1530 hrs and up to Soil Hill with Snow Bunting, Ring Ouzel and Jack Snipe in mind plus possible Pink Footed geese overhead but only managed the Jack Snipe with the bonus of a photo.
As I first walked up the track 2 Common Snipe flushed in front of me and zlg zagged high over to the nw corner of the hill. A steady trek across the east summit with loaded camera at the ready finally found the Jack Snipe right at the very northern end of the summit on the mounds. It flew low and fast before dropping down in the centre of the west summit where I left it be.
After firing about 50 shots at it I came out with one acceptable one, the rest being out of focus or badly silhouetted against the background.
A check of the northern slope and tree line produced 26 Meadow Pipits whilst 164 Lapwing were down on the Shay along with around 100 Starling and 21 small gulls.
4 Mallard were on the NK pond whilst the sky and Ring Ouzel alley remained quiet.
This is the first year I,ve known for there not to be over wintering Skylarks on the hill.
BS