Thompson Water and Bodney 12 October 2026

A very bright dawn with warm sunshine continuing through the morning.  Cloud moved in during the afternoon with rain arriving.  Light to moderate SE wind. Sunrise 0717.

Thompson Water (0710-0845)

I arrived about 7 minutes prior to sunrise with the first bird seen being a single Redwing on woodland floor, the head pattern was striking.  As I got out of the car a Woodlark was overhead occasionally singing and calling, also, Siskins were heard passing over.

It was apparent from my first overview of the water that there was good numbers of wildfowl present, I therefore conducted a count before the rising sun made counting difficult due to the strong glare.  Present on the water was 9 Mute Swans, 200+ Mallard, 24+ Gadwall, 2+ Teal, and 6+ Shoveler.  A further 50+ Teal arrived overhead and settled on the water, as they descended the noise of the air passing through the birds wings was incredible.  A pair of Egyptian Geese flew onto the water.  Other arrivals included 4 Cormorants.  3 Grey Herons stealthily stalked prey from surface weed.

At least 3 Cetti's Warblers were singing their explosive song from willow scrub and were typically elusive visually. 

Common species seen included Great Spotted Woodpecker overflying the water as did a single Bullfinch. Siskins were heard throughout my visit, the largest visual count involved 20+ birds above the woodland canopy.

At 0815 another single Woodlark was seen quite low overhead, possibly a different bird from the one heard upon my arrival.

Bodney (0915-1015)

A change of Breckland landscape to the vast and extensive arable farmland which at some times of year can appear bleak, but I love bleak.

My walk this morning was along a long road to a boundary gate at the army training area. The road in recent times was flanked by wide grassy verges, however, Scots Pines have now been planted along both sides of the road, this habitat will now serve as good connectivity for birds and other wildlife moving between sites.

Bodney 11 October 2026. Note the young Pines which will provide wildlife with habitat connectivity

Typical autumn bird species seen in this open habitat included many Skylarks and good number of Meadow Pipits (30+), most of which were seen on sheltered headland margins, with birds often alighting on top of pines to watch and be alert from. A couple of Pied Wagtails were seen.

Meadow Pipit at Bodney 11 October 2026. A common winter visitor and passage migrant.

 

Coal Tit at Bodney 11 October 2026

A pair of Coal Tits were seen moving south along the young pine belt (making use of habitat connectivity).  This is our smallest Tit species which is beautifully marked with a black crown, wide bib, and large white cheek patch. There is a white oval patch on the black hind crown.  The dark wings shows two white wing bars.

This was a good day for Woodlarks and my third bird of the day was singing close to the army training boundary. 

The only notable bird movement seen today was watching 15+ Lapwings overflying in a westerly heading.