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 14th 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 13th, 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 14th 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 13th, 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 12th until the 15th, when it was joined by a second individual before they both departed.
A single Tree Pipit was heard flying south on the 13th 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 14th 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 15th, and six on the 12th.
Remarkably we were able to find three Common Whitethroat on the 13th, but the only other record was one calling at the top of the North Slope on the 15th. 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 13th, 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 13th and 15th when groups of eight and 13 respectively flew south. On the 13th there was a reasonable movement of Barn Swallow, with an estimated 50 individuals, and again the 15th was the only other date of note with an estimated 35 heading south. Two Sand Martin again on the 13th 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 13th and 14th, 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 13th, 14th and 15th 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.
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 15th when a skein of 177 flew southeast over Halifax, the largest flock of the week. On the 16th there were 328 individuals that flew over in five skeins, and on the 17th 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 14th and 9 going the same direction on the 17th.
- This week saw the first Goosander of the autumn, with a flock of seven heading distantly south on the 15th, before a closer individual flew northeast on the 16th.
- 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 15th 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 17th,
my first the 31st August and only the third this year. The Grey
Partridge were seen on the 12th and the 14th 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 13th and the 16th 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 15th and a couple on the 17th.
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 15th.
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.
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