A summary of observations for October 2025

August through to November is the most eagerly awaited for time of year in the birding calendar. August sees the first indications of bird migration and September sees the greatest movement of departing summer visitors. October however sees incredible movements of birds, many summer visitors remain but in lesser numbers, however, the main feature of bird migration is Thrush passage with Scandinavian species abandoning their breeding grounds to find good feeding and warmth further south, including here on my local Brecks patch. Bird species we are talking about here are Redwings, Fieldfare, Song Thrushes, and Blackbirds, it is these species which can provide spectacular overhead passage both by day and by night. I have seen thousands of these Thrushes pass over in a single morning, often, many will drop into berry laden hedgerows to plunder the berries before moving on. Other bird families to be looking for in October includes Pipits, notably Meadow Pipits which winter with us from their breeding grounds in upland Britain. The arrival of Finches from Scandinavia can present in spectacular numbers with Bramblings, Siskins, Redpoll, and Crossbills being the sought after species by birders.

Further afield to the south-west, most especially in the Scilly Isles, and following Atlantic storms, the islands play host to rarities from the Americas including stunning Warblers along with other storm driven species.

Closer to home on my Breckland patch the following is a highlight of observations and species seen throughout October 2025.

2 October Little Cressingham. My first local field trip in October was to be a productive one, I visited the Watton Brook valley on the Great Cressingham Road, as soon as I arrived I saw 5 Red Kites perched together in a dead Oak, of these, two were juvenile birds. Nearby, I saw my first winter Thrush species of the autumn, two Redwings, a beautiful but small Thrush with a striking head pattern and a reddish patch on its flanks which gives the bird its name. Using my scope to check the distant valley I could see 5 Meadow Pipits on fencing along Watton Brook, these were probably newly arrived migrants from Northern Britain. Stonechats were also present in the valley. At least 10 Carrion Crows were noisily calling in woodland, it appeared they were directing their anger at a raptor species, my suspicions proved correct, a Goshawk flew from the wood, these noisy Crows kept a keen eye on the Goshawk as they appear on its menu at times. Lastly, a small flock of 4 Crossbills (including two males) dropped into Watton Brook to drink, as they flew off the brick red plumage and stunning crimson rump of the male Crossbills was seen.

5 October. This was a windy day, however, the remnants of storm Amy which passed through on 4 October had left its mark with plenty of debris laying around including some sizeable branches. This morning I visited a game strip at Little Cressingham which I know would be reliable for Finch species, here, I saw an estimated 70+ Chaffinches and 80+ Linnets which were attracted to weed seeds for feeding. Overhead 3 Crossbills passed over calling.

8 October. I revisited the large game strip at Little Cressingham where Chaffinches were increasing with 97+ birds present, an added bonus was a single ♀ Brambling, a Northern European Finch which is a winter visitor here. Overhead, another Breckland speciality seen, a singing Woodlark.

Brambling. A stunning Finch from Scandinavia

9 October. A visit to The Arms area saw 2 Woodlarks (included a singing ♂) and 3 Crossbills sitting in the very tops of tall conifers near the Clermont estate.

12 October. A very productive visit to Thompson Water saw 142+ Mallard on the water and 3 singing Cetti’s Warblers heard in reedbed scrub. A Green Sandpiper was seen and 4 Woodlarks were overhead. Two Ravens passed overhead and a male Marsh Harrier was seen. Summer visitors were still in evidence with a single Chiffchaff in woodland and a House Martin over the water. Also seen in the water was two Otters and distantly, roaring Red Deer stags were heard.

13 October. An early morning visit to The Arms at Little Cressingham began with an overflying Goshawk at dawn. Several winter Thrushes were passing overhead and a single Great White Egret headed north.

14 October. At least 3 Woodlarks were seen in The Arms area along with a single Chiffchaff in a nearby hedgerow. 4 Crossbills low overhead and calling headed west.

16 October. Two Ravens flew directly overhead at Little Cressingham and lighted in the tops of tall pines where exceptional views of this huge crow were had.

18 October. A fantastic mornings visit to Cranberry Rough which began with a calling Goshawk at dawn. Two Ravens passed over and two Marsh Harriers also seen. Finch species dominated with 60+ Siskins, two Redpoll, and 37+ Crossbills seen. This is turning into a great autumn for Crossbills.

An excellent morning on 18 October for Crossbills

19 October The Arms. A good morning for watching passage Fieldfare and Redwings with some dropping into hedgerows to feed upon Hawthorn berries. Impressive numbers of Finches seen at a large game strip included 250+ Chaffinches, 100+ Linnets, and at least 7 Bramblings too with one a particularly brightly coloured ♂ with orange scapulars and breast.

20 October Thompson Water. A Great White Egret was wading in the shallows, this is a beautiful, large, white Egret which appears very stately and elegant as it moves stealthily in its search for food. An excellent count of 242+ Mallard on the water was rather impressive. In a small area of Birch woodland and Hawthorn scrub an arrival of winter Thrushes was evident with 60+ Redwings, Fieldfare, and 6+ Blackbirds, all of which probably had Northern European origins.

21 October Hilborough. I decided upon a walk around the churchyard at Hilborough and to enjoy the views over parkland. Looking through the tall trees within the park I saw a Peregrine on a branch feeding upon a Pigeon. Although distant I had superb views through my telescope of this impressive raptor.

22 October Foulden. I parked up alongside the Foulden Road to check the large fields when I saw a disorganised and rapid departure of many Wood Pigeons from woodland, I straight away knew a raptor was present, my suspicions were confirmed when a Goshawk flew at speed from the woodland, singled out a Wood Pigeon, chased it and easily caught the Pigeon, a hearty breakfast. Also seen here was 150+ Skylarks, Woodlark, a ♀ Stonechat, and many Redwings which were attracted to Hawthorn and Buckthorn to feed upon berries.

27 October Thompson Water. A good morning for wildfowl on the water with an excellent 250 Mallard and 64+ Gadwall counted.  At least 3 singing Cetti's Warblers heard and a single Chiffchaff was seen and heard in waterside woodland. A Great White Egret was wading in the shallows in its search for food. Two Ravens passed overhead.

Great White Egret at Thompson Water 27 October

30 October Wretham and Thetford.  A work day today and whilst at Wretham a good count of 300+ Lapwings passed low between farmland.  In Thetford (Cloverfields) a Sparrowhawk passed high overhead.

31 October Barford, Norfolk. The final bird of the month was a single Woodcock overflying the village at dusk, a beautiful silhouetted view of this enigmatic species.

A pictorial guide to my walk at South Pickenham and Great Cressingham 4 October 2025

Saturday the 4th October was very windy with a strong to very strong westerly blow.  The day began with wall to wall sunshine, however, cloud did build as the morning progressed.

The wind strength affected birding with only sheltered sides of woodland producing birds, therefore, I have decided for this post to give a pictorial guide to my 5 mile walk.

Beginning at All Saint's Church in South Pickenham I walked west along Church Road and then onto a track through farmland known as Heath Road.  This first long section of my walk took me through very typical but spectacular Breckland landscapes, big skies, very light sandy soil both mature deciduous and conifer woodland, and large fields of arable.

1. Walking west away from South Pickenham along Heath Road

Having walked through mature woodland I was greeted by some stunning views over typical Breckland farming country as seen in picture (1) above.  To the right of the woodland you can make out the huge turbines on the former North Pickenham airfield.

A little further along this path I walked by a mature block of Pine woodland, the sheltered side saw a mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, and two Marsh Tits moving through the woodland edge to locate food.

2. Walking west alongside a mixed hedgerow

The long hedgerow shown in picture (2) offered some respite from the very strong wind, little was seen due to the wind strength although I did hear a calling Yellowhammer in the hedge.

3. Walking west along the path I eventually reached this lovely old WW2 air raid shelter.

4. The air raid shelter showing the blast walls on the left of the structure.

Continuing west along the track I came across a stand of typical Breckland tree species, the beautiful Scots Pine, and on the opposite side of the track was a number of fine Hawthorns along with plenty of Blackthorn which had a heavy crop of the beautiful purple sloe fruits. Now we are into October it won't be long before winter Thrush species, Redwings, Fieldfares, Blackbirds, and Song Thrushes, arrive from Scandinavia to plunder the berries from these bushes.

5. Another beautiful Breckland scene of Scots Pines and some fine Hawthorns and Blackthorn.

 Beyond the Scots Pines seen in picture (5) I turned south to walk some trails which would eventually take me to Great Cressingham Wood, but before reaching this wood I did hear a Chiffchaff in woodland, also a Buzzard flew off and 6 Egyptian Geese passed over, driven quickly along by the wind.

6. A large game strip which will support songbird survival in winter.

Game strips, as seen in picture (6) is an important habitat for supporting songbird survival.  Birds to expect at these habitats includes Chaffinches, Bramblings, Linnets, Goldfinches, Yellowhammers, and Reed Buntings, and of course, where you have such a gathering of birds, inevitably, Sparrowhawks will be seen.

7. Looking NW along the track leading to Great Cressingham Wood.

As you can see in picture (7) the cloud has built somewhat from the earlier very bright conditions. I am looking back from whence I came in this picture, the track, although wet today, is in dry and hot weather, essentially sand, a typical Breckland soil type.  This exposed landscape did not stop a couple of Red Kites searching the land for food items, I never tire of their ability to use the wind to their advantage, their turning tail and altering wing movements keeping them on a steady course.

Also noted in the above landscape today was a number of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, and in the weedy track sides a few Goldfinches visited to feed.

Back onto a metalled surface I walked the long South Pickenham Road NE towards the end of visit and entering mature woodland of Beech and Oak, two Marsh Tits were seen, bringing my total for this declining species today to four birds.

8. All Saint's Church at South Pickenham

 At the end of my 5 mile walk I reached my final destination, the fine 12th century All Saint's Church at South Pickenham.  This beautiful church is surrounded by mature woodland of Oak and Beech, also some fine Holly specimens occur whilst in the churchyard a fine old Yew tree grows as well as peripheral Oak and Beech specimens.

The sheltered churchyard and woodland was my most productive for birds this morning with a mobile flock of Long-tailed Tits passing through the churchyard and into surrounding woodland, these birds were joined by several Blue Tits and Coal Tits, two Treecreepers and Nuthatch.  The lovely old Yew in the far left in picture (8) saw two Goldcrests foraging and offering cracking views, of this, our smallest bird species.
 

A review of observations for September 2025

What an exciting month for birding September is, this is a pivotal month for migration with the departures of summer migrants and the arrivals of the first winter visitors. Departing summer visitors can turn up almost anywhere, I always marvel at how species such as Warblers defend their territories in the breeding season but in autumn become more sociable in their behaviour, for example, a typically seen behaviour for me in autumn is finding a number of Blackcaps or Whitethroats feeding in one Elder bush, sometimes with a Reed Warbler as well, all of these birds are just interested in feeding upon berries to fuel their migration to the Mediterranean basin or further south into Africa. 

September also sees the arrival of the first winter Thrushes from Scandinavia, these species are Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush, and Blackbirds, all of which abandon their breeding grounds in Scandinavia to seek milder conditions and food.  Similarly, winter Finches such as Bramblings, Siskins, and Redpolls abandon their breeding areas in Scandinavia due to food scarcity and harsh winter weather, all three of these species occur on my Breckland patch in winter.

September 2025 (A Review of observations)

A good start to the month on the 1st with a Yellow Wagtail at Bodney, also one Grey Wagtail and a single Willow Warbler in an elder where berries were consumed.

The 2nd of the month began clear and cool, it's beginning to feel like autumn. A visit to Threxton produced a flock of 70+ Linnets wandering a large game strip. A Hobby overflew in a westerly beading. A check of a field boundary hedge saw a very smart looking Lesser Whitethroat in an elder.  Nearby a hedgerow held 3+ Whitethroats and in a ditch an elusive Sedge Warbler was seen in dense cover.

Later the same morning a Marsh Harrier was seen high over Saham in a more or less southerly heading.

The 6th of the month saw an interesting series of events in Little Cressingham beginning with a ♀ Marsh Harrier flushing and chasing a Partridge, the Harrier was then chased by a Goshawk, the two raptors appeared to have a little tussle, the Goshawk broke off and flew into an Oak and the Marsh Harrier resumed hunting.

Evidence of visual migration seen with two Yellow Wagtails overhead in a southerly heading.  A single Whinchat was seen on fencing at a field boundary.   

Migrant Reed Warbler at Threxton 8 September

A visit to Threxton on the 8th was productive for migrants.  I decided to visit a roadside woodland which at its boundary has plentiful scrub and over the years has held migrants in autumn because of it being sheltered from the prevailing wind.  A small area of Bramble/Elder scrub held 3+ Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, one Reed Warbler feeding upon elderberries, and two Dunnock, a juvenile Robin, Blue Tits, and Chaffinch.  3 Red Kites soared overhead and a Sparrowhawk shot through.

Dawn at Wretham Heath on the 9th looked spectacular with low lying mist and fog eventually clearing to a warm, sunny morning. My aim was to visit Langmere to check for evidence of wader passage, it was also very productive for the numbers of arriving Goose species.  Entering the hide at Langmere I was immediately greeted by 7 Snipe on the muddy shore of the mere, also present was a single Common Sandpiper.

An overview of Langmere saw the arrivals of 100 Greylag Geese, 72+ Egyptian Geese, and 64 Canada Geese.  

A visit to the Watton Brook Valley near Threxton on the 10th saw a single Little Egret flying along the valley.  A large flock of 300+ Rooks was put up by the appearance of a low and fast Peregrine Falcon. Two Whitethroats were seen together in a bramble patch by the brook as was two Stonechats, one of which fed upon blackberries.

On the 11th in the Watton Brook valley between Little Cressingham and Bodney the visit began with a single Hobby drifting east over farmland and woodland until lost to view.  Migrants in the valley included one Whinchat, a Reed Warbler in thick cover, and two Blackcaps which included a ♂ taking an elderberry.  Beautiful scoped views of a ♀ Kestrel on a fencepost were had.

An elusive juvenile Reed Warbler at Little Cressingham 11 Sept (subsong was heard)

Whinchat at Bodney 11 Sept.

An early morning watch of the sky from the garden on the 12th saw two Little Egrets high over the town in a NW heading.  25+ Goldfinches seen in adjoining gardens and a ♀ Sparrowhawk passed through the garden low and at speed.

A pre-sunrise visit to Hockham (Rules Belt then Hockham Fen) was quite productive with ♂♀ Tawny Owls calling in Rules Belt area. At Hockham Fen at least 10 Chiffchaffs present (some song heard). Hawthorn and Birch scrub held Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, and Chiffchaff. Two Kestrels and Sparrowhawk seen and on the fen two Stonechats seen with a ♂ collecting a Zebra spider from long grasses.. At least 5 Siskins overhead.

Stonechat at Hockham 21 September 2025 (With Zebra Spider)

I visited Houghton on the 22nd with the aim of finding migrants as well as doing some vismigging.

The morning began with a Barn Owl in the former village site. A calling Raven was scoped in conifer woodland N/E of Houghton Common, later, two Ravens were seen north of the path leading to the church, these birds were engaged in chasing display and calling.

10+ Blackbirds and a Song Thrush were seen in bushes and hedgerow on Houghton Common.

Migrants included several Chiffchaffs (some singing), 3 Blackcaps (2♂♂ and one♀) seen with a ♂ seen to take an elderberry. A single Whinchat was very briefly seen on the hedge east of the church

Stepping out into the garden early on the 23rd I was immediately greeted by two Ravens quite low directly overhead flying in a SW heading..

On the 26th at Carbrooke a mobile Tit flock included a single Willow Warbler, this was a particularly yellow bird. 

I was working on the 27th and a short stop by the beautiful River Wensum at Billingford produced a calling Kingfisher , this bird flew towards me and briefly alighted on a tall weed before flying off again. A Green Woodpecker was calling.

On the 29th a single migrant Chiffchaff passed through the garden.

An overview of farmland near 'The Arms' at Little Cressingham on the 30th saw a flock of 250+ Rooks wandering over the land feeding. 4 Carrion Crows, two Ravens directly overhead heading west, a single Chiffchaff occasionally singing, two Marsh Tits, 40+ Chaffinches, 60+ Linnets, and a ♀ Sparrowhawk flying fast and low, an expected bird given the Finch activity. An overhead movement of 4 Cormorants in a westerly heading.

Late afternoon in the garden a Hobby passed directly overhead fast and with intent.