Stainburn... Hero to zero in an hour! 31-08-2009

0610-0950 SW/WSW F3/4 at first rising F5 later. 8/8 to 4/8 cloud. Andy Hanby only- John needed a rest after yesterday.

Well a morning where the dynamics of Meadow pipit migration were really under scrutiny.

Meadow Pipit. 401 S or SSW ( mostly). First thing these were everywhere and I thought yesterdays count would be eclipsed, however as the first 6No 20 minute counts show the drop off in numbers was dramatic -- 240, 44, 34, 11, 41, 29( 0810 hrs) with the remaining 25 till watch end. I called up Dave during the watch and was surprised by his low number, but but was clear that the wind was stronger there. As the morning wore on though it became stronger at Stainburn. I wonder if the birds were going lower and more to the E where winds were less intense (we are both lower and further E than Daves spot).

Swallow; after yesterdays milling around I thought these were moving but nothing like the numbers posted and I suspect, again the main thrust was on lower ground to the East

Swallow: 93 S

Sand Martin 2 S

Snipe 8 WSW in two groups of 4

Golden Plover 10 SW plus 40-50 local birds

LBBG 6 SSE

Common Gull 34 SW mainly to SE of me

BHG 10W interesting that the three gull species have diff movement vectors

Merlin 1 w

Linnet 6W

Cormorant 1 blogging up and down Crimple valley all morning.

I think next time wind picks up like this I will go to Hay a Park near Knaresborough to vis mig to see if stuff is moving lower in vale of York.

Interesting that white wag is so rare in Bradford area- at Nosterfield double digit numbers are common in spring and several are seen in Autumn- maybe this is a low level alluvial plain migrant too.

Andy