Soil Hill

 I enjoyed a late afternoon visit to Soil Hill on a cold day today.

I had a good mosey around but there were few birds here, in a strong cold westerly.

Along the north side, I almost trod on a Woodcock before it flushed.

Unfortunately in flushed downhill, NW, way down to the muck heap that can be seen as you look towards the Denholme Velvets area, so no chance of relocating it.

3rd Woodcock here , this year, and still no photo.

The NK lower pond had a few Mallard and a Moorhen on it.

c40 Gulls in the lower Shay fields.

The west side was exceptionally windy but Ned Hill Track was low enough to allow an enjoyable saunter along it.

At least 2 pretty mobile Stonechat were here, which brightened the day. A Robin and 2 Wren here also.

7 Very distant birds are possibly Stock Dove.

c40 Common Gull were in the Taylor Lane fields and a Pheasant was by the lower midden.

Gulls were moving continually overhead as the afternoon wore on.

There were some cracking colours in the sky also.

A Little Owl called from Bradshaw fields and nearing the bottom of the Bonnet hill a high pitched call, from a bird rising in the air, got me thinking Snow Bunt - however when sanity resumed the call was probably from a Wagtail sp.

A Kestrel seen on the way up and the way down - not sure if it was the same one.

A Green Woodpecker flew over the garden this morning.

Stock Dove?