Soil Hill birding; updates from the week 21st - 25th September

 This was again a short week due to spending the first half in Ireland visiting Lia’s family that are living there. That said, this condensed week really brought out the best of Soil Hill, with some very enjoyable visible migration (although very limited migrant numbers in the bushes), as well as a couple of huge surprises. Although for the most part the winds have been from the northwest and quite chilly, conditions have been clear with any rainfall occurring overnight. 

• There is one undoubted highlight of this week, with not one but two mega species for me here. At 09:09 on the 24^th I was stood on the North Slope VP counting the lively morning passage. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a small flock of birds passing directly overhead which I did not immediately recognise. Quickly grabbing the camera, I rattled off as many shots as I could while the birds headed west and out of sight. A quick glance at the photos showed me clearly two Bar-tailed Godwit, recognised by their long, slightly upturned bills, as well as three other waders. In a panic, I messaged out the news should any other birders be able to pick them up. It was not until later when I studied the photos a bit better did I spot that the other three birds had black armpits, making them Grey Plover. This is two patch ticks, in the same flock and brings me up to 16 wader species for Soil Hill. Of all the amazing birding encounters I have had on this patch, this ranks up there with the very best. 

-Bar-tailed Godwit & Grey Plover

-Grey Plover

Its been quite the week for waders on Soil Hill, even away from the two exceptional species that I added to my list on the 24^th. 

• On the 25^th my optimistic search produced the first Jack Snipe of the autumn, as it typically erupted from the grass under my feet before flying a short distance and dropping into the adjacent field. It is still quite early, but good to know they are using the site despite its overall dryness.

• One species that has been regular on the weeks VizMig has been Common Snipe, with the highest count being 14 that all flew west on the 22^nd, followed by eight that flew west on the 24^th. A boot around the wetter areas also on the 24^th, flushed five different individuals.

• On the 24^th the first Golden Plover of the autumn could be heard calling, before picking them up as they headed south. These birds then u-turned and flew back north passing straight over me.  

• The only other wader species encountered this week include a Curlew that was feeding on the Bottom Cattle Fields on the 23^rd, and two sightings of Northern Lapwing that flew north on the 24^th and then one that flew east on the 25^th.

-European Golden Plover

-Common Snipe

In spite of the winds been mostly northerly, with just one day of southwesterlies, the main feature of the week has been visible migration. I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I knew my schedule would give me a full autumn here. Every day I have even taken the scope with me to help pick up distant migrants, and it has paid off with quite a few bits of interest. 

• The main species on passage this week has been Meadow Pipit. While the numbers have not be exceptional, they have been reasonable and consistent with 344 on the 24^th being the highest count of the week, followed by 259 on the 23^rd and 213 on the 25^th. Most have travelled directly over the hill, but others have passed further to the west, down the valley.

• There have been a few notable others moving, including Lesser Redpoll on the 23^rd, 25^th and two on the 24^th which are the first of the autumn. There have also been Siskins on two dates, the 24^th and 25^th. Commoner finches have also been moving in smaller numbers, but no counts of more than 10 for any species.

• Hirundines have continued in small numbers throughout the week, but have gone missing on some days. The best count of Barn Swallow was 24 south on the 23^rd, with 13 south on the 25^th being the only other double figure count. Eight House Martin flew south on the 21^st and nine flew north on the 23^rd, for some reason.

• Small totals of Pied Wagtail have also flown south, with 10 on the 25^th being the highest count, followed by 9 on the 23^rd. Grey Wagtail on the other hand has been in very small numbers, with no more than two on any date.

Migrants in the bushes have been well down on the previous weeks, as almost all of the summer breeders have moved on. Although stranger things have happened, it seems unlikely that any of them will make a late reappearance. 

• Although I said it the previous week, what is almost certainly the last Whinchat of the year was present distantly on Taylor Lane on the 22^nd. The revised final total for the autumn is now a conservative 17 individuals. 

• The only grounded migrant that has seen an increase in numbers this week is Stonechat, with birds seen nearly every day generally scattered around the site, with high counts of four on the 21^st and 23^rd.

• The last warbler standing of the autumn is Chiffchaff, and they have been present every day although in small numbers, with a high count of three on the 21^st being the best of the week. 

• Finally, Goldcrest has been seen every day but the only day with multiple individuals was the 24^th when three were recorded in different locations.

-European Stonechat

While the winter wildfowl still keep arriving I will continue to break down sightings of these species until the variety returns to simply small counts of common species. Once again it was a good if not an exceptional week for geese and ducks on Soil Hill. 

• After last weeks near continuous stream of Pink-footed Geese, a single skein of 71 on the 21^st and two skeins totalling 182 on the 22^nd was not what I had imagined for this week. That was until the final day, the 25^th when the floodgates opened and 662 flew past between 08:00 - 10:00, in 10 different skeins. The largest of these were 151 and 111, both of which passed well to the north over Keighley. Greylag Geese were limited to four flying north on the 25^th.

• The Eurasian Teal remained on the NK Pond throughout the week, with the highest count being five on the 23^rd. The only other notable duck sighting of the week was a Goosander that flew south on 22^nd, before dropping into Ogden. 

-Pink-footed Goose

-Eurasian Teal

That has pretty much covered all the sightings from the week, with very little else of note. There have been a few Raven sightings during the week, with two on the 23^rd and then three together on the 21^st. And finally a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew east on the 24^th. 

-Northern Raven

Species List:
Soil Hill: Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Goosander, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Grey Plover, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Common Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting, 

Soil Hill birding; updates from the week 12th - 17th September

Sadly this was Lias last week on the Hill, as she returns the tropical climes of Brazil. And it was quite the send off as the first real autumn days rolled in this week, with a cold northerly wind and single figure temperatures, combined with glorious blue skies. In addition there was the steady transition of birdlife as the first winter migrants began to arrive, seeing off the final summer visitors. 

• The 14^th was a warm day once the early morning fog cleared, and it seemed promising for raptors but we were limited to six Common Buzzards. That was until we descended from the Hill and were walking back along Bradshaw Lane when we spotted a raptor high up that was immediately something different. Although distant, the photos showed it was a nice Marsh Harrier. It cruised slowly NW, taking it over the Soil Hill area, making it my second of the year.

As the autumn has progressed the number of migrants has continued to drop off with this week maintaining that course. Many of the summer warblers have now moved on, with just the last few hanging on. Not long before the thrushes arrive to keep things lively!    

• Almost certainly the last Spotted Flycatcher was actively feeding at the bottom of the North Slope on the morning of the 13^th, the last warm morning before the colder northerly winds set in. Its been a phenomenal autumn for this species here, with this individual bringing to the total up to seven in 2022! 

• Another species that has almost certainly run its course is Whinchat, with a single on Taylor Lane on the 14^th likely to be the last of the year. If this is the last of the year, it rounds off a truly phenomenal autumn with a total estimate of 16 different individuals.

• One species that has certainly increased in abundance this week is Stonechat. The first of the autumn appeared on the 13^th, when we were able to find four different individuals. Then we had birds on two other dates, although just singles. A single Wheatear was enjoying the horse paddocks from the 12^th until the 15^th, when it was joined by a second individual before they both departed. 

• A single Tree Pipit was heard flying south on the 13^th in a good passage of Meadow Pipits, in which 118 were counted in an hour, and an estimated 300 flew south in total. 

• This week there was just two Willow Warbler sightings, both on the 14^th and both on Ned Hill Track. In start contrast, Chiffchaff was seen on every single day, although the cold winds certainly contributed to numbers dropping off at the end of the week. The best count was seven on the 15^th, and six on the 12^th.

• Remarkably we were able to find three Common Whitethroat on the 13^th, but the only other record was one calling at the top of the North Slope on the 15^th. In the past the species has lingered on Soil Hill until the end of September, but there is no evidence that this year will have such a lingering individual, as we have searched hard for the last individuals. There was also a male Blackcap at the bottom of the North Slope on the 13^th, the only sighting of the week. 

• Small flurries of Hirundines kept moving during the week, but there was no sustained movement worth counting. There were House Martins on two dates, the 13^th and 15^th when groups of eight and 13 respectively flew south. On the 13^th there was a reasonable movement of Barn Swallow, with an estimated 50 individuals, and again the 15^th was the only other date of note with an estimated 35 heading south. Two Sand Martin again on the 13^th probably see the species out for what has been a very poor year for them on Soil Hill.

• This week Goldcrest returned to the Hill with individuals recorded on almost every single day, in a variety of locations. The highest count was still only three on the 13^th and 14^th, but it is good to at least hear these teeny birds on almost every visit.  

• On the livelier days there was finally an appearance of Siskin this year, with small groups recorded on the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th flying across the Hill calling. Having had none in the spring, it was good to finally get some, especially since the autumn seems quite slow for finches so far.

•  The only Jay this week was a pair that flew south together on the 13^th, which as you’ve probably gathered at this point was the liveliest day for movement of all species this week.

In addition to the usual passage and summer migrants that have been slowly filtering through, there has been a burst of wildfowl activity on the Hill this week. Although the species involved have not been super unusual, it still represents a good start to the autumn and a sure indicator that the season is progressing rapidly. 

• The highlight of the week has been the first skeins of wintering Pink-footed Geese returning from Iceland. Although nationally there had been numerous sightings in the preceding days, the first flock over Soil Hill did not occur until the 15^th when a skein of 177 flew southeast over Halifax, the largest flock of the week. On the 16^th there were 328 individuals that flew over in five skeins, and on the 17^th 359 headed southeast in eight skeins. 

• Another goose species appearing in numbers this week was Greylag Goose. I was informed that this increase in records is due to the feral English population moving to Scotland to moult during the summer before returning, and that Icelandic birds don't arrive until November. Interesting stuff anyway. Individuals were seen on four dates this week, heading in all different directions, with the largest group being 11 heading west on the 14^th and 9 going the same direction on the 17^th. 

• This week saw the first Goosander of the autumn, with a flock of seven heading distantly south on the 15^th, before a closer individual flew northeast on the 16^th.  

• Shockingly I have not seen Eurasian Teal on Soil Hill since October 2019, so it was pleasing to have three individuals on the NK Pond on the 15^th this week. They spent their time resting on the small shoreline that has appeared where they preened and were pestered by the local Moorhens.   

  The best of the rest was pretty limited this week. The standout was probably a Collared Dove that flew north over Taylor Lane on the 17^th, my first the 31^st August and only the third this year. The Grey Partridge were seen on the 12th and the 14^th with a male and two females sitting out nicely on the latter date.

  Remarkably the Curlew remained throughout the week, heard every day between the 13^th and the 16^th but never seen. Presumably feeding in one of the more distant livestock fields, but certainly not feeding quietly. There were just two dates for Common Snipe this week, with a single on the 15^th and a couple on the 17^th.

  The only notable other passerine sighting was a group of four Bullfinch that dropped in to the bushes at the top of the North Slope on the 15^th.

  And as a final note, there was another notable sighting this week when a Herring Gull with a darvic ring was in the reservoir field. Frustratingly the grass was just a little two long to get the full code, although I was able to get some of it. I sent it off to PC to see what he suggested, and he thought it could be a York bird and to maybe pass it to them. This is still on my to do list, but its unlikely it will lead anywhere. 

-Marsh Harrier

-Stonechat

-Spotted Flycatcher

-Eurasian Teal

-Goosander

-Greylag Geese

-Pink-footed Geese

-Herring Gull with darvic ring

-Lesser Black-backed Gull

-Collared Dove

-Dunnock

Species List:

Soil Hill: Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Goosander, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Western Barn Owl, Little Owl, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, 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, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting, 

 

Spurn Bird Obsveratory - Migfest

  Having missed the Spurn Migfest last year, I was keen to make amends, whilst simultaneously taking Lia to her first of these fantastic birdwatching festivals. A promising forecast got everyone excited but it failed to deliver any notable arrival of migrants, although this was compensated for with a few rarities and a healthy Meadow Pipit passage.

  We spent most of our time in Churchfield where we missed most of the Pipit action but did manage to connect with most of the rarities as well as ring a few nice birds. The best of these were five Tree Pipit on the Friday morning, as well as a couple of Pied Flycatcher during the week as well.

  It was also on Friday morning that I had my weekend highlight, when a stunning adult Honey Buzzard came cruising straight over Churchfield showing extremely well. This is a Spurn and Yorkshire tick for me and afforded me better views than the only other one that I have seen in the UK, the bird in Suffolk earlier in the year. We also visited the Citrine Wagtail that had been present for at least a week prior, and although our views were limited we did get to hear the bird calling multiple times, a beautiful sound to hear among the commoner species present in the same area.

  Sadly the rest of Friday and Saturday morning were spent in Hull Royal Infirmary for reasons I won’t go into here. Once we returned to Spurn we enjoyed more pleasant birding with poor views of the female Pallid Harrier that visited the area on the Sunday. The fog arrived at the worst time for us to see the bird, and being in Church Field we did not have good views across the area being hemmed in by hedges on all four sides.

  Other nice birds included a 1^st-winter Caspian Gull on Kilnsea Wetlands, along with three Spoonbill. A couple of Hobby were seen flying south. An Arctic Skua was mobbing terns offshore and there were the usual brilliant numbers of waders moving with the tide. Another brilliant weekend was spent here, and another fantastic Migfest.

  And during the weekend I finally got a new Odonata species when I at last connected with the Willow Emerald Damselflies that have recently established themselves in the area. Since 2020 when the species was first recorded it has gone from strength to strength and is now common at Spurn. I only had one individual which was perched on branches overhanging Pallas’ Pond.

-Tree Pipit

-European Honey Buzzard

-Citrine Wagtail

-Pallid Harrier

-Willow Emerald Damselfly

Species List:
Spurn Bird Observatory: Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Common Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Common Pheasant, Little Grebe, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Pied Avocet, European Golden Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Ruff, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Arctic Skua, Black-headed Gull, Little Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Red-throated Loon, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, European Honey Buzzard, Pallid Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Western Yellow Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting, 

Soil Hill birding; updates from the week 04th - 08th September

 This was another shorter week on Soil Hill due to the latter half of the week been spent at Spurn participating in the MigFest there. Although there was an absence of pleasant and sunny conditions, we were still able to make it out birding every day and there were good birds to see, as you would expect for the second week of September. There were no MEGA species as such, but there was a nice scattering of notable migrants to enjoy, especially since it may be the last time I see many of these species this year. 

• On the 5^th there was probably the standout migrant of the week with just the second Common Redstart of the year, which was extremely elusive in the Entrance Copse. After some brief views we then lost the bird in foggy conditions.   

• Once again Whinchats trickled through the Hill with two on the 4^th and a single lingering until the 5^th. Interestingly the two on the 4^th were on the walls near the mast, where the bird on the 5^th was in the usual location at the bottom of the North Slope. It is getting to the impossible stage trying to work out how many have passed through during the autumn, but I would think the two were both new birds, and the single was probably a lingerer from the previous week, given the location. As such, this brings the estimated total to 15 for the autumn, but I have no idea really. 

• The 5^th was a bumper day for Grasshopper Warbler with no less than three appearing at different locations around the site. This is a new record total for me on Soil Hill, although there have no doubt been occasions where the species has been in greater numbers, although undetected. These will almost certainly be the last of the year here. The only other different warbler was Blackcap, where singles were seen on all but one day, with a male and a browncap both been seen on alternate dates. 

• The last few Willow Warblers are still being seen occasionally this week, with as many as six recorded on the 5^th, and still three the following day. Otherwise just singles have been seen, and the species has been harder to find, in contrast to Chiffchaff which is being seen daily with the peak count being seven on the 6^th, with six still present the following day.

• Another species making a much less dramatic exit from Soil Hill is Common Whitethroat. While seven on the 5^th was an impressive total, generally we have only been able to find one or two on each day, and it will not be long before they leave us completely. 

• There was a nice and sudden passage of House Martin on the 8^th, when a flock of 16 birds all headed east together in rather gloomy conditions. Barn Swallow remain ever-present but in fluctuating numbers, varying from just a single on the 4^th to 15 on the 7^th. No noticeable vizmig has occurred as yet, but it will not be long before these two all leave us.  

• There was an impressive six Grey Wagtail recorded blogging on the 5^th, with another two seen on the 7^th. Hopefully there will be some reasonable vizmig of this species as the autumn progresses.  

• Two Jay flew south over Ned Hill Track on the 2^nd. Before this, a single had been jumping between trees on the North Slope Tree-Line and this was assumed to be one of these birds heading south. A nice Jay passage would be appreciated, so it is off to a good start. 

  Birding generally has been poorer compared to recent weeks, in response to poorer weather conditions. However, we made the most of it and there were still a few highlights for us to enjoy. Not least of these was a fantastic view of the covey of seven Grey Partridge in a field off Perseverance Road on the 7^th. They sat for some time in the open allowing for us to really watch them, rather than them dashing for cover or hiding in the grass. This same field has been particularly popular with Rook this week, with up to 28 seen feeding there together on the 6^th.

  A juvenile Buzzard has been hanging around the hill all week, and can even be seen perched on the walls at the bottom of the North Slope. On the only truly sunny day of the week, the 5^th, there was a light passage of three additional birds going south, but otherwise raptor activity remained pretty muted.

  On the 8^th a Curlew was heard at the bottom of the North Slope, which was the only occasion where the species was recorded this week. Two Snipe seen flying over together on the 4^th were also the only observations of this species during the week. For snipe this is a particularly poor return for a species that was nearly daily in early September last year. Hopefully the weeks rainfall will restore the bottom fields and that the species will once again return to winter in good numbers. 

-Common Redstart

-Common Buzzard

-Grasshopper Warbler

-Willow Warbler

-Grey Partridge

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,