Soil Hill birding; updates from the week 6th - 14th August

I was away working for the first few days of August, but the second week really brought home everything great about August on Soil Hill. Despite the heatwave, Lia and I managed to record over 40 species on nearly every morning before the oppressive weather set in. There were plenty of migrants scattered around in the various shrubby areas, including some of the more unusual ones, as well as my second patch tick of the year, bringing me up to 117 in total...

• The undoubted highlight of the week was a Lesser Whitethroat that was in the Koi Farm Copse on the morning of the 10^th August. As we walked up early doors a Sylvia warbler was ticking in the garden along Taylor Lane, but due to a Blackcap being present the previous day and the fact that we needed to check the bottom of the North Slope before the quarry opened, we made haste and didn’t investigate further. It was only when we saw this bird that it became clear. It showed incredibly well considering, which was awfully frustrating given my current camera predicament. Digiscoping through binoculars doesn’t work so well with Passerines. Huge thanks to JJL for use of his spare camera which allowed me to get some shots when we returned in the evening, when the bird continued to show well. I have searched for this species so long at this site, it was an incredible feeling to finally find one.

• On the morning of the 9^th a Short-eared Owl was hunting the fields along Ned Hill Track. It has been nearly two years since I last saw this species here, so it was much appreciated. Being a bigger bird I was able to get some digiscoped photos, although they are certainly lacking some quality.  

Migrants were really the stars of the week, as they usually are at this time of year. The warm weather brought out lots of activity with many birds flycatching and showing well in the early morning light. 

• The first Spotted Flycatcher of the week was on the 10^th when Lia found and identified the bird as we were waiting for the Lesser Whitethroat to appear. In the evening it showed very well on the wires above the Koi Farm Copse. The second of the week was in the North Slope Tree-Line on the 14^th, and it too showed very well.

•  The tall grass at the bottom of the North Slope has been a hubbub of activity, mainly Reed Buntings, Whitethroats and Goldfinches but also a few Warblers. At least one Grasshopper Warbler is lingering there, with another individual reeling at the top of the North Slope on the 14^th, so at least two birds present on that date. There has also been two Sedge Warbler in the area, occasionally showing well but generally elusive. Both are juveniles, so could indicate that breeding did occur here, but I personally remain skeptical.  

• As is typical for August, there was a good showing of Tree Pipit here. Often we heard an individual but it then did not call again and we did not see it, so would not commit to the ID. However, there were still enough individuals for which cooperated that during the week we managed to record eight different birds, some flying right overhead.   

• We also had a brilliant showing of Willow Warblers. Every day had double figures with a new record count of 20 on the 8^th, and counts of 17 on the 9^th and 16 on the 6^th. The yellow juveniles absolutely dazzled in the early morning sun.

• There has been light passage with Swifts seen on most days, including 17 on the 14^th. There have also been two dates with House Martins two on the 11^th and 4 on the 14^th.

Other birds included the first Common Snipe of the Autumn on the 13^th, Great Spotted Woodpeckers on the 10^th and 13^th, the latter date being the first time I have recorded two different individuals on the same day here, and finally two Ravens distantly mobbing a Buzzard on the 15^th. 

But perhaps the real 'best of the rest' was a covey of 10 Grey Partridge, clearly demonstrating successful breeding on the Hill this year. They were first seen on the 6^th before then being seen on the subsequent four days. It really was a sight to behold.

-Lesser Whitethroat

-Short-eared Owl

-Spotted Flycatcher

-Sedge Warbler

-Tree Pipit recording by LNK

Species List:
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, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Short-eared Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Spotted Flycatcher, European Robin, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, Roe Deer, Weasel, European Rabbit,