Hilsborough Back To Watton Via Ickburgh – Saturday 20th June
2015
Roe Deer Stag At Bodney
The day began with a treat; lunch at the Old Windmill at Great Cressingham with our elder son, Chris and his partner Neha. It is always lovely to see them. On our way to Great Cressingham Jan spotted a Buzzard soaring over Threxton. After we said our goodbyes Jan and I went to Swaffham to do some shopping.
As we went through Swaffham there was a slight delay as a Mallard crossed the main road with her brood, about 10 or 11 ducklings that were as big as she was. She had done well to raise her clutch with so many survivors. As we came out of Swaffham another Mallard and her 1 small remaining duckling nearly came to a very sorry ending as they too tried to cross the same road. Fortunately the driver in front of us stopped just in time. The mixed fortunes of two Mallard families.
We decided to take “a short detour” on the way home. We had a short stop at the Ford at Hilborough but didn’t see anything there so we then turned off the main road into Westgate Street. This drive from the Brandon Road to the Foulden Crossroads probably holds the most diverse variety of wildlife in one short section of road in our local area and there is always a feeling of anticipation and excitement when we go along this area.
It was now 4.55pm and it was overcast with a slight breeze although as the evening progressed it did brighten up. The temperature was18˚C.
Hen Pheasant With Chick
Our first stop was at the corner of the field where a week earlier we had seen seen 2 Stone Curlews. There was no sign of them but we saw a Buzzard being mobbed by 3 adult Curlews who obviously had chicks in the area as the Buzzard showed a persistent interest in this part of the field but eventually gave up after several attempts that was ably defended by the Curlews.
This particular area has so many different varieties of wildflowers, a subject which we’re not very good at but it doesn’t stop us enjoying them.
One Of The Easier Wildflowers - The Poppy
It was in this area that we saw our first Pheasant with chicks, just two remained probably from quite a large clutch but this is the fate of most ground nesting birds they are very vulnerable up until they fledge.
We often see large numbers of Hares in this area but with the crops nearing harvest it is becoming more and more difficult to spot them but even so we still managed to spot 18. We’ve often found that by sitting quietly and still in the car, Hares often approach the car and it is only when they hear (their best defensive sense) something or see movement that they depart in their typical zig-zag retreat.
As we made our way along the road towards Coldharbour Wood there is a high point in the road which overlooks a dip towards the wood and we’ve found that this is a good vantage point to look over the land. As we watched we saw a Roe Deer hind with a very young fawn making their way along the outskirts of the wood, I would think that the fawn was no more than 7-10 days old. On the other side of the road we saw another 3 Roe Deer hinds making their way into the wood. There were plenty of Skylarks and the odd Hare dotted about.
Our intention was to go the River Wissey at Ickburgh so we turned left at the Foulden Crossroads and some distance on we pulled into the entrance of a ride into the wood. We saw something reddish brown in the distance and although we couldn’t be absolutely sure it looked like a Fox that was sunning itself in one of the clearings. We watched it for some time but we’ll never know for sure but while we were watching a Buzzard flew low across the ride between us and the Fox.
After a brief detour to have a look at the River Wissey at Ickburgh we started to make our way home, it was now getting on (about 8pm – so much for our “short trip”). On our way back to Watton we, as we often do, pulled up onto the bridge over the River Wissey on the B1108. During the day it is often good for Damselflies and Dragonflies but not at
this time of day but it has other treasures.
As we pulled up a Buzzard glided across the field about a metre high, we spotted a Little Owl on a fence post and a Muntjac stag made his way towards us. Just before we carried on I saw a Grey Wagtail walking on the tops of the water plants picking off small insects from the top of the river.
We made two small detours on the way home a loop around The Great Cressingham Road via Bodney and the second around Threxton. The first detour we didn’t see very much, we saw a Mouse or Vole scuttle across the road and we heard a Roe Deer barking and eventually located a lone stag in a field. The second detour was a bit more productive with a second Little Owl perched on a telegraph pole near the church, a Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, a close encounter with a Hare and one of the most dramatic sunsets we’ve seen for a while.
I think it was about 10pm when we got home, tired but having thoroughly enjoyed our lunch which seemed like a day ago and our wildlife encounters.
What we saw:
4 Buzzard
Shelduck**
18 Hare
* = Too
many to count
View Across Threxton Towards Swaffham
Keep your
eyes peeled and good spotting.
The day began with a treat; lunch at the Old Windmill at Great Cressingham with our elder son, Chris and his partner Neha. It is always lovely to see them. On our way to Great Cressingham Jan spotted a Buzzard soaring over Threxton. After we said our goodbyes Jan and I went to Swaffham to do some shopping.
As we went through Swaffham there was a slight delay as a Mallard crossed the main road with her brood, about 10 or 11 ducklings that were as big as she was. She had done well to raise her clutch with so many survivors. As we came out of Swaffham another Mallard and her 1 small remaining duckling nearly came to a very sorry ending as they too tried to cross the same road. Fortunately the driver in front of us stopped just in time. The mixed fortunes of two Mallard families.
We decided to take “a short detour” on the way home. We had a short stop at the Ford at Hilborough but didn’t see anything there so we then turned off the main road into Westgate Street. This drive from the Brandon Road to the Foulden Crossroads probably holds the most diverse variety of wildlife in one short section of road in our local area and there is always a feeling of anticipation and excitement when we go along this area.
Our first stop was at the corner of the field where a week earlier we had seen seen 2 Stone Curlews. There was no sign of them but we saw a Buzzard being mobbed by 3 adult Curlews who obviously had chicks in the area as the Buzzard showed a persistent interest in this part of the field but eventually gave up after several attempts that was ably defended by the Curlews.
We often see large numbers of Hares in this area but with the crops nearing harvest it is becoming more and more difficult to spot them but even so we still managed to spot 18. We’ve often found that by sitting quietly and still in the car, Hares often approach the car and it is only when they hear (their best defensive sense) something or see movement that they depart in their typical zig-zag retreat.
As we made our way along the road towards Coldharbour Wood there is a high point in the road which overlooks a dip towards the wood and we’ve found that this is a good vantage point to look over the land. As we watched we saw a Roe Deer hind with a very young fawn making their way along the outskirts of the wood, I would think that the fawn was no more than 7-10 days old. On the other side of the road we saw another 3 Roe Deer hinds making their way into the wood. There were plenty of Skylarks and the odd Hare dotted about.
Our intention was to go the River Wissey at Ickburgh so we turned left at the Foulden Crossroads and some distance on we pulled into the entrance of a ride into the wood. We saw something reddish brown in the distance and although we couldn’t be absolutely sure it looked like a Fox that was sunning itself in one of the clearings. We watched it for some time but we’ll never know for sure but while we were watching a Buzzard flew low across the ride between us and the Fox.
After a brief detour to have a look at the River Wissey at Ickburgh we started to make our way home, it was now getting on (about 8pm – so much for our “short trip”). On our way back to Watton we, as we often do, pulled up onto the bridge over the River Wissey on the B1108. During the day it is often good for Damselflies and Dragonflies but not at 
As we pulled up a Buzzard glided across the field about a metre high, we spotted a Little Owl on a fence post and a Muntjac stag made his way towards us. Just before we carried on I saw a Grey Wagtail walking on the tops of the water plants picking off small insects from the top of the river.
We made two small detours on the way home a loop around The Great Cressingham Road via Bodney and the second around Threxton. The first detour we didn’t see very much, we saw a Mouse or Vole scuttle across the road and we heard a Roe Deer barking and eventually located a lone stag in a field. The second detour was a bit more productive with a second Little Owl perched on a telegraph pole near the church, a Green Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, a close encounter with a Hare and one of the most dramatic sunsets we’ve seen for a while. 
What we saw:
4 Buzzard
Mallard with
chicks**
3 Curlew
Pheasant* (2
with chicks)
Red Legged
Partridges*
Wood
Pigeons*
Corvids
(Crows, Rooks & Jackdaws)* (Magpie & Jay)**
Skylark**
Goldfinch**
(including several fledglings)
Robin
Shelduck**
Oystercatcher**
Greylag
Swallows**
Greenfinch
Blackbird**
2 Little Owl
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Song Thrush
Green
Woodpecker
Sparrowhawk
18 Hare
Fox
(probable, it was some distance off)
6 Roe Deer
(including 1 very young fawn and 1 lone stag)
Muntjac
Mouse or
Vole
* = Too
many to count
** = Several
View Across Threxton Towards Swaffham
Keep your
eyes peeled and good spotting.
