A late afternoon dash to Mixenden reservoir in grey ,dull and damp conditions found very little on the water other than a single m Tufted, 12 Mallard and 1 Common gull with a single f Goldeneye just dropping in from the direction of Cold Edge before I left.
Though dull the WSW>4 was no problem so time to give Soil Hill a bash till last light.
A good trample round the summits and mounds found nothing other than the resident deranged Fieldfare still buzzing around up there until NK sent a text to say he had just flushed a Jack Snipe at Shelf Moor, see Nigels blog. As I was putting the phone back in my pocket a bird flushed from nearly under my feet which first thought was Skylark but then surprise to see a Jack Snipe which landed about 20 yds away.
I pinpointed the place it landed and edged up there with camera poised ready but could see nothing, even stood on a mound looking down on the spot. Suddenly it launched again dropping over the ridge of the summit before the camera even had time to think about focusing.
So as not to disturb it a third time I walked back across the NW summit where Meadow Pipits were feeding in a group along with a Skylark and as they flew around I counted 51 Mipits before they landed again on the east summit. I hoped for a Snow Bunt amongst them but a good scan through found it was,nt to be. Maybe at last the hill is coming back to life, and at least its proved that the Clay Pigeon shooters have,nt scared off the Jack Snipe.
A drive past Raggalds Flood this morning from work found 47 Lapwing, and a visit this afternoon found the water deserted but a flock of around 80 Fieldfares landed in the field just over the ridge.
BS