Soil Hill 1445hrs. Strong to gale force WSW>7 gusting 8. Heavy horizontal driving rain, lovely.
Started off ok with around 60 Fieldfare and c50 Starling in the manure field on the opposite side of the road by the plantation. Problem was they moved down the dip in the field out of visibility and the pics I took as I first saw them were a disaster in the bad light.
The top of the hill was horrendous but I stuck it out hoping to flush Snipe, Jack Snipe or Woodcock but dipped on all, just found 2 very hardy Skylark and 1 Meadow Pipit.
After one full circuit of both summits and the grassed area I came away thinking, I must be the only nugget that would bird this hill in these conditions but then I felt better when I thought of another one, mentioning no names.
With a taste for Fieldfare and a snitching of half light left I drove on Roper Lane, few gulls only, Old Guy Rd, 1 Skylark on the cricket pitch, Jackson Hill x roads, no Lapwings, Corporal Lane, Corvids, mainly Jackdaws, Corporal Hill, 1 Kestrel, few Corvids, Green Lane, 2 Mistle Thrush and a good count of 18 Magpies in the Holly bush roost, unfortunately too dark for the camera by now.
Day off on Tuesday so it all starts again for another year.
All I need is a mega over the garage tomorrow to end 2012 on.
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).