Stainburn Moor, Harrogate... blue blue sky! 09-11-2009

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Monday 9 November 2009
Counting period: 7:00-8:00
Weather: 2 oktas with the cloud as a bank to NE and E. 3c with frost in the valleys and some haze. N 1-2
Observers: Andrew Hanby

Moving Birds:
Canada Goose 4 -
finch sp. 5 -
Lapwing 35 -
Goldfinch 4 -
Woodpigeon 2025 -
Snow Bunting 1 -
Chaffinch 2 -

Totals: 2076 individuals, 7 species, 1:00 hours

Present: Kestrel 1, Golden Plover 45, Lapwing 137, Stock Dove 3

Comments: An absolutely cracking morning with a blue blue sky. The high spots in a pre-work watch were 1) woodpigeons both over the vale of York and also in decent numbers to the West of me- no doubt Destined to fly over Oxenhope and 2) A single female/immature Snow bunting that flew low WSW past me looping a bit and giving splendid views in the fantastic light. The light movement of Fieldfares was really quite high. Higher still were three flocks of birds which I think may have been ducks - totalling as many as 150 birds- but they were so high that watering eyes and my telescope could make no real sense of them and they moved South. It is interesting to note that the number of Lapwings and Golden Plover around the place is well down suggesting that the movement at the weekend was truly a bit of a clear out.

Andy