Soil Hill

  It being a blustery morning in late February, I was not anticipating a morning of anything particularly notable on my visit to Soil Hill. The rain had cleared and there was no fog, so despite the wind I hoped for a pleasant walk where most of the regular species would be recorded. This was particularly important since it was a new week in the eBird bar charts!

  As I began my descent on Perseverance Road towards Ned Hill Track at 08:40, I spotted a large gull slowly moving in a southwesterly direction. Whilst I anticipated a Herring Gull, I was in for quite a shock when I got the bird in the binoculars to see that it had creamy-white primaries; a white-winger!

  Given the paucity of Glaucous Gull records in the UK, I was fairly confident the bird would turn out to be an Iceland Gull. Still, my priority in that moment was to take as many photos as I could, which was fairly straightforward given that the bird was not moving particularly quickly.

  Once it began to fly away from me I switched to following the bird in the hope that it might land on one of the nearby reservoirs. Simultaneously, I tried to get the news out so birders lower down the valley might be able to connect.

  In the end, the Gull headed for Ogden Water, where I lost it as it dropped behind the trees in the plantation there. Sadly however, BS and JJL checked the reservoir shortly after found no sign of the bird.

  A quick check of the photos confirmed my suspicions that it was an Iceland Gull. Scenes of celebration followed! This is my 133 species for Soil Hill and represents the first Halifax area record since 2022! It was not seen again at any other locations! Also of note, the long-staying bird at Roundhay Park in Leeds was not recorded today!

-Iceland Gull

-Stonechat

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, 

 

Whiteholme Birding; updates from the week 04th - 06th September

  The rainier conditions this week has seen us return to Whiteholme for some birding. Initially, this was simply so we could go somewhere that the birding would not be so affected by the weather, but as it happened the birds were good to us and so we kept going throughout the week. In total we made three visits to the reservoir on consecutive days and on each day the birding was brilliant with good numbers of waders.

• The rarest visitors of the week were a pair of Ruff that we found on our first visit on the 04^th. They were not super confiding but a new island that has emerged in the Northeast of the reservoir has proved popular with wader throughout the week, and we were able to get good views of them as they fed here. The birds remained present until the 06^th, which was our last visit of the week. This is a Halifax tick for me, and certainly helped pay off the effort of visiting this site. 

• A message from JJL reporting big numbers of waders during the afternoon of the 05^th, including some Sanderling, was all the motivation we needed to find ourselves heading back up to Whiteholme for our second day. John was not wrong, as the wader numbers were really quite impressive, and lurking among them were no less than five pristine juvenile Sanderlings. The juveniles of this species are some of my favourite waders, so this was well appreciated. The birds kept their distance at all times, so no close photos, but when they flew as a flock it was like being back on the Humber. Nice one John.

• As mentioned, there were good numbers of waders present on the 05^th, but there were also good numbers before and after this date. The two species involved were Common Ringed Plover and Dunlin. On the 04^th there was a small group of four Ringos and seven Dunlin, but the numbers really peaked on the 05^th with no less than 13 Ringed Plover and 10 Dunlin. The following day the Ringed Plover total remained the same but the Dunlin count almost halved with just six remaining. Crucially however, we noticed that one of these Dunlin had a yellow Darvic ring, as well as another ring that, after talking with PC, is probably a standard metal ring stained by the peat. Frustratingly we could get close enough to read the code, so the bird's story will remain a mystery. 

• Also on the 04^th was a nice group of six Common Snipe feeding on the edge of the reservoir, the first time I have seen them doing this here. The following day there were two snipe on the edge of the pools on the northeast side of the reservoir, presumably birds settling in to their winter quarters. 

Although Waders form most of the billing for this site, they are not the only points of interest and this there were a few migrant birds also at the site. 

• There have been really good numbers of Wheatears feeding on the rocks and shoreline of the reservoir. We estimated at least 10 on the 04^th, which was our only morning visit of the week, with the other afternoon visits providing six and eight respectively. Its always good to see these handsome birds before they leave.

• On the 04^th there were four Stonechat feeding with the Wheatears on the reservoir dam wall, including two very dapper males. Strangely we did not see any on either of the other days we visited, but they could have only been passage migrants quickly on their way after a quick stop. 

• There was no visible passage as such, but on the 04^th two Sand Martin flew to the east, and on the 05^th a Swift flew high south, which will almost certainly be my last Swift in the UK this year.  

-Ruff

-Common Snipe

-Sanderling with Dunlin & Ringed Plover

-Dunlin carrying a Darvic ring

-Wader flock

-Northern Wheatear

-Stonechat

Species List:
Whiteholme Reservoir:  Eurasian Teal, Red Grouse, Common Swift, Common Ringed Plover, Ruff, Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Wren, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, 

Soil Hill & Whiteholme; Week 8th May - 15th May

Soil Hill

The week has seen the weather improve somewhat and consequently, there have been more birds arriving, with both Willow Warblers and Whitethroats now up to what I would consider a typical number from the last three years. Notable others remain thin on the ground, with a small number of Wheatear (peaking at 8 on the 14th) present during the week, a couple of House Martins have been seen and a new Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the sedge below Taylor Lane for a few days. The bird can just be heard from my morning route, but it is really quite noticeable from my backyard. Otherwise, a group of five Black-headed Gulls that flew north on the 14th was probably the only exception to the norm this week.

-Goldfinch

-Oystercatcher

Whiteholme Reservoir

Just two visits this week, with there being little noticeable movement nationally to encourage me to make the journey up to the reservoir. That said BS reported a number of Dunlin arriving at Fly Flatts, and there was some movement of that type at Whiteholme when on the 10th May a flock of 7 flew low across the reservoir and then over the moor. On my other visit of the week, on the 13th, there were two Dunlin present. Otherwise it was all very much the same, with a few Swifts and House Martins passing through, as well as a dapper male Stonechat on the 13th.

-Stonechat

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, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,
Whiteholme Reservoir: Canada Goose, Mallard, Red Grouse, European Golden Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Common House Martin, Eurasian Wren, Northern Wheatear, European Stonechat, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Reed Bunting,