It was 6.3ish in the evening and apart from a distant Tree Pipit on nBlack Hill, I'd had nothing worthwhile to show for the day. All that was about to change as I munched on a burger and got a missed call! After a redial, it was news from Mike S who had picked up an intriguing post on Birdguides - 'Snow Bunting near the summit of Earls Hill'....
Intriguing or what, it had to be worth checking out. I sped off with Andy / Jack picking up Mike from the pub en-route....
I know Earl's Hill well, I know just how tough the walk through the pines is - relentless and near vertical. I wasn't looking forward to it unloaded but with camera gear on my back and the burger rolling around in my stomach, would I make it?
I sure did, head down, a veerrrrry slow pace but made it without a stop and eventually breathed (heavily) a sigh of relief as I emerged onto the hillside and final push.....
Andy and Jack soon joined me, a 'runner' (mad or what) when asked, said he'd seen a small 'grey' bird just down from the trig point! We accidently flushed it but this bird was going nowhere in a hurry....
The Snow Bunting settled down in some rocks, playing peekaboo..... we waited for Mike who was still ascending but having to offload a few pints of liquid ballast - eventually we had all scored!
The light was fading fast and Snow Bunt was feeding up furiously. Pretty confiding too as we watched it perform.....
Closer and closer it came.....
These two will do nicely....
Thumbs up from the lads, County ticks for three of us - (Andy's fourth or fifth!!) Mike really, no really.... has given up alcohol from this pont in time (honest!)
On a Sunday afternoon anyway.! Hmm.... looking a bit unsure about that?
