Thursday 24 September 2020

Soil Hill and Queensbury North

SH 1145 hrs. The Black Redstart showed within a minute of my arrival at the farm and a couple of minutes later it was perched alongside a Wheatear on a wall.
A birder from Gildersome arrived and eventually saw the bird after I'd pointed out it's favoured spots.
The hill was covered in a patchy mist so I didn't stay for long, spending just enough time to see 1 each Kestrel, Skylark & Grey Squirrel. A couple of Meadow Pipit were meandering also.

Queensbury N: Common Gull outnumbered BH's by a fair proportion in a field off Roper Lane with c24 Goldfinch not too far away.



c22 Common Gull were in Old Guy Road and another Wheatear flitting from wall to earth and back.
A flock of Meadow Pipit numbered around 45 birds and a slightly smaller number of Starling were present. 2 Pied Wagtail were on the cricket pitch and yet again this area has proven to be a stronghold for House Sparrow.

A Field Vole gave good views as it hopped and ran around quite unconcerned or unaware just a few yards in front of me.