Soil Hill p.m.

Early afternoon and a 1 hour session on Soil Hill in a severe gale WSW>7 gusting 8 but dry and bright. A quick check on the east summit was bad enough but the west summit was unworkable being difficult to even stand up.
                                        The conditions gave me a good opportunity to check the bottom of the North slope where the bulldozer has been working so I followed the tree line down to the bottom and then towards the NK pond to the wrecked Sedge Warbler area walking right along the bottom to the red container. This is a very hazardous area with soft sinking mud and deep ruts but it is exactly like the summits used to be and is ideal for Snow Bunting with vegetation already growing through. A walk into the quarry found the same type of habitat and its now a worry that any passing Snow Buntings will choose this lower area rather than the grassed over tops.
                                           This bottom area is too dangerous to keep a regular check on so its a matter of hoping any passing Bunts get tempted to the Nyjer seed the same as the Reed Bunts have. Nyjer seed is now spread in several areas mainly around the east summit, mounds and track, who knows , we may even get some spring Twite in.

Nice to get a call from blog watcher Sylvia today asking where she could get a view of Waxwings, a first for her, so I directed her to Long Lover Lane and it was pleasing when she rang later to say she had got good views of the birds in a tree just above her, Vicky J also confirmed today that around 40 were still present.

Soil Hill
15 Fieldfare
7 Redwing
100 + Lapwing
1pr Stonechat
3 Meadow Pipits
2 Blackbirds
4 Stock Doves
BS