Soil Hill and Local Fields in the snow

 A decent covering of snow left Bradshaw Lane motors inching along this morning. Everything was back to normal this aft. though.

Early evening and a return of really, really icy conditions.

Soil Hill etc:

I had a walk up to and around Soil Hill, very picturesque and not too cold, enjoyable. 

At the top of Taylor Lane a small bird on a farm wall was very distant and refused to show clearly, just a rear view before it left.

I was struggling to ID it and though it might be a Reed Bunting.

Later, I sent a WhatsApp photo to DJS and he suspected a Stonechat. Thanks Dave.

Stonechat was a better call, than my Reed Bunting!

Stonechat is a regular on the hill but unusual at this location.

Soil hill itself was pretty, but bereft of birds , almost, just a solitary Blackbird in the North hill tree line...the lower NK pond was frozen.

A few Gulls passed overhead but the shay fields were snow bound with no bird life.

Good to chat to 'GH' of the 'GI Bros' on Percy Rd.

Local fields:

A short stroll up the local fields this afternoon was an enjoyable outing.

As luck would have it the first bird seen here was a Stonechat!

This  bird,  however, was more obliging than the Taylor Lane bird, giving great views as it perched on a snow covered wall.

A long, long look for a Little Owl in the usual places failed.

People had been sledging nearby, so probably disturbed the Owl.

A slight detour turned out to be a good move with a  Little Owl located in a new location for me, peeping out from a tree.

A Green Woodpecker called and a Distant Stock Dove and  Kestrel were of note.

A good day out.

Comparison between Taylor Lane 'awkward' Stonechat and local fields Stonechat.

(More for my benefit that anything else!).

Taylor Lane Stonechat:-

Local Fields Stonechat:

Bradshaw Lane this morning.

Soil Hill etc :-

Local Fields:-

Looks like I was very close to the Little Owl.

But it's the zoom on the camera nearing the distance.