Caldene Fields, Low Moor... twite! 05-10-2009

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 5 October 2009
Counting period: 6:45-8:45
Weather: Weather: A dry dull, cool start with a drop in temperature to 3c. Thin high cloud to the S/E which gradually moved N/E giving a low misty cloud base of about 40% increasing to around 90% by 07.15.
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving Birds:

Kestrel 1 -
Carrion Crow 30 -
Black-headed Gull 35 -
Starling 7 -
Woodpigeon 18 -
Chaffinch 4 -
Meadow Pipit 46 -
Greenfinch 98 -
alba wagtail sp. 10 -
Goldfinch 3 -
Redwing 1 -
Twite 5 -
Mistle Thrush - 4

Totals: 262 individuals, 13 species, 2:00 hours

Bold = Remarkable observation (scarce or rare species or large number)

Comments: A difficult watch due to low mist to the E/S/E. Birds seen to be moving but I suspect many more were above the low cloud base. Greenfinch was moving again in very good numbers and Carrion Crow also moved mainly to the S. The highlight for me came at 08.30 when a party of 5 Twite flew S giving me a site first!!


Martyn Priestley

Oxenhope... many and varied! 05-10-2009

Pre sunrise... Drax belching fumulus into the upper sky! (c) Howard Creber 2009


Looking NW... Mr Holmes! I Presume! (c) Howard Creber 2009


A Pleasant Skyscape... looking NW (c) Howard Creber 2009


Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 5 October 2009
Counting period: 7:00-11:30
Weather: S F1, 5degC at 0700, 65km, 4/8 altocumulus, altostratus, velum, cirro sp, cu mediocris building in Lancashire, QNH 1011 rising then falling.
Observers: Howard Creber, Gordon Holmes

MOVING BIRDS:

Meadow Pipit - 843 mainly S
Alba Wagtail - 7 S
Wheatear - 3
Chaffinch - 75 S
Greenfinch - 112 S
Goldfinch - 75 S
Starling - 48 (42 S & 6 W)
Siskin - 3 S
Woodpigeon - 75 W
Stockdove - 1 NW
Mallard - 2 NW from far out SE
Mistle Thrush - 22 W
Snipe - 31 W
Blackbird - 4 W
Golden Plover - 87 NW
Greylag Goose - 7 W
Pink Footed G - 134 W in 3 skeins (largest 75)
LBB Gull - 4 W
Lapwings - 94 W
Carrion Crow - 5 high NW
Jay - 9 (3 + 6) high N
Reed Bunting - 2 W
Linnet - 2 W
Redpoll - 6 W
Swallow - 14 S
Jackdaw - 18 high W
Tree Pipit - 1 W

Totals: 1684 individuals, 27 species, 4:30 hours

Present: Sparrowhawk 3, Kestrel 2, Green Woodpecker 1, Magpie 4

Comments: An extremely pleasant, almost balmy morning following a nippy start. Excellent viewing conditions, especially to the NW, though smog appeared out over Leeds and beyond later in the morning. Birds were many and varied, characterised by an excellent movement of finches (273 over 6 species), ably supported by three skeins of pinkies (largest of 75 at 09.45 hrs watched for 30 minutes from out high over Leeds to westward turn over Watersheddles col to the NW), Snipe and the start of obvious Woodpig movement. As has been the pattern this year, Meadow Pipits maintained a steady and constant flow throughout the period of observation, predominantly and as usual to our east (largest flock 45). All in all, a very birdy morning.

Howard Creber and Gordon Holmes