Raggalds Flood, Soil Hill etc

The 'usual' outing this afternoon, Raggalds Flood, Percy Rd, Soil Hill and Taylor Lane.

First up was a look for B.S's Teal, that he saw earlier on the flood.

A Mistle Thrush seen from Bradshaw Lane on the way up and 5 Teal plus a large Wader asleep there.

The Wader did 'awaken' and I got a few pictures of it - a Curlew.

Quite late for Curlew, so it was nice to see one.

c20 Small Gulls were here also.

They were joined by 100 plus Gulls - these landed got spooked by something and promptly left!!

At least one Herring Gull and two Lesser Black-backed Gull were present.

The Teal, a few Mallard and the Curlew remained on the deck though.

A walk along the Soil Hill contour path (from Percy Rd corner) along the quarry top and an exit via Ned Hill Track was a pretty boggy affair.

A Raven called as it flew > E.

A few Meadow Pipit were dotted about.

A small bird with a lot of white showing dropped down the north side in a hurry, not to be seen again.

18 Canada Geese were on the lower shay fields.

Moorhen, Mallard and a possible Tufted Duck were on the distant NK pond.

10 Magpie were in one tree by the pond as well.

It was a nice surprise to bump into DJS along Percy Rd.

We had a look at Cloth Hall Farm for the Black Redstart but failed to see it.

A walk up past the farm and around Soil Hill followed.

As we arrived at the Comms. Mast on the main track, hawk eye Dave, spotted the Black Redstart, miles off,  on the apex of a farm building.

It soon disappeared again and when we got a bit nearer I manged to pick it out - a good bit of team work.

(1st seen on 20th September on HSS walk).

I did get a few poor photos from the road.

Sky watching here for a bit, just a Mistle Thrush and a Rook were seen together with a mega distant 'black dot' by Emley Moor mast.

On my way home 25 Common Gulls were in the Taylor Lane fields.

An enjoyable afternoons' birding.

Here They Come!

There They Go!