Little Cressingham (Great Cressingham Road) Norfolk

Early morning, and and walk from 'The Arms' and north along the Great Cressingham road to 'The Fairstead' and back revealed little summer migrant activity other than an odd Blackcap and Chiffchaff calling.  The Watton Brook Valley appeared quiet, although I am sure that within the dense vegetation migrants skulked.  Several Wood Pigeons were seen in the valley and I did see a passerine drop very fast into the valley before I was able to identify it.
Despite the lack of Warbler activity there was overhead passage of both Siskins (small numbers) and several parties of Meadow Pipits in a north to south heading.  The best Meadow Pipit count was 25+ birds over.
Turning onto Fairstead Lane I checked the old hedgerow which forms a field/ditch boundary south of the road, here, a nice 20+ Greenfinches was present.
My walk back south along the Great Cressingham Road brought a very close encounter with a juvenile Goshawk.  I found a break in the hedge and scanned the sloping field where a few Skylarks were seen, moments later, a Goshawk appeared, hugging the ground about 50 yards south of me.  Thinking that this bird was going to fly over the hedge and road and over the next field, I adjusted my position, but where did the raptor go.  I returned to my original position in the gap in the hedge, when the Goshawk silently passed by within about 5 feet of me at waist top height, an incredible experience.
Having caught my breath following the Goshawk experience, I continued my walk back down the hill and into the valley where 15+ Yellowhammers were seen in the hedgerows and fencing.  A short distance further on a Chiffchaff called and a charm of about 10 Goldfinches were seen. 

Ashill Common, Norfolk

It has been a while since I visited this lovely common, I should in fact do so more often than I do as there are some great habitats there, especially along a feature known as 'Devil's Dyke', a very ancient ditch with very dense scrub comprising Elder, Bramble, Hawthorn, Dog Rose, and Gorse.  Clearly, my aim today was to check for migrants.

500+ Gulls (mostly Lesser/Great Black-backed Gulls) following the plough
2 Buzzards
1 Sparrowhawk (female)
2+ Meadow Pipits
Blackbird
5+ Whitethroats
2+ Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
Blue Tits
Great Tit
4 Bullfinch
4 Greenfinch
200+ Linnets
Reed Bunting

I first of all decided to make my way to where the Gulls were present in high numbers, I must admit to not being too over-excited about Gulls, however, the numbers indicated a visit was in order.  Overviewing the field being ploughed, I could see that the vast majority of Gulls were both Lesser and Great Black-backed Gulls of varying age groups from juvenile birds to adults.

Ashill Common 15/09/15. A staging post today for Whitethroats 

It was at this locality that a flock of 200+ Linnets frequently flew around an adjoining field of Sugar Beet, an impressive count.
I couldn't resist a slow walk alongside a large, inviting area of dense scrub habitat, there must be migrants making use of this rich habitat.  With the westerly wind blowing moderate to fresh, I stayed along the sheltered side to watch for movement.  As expected, I did find migrants along 'Devil's Dyke', at least 5 Whitethroats were found moving quickly between cover. These birds were looking quite immaculate in their fresh plumages.  Also within this habitat was Blackcap, Chiffchaff, at least 4 Greenfinches dropped in and calling Bullfinches were seen. 

Great Cressingham (Priory Road, Peddars Way, and Watton Road), Norfolk

This afternoon I had a 3 mile walk starting in the beautiful village of Great Cressingham.  The habitat comprises vast expanses of rolling arable with fine, fruit laden hedgerows lining the route.  The large fields in the Great Cressingham area today undoubtedly held migrants, namely Wheatears, but the moderate to fresh southerly wind with occasional showers would probably keep any Warbler species within cover.
As I walked along the Priory Road I could see nor hear evidence of migrants in the thick hedgerows, but a male Sparrowhawk flew at speed from a large Oak, the slaty-grey upperparts and reddish upper-breast seen despite very brief views.
I was very saddened to see the wonderful old barn along Priory Road has been demolished.  As far as I know a residential property is to be built in its place, clearly my written objections was not listened to.  Notable species which bred in this barn included Barn and Little Owl, Stock Dove, and Tree Sparrows.  Bats also used this site as a roost.  Clearly, the greed of humans appears to have had a significant impact upon species which used this formerly beautiful site as home.  I can only hope that provision has been made to safeguard the birds and mammals which inhabited the barn by providing alternative nest/roost sites.
I continued my walk uphill to eventually meet the Peddars Way footpath, along the way Kestrel and Jay were both seen.

Pied Wagtail at Great Cressingham with Cranefly 14/09/15

Walking back along the Watton Road towards Great Cressingham, the wonderful old hedgerows lining the road were heavy in Blackberries, a wonderful larder for both us humans as well as migrant birds.  The occasional fresh southerly wind didn't help with trying to listen for migrants, however, I did hear Blackcap and Chiffchaff calling from within cover of Bramble.
Back in Great Cressingham, I had a walk around the lovely churchyard checking for migrants, I did hear Chiffchaff and Goldcrest, also, a mixed party of Tit species, mostly Blue Tits, passed through the wooded canopy.
Finally, a check of the village football field produced 7+ Pied Wagtails chasing insect prey, including one bird chasing and catching a Cranefly.

Wicklewood (Milestone Lane) Norfolk

At about 1500 today, I was about mid-way through my afternoon work-break.  While driving along Milestone Lane between Wicklewood and Deopham, I decided to check a recently ploughed field for migrants with Wheatear particularly in mind.  This area is very open and exposed and is dominated by arable land.  During the latter part of August I have also seen a small number of Golden Plovers (100+), and I wanted to check if the numbers are building.
Almost immediately, I could see Golden Plovers above the field, the numbers had indeed built to 350+ birds, many of these were males still wearing much of their breeding plumage.


Wheatear (male) at Wicklewood 13/09/15

My thoughts of migrants were fulfilled when I found at least 3 Wheatears running and flying over the field, exposing their bright white rumps.  Conditions were deteriorating during this short visit with a spell of persistent rain moving in, however, I was able to get a decent(ish) shot of the male Wheatear, despite hand-holding the camera....good old Canon technology.

Little Cressingham and Bodney (Watton Brook Valley)

The day dawned beautiful with cloudless skies and some thick mist hanging low over low lying areas of the Watton Brook Valley, this however, was soon burnt away by the warming sun.
I started my walk this morning close to 'The Arms' and headed north to check various parts of the valley for migrant activity.

1 Hobby
1 Sparrowhawk (male)
1 Kestrel (female)
2 Meadow Pipits (first of autumn)
4 Robin (seen during spot count)
5 Pied Wagtails (spot count)
7+ Blue Tits (spot count)
3+ Whitehroats
3+ Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaff
Goldcrest

Walking north from 'The Arms' the hedgerows either side of the road held Whitethroat, Blackcap, and Chiffchaff,were heard only.

Bodney (spot check/count)
Walking west along the B1108 road, I encountered another calling Chiffchaff, this bird was moving through thick bracken habitat, a probable overnight arrival finding somewhere to settle for the day.
I arrived at my intended destination at Bodney, an area of scrub and dense weedy growth close to the Brook, and which for years has been a favourite locality of mine for watching migrants.  Recently, I found a Redstart at this site.  I spent about an hour watching and listening for migrants, and it was indeed, quite productive.
A female Kestrel came very close and alighted in a tree, it moved off before I could ready the camera.

Whitethroat - a common autumn migrant on the patch

The first migrant seen was a single Whitethroat in Elder, a typical habitat for this species as it will feed upon the soft fruits.  A single Swallow was on fencing and Dunnock and Wren was also seen.
A familiar "tak" call was heard from two different birds, I located one visually, a male Blackcap, again, in an Elder bush.
Overhead, a single Hobby passed over in a leisurely flight, circled a couple of times, and headed east.
Moments later, 2 Meadow Pipits passed over west to east, my first of this species for autumn.  Later in the month, if the conditions are favourable, significant numbers of Meadow Pipits will pass through the patch as they move from their northern breeding grounds to wintering grounds either in southern Britain or Europe.
The most numerous species see during this check was 7+ Blue Tits, although, just prior to leaving, a party of 5 Pied Wagtails dropped in.

My walk back south along the Great Cressingham road to 'The Arms' once again produced 2 Chiffchaffs, a calling Blackcap, and a smart looking female/1st winter Whitethroat having a preen in a patch of Ivy.  Seconds later, a male Sparrowhawk turned up, initially to sit on a post before entering the Ivy where there was no apparent hole, he forced himself through and emerged from a hole further along the Ivy, he was probably looking for a small passerine which may have taken shelter upon his earlier arrival.  Seen in bright sunlight, the Sparrowhawk showed off his lovely reddish tones on his breast.
A Coal Tit was seen in the canopy of a tall Scots Pine, this bird was searching the upper branches for spiders and tiny insect prey.

Threxton (Watton Brook Valley)

A short visit this morning to a very short length of Watton Brook where a wealth of beautiful mixed scrub/hedgerow habitat comprising dense Blackthorn, Hawthorn, thick Bramble, and Dog Rose, was investigated.  Initially quiet, some movement was soon detected, a Dunnock within Blackthorn.  A few Goldfinches, both adults and juveniles, fed upon weed seeds by the Brook.  A short while later I heard what I hoped to hear, a short "stit" call, then a Lesser Whitethroat appeared on the edge of Blackthorn.  A single Whitethroat was also seen disappearing quickly into cover.
Other than species seen included Blue Tit and Great Tit moving through scrub, and two Grey Herons (adult and juvenile) standing on grazing pasture close to a ditch.

Barnham Broom, Norfolk

I paid a short visit to the churchyard today during a break from work.  This beautiful churchyard hosts some wonderful tree specimens including Beech, Scots Pines, Yew, and other very mature conifer species, the names of which I have yet to learn.
It was generally cloudy during my visit with spells of drizzle and brightness, although cloud was the dominant feature today.
My main aim of this visit was to locate migrant birds, I eventually had 2, possibly 3 Chiffchaffs calling around the churchyard.  In a large unidentifiable pine, I found two Goldcrests foraging amongst needles low down in the tree.
Common species seen and heard around the churchyard was two or three Coal Tits, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, and two Jays.  A couple of Buzzards passed overhead.