A quick check at Raggalds Flood found it frozen solid with around 100 small gulls in the area but no lapwings.
On then to check the fields around Bradshaw for interesting gulls followed by a look at the Alder trees on Ingham Lane and failing to provide on both counts.
A little voice kept telling me to avoid Ogden but against my better judgement off I went to try for a Kingfisher snap. When I arrived there the little voice was saying, what a plonker, I warned you.
The whole of Ogden Lane was absolutely grid locked with cars jammed bumper to bumper along the lane so no one could move anywhere. The spirit of new year seemed to have failed with blasting horns and words of abuse that I have,nt even heard in the garage.
Ten minutes later I was on a cold but tranquil Soil Hill where I had 1 hour to do a thorough search.
Down the northern slope produced the best with 28 Fieldfare mobile from the Alder trees to the NK pond field, this pond was also frozen over.
A Snipe came up a few yards in front of me followed by a female Pheasant.
A zig zag search of both summits came up with nothing, not even a Mipit or Skylark but never the less, a pleasant hour up there with a high hope of Snow Bunting.
Nice to bump into blog watcher, Wilsden birder Mark Brookes trekking around the hill also on Bunt hunt, don,t worry Mark, you,ll get one at some point.
Back to work tomorrow till dinner then I can do it all again.
BS