Tuesday, November 03, 2020

Soil Hill

 I didn't manage to get out till late afternoon - delayed - something to do with autumn leaves !!!

It was nearly dark when I got up there - but that was the heavy, dark black clouds with some brightening from the west. Not much at all except for lots of Common Gull moving >NW along with a few Black-headed Gulls and a couple of Herring Gulls. 3 Lesser Black-backs were heading in the opposite direction.

Nearly forgot - 60+ Fieldfare went over 'the hill' around 3.45pm >NW probably a pre-roost flock.

5 Stonechats on the wall by the mast was a surprise in that cold wind. They were actively catching prey. It's always a sense of amazement with Stonechats that they seem to  make good use of exposed sites as long as they have some degree of shelter from a wall, fence or hedge and providing they have vantage points from which to search for food.
4 degrees c when I got back to the car - a sign of things to come though it's better than rain !!!

Also today from Withens Clough c100 Fieldfare (NG).

Yesterday 20 Crossbills in and around the pines at Ogden near Giant's Tooth area (CS). Probably still there though they can be tricky to find at times. Nice birds to get in Calderdale.

3 comments:

AndyC said...

Nice one Dave,,reckon tomorrow will be a MASS Woodpigeon migration day...............

Bradshaw Rambler said...

5 Stonechat a nice reward Dave.
Hope you missed the heavy rain.
Maybe some rare Buntings up there soon.
John.

David Sutcliffe said...

I've found it really hard work getting into VisMig mode this year Andy though I will be on Woodpig' lookout in the morning.
Always on the lookout for something a bit special in November John. A Diver sp. would be nice.