After a report midday from AC of 20 + Golden Plovers at the Shelf Moor trailer park field I headed down there on my way to Soil Hill as soon as I got free from the shopping bit.
On arrival the Lapwing flock of 39 was in the second field up along with a few small gulls and around 80 Starling.
A scan of the field found just 4 Golden Plover present and disappointingly near enough out of camera range.
Good to bump into NK there who had just seen 4 Snipe in the juncus field.
After 10 minutes of watching the whole shebang lifted up with the Starlings heading off >SE whilst the 4 Goldies headed towards the Green Lane area with Nigel in hot pursuit but phone later that he did,nt re locate them.
The Lapwings continued to circle around as I left.
Meanwhile, up on a bleak and very soggy Soil Hill a full hours search of both summits and the mounds etc failed to produce anything in the way of Snow Buntings. Just 1 flushed Snipe, 1 cock Pheasant and a single Skylark.
Good effort by Angela and Gary for their search of the hill late morning, again with no luck.
Don,t worry , they,ll be more on the way and the December arrivals are usually longer stayers.
Heavy freezing up here in the gods tonight so could be a good day tomorrow, unless like me you,re working.
BS