This is the last full week in August for this year, and what an August it has been with an incredible 75 species recorded, an absolutely unbelievable month for inland birding generally, let alone Soil Hill. This week the good birds continued with a steady trickle of commoner migrants and a few other goodies sprinkled in for good measure. When the birding is like this it makes you excited to get out in the morning to see what you can find.
The bird (s) of the week were undoubtedly Yellow Wagtails. Remarkably, over the course of the week we recorded this species on four occasions, three in the same morning in what seems to be a remarkable run for the species at this site where I have only recorded it once previously.
-The first of the week was on the morning of the 23rd when we were at the bottom of the North Slope. Fortunately, I was quickly able to pick up the bird and had some time to set up my camera to make sure I got a few photos. The bird was a little distant, and in the fog and panic I managed only a couple of blurred record shots, but since I failed to get anything when I last saw the species here, I am pleased I got something. The bird didn’t stop and continued west towards Ogden.
-The next three records were all on the 26th, with an individual flying over Taylor Lane at 06:44, and two flying over the bottom of the North Slope at 07:26 and then finally at 08:29. This corresponded with a trickle of other species, all of which were flying South-West. Sadly I only managed a few photos of the first bird, especially since the second bird flew really low over us.
Compared to the previous weeks, totals of migrants dropped
off somewhat this week but there was still plenty to look at, including a long
overdue addition to the year-list here.
- On the 25th the first Common Redstart of the year finally appeared on the Ned Hill Track, picked out excellently by Lia. This bird is the first time I have ever found a male here, and the lack of covert hooks suggests it may even be an adult. It was elusive and mobile so photos were at a premium. In the evening JJL found a redstart in the fields near Bradshaw which we went to look at, and superficially appears to be the same bird, showing how these migrants move through once they arrive.
- During the week we only recorded Whinchat on three dates, but that did include two together on the 24th, the others being singles on the 25th and 26th. All of these birds have been in the same area at the bottom of the North Slope, which makes judging the total number difficult. However, by my reckoning, there have now been seven different individual Whinchat pass through so far this autumn.
- There was a light scattering of Wheatear during the week, with observations on three dates; three on the 22nd, two on the 24th and a single on the 26th.
- The only Spotted Flycatcher of the week appeared in the garden of Rabbit Dell during the afternoon of the 22nd, as we drove back over the Hill on our return from the supermarket. The bird did not appear present in the morning, so could have been brought down by the arrival of rainfall around lunchtime. It then stayed in the area until the 24th.
- Despite the many rarities so far this August, the month really belongs to Tree Pipit. This week was no exception with birds recorded every single day. Almost all of these were birds on vis-mig, with the highest counts being four on the 23rd, five on the 24th (within an hours period), and an incredible 11 on the 25th; where nine flew south and two were grounded on the summit, the first grounded individuals this year.
- The contingent of warblers remained present for this week, with Sedge Warblers making an appearance on the 23rd and then two on the 24th, again both juveniles. The juvenile Grasshopper Warbler was still present on three dates this week, and was even reeling, or attempting to, on the 23rd. And a male and female/immature Blackcap have also been seen on and off at the bottom of the North Slope.
- There were still a few Willow Warbler passing during the week, with 10 on the 22nd and 11 on the 23rd, before numbers dropped to just single figures. Chiffchaff is now being seen almost daily, with three on the 25th being the highest count. This count included the first singing bird of the autumn.
- The final few Common Swifts continued to pass through this week. A single was seen on the 22nd, followed by a late group of six on the 26th. Also on the 26th there was a flock of nine House Martin that slowly flew south, the only sightings of the week.
- Although it is not yet the time for true migrants, Goldcrest has already begun to appear more regularly, especially along Taylor Lane where at least one individual has been seen daily, and three seen together on the 23rd. As the autumn draws on we can look forward to more of these beauties.
On the none migrant front there continued to be a steady trickle
of other interesting birds. The most notable of which is the first Green
Woodpecker of the year which was on Taylor Lane on the 23rd. Two
Great Spotted Woodpecker were also seen flying south distantly on the 26th,
but this is a more regularly encountered species at this time of year.
The full contingent of 10 Grey Partridge was seen
again on the 23rd, although in two smaller groups of seven and
three. There was one Curlew during the week, with a single on the 26th
which was calling further up the valley. Common Snipe was also recorded
on the just the 26th, but this was three individuals dropping in to
the bottom Cattle Fields, as hopefully numbers
build up into the autumn.
And finally, we recorded our second highest total of Mistle
Thrush of the year on the 22nd when 24 flew over Taylor Lane.
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Western Barn Owl, Little Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, European Green Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, Spotted Flycatcher, European Robin, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Western Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,
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