Prompted by NK last night telling me Snow Bunts were on the move with the nearest being on Pendle Hill plus the bright sky and strong SW>6 I thought Soil Hill has got to produce so arrived up there at 1530 hrs in the howling wind.
After getting some Nyger seed down at the top of Dog Cak alley, most of which blew across to Baildon Moor, I carried on up the track to check the Snipe area before combing the summits and mounds.
At the point where the track starts to drop down a small bird scurried across 20 yds in front of me disappearing into the long grass. Camera poised then the wait knowing it had to be my target bird.
After a couple of breath holding minutes there it was, a cracking female Snow Bunting, my second this year, the other on Jan 1st at Fly Flatts.
A call out to the cavalry but the bird being very flighty went over my head and back to the south end of the track.
Knowing DJS was hot footing it from Swalesmoor I re located the bird which ended up in the same area so I pulled back until Dave arrived.
From then we watched the bird with ease as it seemed to get used to our presence although Dave was crouched in the long grass and I was belly flat on the hillside, we must have looked like an episode of Last of the Summer Wine.
It was amazing to get the bird flying around our heads calling then actually walking within a few feet of us.
Also present were 2 Woodpigeons, 3 singing Skylarks and a fly over Sparrowhawk which luckily didnt spook the Bunt.
The bird looked well settled so hopefully will see the weekend out.
Thanks to Daniel and Nigel, Cullingworth birders for helping get the Nyger down at Leeshaw.
BS