OK. Not that this has been keeping me up nights…
The one thing that it does bear a resemblance to is a noise monitor (sensor/microphone). I’ve pasted an image of a known noise monitor (at KSMO—Santa Monica, California) next to the unknown item below. Note that those things sticking out the top are not antennae. Rather, they are “bird spikes.”
I’m still not entirely convinced because Newcastle’s map showing the locations of the noise monitors doesn’t seem to align with the location noted by the poster.
Also, the white housing on the Newcastle item doesn’t look right… I’d expect the covering to be foam to screen the wind. I know that a “rain cap” is often used in these installations, but I believe that part of the unit (rain cap) is beneath the foam and wouldn’t be visible without taking it apart.
It doesn’t look like any ILS monitor I’ve ever seen. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t one.
I also considered the fact that it might be a sheep detector. However, given the location, the damned thing would be going off all the time…
Anybody got a better idea of exactly where this thing was?