Soil Hill Struggle

13:15 - 15:30.

A real old moan

I left Abigail, Emma and Sue baking buns and cakes and "enjoyed" a good hour on Toil Hill.

(A Mistle Thrush was enjoying some meal worms from the top of our wheelie bin, as I left).

I timed the visit quite well only having to endure two sharp hail showers. 
The showers together with a very strong, lazy, easterly wind kept me from falling asleep as the birding was meagre.

Going up Taylor Lane I could see a guy in a hi-viz jacket walking an Alsation in the middle of the east side tufted grass - so I guessed that anything there would have been flushed. 
On the west side I met a young couple walking two dogs - so I guess owt on the west side would have been flushed.

Prior to Soil Hill, Taylor Lane held c10 small Gulls and a few Carrion Crow.

After dropping some birdseed on the track I had a really good trek around the hill.

Nothing at all! for the first 20 mins then 4 Skylark were seen, 3 of them taking to the sky singing.

Leaving the hill for Ned Hill Track 12 Golden Plover saved the day flying over > East.

They must have had a change of heart because I heard them calling towards Ogden but I could not locate them through the bins.

A bit later they called again and I just caught sight of the last one disappearing over my head > East again - frustrating!!

From Soil Hill I went along Perseverance Road and across to a deserted Raggalds Flood.

There was just a single Mistle Thrush seen from the Bonnet and a pr Collard Dove seen on Bradshaw Lane.

Still, it was nice to get some fresh, fresh air and a delicious slice of chocolate drop and icing cake awaiting me at home.

I am beginning to wonder if the numbers of turbines near the hill are discouraging birds from landing up here, especially any approaching from the north, where the sight of these large structures may be intimidating for them. I took a picture of the turbines looking south towards Soil Hill from Well Heads Lane yesterday and there seems to be a new turbine near Soil Hill every week.

Yesterday late afternoon sun from Well Heads

Yesterday late afternoon the view of Pylons and turbines seen looking to Soil Hill from Well Heads