Beaten track birding

Lots of decent species around recently, with the highlights being a singing make Redstart at Thompson on the 7th April, Grasshopper Warbler & Tree Pipit at Cranwich heath on the 17th April, Whitethroat on the 8th April at Lynford (also 7+ Firecrest) though becomeing much more numerous in the last week or so, alo first cuckoo on the 19th, with 7+ individuals by the 22nd & finally a decent passage of hobby at Thompson Water on the 24th, with a maximum of 15 individuals, also 1 greenshank NW (Paul Newport) and 2 Cuckoos. In addition several Stone Curlew & Turtle Dove at thradtional sites also on this date. Weather looks good for a decent scarcity, and were also a year overdue, heres hoping for RFF or bee-eater....

Had a very quick trip into the Peak District today whilst visiting my family. A quick walk around the Froggat area produced cracking views of Dipper (including a singing bird & a pair in courtship) a female Red Breasted Merganser, Grey Wag, Kingfisher, Buzzard & Peregrine. Not to shabby to say that I didnt even pack my bins!

Really impressed by the number of Chiffy's this far north, but sadly no hirundines yet...

I had an induction for my new job as an ecologist working for ADAS. Had a H&S briefing at Hilborough this morning & was treated to my first singing willow warbler of the year. Called in at Lynford again on the way home, treating myself & Lottie to views of FIrecrest (though not quite as good as sunday morning, but always a delight to see!) before managing to pick out a drumming lesser spot. On returning to the car a goshawk was very briefly overhead, whilst my first Blackcap of the year burst into song from some nearby cover.

Lots of activity this morning. First visit to Foulden Common where at least 9 chiffchaffs were singing along with 4 treecreepers. A few redwings & fieldfares were still kicking about also.

Next onto Lynford aboretum where Paul & I were treated to singing firecrest & some aggressive territorial behaviour, with birds chasing each other around the cedars before falling out of the trees in combat. Paul managed some excellent shots & on reviewing one of the shots of the fighting birds it became clear it was actually intra species - the firecrest had attacked a goldcrest! A female Goshawk was observed circling over the car park for 2 minutes & I even managed to get scope views of this awesome raptor!

Final stop of the morning was Grimes Graves where we were treated to a fine Great Grey Shrike & also 3 stonechat, including 2 spring males. Lovely stuff!

Its finally here, sort of.

Over the last week Ive located a minimum of 7 Chiffchaff & a few other species moving through, though none of the classic spring species yet. There's been a fairly constant movement of winter thrushes & starling heading east, with a peak count of 231 fieldfare, 87 Redwing & several hundred starling on the 22nd. I've made several interesting non avian sightings recently, with good numbers of small tortoiseshell, Brimstone & Large Whites appearing with the onset of the high pressure. Also single Fox at Great Cressingham, and 2 stoats in Threxton & Saham Toney.

Ring Ouzels soon!

A quick look over Blickling Lake saw 2 female Goosander, Barn Owl & 2 little Egret.

A Juvenile Rough Legged Buzzard was reported from the same area near Cockley Cley that I had covered twice last week! Ah well, just as well I was one of the people responsible for locating the popular threesome at Holkham/Burnham Overy this winter...

January

January’s weather continued as it had begun the previous month, with plummeting temperatures, northerly winds & wintry showers. Highlights included a male Reeves Pheasant at Little Cressingham on the 21st (DW). Large numbers of Redwing & Fieldfare were present throughout the district, with many being seen in gardens foraging for the remaining scraps of food.

February

The main highlight was an early displaying Goshawk on the 1st (DW)

March

March’s weather was ??? with a strong southerly wind during the last week Highlights included 4 Crossbill at Thompson Triangle on the 1st (DW) 237 Golden Plover at Threxton on the 16th with a White Wagtail there also (DW) and a flock of over 300 Golden Plover over Saham Toney on the 19th (DW) & the first singing Chiffchaff & displaying Snipe were at Houghton on the 28th (DW, PN)

April

Highlights included the first swallows of the year at Thompson Water on the 2nd (DW) with 18 Crossbill & a singing Woodlark at Thompson Triangle on the same date (DW) with chiffchaff & Swallow noted daily afterwards. A Snipe was observed at Threxton on the 5th (DW) A male Peregrine was observed briefly at Threxton on the 6th (DW) but disappeared quickly. The 1st Blackcap was singing in Saham on the 7th (DW) with the first Sand Martins & Willow Warbler of the year on the late date of 10th at Thompson, also a Goshawk was seen briefly (DW) A Stone Curlew was heard at Houghton also on the 10th (DW) with further Goshawks at Thompson on the 13th (DW) & Saham Toney on the 20th (DW) A house Martin was with Swallows at Threxton on the 20th with a Little Owl there the following day. The first Hobby of the year was at Thompson Water on the 22nd (DW) with 2 woodlark & 3 Crossbill. A Yellow Wagtail was at Houghton Springs on the 28th (DW) and a Lesser Whitethroat at Great Cressingham on the 30th (DW)

May

Highlights included a small fall at Cressingham Farm Bridge on the 6th which produced a female Wheatear, a female Whinchat, Stone Curlew & 4 Whitethroat (DW). Curlews returned to their breeding areas. A singing Nightingale was located in Saham Toney on the 10th remaining into June (DW). A Spotted Flycatcher in Saham Toney was the first record in 5 years (DW).

August

Highlights included a heard only record of Firecrest in Saham Toney on the 10th (DW) Goshawk & Hobby seen between Thompson & Merton on the 15th (DW) a pair of Tree Pipit were observed at Thompson Triangle on the 31st (DW)

September

Highlights included the last Swift over Watton High Street on the 3rd (DW) an incredible flock of 34 Yellow Wagtail south over Saham Toney on the 9th (DW) a late Hobby & White Wagtail at Threxton on the 20th (DW) a Goshawk high over Swaffam Rd, Watton on the 31st (DW)

October

Highlights included a late Willow Warbler at Threxton on the 3rd (DW) 5 Swallow & 3 Redwing over Saham Toney on the 4th (DW) 361 Golden Plover at Ovington Fen on the 11th (DW) 6 Brambling over Saham Toney on the 12th (DW) Mandarin at Thompson Water on the 13th (DW) An early morning count at Houghton on the 14th produced 35 Meadow Pipit, 17 Skylark, 63 Brambling, 46 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing & 2 Golden Plover (DW) with another count on the 24th producing 2000+ Fieldfare, 500 + Woodpigeon, 12 Golden Plover, 20 Skylark, 120 Redwing, 30 Brambling & single Redpoll sp. There were over 300+ birds in a mixed finch flock at Hollow Heath with an escaped Red Tailed Hawk there also on the 31st (PN,DW) a Marsh Harrier was at Thompson Water on the same day briefly (PN,DW) 

I haven't got my notebook to hand to enter correct dates & locations (will do at some point) but currently there are 2 Peregrines at Great/Little Cressingham, with a female Merlin & Goshawk also present.

Woodlarks are back on their territories at all the usual sites, as are Curlews present at Little Cressingham & Hilborough since the 8th March. A source has mentioned that Stone Curlews are back at a couple of sites in Suffolk at the moment, though I haven't been able to find any in Norfolk yet this year. 17 Buzzards were present over a single stand off the A1065 near Hilborough on the 7th.

120+ Bramblings were present at Thompson yesterday, feeding in the stubble field left of the track to the water, whilst a Goshawk was observed taking a Stock Dove nearby.

No spring migrants as of yet, though Fieldfares were heading East at a rate of 200+ an hour yesterday. Redwings are thin on the ground at all localities. BHG have been heading both SW & E in the last week, undoubtably heading back to breeding grounds.