Soil Hill; Isolation week 5

The continued hot dry spell finally ended this week with cloud cover and colder weather appearing from Monday onwards. Although the composition of species remained similar throughout the week, there were a few standout species.

25 April
Visit from 07.45. Total 38 species observed
Fairly steady day in sunny conditions that we have got used to. Regular assortment of established migrants present while two Fieldfare also flew overhead, probably the last of the year.
Just one Wheatear today but an extremely confiding individual that I was able to get some nice shots of.

-Northern Wheatear

26 April
Visit from 09.45. Total 36 species observed
With rain finally forecast in the afternoon I decided to delay my walk until after it had passed. However, once I awoke it was clear that there was no longer any rain due. So I made my way up the hill late morning. Was good to see Nigel up there as well.
Few birds around. At least 4 Wheatears, one of which looked good for Greenland but sadly I lost it very quickly and could not refind it. A pair Stonechat were also nice and there were two Sand Martins buzzing around overhead.
A decent return for a delayed start

-Linnet

-Stonechat

-Sand Martin

27 April
Visit from 07.00. Total 41 species observed
It started overcast but soon cleared into a the standard sunny affair that we have got used to over the last few weeks.
A few bits of note. Up to six Wheatears dotted around the hill, three at the bottom and three at the top. Stonechat still in place as well along with the usual assortment of species. Surprisingly a Barn Owl was putting on something of a show early morning, possibly due to the dull conditions, and a Grey Wagtail flew overhead, my first on patch this year.

-Barn Owl

28 April
Visit from 07.30. Total 37 species observed
Overcast weather took hold today, with a cold wind and occasional spots of rain.
The colder conditions meant a positive change for birds of the hill but a lot of the local birds were much less active.
A male Cuckoo was on the Ned Hill Track. I manouvered myself into a position to get some record shots only for two deer to charge through the undergrowth and flush it out of sight onto the summit. On the top I refound the bird, only for the exact same thing to happen! This time though it took off and flew right over the hill and out of sight. Despite being only the second time I have seen this species here it was really quite frustrating.
Frustration continued when what I'm sure was Yellow Wagtail called overhead. Sadly I couldn't pick up the bird and the calls drifted north. Were it at Spurn it would have been easy, but since this is Soil Hill I had too much doubt to be 100% sure.
Fortunately the morning was rescued in some style once back at the top. A small flock of birds was travelling distantly over the moors, but through bins there was little that could be made out on them, although I thought they could be waders. I tried to grab some shots but as the camera zoomed in I lost them leaving me with only a couple of photos at range. Assuming it would forever remain a mystery, I quickly checked what photos I had and was stunned to see glorious white wing bars and trailing legs. Black-tailed Godwits. The birds of the spring so far, absolutely buzzing.

-Black-tailed Godwit

29 April

Visit from 08.00. Total 37 species observed.

Fairly grey and uneventful morning. Birds of note restricted to a single male Wheatear and the male Stonechat still present. Colder conditions had quietened a few of the established migrants as well, with only 4 Willow Warblers singing today.

30 April

Visit from 09.00. Total 37 species observed. 

Slightly delayed start I was hoping to visit once the band of rain had passed through. Sadly the band of rain was delayed and I decided to make my visit during the morning as usual. Once again very little to report. Up to two Wheatear at the bottom of the North Slope. Slight increase in Pied Wagtails on the Taylor Lane manure heaps, probably due to the recent rainfall.

01 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 43 species observed

Despite the high species total there were few standout species. The best of it was a flyover Raven but there was also a Wheatear and a Goldcrest.

Species List:

Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Rock Dove, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Cuckoo, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Snipe, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Western Barn Owl, Little Owl, European Green Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, Roe Deer, Rabbit, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Orange Tip,