Caldene Fields Watchpoint 22-10-2008

22nd October 08 Watch 07.15 – 10.00
Weather: A cool damp start with 70% thin high cloud with heavy rain clouds to the S/E and a F2/3 S/W wind. Temp 4c and visibility to 11 miles. Like yesterday the weather at around 08.00 deteriorated with low cloud and almost persistent light to heavy showers coming in from the S/W, dropping ground visibility to around 3 miles.

Comments: Despite weather and poor viewing conditions it was a good watch and with a slight drop in temperature Woodies were moving south. Finches were also moving and even improved counts would have been noted if viewing conditions had been better.
What was interesting so late in October here was a noticeable increase in Alba wagtails to the S/S/W some appearing very pale/whitish with a slightly softer call recalling White.
BH Gull also moved again this morning.

Black Headed Gull > 115 S/S/W
Pink Footed Goose > 100 + S
Wood Pigeon > 564 S + 13 N = 577
Snipe > 1 S
Meadow Pipit > 5S
Alba Wagtail > 7 E + 42 S/S/W = 49
Starling > 2 S/W
Mistle Thrush > 4 S
Song Thrush > 1 S/W Came in with Redwing, rested in nearby tree.
Redwing > 89 S/W + 8 N = 97
Fieldfare > 7 W
Carrion Crow > 7 S/S/W
Chaffinch > 39 S + 29 N/W = 68
Greenfinch > 92 S/W
Goldfinch > 6 S
Redpoll > 3 S/W

2 unidentified Geese flew high to the south

Martyn Priestley