefore I wish to provide some of my personal highlights.
My first day of counting was on the 8th February and highlights included a calling Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine flying east along the Watton Brook valley at Little Cressingham, and a flock of around 100 Chaffinches visiting a large game strip.
The 9th produced a Merlin at Bodney, a scarce winter visitor to Breckland. Over the years I have seen a few Merlin on my local patch. A pair of Stonechats were seen in suitable breeding habitat.
The 13th produced a juvenile female Goshawk at Great Cressingham, also in the same area a female Marsh Harrier passed through. At least 3 Woodlarks seen displaying song-flight too.
On the 17th at Great Cressingham I located a male Reeve's Pheasant, a very large bird, also in the same area was another displaying Woodlark, a flock of 100+ Chaffinches and 40+ Yellowhammers visiting game strips. Later in the day at Bodney a Kingfisher flew along Watton Brook.
The final day of counting on the 23rd February went out with a flourish of activity. The day produced a couple of displaying Curlews (my first returning birds of the year), also, an impressive 4 Woodlarks, 25+ Skylarks, 50+ Redwings, a Raven, and an impressive count of 300+ Linnets.
 |
| Reeve's Pheasant seen during my GWCT Bird Count (An introduced resident) |
Back to patch birding on the 26th with a visit to Hockham. I arrived about an hour prior to sunrise, it was a beautiful twilight and dawn, however, following a bright start to the day conditions did deteriorate.
A walk along a woodland track with just twilight for light, I could just make out the silhouetted shapes (and calls) of a least 4, possibly 5 Mandarins. With improvement in light I visited a mixture of habitats including heath, woodland edge, and marsh. I positioned myself with the low, bright sun behind me, with this a stunning Sparrowhawk drifted overhead. Two Kingfishers were watched chasing each other over Pingos. Two Woodcock were seen flying up from ground cover, a beautiful, enigmatic woodland wader species.
Later in the morning I saw and heard a large number of Crows all gathered in the crown of a tall Scots Pine, they were all facing the same way and straining their voices towards something, I scanned the nearby treetops and sitting in the crown of a tree was a large female Goshawk. Crows, Pigeons, Ducks, Geese, Pheasants, and even other Birds of Prey, all show respect for this powerful hawk, especially given that they are all on the menu.
On the 27th I visited Little Cressingham and my plan was to overview a large bare field and distant heathland. This plan paid off with a very impressive and high count of 102+ Stock Dove together wandering the land, and occasionally put up if disturbed. Also noted on this visit was large flock of 300+ Linnets, and to end the visit a Raven was watched flying over fields and woodland.
