With just 1 hour to spare this evening it was up to Soil Hill mainly in the hope of fly overs as Soil Hill is now near redundant until late autumn when we start looking for Woodcock, Jack Snipe and Snow Buntings although there,s always a chance of picking up a migrant bird passing through tempted down into the tree line.
Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were present on the summit although the grass is well overgrown now so impossible to see them on the deck.
Looking long distance from the top of the hill to the bottom a Long Eared Owl was on a post briefly before flying into the trees not to be re located despite trekking down to the bottom and back so came away with 6 very blurry photos taken at such distance and in very dark clouds and drizzle.
Otherwise it was down to a large flock of Starling and a single Black Headed gull in a newly mowed field plus a few LBB gulls heading for Oxenhope which I plan to visit tomorrow if all goes according to plan.
BS
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2025).