Soil Hill

   The very handsome male Ring Ouzel that has been at the bottom of the North Slope continued into its third day today, although the second bird from yesterday seems to have moved on. It is not an especially cooperative bird, always mobile and far more often heard than seen early in the morning. 

  Other goodies in recent days have been more limited. A scattering of Wheatear have been around, although there were none that I could find this morning. Willow Warblers are now up to five individuals and the first Whitethroat was seen by JJL yesterday morning, but I have not yet laid eyes or ears upon it. 

  In addition to the Ouzel, it was nice to have a flock of four Crossbills fly north this morning. It seems to have been a lively April for finches, with Siskin and Redpoll recorded on most days on Soil Hill. A Golden Plover also flew over this morning, and the resident Grey Partridge have put in a couple of appearances in recent days. Two male Stonechats have taken up territories at the bottom of the North Slope. This species does not usually breed on Soil Hill, my last recorded attempt was back in 2020, so watching these birds with interest. I have not been looking for Jack Snipe every day, but on my last check two days ago there was still at least one individual present. 

-Ring Ouzel

-Jack Snipe

-Stock Dove

Soil Hill

   I’m back home for the week, so I wasted no time heading up to Soil Hill this morning, hoping for some Whooper Swan migration. I didn’t manage to pick up any flocks flying past, but from the vantage point of Soil Hill I was able to distantly spot a group on Mixenden Reservoir. From the photos I have I was able to count 22, but being so distant it could easily be more. DJS went down later and counted 23.

  However this Whooper Swan action was thoroughly trumped when I reached the bottom of the North Slope. I was just scanning the area of The Shay for Wheater (no joy there) when I turned around to see the bright white crescent of a male Ring Ouzel looking back at me! This is my first March record here, and caught me completely off guard. I was able to approach the bird but it was then flushed by a patrolling police helicopter. It remained in the area after, but was quite mobile. Sadly JJL was not able to re-find the bird late morning, so it may have moved off.

  In addition to these two highlights, there was a nice supporting cast. A single Raven flew over heading SE. Lots of wader activity with two Oystercatchers on The Shay and another three flying north, plus at least two Snipe in full display. Two male Stonechats were at the bottom of the North Slope and a female Bullfinch was on Ned Hill Track. A mobile flock of 30+ Fieldfare was still present on Taylor Lane.

A very rewarding return to the Hill after a few weeks away.

-Ring Ouzel

-Northern Raven

-Whooper Swans

Soil Hill

    A chilly and blustery morning on Soil Hill produced my fourth Ring Ouzel of the spring, with a smart female feeding in the horse paddocks behind the White Cottage on Perseverance Road. I had only just spotted it when it was flushed by a Crow and I had to nervously wait to see if it would reappear. Fortunately, it then sat up in the near hedgerow, showing well and calling before dropping back behind.

  At least eight Willow Warblers this morning, but no sign of the Whitethroat that has been present the last two days, although one was singing in Bradshaw this morning. An unexpected bonus was a late spring Common Gull that flew south over the North Slope, conveniently filling in an uncomfortable gap in my eBird bar charts. Other migrants were limited to a single Wheatear in the fields on Taylor Lane. 

-Ring Ouzel

-Common Gull

Soil Hill

    With sightings of Ring Ouzel across the Calderdale area this week, I was hopeful that Soil Hill might get to join the party at some point. And so it transpired today, with three individuals seen on the Hill.

  As I was walking up Taylor Lane early morning, my scans of the fields picked up two bright white gorgets glowing in the sunrise, from two male Ring Ouzels feeding together in one of the frosted fields. I could not find them again on my walk back, but could easily still be present in one of the other fields which are more difficult to view from the road.

  I completed my circuit and was walking back up the north slope when I heard the tacking call of another Ring Ouzel, and was delighted to spot a female perched up in the North Slope Tree-Line. Having already checked this area, the bird had presumably just dropped in. She was quite mobile, moving around the various bushes at the bottom of the North Slope.

  In addition, there was a Fieldfare on Ned Hill Track, a Jack Snipe was flushed from a wet area on the summit, and at least nine Willow Warblers were present today.

-Male Ring Ouzels

-Female Ring Ouzel

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Owl, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, Ring Ouzel, European Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Eurasian Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,

Soil Hill; Isolation week 4

The week suffered from an enduring north esterly wind which peaked between monday - wednesday. Although birding was still possible, there was a noticable blow with a chilly edge to it. Numbers of migrants seemed to grind to a halt as a result, with species such as Swallow being thin on the ground until the wind died down.

18 April

Visit from 08.45. Total 41 species observed.

It was cold early morning so I set off slightly later to hopefully get a few more birds. The female Ring Ouzel was still on Taylor Lane during the morning, and another, a male, dropped out of the sky at the summit. It sat on a wall for a few minutes before flying up and south. That brings my total number of this species this spring to five individuals, as a minimum. There was also a nice showy Goldcrest on the way up.

-Goldcrest

-Ring Ouzel

19 April

Visit from 07.15. Total 43 species observed.

Highlight today was an extremely distant Marsh Harrier over Ovenden Moor. A Buzzard also went over. Up to two Whitethroat now, with a second bird holding territory. Two Swallows also flew through. A single Wheatear was on the wall by the NK pond. 

-Marsh Harrier

20 April

Visit from 07.00. Total 39 species observed.

Despite the howling gale there was something of a patch mega when I had two Greylag Geese fly south from Thornton Moor Reservoir. They were extremely distant but the silver coverts were obvious even at this range. There were three Wheatears today, but the numbers of other migrant species were consistent with previous days

-Greylag Geese

21 April

Visit from 08.00. Total 34 species observed.

The strongest wind of the week was today, and as a result bird numbers were well down. There was nothing out of the ordinary and numbers of established migrants were down as a result of the conditions. 

-Song Thrush

22 April 

Visit from 07.30. Total 41 species observed.

Wind dropped off a little bit and there were a few more migrants present. The male Stonechat, presumably the same bird as the previous week, as on Ned Hill Track. Three Wheatear were in the cattle fields at the bottom. There were two Oystercatchers on the rubble at the bottom of the north slope, rather than in the fields surrounding the site. Snipe continue to be common this spring, and the Reed Buntings are still present in the same location.

-Oystercatcher

23 April

Visit from 07.15. Total 42 species observed. 

The wind had almost gone completely today, and there were a few more birds of note. The Canada Geese around Bradshaw had been joined for the morning by a party of Greylags which were visible from the greater Soil Hill area. One of these birds was nearly white but the structure and plumage of the other birds suggests to me that this is an abbarent bird rather than a domesticated individual. 

At least five Swallows flew north over the course of the morning, and a Sand Martin flew north with them, only the second time I have seen this species here. 

There seemed to be a bit of movement of Golden Plover. A single bird flew north calling, followed ten minutes later by a flock of eight. These birds seemed to loop round and I lost them round the back of the hill but a search in the fields around the summit failed to find them. I did find two birds on the top, one was certainly a Golden Plover but the other, when it flushed, seemed smaller and had a more rapid wingbeat. Frustratingly they both flew north in a direct line away from me so I was unable to get much more on them. I did get a look at this bird when it initially took off, but sadly it was directly into the sun, but the impression I got was of Golden Plover plumage, so who even knows. 

Up to three Whitethroat on the hill now.

-Golden Plover

24 April 

Visit from 06.45. Total 44 species observed.

After what felt like a slow week it was nice to end it on a high with a solid patch tick. I was at the bottom of the hill scanning the fields walls for Wheatears when I heard a distinctive ticking all behind me, certainly not the call of a Hill resident, but having not seen one for some time it took a moment for my brain to recognise it. I spotted the bird flying down the North Slope treeline, a Yellowhammer. The ammount of yellow suggested that it was a male but it lacked the bright yellow head, so probably a 1st winter male. Sadly it did not stop and carried on north, going with a purpose. An excellent patch tick as these are not common birds in Halifax (also a Halifax tick for me).

And that was probably not even the highlight of the morning, as the Grasshopper Warbler which had been silent all week burst back into life this morning with an outstanding show, singing from a wall no less. I have never seen this species as well. A brilliant bird. 

A Wheatear was present on the bottom fields, and there are now four Whitethroats dotted around the hill. A Buzzard flew north as did three late Fieldfare. Two Collared Dove were also a nice addition to the week. 

-Grasshopper Warbler

-Western Roe Deer

Species List:

Soil Hill: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Common Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, Ring Ouzel, European Robin, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Common Reed Bunting, Western Roe Deer, Red Fox, Stoat, European Rabbit, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, 

Soil Hill; Isolation week 3

Spring continued to arrive on Soil Hill, and as a result this week was perhaps the best weeks birding I have ever had here, although since being at Spurn and travelling/working I have had little chance to do such consistant patching. That said, some of the birds enjoyed in a remarkable run really have been unprecedented. 

11 April

Visit from 07.30. Total 48 species observed.

This has to be the best days birding I have ever had on Soil Hill. To start, 48 species is my highest ever total for a single visit here. Things were fairly standard for the first half of the visit, all the regulars still on their territories and the gulley was fairly uneventful. A drake Goosander flew off Ogden, and that was probably the best (Only my second seen here).

I began working the tree line down to the NK pond and here things started to get interesting. There was a very distinctive tacking noise coming from the bushes, which could only mean one thing. And there it was, a female Ring Ouzel, my first of the year. Sadly it did not sit long before it was flushed by another bird. The previous days Wheatears had now increased to six, including two stunning males.

Pretty chuffed with the morning I made my way back up to the top. Aware I was on a high species list, I decided to try again around the gulley to see if any Swallows were hunting over the fields (There was one). A bird flew over and me and vanished over the top. The impression it gave was Nuthatch, but I did not believe there would ever be another after the remarkable 2015 bird. Still, I raced to catch up with it, and there sat right at the top of a stubby tree was a Nuthatch. I was stunned. It sat for a few minutes, calling, before flying off. A remarkable occurance. 

At this point I was buzzing at what an outstanding morning it had been. But the best was still to come. I was walking past the stone circle field when I spotted two large birds soaring over Ogden plantation. The first bird was obviously a LBBG but the second was puzzling me a bit more. The way it was holding its wings reminded me of Marsh Harrier but I thought more likely it would be a young gull. However, I was wrong! The pair drifted towards the hill circling the whole time and as it got closer I could make out the cream crown on the bird, a stunning Cream-crowned Marsh Harrier. It then flew right overhead before heading northwards. 

And then, to finish the day off right, another Ring Ouzel flew over Taylor Lane high. 

-Ring Ouzel

-Northern Wheatear

-Nuthatch

-Marsh Harrier

12 April

Visit from 09.00. Total 40 species observed. 

I treated myself to a small lie-in after yesterdays success. Todays visit was less remarkable but there was still good birding to be had. The highlight was another Ring Ouzel in the fields off Taylor Lane, although very distant. 

Willow Wablers numbers now up to 8, first Whitethroat back and a single Wheatear still lingering. 

-Ring Ouzel

13 April

Visit from 13.00. Total 29 species observed.

Cold and windy conditions made me decide on an afternoon visit, hopefully to coincide with some raptors. After the last few days success, there was unlikely to be anything notable today...

Wrong! Although the hill was fairly quiet with no raptors to speak of, I flushed a smart Grasshopper Warbler at the top of the north slope tree line. The bird sat somewhat as well, rather than vanishing into the scrub, which made for a few photo opportunities. This is only my second time seeing this species here. 

-Grasshopper Warbler

14 April

Visit from 06.30. Total 39 species observed

I think my spring might have peaked today! 

It was a fairly standard spring visit, with a particularly showy Willow Warbler the highlight. No wheatears at all, so decided that it probably was not a good day for migrants. Went about counting the bottom field waders as usual but one Curlew drew my attention. I only had my bins on me, and the bird was distant so decided to grab a photo and zoom in. It did nothing to dispell my suspicions, only seemed to confirm them. I decided to take a risk and jumped the fence to get closer. On closer inspection there was no denying it. Whimbrel! I grabbed a few photos and then rushed back to observe. A really unexpected Hill addition and probably the best bird I have found there in my time. What a day.

-Willow Warbler

-Whimbrel

15 April

Visit from 06.30. Total 46 species observed

Another remarkable day on the hill, although nothing to the standard of Whimbrel. It was fairly standard until I found two Wheatears at the bottom of the north slope. Clearly these were new birds, and the female especially was very showy. 

With birds new in, despite there being nothing earlier, I decided to check the gulley again and was rewarded with an absolutely spanking male Ring Ouzel. He even showed well at one point, although all too breif. Another bird was calling as well, but I could not find it. Two more Ring Ouzels brings my spring total of this species up to 5!

At the far end of the gulley I also found a pair of Stonechat which showed very nicely. 

-Northern Wheatear

-Ring Ouzel

-European Stonechat

16 April

Visit from 06.30. Total 43 species observed

Walk started nicely with Ring Ouzel in a field off Taylor Lane. Was in exact same area as bird on the 12th so possibly the same bird, although I have not seen it in between.

Peregrine flyover was a nice highlight, as was my first reeling Grasshopper Warbler of the year. Following the song I picked up the bird perched in the sedges, showing rather nicely.

Usual contingent of Willow Warblers and single Whitethroat. At least four Snipes present in the bottom fields, three in the air displaying at the same time.

-Peregrine

-Grasshopper Warbler

17 April

Visit from 06.45. Total 36 species observed.

The weather changed from the glorious warm mornings of late, instead the hill was shrouded by low cloud and a biting cold wind. I expected much less diversity as a result but was pleasantly surprised, although there was nothing particularly notable. The previous days Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling, although from a different location, and that was the standout.

Species List:

Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Goosander, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Jay, 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, Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, European Robin, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, Red Fox, Stoat, Western Roe Deer, European Rabbit, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock,