Caldene Fields Watchpoint 03-11-2008

Caldene Fields, Low Moor, South Bradford.

3nd November 08 Watch 06.45 – 09.00
Weather: A dry dull start with 20% low cloud to the east and a N/E F2/3 wind creating very misty viewing conditions which lasted for the whole watch. Temp 3c and visibility decreasing from 5 to 2 miles.

Comments: Despite the viewing conditions, not a bad watch with Starling showing very well. In fact at 07.12 at least a ½ mile band of birds flew west right over the watch point, this band contained a miniumn of 1000+ birds! Expectations were high for a record count but this did not materialise. Another point of interest was a Bullfinch which was picked up coming in from the west and flew through to the N/W, given the recent weather and today’s N/E wind I would be daft in even thinking ‘Northern’ or would I? Alba Wagtail showed well to the west.

Moving Birds:

LBB Gull >I W
Black Headed Gull > 5/W
Wood Pigeon > 8 S
Sparrow Hawk > 2 N
Alba Wagtail > 2 S + 28 W
Starling > 1,464 W
Fieldfare > 74 W/N/W
Blackbird > 3 N
Song Thrush >1 N
Redwing > 69 W
Carrion Crow > 1S + 6 N/W
Chaffinch > 6 W + 4 S/S/W = 10
Greenfinch > 21 W/N/W
Goldfinch > 8 S + 1 W
Bullfinch > 1 N/W

Martyn Priestley