Stainburn Moor.. bedtime for mipits! 07-09-2009

Stainburn Moor 1800-19.15 hrs 7/8 cloud mild no wind

Meadow Pipit 395

The evening was so pleasant that when I got in from work the Moors beckoned and I thought I'd go and see what was happening. As with the last two days Meadow Pipits dominated the place with swirling flocks getting up and coming down again but always moving West past me with higher birds (some very high) coming in from the East and dropping down onto the moor to the west of me. In the time I was there 395 birds passed with the biggest flock being 78. These all seemed to be generally settling down onto the Moor and after 1900 hrs all was silent. This raises the possibility that some of the early birds in the morning represent the local reservoir 'clearing out' with the following 'waves' arriving from further afield- arguably the widest waves being from the more remote start points with the flocks stretching and fragmenting as they move onward. A likely second wave start point could be, for example, on the North Yorks Moors.

Otherwise heron 2E and c250 Golden Plover in the area.

Andy Hanby

Fly Flatts 07-09-2009

14.30pm to 16.00pm
The road up to Fly Flatts produced 10 wheatears. At the reservoir below the wave wall were 25 twite by overflow perching before flying off SW. Steady trickle of Meadow Pipits for at least 1 hour. Trough Lane produced 1 Whinchat. Returning from Fly Flatts there were 8 Wheatears possibly some of same birds?

Frances & Malcolm Stones