Mixenden Reservoir twitching Whooper Swan

 Today was Whooper Swan day in Calderdale, and across the entire north of England it seemed. I had already done a round on Soil Hill mid-morning and found nothing of particular note, with no apparent migration on display. Having just returned to the house, I got ACs message about a flock of Whoopers coming north from Shibden. From the bedroom window I managed to pick them up, before jumping in the car, without my phone, and racing up to Ned Hill Track to try and intercept them.

Once at Ned Hill Track I failed to locate the birds, and after a 10-minute scan I assumed they had gone up the other side of the hill and returned home. No sooner had I arrived home than the phone went off again. Once again it was AC reporting another flock of Whoopers coming north. Once again I picked them up from the window, before racing down to the car and back up to the Ned Hill Track. Once again they failed to arrive, but a follow-up message from AC suggested they may have landed on Mixenden. I had a quick look down, and yep, there did indeed appear to be some swans, although hugging the near shore and so primarily out of sight.

Once at the reservoir it was clear why I hadn’t picked up any swans from Ned Hill Track, as both flocks had clearly dropped off here. In total I counted 111 in the field, but checking photos it does appear to be 112. After a short while watching them I returned to the car, ready for setting off back, when another message from AC came through, warning of a third flock. Expecting them to drop in, I headed back to the reservoir, only to see them through the houses, passing the hill on the other side. Fortunately, this latest flock then looped back round, past Soil Hill before dropping down onto Ogden. An excellent Whooper Swan day 2023!

And there was another nice bonus on Mixenden Reservoir, with a smart drake Common Scoter. It kept mostly to the far end, nearly always facing away in strong wind, but certainly an unexpected addition to the visit. And then, just as I was wrapping up, a Red Kite drifted over heading south. A brilliant day birding in Halifax! 

-Whooper Swans

-Common Scoter

-Red Kite

Species List:
Mixenden Reservoir: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Whooper Swan, Mallard, Common Scoter, Common Wood Pigeon, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Red Kite, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, 

Soil Hill birding; updates from the week 17th October - 23rd October

  Its been quite a week on the Hill, with some days being very pleasant and producing incredible migration, while others have been awful with strong winds, rain and thick fog until late afternoon. This is the time of year when the weather can dictate the birding on offer, so it has been pleasing that the days which have been calmer have produced some of the best birding days I have ever had here.  

• The first day with notable passage was the 18^th, when Woodpigeons really started to get going with 1291 all heading south. Most of these birds went south within the first hour of light and seemed to die off after that. This is only a prelude to what was to follow for VizMig this week.  

• It is simply impossible to describe the scenes on Soil Hill on the 19^th this week. The first easterly winds of the autumn and fortunately it didn’t bring the mist and rain that they normally do. What it did bring though we masses and masses of thrushes. I headed up before first light and could already hear flocks of Redwings moving in the dark. Once the light cleared at around 07:30 I started counting as thousands of birds started passing through. With the torrent not slowing down until after lunch, I ended up staying until 12:30 watching flocks pile through. In the end I managed 12679 Redwing, with an additional 1035 Fieldfare and 812 Woodpigeon, as well as a small selection of the usual finches. Outstanding stuff, exactly the kind of day I had hoped for when I knew I would be here all October. 

• The 22^nd of October saw the wind switch back to southwesterly, and with no rain in the forecast it looked promising for VizMig. And so it turned out to be with big groups of thrushes, mostly Fieldfare, heading south from first light until 10:30. In total I managed 3308 Fieldfare with 934 Redwing mixed in for good measure. Woodpigeons were slightly down on what I expected, with ‘just’ 449 going south. Another very enjoyable days birding. 

-Redwing

-Fieldfare

-Woodpigeon

Among the throngs of migrants there were a few standout birds to enjoy as well, some real local rarities and others that are just special for here, including a patch tick…  

• Although it was long expected as a patch tick this autumn, it was nice to clinch my first Brambling on the 22^nd when a single flew south over the North Slope calling. Later a flock of seven also flew south but much more distant. This is my 121^st species for the patch! Fittingly, it was also my 100^th on Soil Hill this year.

• On the 19^th, just as I was finishing up the insane mornings VizMig, I picked up a Red Kite slowly drifting north, to the east of my VP. It came a little closer but was always high and continued to slowly move it’s way north. Remarkably, this is my first of the year here. Long overdue!

• On the 22^nd there was a nice surprise in the North Slope Tree-Line when I spotted a day-roosting Tawny Owl perched atop one of the fenceposts that runs down the slope. Its almost two years to the day since I first found this species roosting on the Hill, and I have only seen it one other time since, so to find it again on the nearly the same perch is quite the coincidence. 

• The final real notable species for the week was in the afternoon of the 23^rd when the high pitched calls alerted me to the presence of a flock of Long-tailed Tits. It was this time of year in 2020 when I also found this species here, when they lingered for just short of week. This time it was a flock of nine birds on the Ned Hill Track. Time will tell how long they will keep visiting the Hill for.  

-Brambling

-Red Kite

-Tawny Owl

-Long-tailed Tit

There were a few bits of Wildfowl this week, some on passage and others visiting the site itself. Although there were no huge numbers on passage, it’s always nice to see flocks on the move. 

• It’s been a long time coming, but the first Whooper Swans of the autumn finally passed south past Soil Hill this week. A group of 15 went south on the 19^th, passing down the Ogden Valley, with another small group of 8 on the 22^nd, which went out much further to the east over Bradford. 

• The 19^th was the only date this week where Pink-footed Geese were moving, with two small skeins totally just 91 birds heading northwest in the low cloud. 

• The NK Pond has hosted variable numbers of Teal during the week, with sightings every other day ranging from just three individuals to a personal record of 9 on the 22^nd.

-Whooper Swan

-Pink-footed Goose

-Eurasian Teal

  There was plenty of other good winter to be birding this week, even on days with poorer weather conditions. The poorer weather conditions produced a huge count of Common Snipe on the 20^th, when a passing ATV flushed a flock of 15 off the summit. Further walking produced another eight individuals bringing the total to 23! Another impressive count was on the 22^nd, when I totalled 15. My hunts for Jack Snipe have been successful for the most part, although no more than one individual at a time. Frustratingly though for most of the week it flushed before I was able to locate the bird with the thermal. That was until the 23^rd when one sat rather nicely and conspicuously, glowing in the thermal. The only other wader of note this week was a flock of six Golden Plover that flew north on the 19^th.

  Passerine migrants have been much reduced, as expected. Probably the last Chiffchaff of the year was present on the 17^th, and given that almost a week has passed since then, I think it is safe to say that this will indeed be the last of the year.  Goldcrests have been present almost daily but the best count of the week was just two on the 18^th. And finally, there have again been a number of Stonechat hanging around the Hill, with up to four being present almost every day, although they are mobile around the site.

   Throughout the week there were finches present in varying numbers, generally on VizMig but other times settled in the bushes feeding up. A Lesser Redpoll on the 21^st was the first I have ever seen on the deck here, surprising given how many I have heard and seen flying over. Siskins especially saw some nice totals on passage, with 29 on the 17^th and 28 on the 22^nd both being my best counts for this species here. Bullfinch have also been present daily, with the best count being four on the 22^nd. These were settled in the North Slope Tree-Line.

  The final note of the week was a flock of I estimated 500 Starlings on Perseverance Road on the 21^st, moving around in the fog in rather atmospheric conditions. 

-Jack Snipe

-Lesser Redpoll

-Starlings

Species List:
Soil Hill: Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Whooper Swan, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Goosander, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Common Moorhen, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Western Barn Owl, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Common Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Redwing, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Brambling, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting, 

Soil Hill & Whiteholme; Week 23rd August - 29th August

Soil Hill

The autumn excitement continued to persist this week, despite gloomy and often quite breezy conditions. There continued to be a light scattering of migrants on offer, as well as a few nice oddball species. Visits were only managed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday due to my spending a long weekend at Spurn, but that was time enough to record a few goodies on the old patch.

Willow Warblers peaked with 10 on the 23^rd, but remained present on each visit. Whitethroats were also present, but in much lower numbers, also peaking with 5 on the 23^rd. Although it was a poor start to August for Tree Pipit, they have been fairly regular in the last week and so it continued. Frustratingly all the birds were either heard only or observed flyovers, with just one bird on the 25^th actually spending any time on the deck. Scarcer drift migrants involved a single Whinchat at the bottom of the North Slope on the 24^th, and then a Spotted Flycatcher on Taylor Lane on the 25^th. Given that it is now the end of August, I was beginning to fret that Spotted Flycatcher might give me the slip this year, so it was a great relief to finally get one, although it was extremely elusive at all times. Grasshopper Warblers continued to be present in the long grass at the bottom of the North Slope. Typically elusive, it does appear to be two juveniles present.

There was sudden surge in Red-legged Partridge numbers, with a family at the bottom of the North Slope and another along Taylor Lane. The 23^rd had a few more unusual species, with a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying north over Ned Hill Track, plus six Cormorant flying north over the North Slope and a flock of three Common Snipe blogging, presumably feeding on the wet fields at the bottom of the North Slope. On the 24^th there was a minimum of four Grey Wagtails that flew south, but could have involved more birds blogging. 

-Spotted Flycatcher

-Whinchat

-Common Snipe

Whiteholme Reservoir

Due to the abridged nature of the weeks birding, I again only visited Whiteholme twice. The 23^rd was a bust, although on the drive back I did have a rather smart Red Kite soaring over Baitings Reservoir, so not a complete loss. The 24^th was much improved, with a smart juvenile Sanderling dropping in frustratingly briefly and at the north end of the reservoir where it could not have been much further away. Also on the 24^th were two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, as well as a juvenile Common Ringed Plover. The female Goldeneye continued to be present on both days, and was joined by three Eurasian Teal on the 24^th. Wheatears were also present on both days.  

-Red Kite

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, Spotted Flycatcher, European Robin, Whinchat, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,
Whiteholme Reservoir: Eurasian Teal, Common Goldeneye, Red Grouse, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Sanderling, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Eurasian Wren, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, 

Soil Hill & Whiteholme; Week 16th August - 22nd August

Soil Hill

Although I have thoroughly enjoyed my time birding on Soil Hill this year, it has never felt like it ever reached the heights of last year. Although there has been some nice birds, nothing has stood out and there have been precious few days when the Hill itself seems to have been alive with birds and potential, as enjoyable as it has been.

This week however, the Hill has really felt alive. Despite a difficult breeze on most days and often foggy and drizzly conditions, the birding has been exceptional, with a good scattering of migrant species almost every day.

To kick start the week I flushed two Grasshopper Warblers out of the long grass at the bottom of the North Slope on the 16^th. These same birds were flushed every other day subsequently and on the 20^th they were even reeling from the brambles. Also on the 16^th were three juvenile Bullfinch along Ned Hill Track, but they did not linger during the week.

On the 18^th while trying to spot a calling Coal Tit in the garden on Taylor Lane, an immature Common Restart jumped out onto one of the conifers, sat for a few seconds and then dived back in. A subsequent search only got me another brief view in half an hour, so I called it a write off and went to check the rest of the site. On my way back I had another look and finally spotted the frequenting a small area of the garden where it would occasionally dive out of cover onto the lawn before returning. The message on the grapevine brought JJL up from Bradshaw and together we watched the bird feeding. Whilst we watched a Red Kite drifted over us heading west, which was a real surprise given the windy conditions. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was also calling in the same area but I could not spot it.

The following day on the 19^th, I was stunned to find that not only had the Common Redstart lingered, but it had now been joined by a second bird. When I passed at around 07:00 the two birds were frantically chasing each other round, but when I returned they had clearly drawn their lines in the sand, as each was operating from a separate end of the garden. Willow Warblers peaked for the week today, with nine, as did Wheatears with three. A pair of Collared Doves flew south over Taylor Lane, as did a Grey Wagtail, and a Sparrowhawk took out a Meadow Pipit in the field adjacent to the mast.

On the 20^th just a single Common Redstart remained and it was being rather elusive. But there was a lot of birds to get through. On Ned Hill Track I had a Tree Pipit fly north calling which is only my second here this year. At the bottom of the North Slope the aforementioned Grasshopper Warblers were attempting to reel, and in the same area was a juvenile Sedge Warbler. And then to crown it all off was a cracking juvenile Whinchat on the fence line between the reservoir and the neighboring field. As seems typical with Soil Hill Whinchats, it made rapid progress along the fence-line before flying off down into the valley, but it did spend a short time flycatching, allowing me to get a proper view of it.

In summary, a fantastic week for Soil Hill! 

-Common Redstart

-Red Kite

-Whinchat

Whiteholme Reservoir

I made two visits to Whiteholme this week. The first on the 17^th was a write off due to poor weather conditions but the second on the 19^th was much more productive. As I was arriving AT was leaving and he commented that there was a wader on the centre ‘island’ but it was too difficult without a scope. Since I had my scope with me we has a check and spotted an absolutely stunning adult summer plumage Grey Plover. This is my second here this year, but the vastly improved weather meant that I could actually take time to enjoy this bird, rather than get frustrating glimpses through the fog. In the end it stayed present, feeding away for the hour that I was present. 

-Grey Plover

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Great Spotted 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, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Common Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,
Whiteholme Reservoir: Common Goldeneye, Red Grouse, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Common Redshank, Eurasian Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Carrion Crow, Barn Swallow, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit,

Soil Hill; Week 14th June - 20th June

Soil Hill

As is typical for a summer week on Soil Hill, birding was generally quiet, with nothing of real note until the 20th. The first migrant fledglings started to appear, with both Willow Warbler and Whitethroat juveniles observed. Blackcaps were still present until the 18th, but not subsequently. On the 16th two Sand Martin flew south.

On the 20th I had probably the best views I have ever had of Red Kite over Soil Hill. Initially the bird flew low eastwards from Denholme Velvets, but appeared to turn north and as I was on Ned Hill Track at the time thought nothing more of it. However, when I crested the summit, the Kite reappeared from the direction of the quarry, hotly persued by both Rooks and Crows. It flew low over the North Slope before heading north, this time I watched it until it was little more than a speck. In addition, on the same date, I had 2 House Martins and a flock of 56 Swift blogging over the moors.

It was also nice to find some Southern Marsh Orchids flowering, I did not find any last year, so presumably these are new for 2021. In total I have found 4 stalks dotted around the Hill. 

-Red Kite

-Southern Marsh Orchid

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Euraisan Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,

Soil Hill & Whiteholme; Week 07th June - 13th June

Soil Hill

A pretty typical mid-June week with very little of note overall, but pleasant birding with many of the established migrants still around, lots of activity from the breeding waders and a few nice bits and pieces thrown in to keep things lively. Without doubt the standout of the week was a Nuthatch on Taylor Lane on the 9th. As I was walking up I heard the call, but was not 100% confident that it was indeed a Nuthatch, given that this would only be my third record here, but as I approached it flew out from the conifers and landed on a telegraph post on the opposite side of the road. Here I had just enough time to grab a few quick photos before it was flushed by a passing car. It then flew off towards the tall trees on Perseverence Lane. This week I also had two different Red Kite sightings, one on the 8th and another on the 9th. On the 8th a bird flew low and slow over Denholme Velvets, and may have dropped in but frustratingly I lost it while gathering my camera. The following day one was soaring well to north of Soil Hill, probably over Denholme, or possibly even further. A few Sand Martin and a Siskin rounded the week off nicely. 

-Red Kite

-Nuthatch

Whiteholme Reservoir

Just one visit this week, with wader passage all but over and the distant and time it takes to visit this site made it all seem a little worthless. I'll be back to frequent visits come mid-July. There were a couple of Dunlin and a nice group of 5 Oystercatchers, but otherwise precious little of note.

Undisclosed Location

Thanks to gen from Mark Dovestone, it was a pleasure to see, and more importantly hear, a displaying Nightjar less than half an hour from my house. It seems crazy to think that I can hear a nightjar whilst looking at the Soil Hill mast! A fantastic evening recording one of these birds, my first in the UK since 2018, when I ringed chicks on Hatfield Moor. 

-European Nightjar

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, European Herring Gull, Red Kite, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Eurasian Nuthatch, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting, Small Heath, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly,
Whiteholme Reservoir: Canada Goose, Mallard, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Kestrel, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Eurasian Wren, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Reed Bunting,

Soil Hill; Isolation week 7

The week started with a bang but sadly a northerly weather system arrived on the 10th significantly reducing activity on the Hill for most of the week. Despite this, at the end of the week my Soil Hill yearlist stands at 87, with a few species still possible before the summer sets in.

09 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 54 species observed.

It was a remarkable morning with my highest ever species total for a visit to the Hill, the first time I have ever breached 50. And what timing, since today was the eBird big day, and I was locked in a race against my girlfriend in Brazil to see who could score the most species.

I managed a full house of commoner species with a few nice additions as well; my first Blackcap of the year on site and a flyover Red Kite, for which I managed to completely botch my camera settings. The Sedge Warbler was still in place and showing nicely, as was the Stonechat and a single Wheatear. Three Collared Dove were also a nice surprise as I wandered up Taylor Lane early morning. 

-Red Kite

-Meadow Pipit

10 May

Visit from 07.15. Total 35 species observed.

Today was a slog in cold wind and drizzle. There was one redeeming feature, and that was a Hobby that came bombing over Taylor Lane as I was walking up. The bird never stopped and sadly continued powering through and headed south. There was still some activity from established migrants, with the Sedge Warbler still uttering a few notes in between strong blasts of wind.

11 May

Visit from 07.15. Total 35 species observed.

Another cold and windy day, with a light dusting of snow during my walk. Very little to report as the cold conditions clearly took their toll on activity. 

12 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 39 species observed.

The wind continued but the overall conditions were warmer and more pleasant than the previous days. Stonechat, Wheatear and Sedge Warbler were all present, but otherwise it was a fairly standard assortment of species on offer. 

-Jackdaw

13 May

Visit from 07.15. Total 38 species observed.
The composition on the Hill continued to remain consistent with no notable change in the species seen. A Sand Martin was the first I had seen since the wind changed to northerly on the 10th, but activity of this species seems to have taken a hit due to the weather change.

14 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 41 species observed.

The wind finally dropped and with more consistent sun there was a boost in activity. Notably in the sky with a smart group of 10 Swift blogging over the Hill all morning, coming low at times. A Coal Tit singing in the top plantation was a surprise having not heard one here since the end of April. Sand Martin numbers bounced back to at least 10 birds blogging around. A flyover Mistle Thrush was also of note, since the birds seemed to have vanished from Taylor Lane around the end of April. Was nice to bump into JJL.

-Oystercatcher

15 May
Visit from 09.15. Total 43 species observed.
I decided I could not be bothered with the early start today, and so headed up to the Hill later in the morning. With the sun already out and established I has hopeful of a raptor but sadly it was not to be. The standout of the morning was finally seeing the Green Woodpecker that has been yaffling from the valley below Taylor Lane. It perched very nicely along the fence line of former Koi farm. A distant Raven was nice, but sadly too distant for a photo. Nice to bump into NK at the bottom of the Hill.

-Green Woodpecker

Species List:

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