Soil Hill

   I've been working the Hill since the start of February with some pleasant birding between the fog, but this morning I had my first standout species since my return when this brute of a Great Black-backed Gull flew north. This is only my second record for Soil Hill, but with a few seemingly in the area this winter, I had high hopes for an encounter. 

  Jack Snipe has been an almost daily occurrence throughout February (when I have looked for them), although the higher totals of five individuals were only at the start of month, with only a solitary individual this morning. Common Snipe has been for more erratic with three this morning the highest count. In addition, up to four Golden Plovers have been frequenting the Soil Hill summit in the last week.

  The first Linnet of the month flew over this morning, as did the first Siskin. The flock of Fieldfare on Taylor Lane, which has been up to 40 birds strong at times, contained five Redwing this morning, which was a good return since I have not seen any for the most part this February. 

-Great Black-backed Gull

In total managed 37 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S301657089

Cold Edge and Ovenden Moor

 BTO Winter Bird Survey today - been waiting for at least half-decent conditions given the fog and rain over most of February so far. Sunshine this morning, wall to wall, so made the effort despite the frozen snow covering up there.

Birds were certainly at a premium with most of the Canadas moved out as well as the corvids and most other birds ! Best of the day were 2 Curlew flyovers calling probably heading to some lower elevation to feed. Little else 2 Reed Bunting, several vocal Red Grouse, 1 each Kestrel ,Chaffinch and Blackbird. Even most of the corvids were missing. One hardy Magpie up at The Withens shows how dire it was for birds.

Cold Edge and Fly Flats

 Another check of the goose flock at Cold Edge this afternoon. The site lived up to its name !

102 Canada Geese,nothing new with them. Also 22 Lapwing, 50+ Jackdaws, 2 Kestrel, 2 Blackbirds , 1 Song Thrush and a Starling. Very few smaller gulls this afternoon, there are usually a good number.

It was worth a trip up to Fly Flats with 5 Oystercatchers, on the edge of the shore including a pair in copulation. 3 Mallard and 2 Carrion Crows were the only other hardy birds there apart from 4 pairs of Canadas hidden away in the tall grasses !

Blackstone Edge

Kestrel male

In flight in dull conditions I often find I cannot sex a Kestrel. Helpfully perching, this bird's grey head and prominent moustache are clear, although the grey is quite pale and might be difficult to see in flight. And the back has spots not bars. But books often say a male Kestrel's back is brick-red, and that's not the case here: it is the same brown as a female's back. Do colours darken as a bird ages?

Lee Mount / Shroggs Park

Quite a morning after hearing some Pink-footed Geese over around 09:30 unseen in the mist sounding as if heading >W. At 09:50 more were heard, this time noisy and low coming right overhead  >W. Phone out and a decent video recording but failed to work out how to get it on here ! At least 450 is probably the largest count ever over this location.

Around the same time BS had skein of c50 'pinks' over Ogden >E but they were soon lost in the mist.

Later in the morning a Great Spotted Woodpecker was 'drumming' near the park lodge and a Nuthatch was also singing nearby. I was pretty suspicious what sounded just like a Chiffchaff singing, unlikely, so investigated further - it was a Great Tit. Also 16 Redwing on the park football pitch and a flock of c17 Goldfinch nearby and c16 Long-tailed Tits at one point as well as Song Thrush singing.

We don't seem to be able to escape cold rain and mist this last week or so. Maybe more of the same for the coming week.

Mixenden Res'r

 I gave it a go late morning - shouldn't have bothered !!! That east wind was raw at the gate watch-point. Very few gulls though the conditions don't seem to deter them. 6 adult Herring Gulls looking immaculate on the water with another 7 of mixed ages went straight through >W. On the water c 40 B h Gulls and 16 Common Gulls and apart from a 30+ flock of Jackdaws over that was about it !

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane - Almost 2 hrs on the top there from mid morning produced 23 species in a cold SE wind at 5c. It took a while to find anything but I was pleased to pick out my first Skylark for the year - it didn't drop in, a flyover >E. Coincidently JJL also managed a Skylark on Soil Hill this morning. Both sites, until recent years, have supported a few wintering birds. It's good to see a hopeful return !

Meadow Pipits with a final count of 16 were playing hard to get, dropping in to the long grass.

As usual the site always has a large contingency of corvids. Today was no exception with around 90 Carrion Crows and c50 Jackdaws.

The big surprise as I tracked back down the hill was a small flock of c20 Linnets on the edge of the quarry in a very weedy area. This is another bird that used to winter up here with regularity, as well as Soil Hill. Both sites occasionally attraction the odd Twite. 

Around and about !

Mixenden Res'r - single Shelduck still there looking pretty settled but I expected it would have moved on this morning with a clear sky. 

Cold Edge - Mainly to check the goose flock (still hoping Whitefront Geese)! 86 Canadas and a single Greylag was about as good as it got along with 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Reed Bunting and a Kestrel and a few small gulls, woodpigeons and corvids.

Beacon Hill area this afternoon - c25 Goldfinch and 11 Redwings + corvids, woodpigeons and small gulls was as good as it got but it was good to be out in the dry !

Mixenden res'r

Adult Great Black-backed Gull and the Shelduck still there today.