Hockham Fen/Forest, Norfolk 0715-0745

Hockham Fen
Mute Swan
9+ Greylag Geese
2 Shoveler (males)
Mallard
Teal
1 Water Rail calling
4 Lapwing (display seen)
19+ Snipe
2 Grey Herons
Wood Pigeon
Stock Dove (pair)
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (drumming)
1 Meadow Pipit over
1 Pied Wagtail (male)
Jay
Fieldfare
Redwing
Treecreeper
5 Siskins over
2 Reed Buntings (singing males)

Hockham Forest (Trails and mixed woodland)
Redwing
6+ Song Thrushes
Marsh Tit
Coal Tit (song heard)
Nuthatch
4+ Treecreeper
4+ Goldcrests (singing males)
Jay
Siskins over

An early morning, pre-eclipse walk from Hockham Picnic site to Hockham Fen and return through woodland trails produced at least 25 species.
My arrival at the fen was greeted with at least 19 Snipe rising up from the boogy parts of the fen close to where I watching from.  I wonder what the true numbers of Snipe were in total around the fen...impressive count I suspect.

Fieldfares

In recent days I have seen several flocks of Fieldfares on the patch, this is typical of this time of year with these birds stopping off to feed in fields in order to fuel up for their return journey to Scandinavia.  Fieldfares may have wintered as far south as the Iberian Peninsula, as well as of course in the UK.

Fieldfare at Little Cressingham 16/03/15 (One of 100+ birds)

Fieldfares can be found at this time of year on large damp fields where they will feed upon worms etc., also, check fields of sheep and pigs where the ground is disturbed. 
A flock seen today at Little Cressingham numbered 100+ birds, a few Redwings accompanied their larger cousins, however, as the month of March draws on even larger numbers may be seen stopping off to refuel.  I have seen flocks of 400-500 Fieldfares passing through my patch in March.
Fieldfares themselves are strikingly beautiful birds to watch as they hop strongly over the ground in search for food, however, late March is the time to scrutinise these flocks more closely as another migrant Thrush, the stunning Ring Ouzel, will join Fieldfares on their journey north to their breeding grounds.  I have been lucky enough to find Ring Ouzels with Fieldfares on my patch in early spring.

Thompson, Norfolk

A lovely walk through woodland carr habitat at Thompson this morning with many common species seen and heard.  Also had my first Chiffchaff of the year this morning.
At the end of the walk I met renowned birder friend Mick Saunt.  We discussed birds seen in the area, also I suspected from his tan that he had been away recently and revealed he had a fantastic trip to South Africa in January.  Mick kindly showed many of his photographs of the animals and birds from that trip, they were very impressive indeed with Elephants, Hyenas, African Wild Dogs, Zebra, Rollers, and Bee-eaters, to name but a few.

2 Water Rails calling
2 Stock Dove (pair)
Wood Pigeons
4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (drumming males)
2 Green Woodpeckers
5+ Nuthatch territories
6+ Treecreepers singing males
3+ Song Thrushes
40+ Redwings
1 Chiffchaff (probably 2) My first of year
Marsh Tits
Great Tits
4 Goldcrests territories (singing males)

Stock Dove (one of a pair) at Thompson 13/03/15

The highlight of this walk this morning was the hearing, and finding my first Chiffchaff of the year.  I suspect there was in fact 2 singing birds present.  Mick, who I met at the end of the walk, had Chiffchaff at this locality yesterday (12/03/15.
As can be seen from the list, common species were well represented throughout the damp carr woodland habitat.
The Stock Dove pictured left was one of a pair seen.  Stock Doves are beautiful birds, they are a well proportioned species, unlike Wood Pigeon whose head appears too small for its large body.  Stock Doves essentially appear as greyish birds with some black markings, however, closer examination will reveal the dull pink breast and gorgeous iridescent greenish collar which in some lights shows a wonderful purple sheen. In flight, Stock Doves once again appear well proportioned, the essentially, the bird has a grey body, the underwing is also grey but is boldly bordered black.  The call of the Stock Dove is a repeated "OOah OOah OOah".

Lynford Water, Norfolk

2 Mute Swan (pair)

Treecreeper at Lynford 09/03/15

Greylag Geese
Mallard
2 Great Crested Grebe (pair)
1 Little Egret
Tufted Duck
7 Redwings
Song Thrush
2 Jay
Jackdaws
Goldcrests several singing
Treecreeper
Chaffinches
Siskins numerous including female

nest-building

Marsh Tits
Coal Tits

I was hoping this afternoon for an early Chiffchaff, although I am sure there will be one or two around, I was not in luck on this occasion.
I had an intitial walk around the lake with few birds seen.
The car park held most interest with numerous common species present.  A number of Chaffinches were seen dropping down to the woodland floor and back again into cover.  A number of Treecreepers were seen including the bird photographed here.
Coal Tits and Goldcrests were plentiful, however, an interesting observation was of a female Siskin frequently visiting a lower branch of a tall Scots Pine, it was clear she was nest-building within a dense bunch of needles which was hanging from the outer most part of the branch.  Siskins do breed in the area, however, the vast majority of birds seen will be winter visitors from Northern Europe.

Thompson, Norfolk

For a sheer habitat variety, I think Thompson excels. This is a heavily wooded parish broken by arable farmland, typical Breckland heathland, commons, a large lake surrounded by thick reedbed and waterside Sallow and Willow scrub.  Thompson Common is home to the world renowned  Pingos.  These features were originally low hillocks that formed 20,000 years ago during the last ice age when water beneath the surface froze to form lenses of ice pushing soil upwards. During the summer thaw, the soil on the surface would sludge off and accumulate around the periphery of the hillocks.  These pools are now vital habitats for a variety of rare plants and animal species.

Nuthatch - a common species around Thompson

My walk today produced a good variety of common species in song with Nuthatches being heard at at least 6 locations, also a couple of male Treecreepers gave their distinctive thin song.
The 'visual' prize today went to a pair of Goldcrests which I watched for some time around me in open woodland.  The male was singing (a number were in song today), however, on one occasion I caught a glimpse of him displaying his beautiful flared Orangey crest to the female....how I would love to photograph this one day.
A male Siskin was watched overhead performing his display-flight, an encouraging sign of breeding behaviour considering that the vast majority of these small Finches are winter visitors only.
Song Thrushes were also in song and many Blackbirds were seen.  Marsh Tits were seen and heard as well as both Blue and Great Tits.
The only raptor seen was a very brief view of a Goshawk just above woodland canopy, this bird was being mobbed by a Crow species.
Within the next week or two I expect to see and hear the first summer migrants in the area with Chiffchaff likely to be the first to be encountered.

Adders on Croxton Heath, Norfolk

The end of each February sees me looking for the first evidence of Adders emerging from their long winter hibernation.  Providing the weather is mild, sunny, and settled, Adders will emerge as early as the end of February, however, March sees most activity, and by the end of March, one should be certain of seeing these beautiful creatures taking in the early morning warmth from the sun before retreating to cover if it gets too warm.

Adders on Croxton Heath, Norfolk 07/03/15

I walked a favoured length of woodland edge intially in my search for Adders, however, I may have been a little too early as the sun had only just broke through and the wind was cutting along the woodland trail and giving a cool feel.  Despite the cool feel I did locate a couple of basking Common Lizards.  I decided to search more sheltered locations for Adders.
I arrived at a traditional site for Adders, a dead tree stump with plenty of Bracken ground cover, I immediately found an Adder which was soon followed by a second coiled at the tree stump.  Tree stumps are great habitats for Adders as they use these to seek safety as well as hibernating underground within the root systems.  Some great views of these beautiful Adders were head, and at close quarters also.  Beautiful creatures.

Grimes Graves, Norfolk

Clear overnight conditions was followed at dawn by a slight frost and a sunny sky, however, cloud soon built to bring a period of low light before moving away again to give a day of sunny weather with an occasional wintry shower.  The wind was a fresh westerly.
I parked on the roadside which leads to the entrance to Grimes Graves and walked the forest trails which eventually brought me to the single track road which leads down to the entrance gate for Grimes Graves.  These Neolithic flint mines are well worth a visit, I think flints were mined and made into tools and weapons for hunting.  Seeing aerial photographs of Grimes Graves gives this site a very lunar appearance.

Great Grey Shrike at Grimes Graves 02/03/15. A typical view.

Once on the road, I did a sweep of the heathland and scrub habitat and before too long I located a Great Grey Shrike on a small Hawthorn bush some distance away on the heath.  This was quite an easy find due to the bright white underparts of the bird which strongly contrasts with the darker background of the habitat it site in.
From this point on the Shrike offered good views of between 100 and 300 meters distant.
One of my favourite birding habitats is heathland/woodland scrub and this habitat here is very typical of that chosen by Great Grey Shrike, it is wild, bleak looking, with the lone Shrike observing its surroundings from a high perch and waiting for prey to come into view.  The latin name for this species "Excubitor" is I understand latin meaning Sentinel or guard, this is very apt for this bird as it does appear to stand bold as a guard over its environment.

Great Grey Shrike at Grimes Graves 02/03/15.

For most of my stay this morning the Great Grey Shrike stood proud in the top of a number of bushes, its head was constantly turning from side to side and skyward in search for prey.  I also witnessed on a couple of occasions, the Shrike descending into the heart of a small bush/Hawthorn where it remained hidden for a short while before re-appearing to sit low in the relative open of the bush.  I questioned the reason for this behaviour, either it was seeking some shelter from the cold wind, or, was it adopting a more inconspicuous attitude to hunting.

Also heard above the heath was 2 Woodlarks, a wonderful bird to both see and hear, however, at this time, a species which needs to be alert as I am sure it would be considered a prey item for the Shrike.
A Mistle Thrush was in song and a small clump of tall pines held singing Goldcrest.
Of interest was a distant Curlew performing its song-flight, this is my first returning Curlew on its Breckland territory this year.