Thompson, Norfolk

I arrived home from work early afternoon for my first afternoon walk in daylight for a few days.  And what an afternoon, bright, fresh, with frost lying in sheltered parts, a beautiful day.
This afternoon I parked at the village church and walked the footpath to the Griston Road, and then doubling back along Drove Lane to the Stow Bedon Road and back to the church.
The paths I walked this afternoon encompasses some beautiful grazing pasture, marshland, rush meadow, and damp woodland.
Four species of Thrush were seen and heard with Redwings forming the majority species, most were found in the tops of Alders but were typically flighty and easily disturbed.  A few Fieldfares were seen in woodland along with Blackbirds.  A number of Song Thrushes seen and heard indicated that some of these may be continental birds.

Siskin (male)

From the Griston road it was evident that a number of Finches were present, this included a lovely female Brambling seen fairly close to in roadside hedge.
The only raptor species seen was a single Sparrowhawk flying low and fast over grazing land and into woodland.
Walking back along Drove Lane I had to rely on the sound of birds as the low sun was particularly dazzling ahead of me.  Redwings and Song Thrushes were again the most frequently heard species.
By the time I reached the Stow Bedon Road I had the sun behind me, this offered some lovely views into the damp woodland.  Thrushes again were seen with many Redwings moving between Alders and nearby Thompson Common.  The Alders within this very damp habitat held 60+ Siskins high in the tops of the trees where they were seen to feed upon the cones.  The strong sun really did provide superb views of the Siskins with their Yellows being particularly noticeable in the excellent light.

A sad day indeed

If like me you grew up in the 60's and 70's then I am sure you feel very saddened today to hear of the passing of the legend, David Bowie.  I remember where I was when Elvis died, and I remember waking up to the news on 8th December 1980 to the news of John Lennons death.  Both were extremely talented artists, however, there is something more personal about the death of David Bowie which I can't put my finger on...perhaps it is that like many of us in our 50's, we followed the great man over the decades, always amazed by his re-inventions and his ability to change with the times R.I.P.

Not too much to report today due to work, however, a couple of Red Kites over the Kimberley estate near Wymondham was nice to see.
Late afternoon and into dusk I walked the Threxton to 'The Arms' road and met a friend of mine, Graham, with whom I discussed various issues including David Bowie.  It was whilst chatting to Graham that a Goshawk (probably a male) crossed a field at low level in a glide and being pursued by a couple of Crows. The Goshawk very briefly alighted in a tree overhanging the road before moving off again towards 'The Arms' area.  All Crow species show the greatest respect for Goshawk as they often fall prey to this mighty hawk.

Thompson Water and Threxton, Norfolk

Thompson Water 0730-0900
This was my first visit to Thompson Water this year.  The summer nuisance that is Water Soldier has  given way to mostly open water, although patches of this plant exists.

Waterside habitat at Thompson Water 10/01/16

On the water there was 10 Mute Swans (adults and juveniles), a few Gadwall, a couple of Wigeon, and Coot and Moorhen. A single Cormorant overhead.
The damp woodland habitat along the west side of the water held many Blue Tits, most visiting a feeding station.  Also noted was Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatches and Treecreeper.  A Chiffchaff was heard.
The walk back to the village of Thompson produced Bullfinch and Kestrel.

Threxton 
A mid to late afternoon visit to the STW initially produced a familiar figure walking towards me down the hill, it was birding friend Mick Saunt.  We had a nice chat about was has been seen locally, as well as enjoying the numerous Goldcrests in the area.  A single Buzzard was seen in a small tree across the valley.
After a nice meeting with Mick I then walked along the lane to as far as Woodcock Hall where several Gulls were loafing around floodwater in the valley.

One of the many Goldcrests seen at Threxton 10/01/16

I later arrived back at the STW where it was apparent that good numbers of Goldcrests were still present, at an estimate I would say there was between 20 and 30 birds, and that was from the roadside habitat only. These diminutive birds were typically hyper-active as they searched various bushes and thickets for small insect/spider prey.  A party of Long-tailed Tits passed through and at least one Chiffchaff was present and calling.
As I drove home towards Watton, a Little Owl flew across the road in front of me.

Great Melton, Norfolk

During my break from work I decided to park up along Woodcocks Lane at Great Melton.  I wanted to get a bit of 'shut-eye' before going back to work later, but between dozes, I checked the roadside hedges either side of me for birds.
I arrived at my 'resting point' at 1300 and almost immediately I was greeted by  a calling Chiffchaff in the hedge just to my right.  To be perfectly honest this was a species I have expected to record this winter given the exceptionally mild conditions.
A few moments later a female Sparrowhawk passed by low to my left.

Goldcrest

The most abundant species seen from the car was Goldcrest.  Many of these diminutive little gems passed by sometimes within just a few feet from me as they actively went about their business of searching the hedge for food.  Very often, Goldcrests were seen to make fly-catching sallies for gnats by darting out of the hedge to catch a gnat, sometimes performing a very short hover, and fly back to cover within just a second. Several pairs of Goldcrests were seen throughout my stay and I am sure they were all different birds working this habitat.  Observations of Goldcrests increased with frequency towards sunset, my thoughts were that these birds were using the hedgerow highway to make their way to a nearby woodland to roost.
Great Tits were also seen with some frequency as were Blue Tits.  A Treecreeper was heard close by and Wren gave the occasional burst of song.  Robin was also a regular bird here.  A Buzzard was heard calling towards dusk.
This was a bit of a 'lazy birdwatch' for me today, however, it does show what can be seen from the car if you sit and wait.

New Years Day Birding

After a long run of very mild days and nights this morning dawned something more akin to winter with a slight frost, a low of -1 degrees and a daytime high of 7 degrees.  It was bright and crisp first thing with high cloud eventually moving in.
Today I visited three local sites, Hockham Fen, Bodney, and Little Cressingham, and gathered a total of 47 species, or rather 46 and one very frustrating raptor seen all to briefly (and once binoculars were packed away back at the car....typical...read on).

Hockham Fen/Forest
I arrived at the road to Galley Hill long before sunrise and to the wonderful sound of at least 4 calling male Tawny Owls.  A Song Thrush was also singing at this time.
I reached the Fen, just prior to sunrise and to the wonderful sound of calling Teal.  I was able to glimpse Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, and an Egyptian Goose through my binoculars.  It was about this time that 4 Red Deer slowly strolled out of the forest, over the fen, and into Cranberry Rough where they will spend the day in the safety of thick, damp, swampy cover.
Long before sunrise, the most abundant passerine species heard was Siskin, these delightful little Finches continued to be both heard and seen after sunrise, presumably leaving their roost sites to their feeding grounds.
Two or three Green Woodpeckers were heard (2 seen), and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard/seen, this included a 'drumming' bird.
The walk back through the forest produced typical species including mobile Tit flocks comprising Marsh and Coal Tits, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, and Treecreeper.

Bodney
I next decided to pop over to Bodney to see if the Stonechats were still in the same area, and they were, and showing well as they typically flew between the tops of weeds from where they dropped to the ground for food and swiftly back to their elevated perch.
Also in the area was 100+ Fieldfares wandering the large expanses of fields.  A single Chaffinch was seen and a couple of Mute Swans passed overhead.

Stonechat (Female) Bodney 01/01/16

Stonechat (female) Bodney 01/01/16

Little Cressingham (Great Cressingham Road)
My final stop of the day was just north-west of 'The Arms' from where I walked to Watton Brook Valley and back.  I expected to see a variety of Finch species and was lucky enough to locate Bramblings, Chaffinches, and Greenfinches in the hedgerows close to the maize strip.  One male Brambling was seen well in a hedgerow tree.
At Watton Brook Valley a check of the meadows produced a distant Buzzard on the ground, often running to collect prey, presumably an invertebrate such as a worm or beetle.  A few more Fieldfares and Starlings were seen and 4 Mute Swans overflew.
This had been a good mornings birding and I was packing away my equipment back at the car, I glimpsed something to my right moving at speed and saw the bird, a raptor for less than a second disappear below the level of the maize strip, it was heading for the wooded pit where large numbers of Finches and Buntings gather, I think it was possibly a Merlin, although I did not see it long enough to confirm.  I do encounter  a Merlin occasionally in winter on the patch.....was this one such bird.

NEW YEARS DAY SPECIES: Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Teal, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin (possible), Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (inc. 'drumming), Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Skylark, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Robin, Stonechat (2), Dunnock, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer.
47 species seen including the unconfirmed possible Merlin.

Stonechat at Bodney, Norfolk

Better light than yesterday although high cloud eventually blocked out the sunlight.  It remains mild with a fresh south-easterly wind.
The purpose of this visit was to relocate the Stonechats which I found yesterday.  Success seen with the male bird showing quite well.
The following is a series of photographs of the male Stonechat.

Stonechats at Bodney, Norfolk

A day of incessant rain and drizzle with full cloud cover giving very poor lighting conditions. It remains very mild at 10 degrees Celsius.
A late afternoon walk close to STANTA (Stanford Training Area) at Bodney saw the vast landscape shrouded in grey, miserable to some, but to me just another mood of the Breckland beauty.
My walk appeared bird-less initially, however, as I walked along what may appear featureless roadside verges, I detected movement amongst some taller weeds and I thought Stonechat, inspection through my binoculars revealed a male Stonechat clinging to the weed.  A female or 1st winter bird was seen a short while later close to the male.
The male Stonechat flew into a Hawthorn where he remained for a while offering good views despite the appalling light.  I was fortunately close to the Stonechat and made the following notes:

A small Chat with an all-dark head and chin clearly demarcated along the neck-line.  The dark head contrasts strongly with the white neck patch and brown upperparts.  The breast and underparts appeared a peachy colour. The upperparts and upper-tail were brown, the mantle was streaked.  The greater coverts and tertials were pale brown fringed.  The primaries were pale fringed and at distance gave the appearance of a pale wing-bar.  In flight, both birds showed a white patch on the inner wing 'braces'.  The tail was constantly flicked.

As is typical with Chat species, the Stonechats always remained close to the ground but often perching on a taller weed stem.
Stonechats are mostly short distance migrants and it is highly likely that these birds originate from a territory within STANTA.
I have provided this small account of the Stonechat encounter just to show that despite the dismal conditions, very poor light, and what may appear to be a life-less day, that there is always something to find and observe as with my beautiful Stonechats.