Caldene Fields Watchpoint 24-10-2008

Woodies and Starlings on the move today......

24th October 08 Watch 07.15 – 09.45
Weather: A dry start with 70% thin high cloud clearer to the east and a temp of 6c. Around 08.30 cloud cleared from the S/W reducing cloud cover to 50%. No wind at 07.15 until around 09.00 when a F1/2 S/W was noted. Ground visibility to 11 miles at start reducing to 6 miles because of low ground mist to the S/E around 09.15.

Comments: With little wind of note and good viewing conditions good numbers of birds were on the move here today with Woodies moving in good numbers mainly over Bierley and Gomersal areas, but still feel the main push is to come due to some birds still having an ‘ almost relaxed flight behaviour’. Starlings were moving to the W/S/W in small parties and all medium height no low flying birds noted. And as yesterday BH Gull again showed well. An interesting Corvid movement was noted mainly of C Crow.

Black Headed Gull > 182 S/S/W
Snipe > 1 S
Wood Pigeon > 983 S
Collard Dove > 3 S
Meadow Pipit > 9 S
Alba Wagtail > 2 N/W + 17 S/S/W = 19
Starling > 304 W/S/W
Redwing > 25 S/S/W
Fieldfare > 2 W
Jackdaw > 2 W + 11 S = 12
Meadow Pipit > 11 S
Carrion Crow > 2 W + 19 S/S/W = 21
Chaffinch > 17 N/W + 10 S = 27
Greenfinch > 79 S/W
Goldfinch > 2 S
Redpoll 4 S

Martyn Priestley