Soil Hill 1400-1500 hrs Grey and cool in a WNW>5
A check on Soil Hill mainly to skywatch in the hopes of a continuation of the weeks Pink Footed Goose trans Pennine movement but other than gulls the skies remained quiet. The usual species were present with Reed Bunting, Stonechats and Meadow Pipits whilst Fieldfare numbers were down to 28 with 3 Mistle Thrush amongst them but not a Dusky Thrush in sight.
Lapwings from the Shay were mobile with a count of 214, give or take a few, but none around the Raggalds due to football matches all day so todays flock could be the two combined.
Strange that for the first time there are no over wintering Skylark up there and when any turn up they are gone by the next day. Id have thought conditions were better for them now with the longer vegetation providing more shelter.
A pair of Teal were on the NK pond ,probable move arounds from the group on Oxenhpoe reservoir.
1pr Teal
1m Reed Bunting
3 Meadow Pipit
1pr Stonechat
28 Fieldfare
3 Mistle Thrush
214 Lapwing
+ usual gulls, corvids and Starlings.
BS