Soil Hill late evening

19:30 - 20:45

After yesterdays trip to Castle Howard a sobering visit to Soil Hill although it held plenty of rewards for me.

A late trip to S.H. with perfect timing weather wise - all the nasty stuff had b----red off leaving the 'currant ball'( as a friend calls it) for company.

 I dropped some nyjer seed and had a good mosey about. The usual birds about - 3 Lapwing, c6 Skylark, c10 Meadow Pipit. I had walk towards the North East turbine fields and found that the kissing gate there was open and the chain missing. I tied it up with a plaggy bag - best I could do - don't know who to contact to get it fixed - we don't want sheep wandering on Soil Hill do we?

The return journey was much more productive with first 2 Grey Partridge flushed from near the path, A Curlew feeding in the fields and then 2 Red Legged Partridge seen when I left via Ned Hill Track - they were running down the field.

A Mallard flew over, and also on the track walls 2 Wheatear seen in the dusk.

Then the bird of the day, on Ned Hill Track - a Merlin - it left the wall near the road and flew , with great speed, over to a broken wall - my best view yet, of this very, very illusive bird - brilliant!!!

The photos have suffered as the light diminished.

Grey Partridge here somewhere!

RLP

Coming dusk

Wheatears in the fading light - look out Merlin about

Curlew - a long way off.