Goshawk at Little Cressingham

Other than the months of March and April, when Goshawks can be seen displaying, for me, September is the next best time to see this powerful raptor on my patch.  Most are juvenile birds wandering from their natal areas to hunt for themselves.  I have seen young juveniles in many different locations and habitats, including one last autumn passing low over our garden in the small town of Watton.
This afternoon I was checking a ditch for migrants in Little Cressingham, none were seen, therefore I turned my attention to the large rolling fields of arable and wide strips of grass and weeds through the fields and along the weedy edges.
I soon noticed a large raptor species flying back and forth over the long grass strip in a hope to flush prey, I could see straight away that this was a juvenile Goshawk.  I was able to get this shot of the bird, note the streaked breast on this bird, this clearly ages this bird as a juvenile, adult Goshawks have neat barring on the underparts.

Goshawk (juvenile) at Little Cressingham 7th Sept.  Note the streaks on this birds breast, this feature is only seen on juveniles.  Adults have neatly barred underparts. 

 A few minutes later the Goshawk was seen over nearby woodland and arable where it was seen to follow and 'mock attack' a Common Buzzard, the Buzzard reacted by rolling over and showing its outstretched legs and talons to the Goshawk.

Autumn arrivals

This morning I was working in the Wymondham area of Norfolk.  The conditions were grey with some light rain showers.
At one of my calls within a residential area of the town a young Chiffchaff was passing through gardens giving a "seeeo" or "cheeeo" call.  A short time later on Morley Road (heading towards Morley), a good sized flock of 200+ Starlings were seen in arable habitat.  A total of 3 Kestrels were seen on my journey home.

Watton Brook Valley at Little Cressingham (late afternoon)
Parking north of the Watton Brook on the hill which rises to The Fairstead, I initially walked back down the hill to overview the valley for migrants.  Whilst walking downhill a small gathering of House Martins passed over.  A Kingfisher flew upstream and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was also seen.  No migrants were visible at this time along the valley.
Looking back towards the high ground, specifically over a woodland canopy, 60+ Hirundines (a mixture of both Swallows and House Martins) swept back and forth over the treetops, their directional flight appeared to have a westerly bias.
Walking back up the hill and to my starting point, a small flock of 12+ Meadow Pipits flew over, then circled as if to settle in stubble.  These are my first autumn arrivals/passage Meadow Pipits I have seen on my patch, and are quite early too.

Watton Brook Valley at Little Cressingham, Norfolk 1715-1745

A short, pre-evening meal visit was made to the valley to check for migrants.  Full, dark cloud cover resulted in low light conditions, but it was a mild 19 degrees Celsius.
A scan of fence-posts and fencing either side of Watton Brook eventually produced a distant Stonechat.  This bird always remained distant, however, typical behaviour was seen including the bird on posts and wiring from where it launched sallies to the grass below for insect prey.
Much closer to me was an overflying Grey Wagtail giving its sharp "stit" call.  Also close to was a number of Blue Tits, Great Tits, and Marsh Tit flying up from thick vegetation along the banks of the brook from where a plentiful supply of invertebrate food can be taken.
As is always the case, hundreds of Rooks and Jackdaws flocked along the valley.

Watton Brook Valley, Norfolk (Little Cressingham to Bodney)

A starlit night was followed by fog descending prior to sunrise.  Fog, some thick patches, with a cool 8 degrees Celsius, gave a real autumnal feel to the start of the day.  The rising sun burnt off the fog at around 0800.  Blue skies and warming temperatures followed.
My walk this morning more or less followed the meandering Watton Brook between Little Cressingham and Bodney.  Much of the outgoing walk was in thick fog and the brook and adjoining ditches were not seen too well.  Thoughts of Chat species, such as Whinchat, passed through my mind, however, none were to be seen on this visit.

Watton Brook Valley 2nd September.  Looking west from Little Cressingham. Following the lifting of the fog, a single PIPIT species flew over quite high in a SW heading.  No call heard, however, the strong flight suggested this was probably a Tree Pipit.  13 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, and 2 Whitethroats seen in the above habitat.

There was little to see initially other than a few Great Tits leaving their roost for a day of foraging but as the fog cleared, evidence of passage was seen.

1 Hobby (0834)
1 Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
1 PIPIT species 0820 over SW (Prob. Tree Pipit)
3 Song Thrush
13 Mistle Thrush
3 Blackbird
2 Whitethroat
1 Chiffchaff
Chaffinches
12+ Goldfinch

Tree Pipit (Probable)
The majority of my time was spent sitting in an area of rough grassland, arriving in thick fog and leaving with blue skies and warmth.
The fog cleared quite readily at around 0800.  With bright blue skies above me, a single Pipit species flew over quite high in a SW heading.  No call was given, however, the strong flight of this bird suggested this was a Tree Pipit, the commoner Meadow Pipit is a weaker flying bird.
Tree Pipits are scarce birds of passage through the Brecks, however, I do encounter them, usually as singletons, as they migrate through.

North Pickenham, Norfolk, 1st September

With emphasis now well and truly on migration, I decided to make an early morning visit to High ground at Houghton-on-the-Hill to check for migrant activity.  I arrived at about 0630 to a cool autumnal feel, the temperature was 7 degrees Celsius and cloudless skies brought a very bright dawn.
My main focus was on a patch of mostly Elder, Hawthorn, and Sallow habitat, as well as well stocked, long hedgerow corridor on a high ridge which is visible for miles, certainly an attractive staging post for passage birds.  Birds seen today in this area as follows:

1 Hobby drifted overhead, 10+ Swallows, 1 Sparrowhawk, 15+ Whitethroats, 10+ Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs (numerous), 1 Goldcrest, 2 Song Thrushes, Blackbird, 12+ Greenfinches, 30+ Chaffinches, 25+ Goldfinches, 6+ Bullfinches.

Some time was spent watching Elder habitat which was bathed in early morning, warm sunshine, it was here that most Warblers were seen feeding upon elderberries, and on occasions, Blackcaps and Whitethroats shared the same small patch of elder to take their fill.  The true numbers of Warblers in the area would have far exceeded the number I have reported here.
One Song Thrush and a couple of Blackbirds also fed upon elderberries and in nearby taller Sallows,  Bullfinches (juveniles), Chaffinches, Goldfinches, and Yellowhammers were seen.
A check of a small pond near the church produced a good count of 30+ Chaffinches (visiting the pond to drink), 12 Greenfinches, Bullfinch, a few Chiffchaffs, Whitethroat, Blue and Great Tits, and Long-tailed Tits.

25th August - A morning searching for migrants

My day started long before sunrise with a four mile dog walk around the roads and lanes of Merton and Thompson.  Tawny Owls were encountered at three localities, 2 calling males, and a bird seen flying across a road in front of me.
Today, I visited a number of local sites on my patch with a view to finding migrant birds.  The sites were high ground near North Pickenham, and a couple of locations along the Watton Brook Valley.

North Pickenham
My arrival on high ground near North Pickenham coincided with a small westerly movement of 3 Cormorants.
A particularly good area for finding migrant Warblers is at a large patch of Elders, Hawthorn, and Sallow around a natural spring, as well as a long hedgerow corridor. Watching this area produced the following migrants;  4+ Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4+ Whitethroats, several Chiffchaffs, and a Willow Warbler.  Numbers of Warblers were quite low this morning, however, large numbers of migrants will soon be passing through this rich staging post.

Whitethroat (juvenile).  Whitethroats, and other Warbler species can now be found in good numbers in berry-rich habitats, especially Elder and Bramble, where fruits will be consumed to provide energy for autumn migration.

Also seen was a Red Kite low over woodland, a couple of Song Thrushes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinches, Linnets, Yellowhammers, and at least 5 Bullfinches (all juveniles).
This time of years has always produced young Bullfinches at this locality.  These youngsters are clearly different from their parents in that they lack the black cap of the adult bird.  They appear brown-grey with a black tail, however, as with the adult Bullfinch, youngsters have the familiar and diagnostic white rump.

Bullfinch - all age groups show the diagnostic white rump.

Watton Brook Valley
I stopped off at two sites along the valley, Little Cressingham and Threxton.  Checking the fences and posts for migrant Chat species did not produce, however, I am sure somewhere in the valley, there will be a lovely Whinchat, or two.
My first stop was at Little Cressingham, here, a single male Whitethroat was seen flying between rank vegetation in the valley, whilst a little further along, a Buzzard sat proudly on a fence post.
My arrival at Threxton produced at least 50 Swallows overhead, whilst a check of the valley at Threxton produced a fine female Blackcap consuming Elderberries.  Chiffchaffs were also seen and Goldcrest and Coal Tit were present.

OPEN COUNTRY - BBC RADIO 4 (The Brecks East Anglia's -Secret).

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Some weeks ago I was interviewed for this programme, I just wanted to let you know that this will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 31st August at 1500hrs. This will be repeated on 2nd September at 0607hrs.
My input will only be a part of the broadcast as the team visited other sites in the Brecks and interviewed other people in the process.

This programme focusses on the Breckland landscape, how it was formed, the wildlife which calls it home, and those who live and work in this unique part of the country.