Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Harrop Edge... fieldfares still going! 28-10-2009


The Ark... twixt wolf and crow from the south east (from Harrop Edge at sunset) with the Pendle Hill massif beyond (c) 2009

Harrop Edge, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Counting period: 15:30-17:30
Weather: W F2, 14degC, 45km, 2/8, QNH 1017 rising
Observers: Dave Barker

Moving birds:
Fieldfare 430 -

Totals: 430 individuals, 1 species, 2:00 hours

Comments: A great afternoon to be out but with the only moving birds located being four flocks of Fieldfares... all low in none urgent mode but still going west. Great views of the Ark and the Pendle massif directly beyond at sunset!

Dave Barker

Oxenhope.... migration exhausted! 28-10-2009

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Counting period: 6:25-11:30
Weather: SW F3, 11degC, initially 200m but always vertical visibility - increasing 30km, 4/8 initial fractus streaming off the moors the cu sp to stratocumulus, QNH 1014 falling then rising 1016
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber

Moving Birds:
Golden Plover 12 -
Meadow Pipit 37 -
Goldfinch 6 -
Lapwing 201 -
alba wagtail sp. 8 -
Lesser Redpoll 2 -
Black-headed Gull 6 -
Stonechat 1 -
Crossbill - 3
Common Gull 1 -
Fieldfare 642 -
Bullfinch 4 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 -
Redwing 195 -
Lapland Bunting - 4
Woodpigeon 247 -
Starling - 348
Reed Bunting 1 -
Skylark 20 -
Chaffinch 10 -
Swallow 1 -
Greenfinch 12 -

Totals: 1762 individuals, 22 species, 5:05 hours

Present: Lapwing 110

Comments: Initial fractus streaming off the moors like dense smoke obstructed visibiliy for a while but intermittent reasonable vision was often possible. A scattered multy direction movement of Redwings in small flocks was initially apparent both through and above the fractus... but nothing like the scale as seen after some big thrush migrations. During the morning Redwings were initially prominent but were soon overtaken by Fieldfare but only in small numbers, not high and rapidly diminishing in frequency. However, the morning was noteable for, first a single Swallow south at 0948, followed shortly after at 0952 by an absoutely remarkable very loose procession of four Lapland Buntings all calling intermittently as they approached high from the SE and passed and away to the NW and a group of several Crossbills also NW but unseen in the intermittent fractus base. After this thrushes just died.... The current thrush migration and immediate onward passage is at and end! Skylark passage was however increasing, only a small number but still quite good for here. It was specifically noted that gull passage was almost absent this morning. Two small Bullfinch parties passing west were unusual. Lapwings were mainly going east.

Dave Barker

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate... 28-10-2009

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Counting period: 6:35-8:35
Weather: SW/W 2-3 mild 4 Oktas Visibility moderate
Observers: Andrew Hanby

Moving Birds:
Common Snipe 1 -
Fieldfare 3470 -
Chaffinch 25 -
Common Gull 4 -
Song Thrush 2 -
finch sp. 25 -
Woodpigeon 385 -
Redwing 2756 -
Greenfinch 3 -
Skylark 25 -
Goldcrest 1 -
Goldfinch 3 -
Meadow Pipit 18 -
Magpie 3 -
Linnet 9 -
alba wagtail sp. 2 -
Jackdaw 16 -
Crossbill 2 -
Blackbird 5 -
Starling 477 -
Reed Bunting 1 -

Totals: 7233 individuals, 21 species, 2:00 hours

Present: Kestrel 2, Golden Plover 400, Lapwing 400

Comments: Hard work on my own with my head swiveling like a wryneck. None of the variety of other sites but more than my fair share of thrushes which were going low mainly to the north of me ( circa 90%) SW up the minor valley. The largest flock of Fieldfare was 600 ( give or take a few) with 180 peak for Redwing. Unfortunately they acted as chaff and I was unable to concentrate on the moderate no of other 'jobs' whistling through the air. Unlike the other day when the pigeons were well up these were also hugging the ground ( a curious expression that implies improbably long arms!). I had c 3000 small gulls going N first thing which I have not entered into the totals as I believe they were exiting the eccup roost. A Jackdaw with a v prominent white collar went through- I guess a 'Scandy'

Andy Hanby

Caldene Fields, Low Moor... a quick 20 mins! 28-10-2009

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Counting period: 7:00-7:20
Weather: Dry and bright with a temp of 10c. A F1 S/S/W and 20% thin cloud to the E and good visibility to 8 miles.
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving Birds:
Black-headed Gull 34 -
Carrion Crow 12 -
Woodpigeon 229 -
Starling 56 -
Blackbird 2 -
Chaffinch 2 -
Fieldfare 269 -
Greenfinch 31 -
Redwing 954 -
Lesser Redpoll 1 -

Totals: 1590 individuals, 10 species, 0:20 hours

Comments: A case of what I missed today !. Last night around 19.30 I heard many overhead calls of Redwing and Fieldfare moving W over Caldene Fields and a quick 20 minute watch before work saw thrushes piling in to the S and S/W and Wood Pigeon was also moving. This watch could well have been ‘ one to talk about for years ‘ for me but I will never know !!!


Martyn Priestley

Rombalds Moor... 28-10-2009

Whilst visiting my survey plot again between 09.30 and 11.15, three flocks of Fieldfare passed by totalling 172 birds, a flock of 23 Woodpigeon also seen.
Of the 9 Snipe recorded, 5 were flushed on a plateau next to the Hill and I believe not to be "our" birds. This is because that particular spot is not wet but dry grass with a few thistles and the birds were probably resting on migration. The other 4 Snipe were all flushed where you would expect them, ie damp with rushes and cover.
If you want to put this on your blog, please remove the name of the farmer and indicate it is on private land near to the Hill.

Today has made me determined to try next year, some vis - mig close to Reva Reservoir to see what turns up. This Saturday will be my last effort at Nab End.

Regards

Shaun Radcliffe

Whooperdooper en "vis".... 27-10-2009


Whoopers...in from the north (c) 2009


Whoopers....out over the Ark (c) 2009 Click to find them!


Some of the Pinks.... going west (c) 2009

Dave

TURDUS SWAMPOUT 27-10-2009

Take time to look at these... Click to make them bigger if you want.

c1500hr to Dusk 27-10-2009 ... VisMig at its BEST!

... just a few of the flocks that came through....Oxenhope Sentry... Just to capture the spirit of the day. Thanks Hans for all of the dutch radar information and to all on the east coast for the early warnings, especially Keith and Andy, without which we just wouldent have known they might be coming, although we might have guessed... but whether we would have done the vis in the afternoon to see?... I dont think we would.





































All Images Strictly (c) 2009
HOPE YOU ENJOYED THEM..... WE CERTAINLY DID!
Dave and Howard