Caldene Fields Watchpoint 05-11-2008

Caldene Fields, Low Moor, Bradford.
Two directional movement of Starling

5th November 08 Watch 07.00 – 08.30hr
Weather: A damp start with 90% heavy low cloud creating very dull gloomy conditions. A F2 N/N/E wind and a temp of 7c. Low mist and cloud gave a visibility to only 4 miles. These conditions remained throughout the watch.

Comments: alba wagtails were still moving mainly to the N/E and there was an increase in Starlings moving which in the main were to the S/W over the Wyke area and west directly over Caldene Fields. I noticed this distinct two-direction pattern on the 30th/31st of October 08, raising the question are these birds coming from two different areas of Europe?
I dipped on a ‘possible’ high flying Snow Bunting at 08.22hr flying S which gave just a single call.

Moving Birds:
Black Headed Gull > 2/W
alba wagtail > 3 S + 28 N/E
Starling > 127 W + 325 S/W = 452
Skylark > 1 S
Fieldfare > 73 S + 2 N/W = 75
Redwing > 51 S
Carrion Crow > 5 S + 4 W/N/W = 9
Chaffinch > 3 W
Greenfinch > 15 S/S/W
Goldfinch > 4 W + 17 S = 21

Martyn Priestley