8th March 2024 – Winter & Brecks, Day 1

Day 1 of a 3-day Winter & Brecks tour today. After a grey start, it brightened up nicely by mid-morning and we had some good sunny spells before it clouded over again later in the afternoon. It was cold in the nagging E wind, but warmer in the sunshine when you go out of it. We spent most of the day down in the Brecks.

There had been a Rustic Bunting found yesterday at Helhoughton and with early news that it was still there this morning, and with it being almost on our way down to the Brecks, we decided to call in there first. There were quite a few cars parked along the verge already by the time we arrived but we found somewhere to pull off the road not far from the crowd. As we got out, we could see they were all watching something so we hurried down. The Rustic Bunting was perched in the top of the hedge along one side of the field so we got the scope on it quickly. Most of the group got a look at it through the scope before all the birds too off and the Rustic Bunting was lost in the flock as some flew off across the road and others dropped down out of view into the tall vegetation in the wild bird seed mix strip where the birds were all feeding.

We waited a while to see if it might come back up again. There had been a nice mixed flock of Redpoll here too yesterday, and having heard one flying over when we got out of the minibus, we hoped there might still be some around today. There are lots of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings feeding in the field here and from time to time one or two would perch on one of the hedges so we could get a good look at them in the scopes. There were a few Chaffinches and Goldfinches too, but it gradually became clear that the Redpolls were not around. There was no further sign of the Rustic Bunting, but it did disappear at times for several hours yesterday. A Kestrel was hovering further back and a few Common Buzzards and a Red Kite appeared over the trees beyond. With the sun looking like it might be starting to break through, we decided to move on.

We drove on down into Thetford Forest and over over to the usual spot on the high ground looking over the trees to scan for Goshawks. We were here a bit earlier than we would normally, but we had an idea it might get busy today and with some sunshine for the first time in a couple of days we thought we might get lucky with some early activity. There were several Common Buzzards up when we arrived, including a strikingly pale one, and a Red Kite low above the trees.

We didn’t have to wait too long before we picked up a distant Goshawk circling. We got it in the scope and as it turned and caught the sun, we could see its very pale underparts and silvery grey upperparts. A good start. Not long after, another Goshawk came up out of the trees much closer to us but it was flying with the wind and, hugging the tops, it was carried quickly west. Down in the corner, it paused to chase in and out of the trees flushing all the Woodpigeons, before continuing on and out of view.

Goshawk – flew across

A couple of Lapwings were displaying over the field behind us and a Mistle Thrush perched in the very top of a spruce in the sunshine. Several Skylarks were singing and one fluttered up into the sky in front of us. We heard a Woodlark call too and turned to see it hanging in the air behind us before it was carried by the wind quickly away. After a while, the Goshawk we had seen earlier, chasing pigeons, flew back in. It cut the corner, across the edge of the field, and flying into the wind now it was making much slower progress which made it easier to get on. We had a good view now as it flew across over the trees in front of us, before dropping back in.

We waited a little longer and another hawk flew up out of the trees. It was clearly darker and came up with a couple of bursts of rapid flapping before it started to circle, a female Sparrowhawk and nice to contrast it with the Goshawks we had just been watching. Even better, it stooped at a nearby Common Buzzard a couple of times so we could see just how much smaller it was – otherwise it is very hard to judge the size properly of a lone object in an empty sky.

More cars had arrived and it was getting busy here now. The raptors seemed to go a little quiet too – the Common Buzzards mostly dropped back into the trees. Even though it was sunny, there was a distinct chill to the easterly wind and the air wasn’t really warming up. We had already enjoyed good views of the Goshawks so we decided to move on and go for a walk elsewhere, so we could warm up a little!

We drove deeper into the Forest. Several cars were parked at the head of a ride, and we found somewhere to pull off the road too. As we walked in, the sun was out and it was sheltered in the trees, but as we got out into the clearing and turned into the wind it felt very cold. Scanning the trees, there was no immediate sign of the Great Grey Shrike we had come hoping to see. We walked down a little further, where someone was standing on the track with a scope, and he told us that apparently it had been here about ten minutes ago, so we figured it had to still be here somewhere.

We continued to scan and it wasn’t long before one of the group spotted the Great Grey Shrike fly up into one of the trees. We had nice views through the scopes now, closer than it had been on our previous visits. Several times we watched it drop down and come back up with beetles which it quickly devoured.

Great Grey Shrike – in the clearing

We had heard a brief snatch of quiet song from a Woodlark when we arrived, but they were fairly quiet in the cold today. Now a pair of Woodlarks flew up and across in front of the Shrike, before dropping down on the path ahead of us. We watched them feeding on the edges of the track and walking across from side to side.

Woodlark – by the path

A pair of Stonechats perched up on some tall dead mullein stems in front of us too. When the shrike flew off further back, we were just packing up to leave when we noticed a Goshawk circling up in the distance. It was then joined by a second Goshawk, the male and female circling together. They kept low, repeatedly disappearing behind the tops of the trees, but they were mostly in view on and off for about fifteen minutes before we eventually lost sight of them. It was definitely time to head off and get some lunch now.

Stonechat – perched up

We drove over to Lynford and made good use of the picnic tables in the sunshine, sheltered from the wind by the surrounding trees. After lunch, we walked across the road to the Arboretum and down to the gate. There were lots of birds feeding down on the ground, some very smart Yellowhammers and lots of Chaffinches, with Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Marsh Tit all darted in and out. A Jay dropped down and started gulping down peanuts.

Yellowhammer – one of several

A few Siskins came down to drink in the small pond. A Great Spotted Woodpecker appeared on a tree trunk at the back and we had nice views of a Stock Dove with a Woodpigeon just behind the pond. There were no Bramblings at first, but after a while they started to drop down. Several duller females at first, then a few males with their brighter orange shoulders. One or two of the males are sporting very black heads now.

Stock Dove – with Woodpigeon

It was a bit of a wait today but eventually a Hawfinch appeared at the back, a female, which we got in the scope. It didn’t stay long though, and flew back up into the trees and disappeared. We waited, but there didn’t seem to be too much Hawfinch activity now- it was early afternoon, and we started to wonder whether they might have gone off already to gather pre-roost, although it was still a bit early even for them. Finally a male Hawfinch appeared at the back, and even though it too spooked and flew back up this time it quickly came down again, and was then joined by a slightly closer female. They stayed a bit longer now, allowing us better prolonged views.

Hawfinch – the male

When the Hawfinches flew up again, we moved on and walked down to the bridge. There were a few tits coming and going form the feeders, and we had nice close views of a Marsh Tit. There were more Siskins feeding in the alders overhead. Scanning the tops of the poplars, we found two Common Crossbills in the branches, a smart red male and a greener female, and we had a good view of their distinctive crossed bills in the scope before they dropped down through the branches to drink.

Common Crossbill – the male

We had already enjoyed good views of Hawfinches up at the gate, so we were not particularly concerned when a quick scan of the trees in the paddocks from the corner appeared fairly quiet, so we decided not to walk on round. Two of the group did walk along a bit further, so as we were planning to walk back now, we went up to collect them. We had heard Fieldfares calling as we arrived at the bridge, and when we looked back at the tops of the poplars, two were perched now in up in the trees.

The sun had gone in by the time we walked back up, and there was a distinct chill still to the easterly wind. We cut in through the Arboretum, thinking it might be sheltered, but it was cold in the trees now and very quiet. We admired the selection of fir trees as we walked round and back at the car park, there was a bit more activity. A few Coal Tits and Blue Tits were chasing round through the trees in the picnic area and two Goldcrests were feeding in the top of one of the pines.

There was time for one last stop on our way back, so we drove over to an area of farmland with a small field planted with a wild bird seed mix. It was cold and grey now and there was no sign of any Tree Sparrows at first. We scanned their favourite bushes but they were particularly exposed to the wind, and we wondered whether some might be hiding deep in the brambles and blackthorn. There were birds flying in and out of the crop, and a few perched in the trees at the back, mainly Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, which were joined by a small flock of Linnets. We were about to leave when several Tree Sparrows appeared in the bushes, though through the scope we could still just see them tucked in tight at first. After a minute or so they flew out, five of them, across the field, but then turned and landed on top of the hedge now. After a good look through the scope, they disappeared back in.

Tree Sparrows – in the hedge

We were getting cold now, so it was time to head back for tea and cake. We had another day to look forward to and more excitement tomorrow.

23rd Feb 2024 – Winter & Brecks, Day 3

Day 3 of a 3-day Winter & Brecks tour in Norfolk. With better weather forecast, we were heading down to the Brecks today and it was even better than expected, with some nice sunny (sun!) spells, even if there was a bit more of a chill today when out in the fresh breeze at times.

It was a slow drive down this morning and we were later than expected arriving at Lynford Arboretum. There had been some Hawfinches around first thing, so we went straight over to see if we could find them. We were disappointed to discover first that there was no food out from the gate, at least on the ‘public’ side of the green plastic sheet which is still hung across the tree tunnel. There were very few birds dropping down our side, just a single Yellowhammer, and a brief Brambling which didn’t even descend from the trees.

We decided to try down at the paddocks, so walked down to the bridge. The feeders looked empty here too and although someone had just sprinkled some food on the pillars there were just a few Blue Tits and Great Tits coming in so far. Continuing on, we scanned from the track along the side of the paddocks and couldn’t see anything in the hornbeams. Someone else there told us that there had still been five Hawfinches an hour earlier, but they had flown off towards the Arboretum.

It seemed like the best idea would be to head elsewhere and try again here later, so we walked back up towards the car park. We were not back to the gate when we looked up to see two Common Cranes circling low over our heads and we watched them as they drifted slowly away east. A real surprise to see them here and a very nice bonus. Presumably they had circled up in response to the sunshine, and with a couple of Common Buzzards up now too, we decided to head straight off and see if the Goshawks were coming up already too.

Common Cranes – circled over

We drove over to the usual spot on the high ground looking over the forest and when we arrived and got out there were lots of Common Buzzards circling up already. We counted at least twelve in the air at the same time at one point. There was a good breeze blowing, which usually stimulates raptor activity and a couple of Red Kites were chasing each other round in circles further back too.

We didn’t have to wait very long before a Goshawk appeared. It was rather distant, but it circled up and started to display, slow flapping with exaggerated deep wingbeats. We got it in the scope before it slowly drifted back over the trees and was lost to view. Then an adult male Goshawk appeared much closer, circling up quickly before starting to display too. After a bout of slow flapping it broke into full on rollercoaster display, descending in a series of dramatic swoops and climbs before folding its wings and plummeting back into the trees.

There were one or two more browner juvenile Goshawks which then appeared further back, and started to display too, slow flapping again. We managed to get those in the scope too. Then it seemed to go quiet for a bit, and even the Common Buzzards appeared mostly to disappear back into the trees too. With several more things to try to do today, we decided to move on.

Acting on a tip-off, we headed off deeper into the forest, parking at the head of a ride and walking in through the pines. As the trees started to thin out, we could hear a Woodlark singing ahead and as we came out into a large clearing we could hear a Stonechat singing too. Scanning the standing trees which had been left in the clearing, we quickly found what we had come here to look for, a Great Grey Shrike was perched half way up in the branches. We got it in the scope and watched it as it swooped out a couple of times after prey, then it flew out and we lost sight of it.

Woodlark – in the grass

We were planning to walk on along the track through the clearing to see if we could locate the Woodlark, which had now stopped singing, but before we could one flew in and landed on the edge of the track not far in front of us. We got it in the scope, but it kept disappearing into the taller grass, before emerging again in a different place. Eventually we had some very good views.

We found the Stonechats out in the clearing now, a pair of them which showed typically well, perching up on the tufts of vegetation. A bright male Yellowhammer flew up and landed in one of the trees, before dropping down into the grass again. A Common Buzzard was in one of the trees too. The Great Grey Shrike then reappeared, closer to us now, perching on some old tree stumps a little closer to us.

Great Grey Shrike – perching on the stumps

The Woodlark started singing again, and we looked across to see it perched half way up one of the trees. It was much easier to see now and everyone had a chance to get a really good look at it in the scope. A pair of Lesser Redpoll dropped down into the vegetation in front of us too, before flying up and one of them landing on a branch over the track.

It was time for lunch, so we walked back along the track to the minibus and drove back to Lynford Arboretum. The sun was out and it was nice to be able to eat outside today, making use of the the picnic tables in the car park, very different from the last couple of days.

After lunch, we walked back over to the Arboretum. The Hawfinches had apparently been seen from the gate again, but as we walked up, the person standing there had not seen them. We could hear Hawfinches calling now, from somewhere in the trees above us. We walked up towards the orchard gate, to see if we could look back and find them, but before we got there three Hawfinches flew out of the trees and we watched them disappearing off towards the paddocks. There was just a Goldcrest left feeding in the blackthorn blossom now. We headed down to see if we could find them there.

There was more food in some of the feeders now and more birds coming in and out, so while we went to scan the paddocks from the start of the lakeside path, the rest of the group stopped to watch the feeders. It didn’t take long though to find the Hawfinches feeding on the ground below the first hornbeam, along with a small flock of Chaffinches and a couple of Bramblings, so we called everyone over to see them in the scope. The Highland Cattle have not been grazing in the paddocks this winter so the grass is longer than usual and the birds are harder to see as a result. Before everyone could see the Hawfinches, all the birds spooked and flew up.

We couldn’t see the Hawfinches in the hornbeam above now and looking further down the paddocks we realised they had flown on down to the ash trees and were perched more distantly in the tops. Everyone had a quick look through the scope, but we were looking into the sun from here, so we walked back to the track which runs along the side of the paddocks and down to see if we could get a better look.

When we arrived at the gap in the hedge opposite the ash trees, there was no sign of the Hawfinches but scanning the branches we found a female Common Crossbill picking at the end of one of the twigs instead. Through the scope we could see its distinctive crossed mandibles, before it dropped down out of view. A nice bonus, as they have been more elusive here in recent weeks.

Hawfinch – perched in the sunshine

The Hawfinches were back feeding down under the first hornbeam, so we got the scope on them again. We could see a huge head and bill come up out of the grass from time to time. We were hoping to get them perched in the trees, and we didn’t have to wait too long before all the finches spooked again and a female Hawfinch flew across and landed in the middle hornbeam straight in front of us. We had a much better view now as it clambered around in the branches higher up and then dropped down to the bushes lower down and perched facing us in the sunshine.

Nuthatch – at the feeders

When the Hawfinches dropped down into the grass again, we walked back to the bridge. Two Nuthatches were coming in and out, grabbing a nut from the feeders and taking it back up into the trees beyond. After a while, the Marsh Tit reappeared too and we finally had good views of it as it came in a couple of times and landed on the ground below the feeders where some food had been spread.

Marsh Tit – flew in

We were planning to walk down round the lake to see if we could find the Siskins, but several flew in and landed in the alders above the bridge now. We had some nice looks at them, before they moved off through the trees on the edge of the water. A Little Grebe laughed at us from somewhere deep in the reeds.

We had one last stop planned for this afternoon, so we made our way back to the minibus and drove over to an area of farmland with a small field planted with wild bird seed mix. As we got out of the bus, we could see large numbers of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings flying in and out of the crop, perching in the tops of the trees along one side.

Tree Sparrows – in the hedge

Scanning up along the hedge the other side, we could see the birds we were hoping to see here, a small group of Tree Sparrows. They were coming and going from the crop and disappearing into the thick brambles and blackthorn, but we counted a minimum of 11 in view together at one point. This is a species which has declined dramatically in southern Britain in recent years, and there are very few places you can see them here now, so it is always to catch up with them, and particularly to see a reasonable number rather than just ones or twos.

It was time to head back for tea and cake. It had been a great day down in the Brecks and although the weather had been challenging at times the previous two days, everyone had enjoyed a very good time in Norfolk and we had managed to see some good birds.

18th Feb 2024 – Brecks Tour

A single-day Tour down in the Brecks and Thetford Forest today. The weather forecasters couldn’t decide in the last few days whether the overnight rain would linger. Unfortunately it did! Thankfully we could keep track of its progress on rainfall radar and could see that it should clear through by around 12pm, which it also did on cue. It brightened up in the afternoon and we made the most of the dry weather, seeing all the birds we had hoped to see and more.

We met in the car park at Lynford Arboretum. Given the rain, we figured we would concentrate on the birds here first this morning, which we could probably still see more easily in the rain, and concentrate on some of the other species which required better weather in the afternoon.

We walked into the Arboretum and down to the gate. All the birds had been spooked from the ground when we arrived, so we stopped to wait for them to come back down. We hadn’t been there more than a minute when a Hawfinch flew in and landed high in the trees above our heads. We looked up and could see that it was a female, but we were looking straight into the rain. It was chased by a Chaffinch, and both flew out towards the orchard, so we walked up to see if we could find them in the trees there. The birds normally like to perch here in the early morning sunshine but it was not the weather for them today!

We looked up to see a flock of birds flying in, more Hawfinches, around fifteen of them! They started to land in the top of one of the trees, but flew out again and disappeared off into the arboretum. We walked across to the folly and scanned the tops of trees there but there was no sign of them, so we figured they had gone on down to the paddocks. As we walked down the main path a couple of Song Thrushes were singing, one perched right up against the sky in the trees by the path.

Down at the bridge, there were lots of tits coming in to the feeders including a Marsh Tit which darted in to the bushes briefly. We could see Hawfinches in the first hornbeam in the paddocks beyond, so we walked on along the path to the gate and got the scope on them. Three were perched right in the top but flew across to the trees further along before we all got a look at them. Thankfully, there were still several lower down, so we turned the scope onto them. Despite the rain, we had a really good look at them now.

Hawfinch – library picture

When those Hawfinches dropped down through the branches, we walked on to the next gap in the hedge to see if there were any perched up in the other trees. We couldn’t see any from here but there were several Redwings in the top of the ashes now. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in and landed on the dead trunk at the top of one of the trees.

Looking back to the first hornbeam, we could see the Hawfinches feeding on the ground below the tree now. The highland cattle have not been grazing in the paddocks this winter so the grass is a little longer, but still we had a good look at them on the ground. When they flew back up into the tree above, we counted at least seven perched in the branches. We could see their distinctive vertical perching stance, all head and massive bill and short tail.

We continued on along to the far corner of the paddock, flushing lots of tits which were feeding down in the short grass by the path at the end. A Treecreeper flew across over our heads and landed low in a nearby tree, where we watched it climbing up the trunk. We decided to walk back round the far side to have a look at the lake. There were still several Redwings in the trees in the paddocks and others flying across and up into the fir trees along the west side.

There were three or four Siskins in the alders as we started to walk round the lake, with one coming down onto the ground just ahead of us to feed. The resident pair of Canada Geese swam over to see if we had any food for them and a couple of Gadwall were out on the water with the Mallard. Further along, we turned the scope on the ground under the first hornbeam again where we could see the Hawfinches were still feeding along with several Chaffinches. We were a bit closer from here and it was a good view of them alongside their much smaller cousins.

The Little Grebes were laughing at us from the reeds behind – we were just about the only people mad enough to be out this morning! We hadn’t seen any sign of the large flock of Siskins as we walked round the lake but a succession small groups flew in now and landed in the alders the other side of the lake. We could hear them chattering away. Another Great Spotted Woodpecker flew up from the feeders into the trees behind as we got back to the bridge. We could hear a Nuthatch piping but it didn’t come in.

Yellowhammer – from the gate

We walked back up to the gate, and there were lots of birds feeding on the ground now so we stopped to watch. Several Yellowhammers dropped down, including a particularly bright yellow-headed male, and a selection of Bramblings. A Nuthatch dropped down onto the ground too, and a couple of Coal Tits. There was no sign of any Hawfinches coming down to feed here today, though we could not tell whether they might have been hidden behind the green plastic sheet which has been strung across between the gate and the hide. They seem to have been coming down less often since the sheet has been put up, so hopefully it is not putting them off coming in to feed here now.

It was still raining and we had all got quite damp on our walk round. Two of the group, who didn’t have waterproofs, decided they would call it a day and the rest of us decamped to the Shepherd’s Baa for a hot drink under the shelter. We checked the rainfall radar again and it still looked as though the rain was on track to clear through by midday. It was already mid morning, so we thought we would head round to Santon Downham next and then be ready to go looking for Goshawks once the weather improved.

We stopped on the way to look for Woodlarks. The most we were hoping for at this stage was to find some feeding on the ground and the first place we tried was very wet and birdless. As we walked into the next clearing, two Woodlarks flew up from the grass ahead of us but disappeared off over the trees. We thought we might have to settle for that, but then a third Woodlark fluttered up and started singing. We watched it circling round over the clearing, rounded wings and short tail a bit like a butterfly. Either one of the first two or perhaps even a fourth individual appeared over the clearing further down and started singing too. It was great to just stand and listen to them – although sounding slightly melancholy, the song of Woodlarks over the forest clearings early in the year is a wonderful sound and a real herald that spring is on its way.

The closer Woodlark dropped down onto the ground. We scanned the grass and had just found it in a small dip when it flew up again. The rain was just starting to ease and there was even a hint of the sun behind the clouds as it towered up high over our heads. We had a look further down the path, but there was no sign of the other Woodlarks on the ground here, so we decided to move on.

We parked in the Forestry Commission car park at Santon Downham and as we got out of the minibus, a Sparrowhawk flew over – a good sign that the weather was improving. As we walked back down to the bridge, there weren’t so many birds in the gardens now and most of the Siskins were up in the tops of the trees. Someone was just filling up the feeders down by the river. There had been some Crossbills down along the river bank in recent days, although only the first section of the path is passable at the moment and the river has flooded over the bank further down, and two other birders we passed also told us they had seen some redpolls along here so we thought it was a good place to try.

It was rather damp down by the river, both underfoot and with the water still dripping off the trees. Three Mute Swans were enjoying all the water and a pair of Egyptian Geese flew past over the other side of the river, calling noisily. There were a few Siskins in the sallows but no sign of any crossbills or redpolls now. A Marsh Tit showed nicely in the branches over the path ahead of us. When we got to the end of the raised section of the path, we turned to come back. A lone drake Mandarin zipped past us through the trees.

Siskin – library picture

Back towards the bridge, three Lesser Redpolls dropped in to a small willow on the other bank, including a smart red-breasted male. Another dropped down onto the feeder briefly, but had gone by the time we got the scope on it and had to make do with a very smart green and gold male Siskin instead. As we walked back over the bridge, several birds were perched in the trees above the gardens now. We got the scope on three Redpolls and noticed that one which was back on to us, preening, had a distinctive dark-streaked pale rump – a Mealy Redpoll! It dropped down towards the garden but there was no sign of it on the feeders when we walked up and just a succession of more Lesser Redpolls dropped in. As we walked on back to the car park, a Goldcrest was singing and flitting around in a fir tree next to the road.

The forecast was still suggesting the sun might break through around 2pm, so although it was still rather grey now, we decided to head off to try our luck with Goshawks while we ate lunch. As we drove past, several flocks of Fieldfares came up out of the fields. When we got to the usual spot on the high ground looking over the forest the wind had picked up a bit and there were some patches of bright sky, which looked more promising. Several Common Buzzards were already up above the trees along with a single Red Kite, and we hadn’t been scanning more than a couple of minutes before we picked up a very distant Goshawk displaying away to the NW.

We barely had a chance to enjoy our sandwiches today, as it was all action from now on. A big adult female Goshawk flew low along the front edge of the trees in front of us before circling up and starting to display, flying back the other way with very deep, exaggerated wingbeats. Silvery grey above and white below, at times when it stopped to circle we had some good views through the scope.

Goshawk – displaying

Then a browner juvenile Goshawk with orange-tinged streaked underparts appeared from the right and started displaying too. As it flew in towards where the adult female was still displaying, she headed straight towards it and the juvenile appeared to back off, moving back off to the right while the female then turned back to left and resumed what she had been doing. The juvenile hadn’t learnt its lesson though and after a minute or so flew back in towards the adult. This time the female set off in pursuit, chasing off after the juvenile and pursuing it off away over the trees.

Having seen off the juvenile, the adult female Goshawk flew back in low and dropped down into the trees. We could still see the juvenile displaying in the distance away to the NE and now it brought up another adult from the next territory over, which started displaying too. At least four different Goshawks up and displaying in the space of 45 minutes while we were trying to eat our lunch! A Woodlark flew over singing too and a pair of Stonechats were on the fence by the road next to where we were parked.

Stonechat – next to the parking area

Once we had finished eating, we decided to move on. We stopped again by a small field planted with a wild bird seed mix and as we pulled up we could see lots of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings in the bushes across the road. From the edge of the field, we looked up along the hedge and quickly found one or two Tree Sparrows in the brambles which we got in the scope. A couple more appeared briefly on the bushes further up, but they were mostly keeping to the vegetation today.

Tree Sparrow – in the hedge

We would normally head back to Lynford around the time, to be sure of catching the Hawfinches, but after having seen them this morning, albeit in the rain, we decided to try something else. We headed back to the area we had seen the Common Crossbill perched last week and this time walked in along a different ride, straight along the line of firs where we thought it had probably been. We hadn’t gone very far in when we heard Crossbills calling and looked up to see a small flock fly out of the tops of the firs and across the ride above us. They disappeared over the pines the other side but thankfully flew back over and landed in the tops of the firs.

Crossbills – landed in the top of the firs

We got the scope on the Crossbills now, perched very obligingly in the top of a tree. There were several bright red males higher up and a few greener females lower down, and through the scope we could see their distinctive crossed mandible tips which they use for prying open fir cones. They weren’t feeding now though, or certainly the ones perched in the top were not. We couldn’t see all the flock though, and when they eventually took off again we counted thirteen in the group. They disappeared back into the block of firs from where they had first come and we could see them perched in the top of one tree further in briefly before they dropped down out of view.

Crossbills – nice views

Now we did make our way back to Lynford. Not surprisingly, there were a lot more cars in the car park than there had been this morning, now that the weather had improved. We walked in to the Arboretum and down to the gate. It was nicer standing here now that it was not raining and we spent a bit more time admiring the Bramblings, noting the variation in the males, some with much blacker heads already than others.

Brambling – a male

There were even more Yellowhammers coming down now, with at least ten on the ground together at one point. A Treecreeper appeared in one the dead trees very close to where we were standing.

Treecreeper – in the tree next to the gate

There was still no sign of any Hawfinches up at the gate, so we walked back down to the paddocks to see if they were there. They had apparently been in the hornbeams still earlier in the afternoon, but we were probably just too late and there was no sign of them when we arrived. They do have a habit of going off to roost early, so we were not entirely surprised. We checked the tops of the fir trees at the back, but there was no sign of them there either. There were a few Chaffinches and a couple of Bramblings in the hornbeams, and a couple of Mistle Thrushes flew in and landed in the top of one of the trees, a nice last addition to the day’s list.

Then it was time to call it a day and head back to the car park. It may have been a very wet start today, but despite that we had enjoyed a very successful day down in the Brecks and seen all the birds we had set out to find and more.

11th Feb 2024 – Brecks Tour

A single-day Tour down in the Brecks and Thetford Forest today. After heavy rain overnight again, it was a rather cloudy day but thankfully it remained dry and we did even have some brief sunny spells during the morning.

We met this morning in the car park at Lynford Arboretum. A few Hawfinches have been coming down to feed in front of the gate there in recent days, so we walked over the road to have a look first. Despite the new green plastic sheet strung across the tree tunnel behind the pond, obscuring the view, we could still see there were plenty of birds coming down to the seed – including at least 20 Bramblings, with some of the males already starting to get their summer black heads, several Yellowhammers and a couple of Nuthatches. We stood and watched the comings and goings for a while, admiring the variation in the Bramblings and listening for any sign of the Hawfinches in the trees above.

Bramblings – down to feed

The clouds appeared to be breaking and a few rays of morning sunshine broke through. We walked a bit further down to see if there were any birds sunning themselves in the tops of the trees. At first, we could just see several of the Bramblings up in the branches but we didn’t have to wait too long before a Hawfinch flew in and landed above them, followed by a second which dropped in a little lower down. We were looking into the sun from here, so we moved a bit further still and looked back, where we had a much better view. They were two female Hawfinches, rather grey-brown with a less extensive black mask and bib. After a while, they dropped down through the branches – a good start to get them under our belts first thing. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling from the top of a tree in the Arboretum.

Hawfinch – a female

We decided to try to make the most of the morning brightness to see if we could find any Woodlarks singing. It was a short drive round to a nearby clearing. As we walked in through the trees, a large group of Redwings was chattering and singing further down and from the other side we could see several of them perched in the bare branches. A Song Thrush was singing above us too.

As we walked along the track around the edge of the clearing, a pair of Woodlarks flew up from the middle. One dropped down again over the far side but the second landed on a side branch of a tall tree stump which had been left nearby. We got it in the scope and could see its well marked supercilium. When it dropped down to the ground, we walked on a bit, stopping again for another look when if flew back up. It dropped down again and we continued on to the track through the middle of the clearing. We thought we might be able to find the Woodlarks on the ground from there, but they are so well camouflaged and they had probably moved considerably now from where we saw them drop. Despite the rays of sunshine through the clouds, the male was not really singing this morning and only when we were just about to leave did we hear it start to sing quietly from somewhere further back.

We made our way out onto another track which led back to the road and as we walked along we kept scanning the trees. We hadn’t gone far when this paid off in the shape of a male Common Crossbill perched in the very top of a fir tree. We got it in the scope, but unfortunately it dropped down before everyone had a chance for a closer look.

Continuing on, we had a brief glimpse of a pale raptor through the trees back beyond where we had parked and when we got back to the minibus we looked across to see an adult male Goshawk flying over. It turned and flew back the other way, then turned away again, although only very briefly did it engage in any display – just a quick burst of slow flapping – before it disappeared back over the trees beyond. We were planning to head off elsewhere to look for Goshawks now, thinking there might be some activity as the sun broke through the clouds, but it was nice to see one here already.

A Marsh Tit appeared in the bushes just across the road from where we were parked and, as we were just about to get back into the minibus, a Woodlark started singing a little further up the road. We walked up to listen to its slightly melancholy song, such a typical sound of late winter/early spring in the forest clearings here, and it came fluttering high over over the road and over our heads.

Woodlark – singing

Sticking to plan A, we drove north to see if we could see any more Goshawks but quickly found ourselves heading back into thicker cloud. On the way, we pulled up to scan an overgrown field which was full of Fieldfares, along with a few Redwings, Chaffinches and Skylarks and a couple of Red-legged Partridges. When we got to the usual spot on the high ground looking over the forest it was very grey and felt rather cold as we got out of the minibus, not ideal conditions for displaying Goshawks.

We didn’t have to wait long before all the Woodpigeons erupted from the trees away to our left and we looked across to see a large female Goshawk flying out over the fields. It flew up through the belt of pines the other side, sending more Woodpigeons scattering, before it came out above the trees. It was rather brown and streaked below, a juvenile from last year. Then it dropped down into the trees and disappeared.

There were several Common Buzzards which circled up above the trees and one or two came right over where we were standing. A Red Kite drifted over the field away to our right and then another four Red Kites circled over the trees off to our left. The bigger surprise was three Marsh Harriers which circled up together with a Common Buzzard, before drifting off NE, not a regular bird to see here.

When all the pigeons started to come up out of the trees to our right, another Goshawk appeared briefly flying through the tops, before dropping away from us and out of view. Then the juvenile female we had seen earlier came up again from the pines behind us and circled up, lingering in the same place long enough for us to get it in the scopes this time. With the stubborn cloud, it seemed unlikely the Goshawks would be displaying today, so we decided to move on before we got too cold.

We stopped again by a small field planted with a wild bird seed mix. As we got out of the minibus, several Reed Buntings were perched in the hedge and small groups of Yellowhammers flew in and out of the crop. From the edge of the field, we looked up along the hedge and could see a few Tree Sparrows perched in the brambles. The more we stood and watched, the more appeared – at one point we counted up to twenty Tree Sparrows in the same view. A sadly very scarce and declining species here these days, it was a real treat to watch them.

Tree Sparrow – sadly very scarce now

It was just about lunchtime now, so we drove south again, down to Brandon Country Park, to make use of the facilities there. As we ate on the picnic tables, several Coal Tits came in and out of the feeders. A Brambling perched in the top of the taller trees behind the cafe briefly and a Sparrowhawk flew over, before folding its wings back and plummeting dramatically down into the forest just behind the car park.

After lunch, we had a quick look at the small lake. As expected at this time of year, there were several Mandarins on the water. We counted at least five drakes and two females, though there were probably more hiding in the reeds. A Moorhen was lurking on the edge of the vegetation. We had a quick scan of the trees around the lake, but there was very little activity here, so we decided to move on.

Mandarin – a gaudy drake

Our next destination was Santon Downham, where we parked in the Forestry Commission car park. A Treecreeper was singing in the trees as we got out of the minibus and several Redwings were perched in the top of a nearby bush. There were lots of Siskins in the trees in the back gardens of the cottages and a couple of Bramblings. A Lesser Redpoll flew up into one of the trees just as the homeowner came out to her back gate with her dog, and everything flew off.

Out onto the road, we stopped to look at the feeders in the front garden of one of the cottages. There were more Siskins here and we were quickly rewarded with another Lesser Redpoll which flew in too, a smart male with bright red breast as well as the red ‘poll’. A succession of Lesser Redpolls came in to the feeders while we stood there, with at least three birds in total. Several Coal Tits appeared too and a Marsh Tit made a brief visit. A couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers landed in the top of one the taller trees further back. We had a quick look from the bridge. More finches were coming and going from the feeders down by the river, including more Lesser Redpolls.

Lesser Redpoll – coming to the feeders

We planned to finish the day back at Lynford Arboretum, so we headed back round there now. The car park was very busy but we managed to find somewhere to park and most people seemed to be here for coffee at the Shepherd’s Baa. We walked past and on up to the gate, where one person was standing watching the birds coming down to feed. He told us the Hawfinches had been down earlier, although not for a while.

We hadn’t been there long before one of the group standing by the far end of the gate realised that there was a Hawfinch down feeding, but behind the green plastic sheet. The bottom corner of the sheet was missing and from time to time the Hawfinch hopped to where it was just visible from the right spot, a smart male. Thankfully, the birds all kept spooking and flying up into the trees before dropping down again, and the Hawfinches were doing the same, and sometimes coming down on our side of the sheet. We had lovely views of both male and female now, with the male at one point hopping out to the small pond for a drink.

Hawfinch – check out that bill!

Hawfinch – the male drinking

After a while, we had to tear ourselves away and continue on down to the paddocks. We stopped at the bridge where the feeders had been filled up since this morning. We had nice views of a Treecreeper in the trees here, although as usual it spent most of its time round the back of the trunks. There were plenty of Blue Tits, Great Tits and a couple of Coal Tits coming in and out, but no sign of any Marsh Tits while we were here today. Several Siskins were feeding on the alder cones.

Siskin – feeding in the alders

From the edge of the paddocks, we could see a couple of Greenfinches in the top of the first of the hornbeams and as we got the scopes on them, three Hawfinches hopped up into view too. One flew out and over our heads, landing in the top of the poplars behind us, before all three then flew into one the other hornbeams further along. A ‘big ole thrush’ was perched in the same tree, local vernacular for a Mistle Thrush!

Walking on, there were lots of finches flying in and out of the trees, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Siskins. The Hawfinches flew up into the tops of the firs beyond where they perched for a while before dropping down to roost. We did a circuit of the paddocks and pack down to the path alongside the lake. A large flock of Siskins was still feeding feverishly in the alders here, at least a hundred of them, which was great to watch. Several Gadwall were out on the water but we couldn’t find any Canada Geese at first. Disappointment for all the group was averted however, as only when we walked further along did we find a pair of Canada Geese hidden behind the trees on one of the islands with a Mute Swan. A Little Grebe was laughing at us from somewhere deep in the reeds.

Song Thrush – singing

We stopped again at the bridge – the Treecreeper was still in the trees there, along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a Nuthatch came in to the feeders briefly. As we walked back up towards the car park, a Song Thrush was singing its heart out in a tree above the path. The ground in front of the gate was quiet now as we passed, with the birds mostly having headed off to roost already. It was time for us to head off too.

14th May 2023 – Four Days of Spring, Day 4

Day 4 of a 4-day Spring Tour, our last day. It was forecast to warm up today, but it was slow coming. We were still in our winter coats, hats and gloves in the morning and it wasn’t until lunchtime that the sun finally came out and we couldn’t shed layers fast enough! There was a 10C swing during the day, from 8C in the morning to a high of 18C in the afternoon.

We had an earlier start this morning and headed down to Suffolk, leaving cars in Swaffham where we would finish up later. We were looking for Nightingales, but it was decidedly chilly when we arrived and got out of the minibus and there were few birds singing. We could hear a Yellowhammer in the distance.

As we walked down the road, a few birds started to sing – Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. A Goldcrest sang nearby and a couple of Long-tailed Tits flicked through. We heard our first Nightingale further down and walked on to listen, but it was only singing half-heartedly and quickly gave up. Another started up further along still, so we carried on and a third Nightingale began to sing too. We stopped to listen to the two of them duetting, although still neither of them really giving it both barrels.

We realised that one of the Nightingales was very close to the fence, so we edged down and, looking round from behind the trees, we could see it in a small bush. We were looking through the bare branches and it wasn’t a clear view, but it did remain in view for a couple of minutes so we could all get a good look at it, before it dropped down into the vegetation below.

Nightingale – through the branches

A Green Woodpecker yaffled and flew over and our first Cuckoo of the day called in the distance and we saw it flying off away from us over the trees too. There were a couple of Common Whitethroats singing in the bushes and a smart male Yellowhammer flicked between the tops of the trees. Down at the bottom, we looked out over the airfield and found a single Stone Curlew on the short grass. A Common Buzzard was preening on the fence nearby.

Walking back up the road, one of the Nightingales sang a bit more strongly for a minute, so we paused to listen. We cut in on one of the smaller paths, and found another Nightingale singing in the trees, but it was well hidden and we couldn’t see where it was perched before eventually it stopped.

Out into the open, we stopped to watch another Yellowhammer singing from a small hawthorn and a Willow Warbler flew in, landed below it, and started singing too. There were more Garden Warblers singing in the bushes beyond – perhaps, having arrived later, they were more programmed to keep singing despite the cold weather.

Yellowhammer – singing

It was already mid-morning, and there was still no sign of it brightening up yet. It felt like those birds which had been singing were starting to go quiet, so we decided to move on. As we walked back towards the minibus, we heard a female Cuckoo bubbling behind us and turned to see it perched on the wires. It flew and came across the heath towards us, pursued now by a male Cuckoo which started to call.

Cuckoo – a female

Our next destination was Lakenheath Fen. We checked in at the Visitor Centre and stopped for a hot drink to warm up. As we had some mobility limitations, we were very kindly granted a permit to drive up to the small car park by New Fen today. We disembarked and walked over to the New Fen Viewpoint – there were a couple of Greylags and a Tufted Duck on the pool. We could hear Cuckoos calling and a female flew out of Trial Wood and then back in to the poplars, where it landed briefly. Our first Hobby of the day was a rather distant one, circling over West Wood.

We took the small path through the reeds. A Sedge Warbler was flitting around low down in the reeds and singing occasionally and showed well. Along the path, there were more Reed Warblers singing so we stopped to listen to a couple and try to hear the difference in song between the two species. We heard Bearded Tits pinging from the reeds too, but they remained down out of sight.

Sedge Warbler – singing

Three Marsh Harriers circled low over the reeds, two males and a female. Another Hobby drifted over, catching insects over the reeds before flying away and landing in East Wood. A (Eurasian) Curlew flew over and disappeared over away across the river and having heard them calling we saw two Stock Doves which flew out of Trial Wood and off over the reeds too. A Water Rail squealed from deep in the reeds.

Just past the junction to Mere Hide, we stopped to listen to a male Bittern booming in the reeds – an impressive sound, like a foghorn or someone blowing across the top of an improbably large bottle. While we were standing here, we talked about Bittern movements and related the story of the ringed female Bittern which has been returning here each year to breed. Having been found by a small pond in Letchworth in September 2016, possibly after a brush with a car, it was released at Rye Meads once it had recovered.

We first photographed a ringed female Bittern at Lakenheath in June 2017 and with so few Bitterns ringed, it seemed most likely it would be the same bird, but it was not confirmed until May 2018 when someone else managed to get some more photos and could read part of the ring number. This bird had been seen over the winter back at Amwell, so it appears to commute between the two areas. We had seen it again here last year.

Bittern – flew across

We had just finished the story when someone spotted a Bittern flying towards us over the reeds. It turned across the path in front of us and dropped down into the reeds just a short distance from where we were standing. It couldn’t be could it? Sure enough, checking the photos, it was the female Bittern with the ring on its left leg, back again here for its 7th year! What were the chances of that?!

Bittern – the ringed bird!

There was no sign of the Bittern in the reeds, so we carried on along the path. A pair of Great Crested Grebes were on one of the pools and we could see that one was carrying a couple of stripy-headed juveniles on its back.

Great Crested Grebe – with juveniles aboard

The sun was finally starting to come out and we had brought our lunches with us, so we settled in at Joist Fen Viewpoint to enjoy the view and eat. Gradually the layers of clothes came off, hats and gloves, coats and fleeces too.

As the temperatures climbed, the number of Hobbys increased steadily. There were about 15 when we arrived but by the time we left there were a minimum of 50 – so many, they were increasingly hard to count, but a very impressive sight. From time to time, one or two would drift closer, overhead at times, and we could watch them catching and eating insects on the wing.

Hobby – one of 50+

Hobby – occasionally overhead

Thankfully, some of the group were looking the other way, as a Bittern flew across behind us and landed in the reeds. About an hour later, it came back out and flew over the path, dropping into the reeds at the back of one of the small pools the other side, where it was just visible for a minute or so before it walked deeper in. We had certainly been spoiled for Bittern sightings this week!

There were Cuckoos back and forth at times too and Marsh Harriers circling up over the reedbed. A Lapwing was displaying out over the pool in front, twisting and turning and singing, but struggling to command the attention of the gathered photographers who were all bewitched by the other species on show. A Cetti’s Warbler taunted us from an elder bush to one side of the viewpoint.

As the weather warmed up, there were more insects too. Butterflies out now included Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Peacock and Red Admiral. There were several damselfies in the vegetation too, including our first Variable Damselfly and Red-eyed Damselfly, plus Large Red and Azure Damselflies.

Variable Damselfly – our first this year

Eventually, we had to tear ourselves away and walk back. It was a bit quieter now, in the heat of the day, but there were several Hairy Dragonflies hawking along the sides of the path by Trial Wood and two Cuckoos flew across over New Fen, bidding us farewell. Back at the Visitor Centre, it was not hot drinks on the menu now, but ice cream. What a difference a couple of hours makes!

We had a quick look at the Washland, but there apart from lots of Mute Swans and Gadwall, there was not much else of note on here today. A couple of Grey Herons circled up in the sunshine.

We had time for one last quick stop on our way back, so we called in at Weeting Heath. The Stone Curlews were showing very well from West Hide, the pair with two chicks now and walking around with them, feeding actively despite it being the heat of the afternoon, although a little bit of high hazy cloud helped to reduce the heat haze.

Stone Curlews – adult & juvenile

Stone Curlews – the pair

A Eurasian Curlew lifted its head, stood up and turned round, and then settled back down to incubate its eggs. When it went back to sleep it all but disappeared. A nice way to end, we headed back to Swaffham and said our goodbyes.

2nd April 2023 – Early Spring Tour, Day 3

Day 3 of an Early Spring 3-day tour. The forecast for today was much better, so we spent the day down in the Brecks. It remained rather stubbornly cool and cloudy until late morning, before the sun finally broke through. It was then a nice warm afternoon, at least out of the still rather cool NNE wind.

As we set off from the guest house on the journey down to the Brecks this morning, we hadn’t got far through the village when we noticed a Swallow on the wires, the first one we have seen this year. Just the one, so that doesn’t make it summer yet, but a nice sign that spring may finally be on its way.

Swallow – our first of the year

The rest of the journey down was fairly uneventful. Our destination for the morning was Santon Downham and we parked by the Forestry Commission offices and set off along the path by the river. A small flock of Bramblings flew over and we could hear a Lesser Redpoll calling, eventually to be found tucked deep in a thick hawthorn on the other side of the river. A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers flew in to top of the trees above the path.

We stopped a bit further up to listen, but there was no sign of any woodpecker activity, no drumming. Two pairs of Marsh Tits chased each others through the willows on the bank, their sneezing calls alerting us to their approach. Two pairs of Mandarin flew in and out of the trees the other side and landed so we could get them in the scope. We got the scope on a male Brambling high in the poplars, admiring its bright orange breast and shoulders. We could hear its wheezy calls and at one point a burst of its rather unimpressive and similarly wheezy song.

Marsh Tit – two pairs along the riverbank

Further on, we found another couple of people waiting and watching on the river bank. They had heard a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker earlier, but only drumming briefly a couple of times. We stopped here too, and scanned the trees. There was lots of activity here – one or two Nuthatches piping in the poplars and investigating a hole in a rotting branch. A pair of Treecreepers chasing round the trunks. A small flock of Redwing flew over and landed in the tops briefly.

Behind us, a pair of Kingfishers shot up the river calling, but disappeared off back into the trees opposite. We heard them several times more, up and down through the trees, but they didn’t come back out to the river. A Grey Wagtail flew over calling too. As it started to warm up a little, a couple of Common Buzzards circled up and a Sparrowhawk appeared above the trees.

Periodically, we could hear Great Spotted Woodpeckers calling or drumming and we saw one or two in the trees overhead, but there was no sign of their diminutive relations. We waited for an hour and then decided we would head back. We hadn’t even moved when we heard a quick burst of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming, further back and in the trees and upstream from where we were. It gave another quick burst and we set off to try to locate it. Unfortunately, that was it and despite stopping and listening back along the bank we didn’t hear it again. Frustrating.

We made our way back. The skies had cleared and the sun was out now. A Small Tortoiseshell was fluttering around the willows by the path, our first of the year. Just before the road, we stopped to look at the feeders by the houses across the river. A smart male Siskin came in to feed and we eventually managed to get a Lesser Redpoll in the scope, in the same thick hawthorn where the male had been earlier. Just across the bridge, we stopped by the garden with the feeders. There were more Siskins here, including a male singing in the tree above the road.

Siskin – male singing

There was a lot of disturbance north of the level crossing today. As we arrived, we had seen a large gathering of mountain bikers in the car park and there were still lots of cars here. We had heard the roar of motorbikes through the forest all the time we were down along the river too. We stopped and crossed the road to have a quick look at the clearing the other side, thinking it might be a bit quieter. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was no sign of any Woodlark today, but we did see a Mistle Thrush at the back and a male Stonechat on a gorse bush. A Brimstone flew past. We had a quick look along the start of the ride beyond the car park too, but there were no birds along here at all, so we decided to move on.

We drove over to a high point overlooking the forest to look for Goshawks and eat our lunch. We thought activity might have picked up with the sunshine as it warmed up, but some people leaving as we arrived said the birds had been more active when it was cloudy and cool earlier and had now gone quiet. As we tucked into our sandwiches, there were lots of Common Buzzards up in all directions and a distant Red Kite. A female Sparrowhawk circled up from the trees.

Woodlark – out on the grass

One of the group spotted a pair of Woodlark on the grass behind us, feeding quietly, so we got those in the scope for a closer look. We could see the way their supercilia met in a shallow ‘v’ on the back of their necks. A little later, one flew up calling and landed high in one of the trees above us. Then it dropped down into the field opposite, where it was joined by a second Woodlark. The light was better this side and it was a really nice view of them in the scope now. A couple of Common Furrow Bees were feeding in the head of a dandelion.

Common Furrow Bee – on dandelion

We were just packing up to leave, when finally a Goshawk appeared. An adult male, it circled up from behind the trees and quickly gained height in the warm air. We kept getting it the scope but it was hard to track as it was climbing so fast and by the end it was high in the sky overhead. Eventually, everyone got a look at it in the scope, even if it was a bit more distant.

The pair of Stone Curlews had been showing well at Weeting recently, so we decided to call in there next. When we arrived and got out to the hide, there was no sign of them at first. There were a couple of Lapwings in the back of the cultivated strip and plenty of Rooks. We set up the scopes and scanned carefully, but there was a bit of heat haze now and they can ‘disappear’ when they sit down. Then as we scanned back across suddenly a Stone Curlew stood up.

Stone Curlew – showing well

The Stone Curlew preened for a minute or so and looked round. Then it started to walk across the broken ground with its tail raised in the air. Normally that would suggest that another Stone Curlew was present and sure enough a minute or so later a second bird stood up too. We watched them for a while before they both settled down again and all but disappeared once more.

We still had a little bit of time before we had to get back, so we drove on to Lakenheath Fen. We didn’t have enough time to explore the whole reserve, but there have been some Garganey on Hockwold Washes in recent days, so we thought we would have a quick look from the Washland Viewpoint. As we walked out of the Visitor Centre past the feeders, several Reed Buntings were flicking around in the sallows behind.

Reed Bunting – around the feeders

Scanning across the Washes from the viewpoint, we quickly located a pair of Garganey on the water. The drake looked especially smart in the sunshine, the white stripe on its burgundy head catching the light. Thankfully, we all had a chance to get a good look through the scope before suddenly they flew and landed out of view behind the vegetation at the front. Perfect timing! There was a nice selection of other ducks on here too – Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, a single Wigeon and a few Tufted Ducks and Shelducks.

It is a lovely spot to stand here and watch the world go by, particularly on such a nice sunny afternoon, but unfortunately we were out of time now and had to head back. It had been a fun three days with some good birds and remarkably given the weather forecast beforehand we had largely stayed dry!

15th March 2023 – Winter/Early Spring, Day 3

Day 3 of a 3 day Late Winter/Early Spring tour and we spent our last day in the Brecks. After a frost overnight, we drove down through thick fog which thankfully lifted and broke just as we arrived. It was then dry and bright, with much lighter winds, though clouding over a little through the afternoon.

Our first destination for the morning was Santon Downham. As we walked in along one of the rides, we could see a couple of Woodlarks flying round further along, but there were several people watching them, so we decided not to pursue them further and come back to them later when it had warmed up a bit more. As we came out of the underpass, a male Stonechat was in the back of the hawthorn ahead of us, alarm calling. It flew over the railway but then came back a few seconds later and perched on the very top of another bush right ahead of us.

Stonechat – perched up

A couple of Long-tailed Tits flitted ahead of us beside the path and three Dunnocks wing-flicked to each other. We could hear a Yellowhammer calling and it flew up and landed in a tree the other side of the path, a smart canary-yellow faced male. A couple of Reed Buntings were singing from the reeds. As we cut down towards the river, a Treecreeper was singing and we had some brief views of it in the old coppice trunks.

The riverside path was rather slippery today, so we picked our way down carefully. A couple of Mute Swans and a pair of Little Grebes were on the water, one of the latter swimming hard to keep pace with the flow. A few Siskins called as they flew back and forth overhead, but were hard to see looking into the sun over on the Suffolk side – we would have a better opportunity to see them later. A Dunnock perched up singing.

Dunnock – singing

There were a lot of people along the river today, possibly because it was the first sunny day for a while and everyone was hoping to see one of the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. One had been heard a couple of times much earlier, but nothing since. We stopped and listened for a bit too. There were one or two Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming but surprisingly little activity from them today, given the sunshine and nothing from their smaller relatives.

A Nuthatch was calling from across the river and after a while flew over into one of the poplars in front of us, where we watched it in the branches, joined by a second. A pair of Marsh Tits were feeding on the buds as several Great Tits were singing. Two Stock Doves flew up into the poplars where we could get them in the scope. A drake Mandarin flew past over the river. A couple of Common Buzzards circled up in the sunshine.

We had lots to do today, so we didn’t have too long to spend here this morning. After an hour or so, we decided to head back. A Woodlark was singing as we walked round towards the railway but when we got to the other side it had gone quiet. Continuing on down the ride, towards where they had been earlier, one flew up and landed on the grass over by the railway. We walked a little further and realised it was now much closer to the track, calling quietly. We had a great view of it there and then it flew up and landed on a tree beside the railway briefly, before dropping back round behind us.

Woodlark – calling on the ground

There was still another Woodlark calling a little further up and it flew up now and landed in one of the trees where it started singing softly. We had a lovely view of it through the scope now, a nice male with rusty cheeks. When it took off again and flew round, another male circled with it, the first disappearing down in the long grass while the second flew further back along the ride where it was joined by a third.

It was a nice bright morning, so we walked back to the minibus and headed off into the forest to look for Goshawks. When we pulled up overlooking the forest, there were already several Common Buzzards circling up in the sky. An adult female Sparrowhawk skimmed low over the trees briefly, then came up again chasing a browner juvenile female, the two of them up and down over the trees in front of us.

There were Skylarks singing above us here too, very different from the song of the Woodlark we had listened to earlier, much more cheerful. A couple of Red-legged Partridge were in the fields along with several Brown Hares, two of which even indulged in some brief boxing. A Lapwing started to display over the field behind us at one point too.

We didn’t have too long to wait before a Goshawk appeared, a juvenile female, which then started displaying, flying across over the trees with deep, exaggerated wingbeats. It dipped down behind the tree tops but then circled up again, so we could get it in the scope. We watched it in the air for some time, eventually drifting off a little more distantly to the east and circling with two Common Buzzards giving us a good chance to properly appreciate its size.

Goshawk – the juvenile female

Eventually an adult male Goshawk appeared too, but never really came up very high above the trees. As the female disappeared, we were just thinking about heading off for lunch, when we suddenly noticed all the pigeons erupt from the pines and looked back over to see the male chasing them out. It swept through the tops a couple of times but quickly seemed to lose interest and disappeared back down.

Goshawk – chasing pigeons

It definitely was time for lunch now, so we drove over to Lynford Arboretum. As we pulled into the car park a couple of familiar faces were just eating their lunches sat on the back of their car. We stopped to say hello but they waved us out of the way – a Firecrest had just appeared in the trees across from them. We got out quickly and had great views of two Firecrests low in the holly and then up in one of the firs. Then someone called to say there was another Firecrest in the hollies behind us too. We watched that flicking around low in the bushes before it was chased round by another ‘crest and disappeared off further back.

Firecrest – in the car park

A very welcome distraction, we now all settled back down to the important matter of lunch, in the sunshine on the picnic tables. Afterwards, we walked across to the Arboretum. There were several Siskins in the trees around the coffee shop and a selection of tits coming down to the feeders, including one or two Coal Tits. Down at the gate, disappointingly there was no seed out on the public side of the camouflage netting today and all the activity was on the other side, out of view. We did see one or two Yellowhammers in the trees.

The feeders were empty down at the bridge too, but someone had put some seed on the pillars, which the Mallards had not yet managed to completely devour. We stopped to watch and had great views of Marsh Tits and a Nuthatch which both came in to feed.

Marsh Tit – at the bridge

Continuing on along the path beside the paddocks, we scanned the trees but it was pretty quiet here today. Eventually one Redwing landed in the top of one of the ash trees and later a larger flock flew in to join it, but there were no finches in here at all today. Another Firecrest was flitting around in the ivy in the trees by the path.

We stopped to scan the tops of the firs at the back of the paddocks, but there was no sign of any Hawfinches – they were late coming in today. A male Sparrowhawk flew in and landed in one of the tree tops, which we got in the scope. We were still admiring it, when three Hawfinches flew in. Whether they were put off by the presence of the Sparrowhawk or not, they circled round a couple of times and didn’t land immediately, before disappearing from view. We had a hunch where they might have landed, so changing our angle we managed to find them perched in the top of a fir tree. It was actually a much better view from here too!

Hawfinches – three flew in

After a while, the Hawfinches flew off south and we lost sight of them as they disappeared behind the trees. We decided to move on and walked on round the paddocks. There were a couple of Canada Geese on the grass on the far side of the lake and a pair of Little Grebes laughed at us from along the far bank. There were lots of Siskins feeding in the alders and we stopped to watch them coming down to drink on the edge of one of the islands.

The first Stone Curlews always start to return in the middle of March and we knew there were some seen yesterday further down in Suffolk, where we wouldn’t have time to go today, and at Weeting, where the reserve was unfortunately not open yet. However, over lunch we had received a message to say there were four in a field nearby, so to finish the day we thought we would head round there and see if they were still present.

When we pulled up at the corner of the field, it looked pretty empty at first, all we could see were just a few Red-legged Partridges. But Stone Curlews are masters of camouflage, so we got the scope out and started to scan. On our second pass, we noticed a shape hidden in the wheat shoots and zooming up we could just make out the head of a Stone Curlew face on to us, hunkered down and some way over in the field. It was tricky to see, but everyone had a quick look before we drove a further down to a gateway to see if we could get a better angle.

The Stone Curlews were much closer and we could see all four of them now. They were still far enough away that we wouldn’t disturb them so we got out of the minibus quietly and set the scope up. Much better views now, we could see their staring yellow eyes and short yellow-and-black bills. They continued to doze.

Stone Curlew – our first of the year

It was an excellent way to wrap up the day, and the three day tour, with our first Stone Curlews of the year. Despite some tricky weather conditions at times, it had been a great three days with an excellent variety of birds. We said our goodbyes and headed for home.

11th March 2023 – Back to Brecks

A single day tour down in The Brecks today. It was a very cold and frosty start, but the sun came out and it felt a lot warmer than of late, despite only registering max 7C today. A lovely day to be out birding.

We headed down towards the border first thing. The puddles in the car park were frozen into some smart patterns and there was a thick frost covering the ground as we walked down the ride. As we turned to walk under the railway, a Woodlark started to sing softly from the top of a pine tree ahead of us so we stopped to listen to its slightly melancholic song and got the scopes on it. A Yellowhammer flew up to the top of the nearby oak.

Woodlark – singing from the top of a pine

After a while, the Woodlark flew and as it circled round we could it was followed by two more. It landed on the top of another pine behind us and, side on now, we could see the black and white pattern on the edge of the wing and the very long hind claws. A fourth Woodlark was still perched in the trees much further down the edge of the clearing ahead of us. We could hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the distance and spotted a pair of Stock Doves in one of the bare poplars beyond the meadows.

We made our way round to the bank of the river, where a couple of Mute Swans was on the water and a Moorhen was along the far bank. As we walked downstream, a pair of Mandarin flew past and landed on the river behind us. There was some thin high cloud first thing and with the low temperatures it was probably not surprising that little was singing at first this morning. A few Siskins flew back and forth overhead calling.

We positioned ourselves at a strategic point along the river bank and stopped to look and listen. As the sun burnt through the early clouds and things warmed up, there started to be more activity. After several days of cold, with sleet and snow, it felt like the perfect morning today for birds to get back into the spring spirit. We could hear two of three Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming and a pair chased in and out through the poplars. A Green Woodpecker laughed from some way off on the Suffolk side.

What was probably the same pair of Mandarin flew past us the other way, and a little while later swam back along the far edge of the river towards us. They climbed out onto a branch which had fallen into the edge of the water directly opposite us, giving us some lovely views. Another lone Mandarin flew over heading downstream and a little later back the other way.

Mandarins – a pair on the river

There was lots to see down here along the river this morning. A Mistle Thrush started singing from the very top of one of the poplars. A couple of Common Buzzards circled up in the sunshine and a Kestrel flew in and out of the trees. One or two Stock Doves and Woodpigeons started to display flight. Cormorant, Grey Heron and Little Egret all flew over, following the line of the river. A Grey Wagtail started to sing from the tangle of branches snagged in midstream behind us, before flying on downstream.

Grey Wagtail – singing on the river

There were several Nuthatches piping in the trees and we eventually spotted one high in the branches. A Marsh Tit appeared briefly in the bushes by the river calling. We were hoping to find the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers along here today and having been elusive in the recent cold weather we thought they might be a bit more active in the sunshine. One had been seen briefly very early this morning, but unfortunately there had been no further sign and it did not reappear while we were there. We had lots to fit in today and eventually we had to move on.

Making our way back along the river bank, there were lots of Siskins in the alders across the other side. A Little Grebe appeared midstream briefly. As we cut back under the railway, a small group of people were watching one of the Woodlarks which was feeding on the ground now, the frost having thawed out in the sunshine.

Back at the minibus, we headed off into the Forest to look for Goshawks. There were lots of birds feeding along the verges in the sunshine – a couple of flocks of Chaffinches flew up ahead of us and then a succession of Fieldfares, flashing their grey rumps.

There wasn’t much wind first thing, but at least there was a bit of warmth today and two Common Buzzards were circling up above the trees when we arrived, a good sign. We set up the scopes and scanned. A Goshawk appeared briefly just above the trees, flying across low, but disappeared again almost instantly. A Sparrowhawk circled up higher. Looking over towards a distant group of three Common Buzzards in a thermal, we picked up a Peregrine with them briefly. A queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee buzzed past and there were a couple of Brown Hares in the field in front.

A light breeze just picked up and almost instantly brought results. A big female Goshawk broke cover above the conifers, displaying with deep, exaggerated wingbeats. It disappeared behind the tree but then came up again and then we noticed a young male Goshawk stooping down from above. The two of them chased round, in and out of the tops of the trees, putting on a nice display for us.

Goshawk – displaying through the tree tops

Eventually, the young male disappeared but the female had been stirred into action and kept coming up, slow flap displaying on and off. Another Goshawk circled up more distantly now, this time a male and possibly a 3rd calendar year, a bit darker grey above. There were lots of Common Buzzards circling up in the sunshine now too, six circling together at one point. We were treated to a very good show by the Goshawks this morning, so when the female broke off from displaying and circled up high, we decided to head off for lunch.

We ate lunch in the sunshine on the picnic tables at Lynford and afterwards set off across the road to explore the arboretum. There was plenty of seed on the ground from the gate today and lots of Yellowhammers and Chaffinches were coming down to feed, along with a selection of tits. We didn’t linger too long here though now, as we wanted to get down to the paddocks.

Yellowhammer – on the ground from the gate

Someone had put lots of food out down at the bridge too today, and there were lots of tits coming and going. The resident Mallards were monopolising the pillars until we walked up, giving a chance for the other birds to get a look in. We had some nice close views of Marsh Tits darting in and out, and the Blue Tits in particular looked stunningly blue in the sunshine, though there was no sign of the Nuthatches here now.

Blue Tit – in the sunshine

Continuing on, the paddocks were rather quiet at first, there were no birds in the trees and nothing feeding on the ground either. We kept scanning as we walked down towards the corner, and after a while the Redwings started to fly in, from the trees behind us and the firs over the far side. Three Greenfinches appeared in one of the hornbeams too. A couple of Long-tailed Tits flitted around in the oak above our heads and a Marsh Tit worked its way down the hedgerow.

There was no sign of the Hawfinches in the paddocks, so we continued down to the corner to scan the tops of the firs beyond. We stopped to watch a pair of Nuthatches excavating a nest hole, one coming out repeatedly with bill-fulls of material and throwing it out to the ground. A bit of spring cleaning!

Nuthatch – spring cleaning

Surprise of the afternoon was a bat which was flying around over the paddocks in the sunshine in the middle of the afternoon! It looked like a Pipistrelle sp.

Pipistrelle sp – flying round in the sunshine!

While we were watching the Nuthatches and the Pipistrelle, we kept one eye on the top of the firs. We didn’t have to wait too long before we noticed two Hawfinches in the top of one of the trees. We got the scopes on them and realised there were another three lower down. We watched them for a while, flitting around in the branches.

Hawfinch – two of five in the firs

When the Hawfinches eventually took off, it looked like they were dropping deeper into the firs but we followed one which flew out over the paddocks and landed in the ash trees in the middle. It appeared to drop down towards the ground, so we walked back down the side of the paddocks to see if we could find it. There was no sign of any on the ground from here, but then we noticed two Hawfinches together in the branches. We just had time to get a look at them through the scopes before they took off and flew back to the firs behind, joined by a third which appeared from somewhere in the trees.

They were back in the top of one of the tallest firs, so we decided to walk round to the far side and see if we could get closer views of the Hawfinches up in the trees. By the time we got round there, they had already started dropping down through the trees but we did get one briefly in the scope before it flew further in. We decided to carry on round and have a look at the lake.

There were a few Mallard on the water, but no sign of any Gadwall today. A pair of Canada Geese were dozing on the grass over on the far side. A Little Grebe laughed maniacally from somewhere in the reeds. We had one last scan back along the firs from here, just in time to see two more Hawfinches fly in and land in the tops briefly – possibly taking us to at least seven for the afternoon. A Common Buzzard was perched in the hornbeams in the middle now.

The Siskins were in the alders on the other side of the lake beyond the reeds today, but as we stopped to look several of them flew further down and landed in the alders beside the bridge. We walked on and had some nice views of them feeding on the cones above our heads.

Siskin – feeding on alder cones

We walked back up towards the car park and stopped again to scan from the gate. With not so many Woodpigeons to disturb them now, the number of Yellowhammers on the ground had increased significantly – we counted a minimum of 20 all on the ground at once at one point. There were lots of Chaffinches, but no sign of any Bramblings today. They have been thin on the ground here this winter. We did have a Lesser Redpoll which dropped down to the small pond for a drink briefly.

Then it was time to call it a day – and what a lovely day it had been, it almost felt like spring had sprung at last.

5th Mar 2023 – Brrr Brecks

A single day Brecks Tour today. It was cold and grey, with light winds and thankfully it remained dry inland. Not ideal conditions, and it felt a long way from spring!

We met at Lynford and made our way down towards Santon Downham to start the day. We checked out a nearby clearing first, to see if we could find any Woodlarks. A Nuthatch started calling as we walked in through the gate and we could see it in the top of an oak behind us. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called too, further over, and then started drumming briefly.

Then a Woodlark started singing and we spotted it fluttering high over the clearing. A second Woodlark flew in with it, calling, presumably the female, and seemed to drop down out of view. The male continued to sing, fluttering round overhead with its broad, rounded wings and short tail. Eventually it dropped down into a tree on the edge of the clearing where we could get it in the scope.

Back across the road, we walked down the ride the other side. A flock of tits was making its way through the trees – we stopped to look at a couple of Coal Tits in the pines first, and then picked up a flock of Long-tailed Tits the other side of the path. We could hear a Marsh Tit calling and then picked up a Treecreeper in one of the pines, working its way upside down along the underside of a side branch. It flew back to the trunk and then walked down the top of another side branch.

Woodlark – in the top of a low pine

We had just started to walk on further when we heard another Woodlark calling, which flew overhead and appeared to drop down some distance ahead of us. It was swiftly followed by three more Woodlarks which circled round above us, two flying off but the third dropping down towards where the first had gone. We walked on to a high point in the path where we could see where they seemed to go down and were just scanning the rough ground when one of the group noticed one in the top of a low pine tree by the railway track. We had some nice views of it through the scope before it flew off, followed by the other Woodlark which had been lower down in the same tree out of view.

A Kestrel was perched in the top of a bare tree the other side of the railway and a Yellowhammer flew up and landed in an oak tree ahead of us. We cut through under the tracks and made our way down towards the river. A couple more Nuthatches and another Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the trees, a Song Thrush was singing and a Stock Dove was whooping off on the Suffolk side, a Water Rail squealed and a few Siskins flew back and forth but otherwise it was fairly quiet along the riverbank today. With the colder temperatures it seemed like spring had been put on hold for the time being.

We didn’t have much time to wait here this morning, as we had lots to try to pack in, so when we got to the furthest group of poplars we stopped to listen for a couple of minutes. We were hoping for more woodpecker activity, but there was nothing doing, so we turned to walk back. On the way, a Marsh Tit was calling from the trees ahead of us and we stopped to watch it flitting through the branches.

As we got back to the railway underpass, a couple of Redpolls flew over calling. We could hear a Woodlark calling again and saw it drop into the back of an oak tree the other side of the tracks. We walked through and got it in the scope, great views now. A smart male Yellowhammer was perched above it.

Woodlark – great views

Back in the minibus, we headed off into the forest to look for Goshawks. With no warmth to generate any thermals and almost no wind to offer an alternative source of lift, the conditions didn’t look very promising. There were no Common Buzzards up at first either, and when two did circle up our hopes rose but they didn’t get very high (neither the Buzzards nor the hopes!) and quickly gave up.

In these conditions often the most we can hope for is for a Goshawk to briefly break cover low over the forest, but then one of the group spotted a raptor high in the sky. It was a Goshawk and it was displaying – slow flapping at first, but then it started to rollercoaster, swooping down turning up and stalling, then repeating. Another Goshawk then appeared lower down and closer, an adult male with its undertail coverts puffed out ‘tail flagging’. We got it in the scope, but unfortunately it dropped down again quite quickly. The higher bird suddenly dropped back down towards the trees and disappeared too.

It was a good start, but hard to get on the higher bird and only brief views of the lower Goshawk. We waited a bit longer and a young male then circled up distantly out in front of us. It was easier to get this one in the scope and it stayed in view so we could all get a look at it in the scopes this time. Even though it was further off, we could see the paler mottling in the upperparts as it banked.

There were a several Brown Hares in the fields, at least 2 in front of us and 5 behind. There were a few Fieldfares around, some of which landed in the trees and others flew over tchacking. A mixed flock of Chaffinches and Goldfinches flew round and landed in a bush by the road, before dropping into the cover crop in the field the other side. A Woodlark started singing and we found it fluttering round over the field beyond the trees behind us, before it dropped down to the ground and went quiet.

It was time for lunch, so we drove back towards Lynford, with the heater on full in the minibus to try to warm up a bit. It was slightly more sheltered here and we were mostly able to sit out on the picnic tables in the car park. Afterwards, we walked down through the arboretum. We stopped at the gate, but there was no seed out on the ground, at least our side of the new camo netting screen which has appeared across the ‘tree tunnel’. We could just see several Chaffinches and Yellowhammers beyond it.

We carried on down the hill. Someone had been and refilled all the feeders by the bridge, and spread lots of seed on the pillars, and lots of birds were coming and going. We stopped to watch – we had great views here of Nuthatch and Marsh Tit in particular.

Nuthatch – coming to seed

Marsh Tit – darting in and out

The Hawfinches have been going in to roost early recently, so we carried on down to the paddocks. There was no sign of any in or under the trees, so we positioned ourselves to wait to see if they would come in. A couple of Mistle Thrushes were in the ash trees in the middle and flew back to the firs beyond, where the male started singing from the very top of one. Redwings kept coming and going, perching in the ashes or hornbeams, feeding on the grass – through the scopes, we could see their pale supercilia and orange-red flanks. There were Goldfinches and Greenfinches in the trees too. A Great Spotted Woodpecker kept calling from the pines behind us and eventually showed itself.

Redwing – several in the paddocks

The Hawfinches kept us waiting today. Eventually, one appeared in the top of the firs behind the paddocks. It stayed just long enough for us all to get a quick look in the scope, before it dropped down – even if its cherry stone crunching bill was hidden by a fir branch. Shortly after, two more flew in to the firs, a male and female this time and we had a better look at them and a chance to admire their bills. They flew across and disappeared into the trees.

We walked round to the far end of the paddocks, to see if we could find them again, but they had probably gone in to roost already. Then we picked up another Hawfinch, a male in the tops and when it flew it seemed to drop round on the other side of the trees. They will sometimes sun themselves here before going to roost, so we hurried over, just in time to see one in the firs quite close but before we could get the scope on it, it disappeared down into the trees. We cut through the plantation, and looking back across the paddocks we could now see another male Hawfinch in the top of the deciduous trees the other side.

Hawfinch – perched up more distantly

Continuing on round to the lake, we walked underneath a large flock of Siskins feeding in the alders above our heads. There were a few Gadwall with the Mallards on the water, along with a Mute Swan, both additions to the day’s list. A Moorhen was on the grass beyond and a Little Grebe laughed at us from deep in the reeds. Back at the bridge, we stopped to watch the tits coming to feed on the seeds again.

Siskin – feeding above our heads

Then it was time to head back to the car park and retreat to the warmth of our respective vehicles for the journey home. Despite the conditions, we had enjoyed a successful day out.

8th Oct 2022 – Autumn Tour, Day 3

Day 3 of a four day Autumn Migration Tour today. It was mostly bright and sunny, with the wind continuing to ease through the day.

To start the day, we headed down to the coast at Cley. We parked at Walsey Hills, but there was no sign initially of the Jack Snipe on Snipe’s Marsh where it had been yesterday – it was probably hiding in the vegetation. The sun was catching the reeds over the far side and we could see several small birds flitting in and out – a couple of late Reed Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Robin and one or two Blue Tits.

We had a quick walk down along the footpath through the trees. A few birds were coming and going from the feeders, mainly Goldfinches and Chaffinches, plus a few Blue Tits and Great Tits. The Greenfinches were slightly less obliging, mostly flying round overhead and wouldn’t land where we could see them.

We continued on down to the far end. There had been a Yellow-browed Warbler reported here earlier, just heard by someone, but there was no sign now, although we did find a Chiffchaff in the willows at the back. Out into the open beyond the trees, there were lots of Red-legged Partridges at the back of the first field and we could just see lots of Pink-footed Geese in the next field, through the base of the hedge. A Stock Dove flew over with a group of Woodpigeons and two Ruff flew round with some geese.

As we made our way back through the trees, a Greenfinch had now come onto the feeders, so everyone could finally get a look.

We stopped for another quick scan of Snipe’s Marsh, and noticed a Water Rail in the reeds in the corner now. It was hard to see over the reeds so we walked further down to where there was a gap and set the scope up on it. While we were watching it, someone found the Jack Snipe back along the near edge, skulking in the cut reeds, so we walked back and got that in the scopes next. It wasn’t feeding, so wasn’t bouncing, but we got a good look at it.

Jack Snipe – in the cut reeds

From there, we walked over to the East Bank. Several Cetti’s Warblers were singing in the ditch by the road and in the reedbed but remained typically well hidden. All the geese came up from the fields behind North Foreland wood and circled overhead – a few Greylags flew out onto Pope’s but the Pinkfeet headed back down to the fields from whence they had just come.

There was a Little Grebe on the pool by the Skirts path today. We stopped and set up the scopes on Pope’s Pool – there were a few Avocets roosting behind the near bank and lots of Black-tailed Godwits out in the water, along with more Greylags and Wigeon. A good number of Lapwings were hiding in the grass in front. As we walked on, a small group of Canada Geese flew in over the reedbed, a new one for the trip list.

We could hear Bearded Tits calling ahead of us, and looked over to see several perched in the top of the reeds. Before we could get the scopes on them, they flew across, and then dropped back into the reeds again. They were very vocal and very mobile this morning, then they started flying up higher, circling round above the reeds. Several times they erupted from the reeds, before changing their minds and plummeting back in. It was hard to tell if there were several different groups or just changing numbers in the same group, but there was a lot of activity.

Bearded Tits – erupting

It is a feature of Bearded Tits at this time of year – they are not really migrants, but do disperse, particularly after years with very successful breeding. This morning’s display was classic Bearded Tit dispersal restlessness, working up the courage to go. Fantastic to watch!

At one point we looked out across the reedbed, and noticed a pale shape in one of the bushes out in the middle. It was a Barn Owl! It had possibly just come out onto the edge to sun itself, as it didn’t stay long and disappeared deep in, presumably to roost. A nice surprise. There were a couple of male Stonechats in the reedbed too.

There were more ducks on the Serpentine and while we were scanning we noticed a Wheatear on the short grass in front of the water – nice to catch up with an autumn migrant passerine, as they are a bit thin on the ground at the moment.

Wheatear – on the Serpentine

We saw a message to say that the two juvenile Little Stints were still present, up on the brackish pools, so we walked on to see them. We quickly picked up one on the mud towards the back, then the second appeared in among some Shoveler along the north side, where we could really appreciate how small it was as it walked between their legs. It then flew in closer and started picking its way along one of the spits towards the front.

It hasn’t been a particularly big year for Little Stint this autumn, so it was good to be able to catch up with a couple still. There was a single Pintail on here too, and a Common Snipe roosting with a couple of Teal on a small island at the back.

Little Stint – on the brackish pools

The migrant wader theme continued on Arnold’s Marsh with one or two Curlew Sandpipers. One was feeding closer to, but disappeared from view behind the saltmarsh vegetation, and a little while later we picked up the same or another with the Dunlin at the back. A Grey Plover was on the shingle islands too.

Out at the beach, there was a steady movement of Teal today, several small groups coming in low over the sea, as well as a slow stream of Common Gulls past. With a fresh SW wind, the trickle of Gannets passing were rather distant, out towards the wind turbines, although one did come through a little closer. A few Razorbills and Red-throated Divers were out on the sea.

As we made our way back, a Marsh Harrier came in over the marshes, flushing everything. The Jack Snipe was still there, in much the same place as it had been, but it was now fast asleep, its bill tucked in. We made a quick visit to the Visitor Centre to use the facilities, then drove down to Kelling for a quick walk before lunch.

Blackcap – in the lane

It was sheltered in the lane, and warm now out of the wind in the sunshine. A male Blackcap appeared in the top of a hawthorn by the track and a little further on a smart male Chaffinch perched up on the other side, preening. A Chiffchaff flitted in and out of the hedge calling. There were several Ivy Bees still too, enjoying the sun.

There were lots of Rooks and Woodpigeons on the hillside behind the Water Meadow and a few Red-legged Partridges along the fenceline at the bottom. The field opposite the Water Meadow has just been cultivated and more Rooks were feeding in here, looking very smart, there plumage glowing purple in the sunshine.

Rook – in the sunshine

There were a few ducks on the Water Meadow, but nothing out of the ordinary. We stopped to watch a group of at least six Stonechats at the crosstracks, perching on the dead dock heads and dropping down into the grass. Several Linnets flew in and out of the brambles. Then it was time to head back for lunch. A Peacock butterfly perched up in the lane as we passed.

We drove back to the Visitor Centre at Cley for lunch on the picnic tables. There were lots of Lapwings and a few Ruff on Pat’s Pool and when everything erupted we looked over to see a young Peregrine flying over, and watched it disappear off west.

After lunch, we drove down to the Brecks for the remainder of the afternoon. Our main target here was to try to see one of the autumn gatherings of Stone Curlews and we were in luck straight away. We pulled up opposite a field and walked carefully over to the gate overlooking it. We could immediately see several Stone Curlews out in the middle, so got them in the scopes. We could see their large yellow eyes staring back at us.

Stone Curlews – staring back

Some Stone Curlews were standing up and were more obvious, others were sitting down in the furrows and much harder to see. The more we looked the more we saw. We eventually got to a count of at least 60 in the field, and there were almost certainly quite a few more as there is a large dip in the middle of this field. Either way, it was an impressive sight and well worth the drive down to see it.

Stone Curlew – one of at least 60

There were several Tree Sparrows in the hedge nearby too, occasionally dropping down into the field margin. Three Swallows flew over, one stopping just long enough for a drink in a puddle, before heading on south.

The pig fields in the Brecks can be good for gulls and we had a quick look through a large gathering of Lesser Black-backed Gulls in one. They were rather distant, but we could see just a couple of paler mantled gulls in with them. When one stood up, we could see it was an adult Caspian Gull – distinctively shaped, with a long beaky nose and long, parallel sided bill, full breast and long wings.

We still had about half an hour before we had to head back, so we decided to have a quick look to see if any Goshawks were up. But just when we would have wanted it to be windy, the wind seemed to have dropped completely! Consequently, there was no sign of any Goshawks, but we did see a couple of Common Buzzards up. A Sparrowhawk flew past and disappeared into the trees on the other side of the field in front, and later a male came past closer and stopped to have a go at some birds in a cover strip in the middle. A Mistle Thrush flew over the trees at the back, and landed in the top of a lone pine. A large flock of Skylarks flew in.

Then it was time to head back.