Hares & A Female Goshawk

Houghton-On-The-Hill & Hollow Heath - Hilborough –Saturday 28^th February 2015 

We left home about 3pm to do some shopping in Swaffham. It was 9˚C and overcast with intermittent light drizzle. From the Watton Road we went along Peddars Way, Little Cressingham towards South Pickenham. We saw plenty of Corvids, Pheasants and the odd Partridge along the way. At South Pickenham we continued along Peddars Way until we got to Houghton-On-The-Hill where we saw a Hare in a field with a few Pheasants and Partridges.

A little further on we saw on the side of Houghton-On-The-Hill at least 5 Hares in a field.

Hares At Houghton-On-The-Hill

It was here we had a conversation with a lady who had just come down from the church, St. Mary The Virgin on Houghton-On-The-Hill. The lady told us about the church and when she knew we were birdwatching told us how good it was at the church and about some of the local birds in particular a Buzzard family and a Barn Owl that nest in and frequent the area. We knew about the church from Paul Newport’s blog (you can read it here: http://brecklandbirder.blogspot.co.uk ) but what we didn’t know was that we could actually drive up to the church which we did after our conversation ended.

St. Mary The Virgin - Houghton-On-The-Hill

After living in Watton for the best part of three years this was our first visit to Houghton-On-The-Hill we have read about it so often in Paul’s blog and especially how he loves it to watch migrating birds from, now we know why. The church and the village of Houghton-On-The-Hill have an interesting story you can read about it here: http://www.hoh.org.uk

Pond At Houghton-On-The-Hill

The View From Houghton-On-The-Hill

We didn’t stay too long but I’m sure we’ll go back. As we drove along Peddars Way towards North Pickenham we saw a few small birds in the hedgerows amongst them was a Blue Tit and a Great Tit now looking magnificent in their pre-breeding plumage. We also saw a female Kestrel sitting in a tree over the road but it was only a fleeting glance before she disappeared into the distance.

We had to get back to the job in hand and continued onto Swaffham to do our shopping.

After finishing the shopping it was now after 5pm and the light was beginning to go. How lovely it is have the daylight beginning to extend again. We decided to go to what we now know is Hollow Heath at Hilborough, thanks once again to Paul Newport who is such a treasure trove of local knowledge. We were hoping to catch a glimpse of a Barn Owl or two but what we saw was more exciting than that!

We could see on the partially flooded fields to the left of us two Little Egrets, some Ducks (too far away to identify properly) and three Canada Geese. This is a valley of the River Wissey and although it is not much more than a large stream here it often floods onto the surrounding pastures creating a haven for Wildfowl.

Then Jan heard what she thought was a Buzzard but she said it that didn’t sound quite right for a Buzzard. Then briefly she saw saw a bird being mobbed by a couple of Crows but again she said although it was Buzzard sized it didn’t look like a Buzzard, it had no fingers to the end of the wings and it looked far more streamlined than a Buzzard. I didn’t see it but I said perhaps it was a female Goshawk which are nearly the size of a Buzzard.

About 20 minutes later when I was looking out for a Barn Owl I saw a bird flying in the usual unmistakable style of a raptor (bird of prey), a few flaps of the wings followed by a glide. This time I did get a good look at the bird both naturally and with my binoculars, as did Jan. There was no mistaking it this time. It was a female Goshawk, probably the same one we had seen earlier. She was flying at about 10 metres high about 50 metres from us and flew right across the front of the car and across the road. What a great sight to end the day on. Unfortunately no pictures as it was one of those events that leave you a bit speechless and non-plussed when you just want to enjoy the moment rather than get a ropey picture or video (we’re quite good at getting those anyway) but we’ll keep our eye out for her again in this area.

I don’t know if you know but in the city of Berlin in Germany Goshawks have become quite numerous mainly living in the parks and graveyards and one of their favourite prey items are Barn Owls. For that reason it is said that it is very rare to see Barn Owls in daylight in Berlin where here, and especially in the Winter in North Norfolk it is not such a rare sight, especially after wet and windy nights; although it is still a very precious sight and one of our favourite sights.

The answer to the quiz: The track belongs to a Badger and it was seen near a sett at Welney.

Keep your eyes peeled and good spotting.