So far this year December has been a terrible month for Soil Hill reports other than NKs Grey Plover and the short visits from Snow Buntings plus of course the several Jack Snipe sightings and Woodcock, both of which have so far evaded me, but maybe we just got spoilt in December 2011 and now expect ever winter to be the same which deep down we know does,nt happen.
Looking back at my own records for December 2011 the hill provided :-
9 long staying Snow Buntings
17 Linnet
7 Fieldfare 42 in November.
7 Skylark
5 Grey Partridge
1pr Pheasant
1 Snipe
4 Meadow Pipit
9 Golden Plovers roosting
2 Lapwing.
Apart from an odd Skylark, Pheasants and Grey Partridge most of the above are missing.
Hopefully things will change and the birds will re appear ,much as there has been disturbance on the hill the habitat is very much the same if not, in some ways, better.
Today started with a bright morning which clouded over by lunchtime but remained dry and very mild.
A check on the feeders in Chapel Lane graveyard found 3 Blue Tits and several swarms of midges but otherwise things were quiet other than the usual resident feeders.
BS
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2025).