very bottom on the excavations by the now
dug up Sedge Warbler pond.
The LEO was up on the summit. 600mm hand held..
Back to Soil Hill via Ned Hill track late afternoon with hopes of my first Stonechat of the year but not to be. After a scramble back down to the bottom of the north face and a fleeting glimpse of 1 Long Eared Owl diving for cover I continued on across treacherous country where the excavations are taking place in an attempt to sort out the duck situation on the NK pond.
Half way across the squelching mud I turned back and saw an owl quartering the top of the summit and dropping just over the top of the slope.
A scan through the bins proved Long Eared Owl so it was about turn and back up the slope.
Back up on the summit I searched around, once I,d started breathing normal and got over the thoughts of a heart attack dashing up that hillside, but the LEO was not to be re located.
A few Mipits were on the top and after a Snow Bunting check in the usual areas it was back to base.
Walking back along the Ned Hill track a Little Owl flew across the lower fields.
BS