produces 2pr Teal and 2 Redshank.
1500 hrs and heading to Soil Hill for 1 hours sky watching but first a stop off at Raggalds Flood, which has done nothing for the last 9 month, after a report from DW of 4 Teal present. 2 pair of Teal were on the water whilst 2 Redshank were wading in the waters edge and along the shore.
Bright blue skies and sunshine on Soil Hill with a cool ESE>4 and hazy visibility beyond 5 miles. A quick look across for the 5 Whooper Swans on Oxenhope reservoir, reported earlier by Dan B then a check of the tree line and Ring Ouzel clough for Wheatear or even an early Ring Ouzel but nothing doing.
Back onto the west summit where I set my stall up ready for a sky watch and got the camera onto the tripod to get some distant record shots of the Whoopers but they were not to be seen. I never saw them fly so possibly they were near to the south shore and out of sight. 8 Skylark and 11 Meadow Pipit were moving around the hill, some up singing, whilst 27 Lapwing were down on the Shay with at least 6 Golden Plover and c50 Starling.Sky movement was quiet other than a few LBB gulls and a distant Sparrowhawk until 38 Fieldfare flew south through the Causeway Foot col dropping down into the plantation at Mixenden reservoir. Shortly afterwards a large flock of around 100 Fieldfare came through in the same direction dropping down on Hunter Hill.Looks like these birds are now flocking ready for the off.
If there are any Whoopers left, this weekend will probably see the big final push.
BS