Caldene Fields, Low Moor...surprisingly good! 23-10-2009

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Friday 23 October 2009
Counting period: 7:30-9:15
Weather: : A warm damp start, temp 9c with a F1 E/S/E wind and 100% low cloud and fog giving visibility to only 1 mile. These conditions remained throughout the watch.
Observers: Martyn Priestley


Moving Birds:
Shelduck - 5
alba wagtail sp. 22 -
Starling 98 -
Mallard 3 -
Blackbird - 3
Chaffinch 14 + 11
Black-headed Gull 21 -
Song Thrush 3 -
finch sp. 4 -
Common Gull 2 -
Redwing 145 -
Greenfinch 11 -
Woodpigeon 19 -
Mistle Thrush - 4
Goldfinch 9 7
Skylark 1 -
Carrion Crow 2 + 2
Bullfinch 2 -

Totals: 388 individuals, 18 species, 1:45 hours

Comments: Given the weather and viewing conditions it was a surprisingly good watch with a noticeable increase in passage of birds. All my sighting came from birds moving over Caldene fields due to fog suggesting that there could well have been a larger movement going on. Low numbers of Redwing and Starling moved and there was a slight movement of Alba Wags and Chaffinch to the E. Finches had a better day and a single party of Siskin was a good find. 2 high flying Bullfinch were thought to be genuine moving birds and the days highlight has got to be a party of Shelduck ( a rarity here ) which flew low to the N/W

Martyn Priestley