Soil Hill, late afternoon. Wind back to SE>3 Hazy and grey.
First a trip to the Wheatear field to draw a blank then up to Soil Hill which was quiet on the summits but active down at the bottom.
Two Curlew were holding territory down in the marshy Shay area whilst a single Oystercatcher was near the NK pond.
Also near the pond a Redshank was calling but could not be found, probably under the south banking.
Several Meadow Pipits were down at the bottom along with 2 Skylark.
Nothing moving in the hazy skies although DCB could be seen giving it a go from his Oxenhope watch point.
A full scan of all the walls and buildings found no sign of Wheatear until I got back down the track nearly to the car and did the fatal,one last look routine and there up on the apex of the roof of the cattle shed in the SE corner was a single Wheatear but at great distance.
A quick scramble back up the track, thats not easy over 4ft snowdrifts, and onto the hill just in time to see it drop down into the farmyard.
Another 15mins scanning saw it briefly in the field south of the trig point but out of time so no closer views or pics.
Even after the moaning my 1st Wheatear last year was at Fly Flatts, 14/4/2012.
1 Wheatear
1 Oystercatcher
1 Redshank......................heard only
2 Skylark
18 Meadow Pipit
6 Lapwing
BS