RobboJan's Naturetrek: Difficult Week

Cranwich Heath & Little Cressingham – Thursday 26^th March 2015

Garden Update

Long Tailed Tits

Stock Dove & Collared Doves

The Long Tailed Tits and the pair of Reed Buntings and Stock Doves are still regular visitors to the garden. The Rooks and Jackdaws also pay regular visits but are very shy although I did manage to get a bit of footage of a Rook on Wednesday, it can be seen on our YouTube Channel just click on the icon in the top right of the blog.

Jan was in the bathroom on Tuesday (24th) when she heard a Sparrowhawk come down the driveway, then heard some squawking and then silence. No sign of anything when she looked out the back.

I also heard a Sparrowhawk flying away from the garden on Wednesday (25th) no sign of any feathers.

Jan discovered that her camera was capable of filming at two faster speeds so I’m looking forward to seeing some slowed down videos of Dragonflies in the Summer.

What with the hospital visit on Monday, 2 painful gouty feet and Jan having to work some extra days due to a work colleague’s family bereavement it’s been quite difficult to get out this week. Jan unexpectedly got Thursday off but we had to get a few garden bits and pieces because we’ve had a Rowan Tree (Mountain Ash) delivered this week so we went to the garden centre at Downham Market, however on the way home, we did make a couple of short stops.

At about 4.30pm it was cloudy with bright intervals with quite a brisk wind and the temperature was 11˚C. We were travelling along the A134 (Thetford Road) towards Mundford and just past Whittington we saw 3 Roe Deer (1 stag & 2 hinds) in a roadside field. We had a short stop at Cranwich Heath where once again there were several Magpies and Crows on the Heath. We saw a Yellowhammer, 2 Mistle Thrushes and a couple of Buzzards going through a half hearted display above the trees. Then we saw a third Buzzard being mobbed by several Crows as it flew across the Heath and into the forest. I then spotted a fourth Buzzard just perched in the trees at the back of the Heath. Just before we left Jan saw 4 Roe Deer Hinds run across the track in front of us. Over this last week we have seen over 50 Roe Deer in various locations around us.

Distant Shot Of Buzzard In The Trees

We moved on to Little Cressingham and parked by the brook. It was surprisingly quiet even the Corvids, apart from a few odd Crows were absent although just before we left a few flew over. There were plenty of Pheasants dotted about amongst the Sheep but very little else. We did see 2 Hares in adjacent fields. Travelling North along The Great Cressingham Road we saw a distant Buzzard, probably over Hilborough and several Partridges. Turning into Fairstead Lane, the field next to the road had been freshly prepared so except for a few Lapwings there was very little else.

Watton Brook To The East of The Cressingham Road

And To The West

Stopping at the Water Mill at Little Cressingham we saw another Buzzard being mobbed by Crows before it flew off. Jan saw a Buzzard further off towards The Arms but it could have been the same one we saw being mobbed. There were some Partridges in the field next to the road, a Mute Swan, 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese and we saw several Blue Tits flitting about the hedge. Jan had a look at the brook by the Mill and saw 2 pairs of Mallards and I spotted a third pair in the Mill grounds.