Oxenhope... small scale! 04-11-2009

Early Sky... (c) Howard Creber 2009


Always worse in the W and NW but bright to the E (c) Howard Creber 2009

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Counting period: 7:10-9:40
Weather: W F3 / F4, 5degC, 65km out of showers, Sunny spells punctuated by heavy downpours, 4/8 variable, QNH 980 rising
Observers: Howard Creber

Moving Birds:
Lapwing - 1
Fieldfare - 161
Black-headed Gull - 54
Redwing - 32
Common Gull 2 -
Starling - 146
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2
Chaffinch 10 -
Woodpigeon 153 -
Greenfinch - 4
Meadow Pipit 11 -
Goldfinch 12 -
alba wagtail sp. 4 -

Totals: 592 individuals, 13 species, 2:30 hours

Comments: OTHERS Greylag Goose - 16... Rook... Carrion Crow... Jackdaw... Wren... Mallard .... COMMENTS .... Birds were moving today albeit on a small scale, taking advantage of the breaks between really heavy rain showers. Largest Woodpigeon flock was 70 birds SE, just ahead of an oncoming rain cloud. One Fieldfare flock totalled 105 birds which went high NW above the embankment. Interestingly, one flock of 26 Fieldfare moved in unison with 24 Woodpigeon NW, at one point becoming and remaining intermingled right out over the Worth Valley.One squadron of Starlings totalled 120 birds, all with their heads down, powering through NW. All finch sp. were noticeably high in their respective directions.

Howard Creber

Queensbury... big movement! 04-11-2009

04/11/2009 Queensbury.
An excellent day for Fieldfare, Woodpigeon and Redwing.
From walking to work at 0730hrs Fieldfare were coming over in massive flocks, the largest being c180. Some Redwings were inamongst the Fieldfare but low numbers,all were moving >SW. This flow continued all morning till about 1400hrs despite the heavy rain showers which didnt seem to bother the birds.
By late morning Woodpigeons started coming over >S and this movement continued until 1600hrs when light was fading. The later morning Thrushes and Woodpigeons all came over to the SE of me in the brighter skies.

Casual observations to and at work only.

550 Fieldfare..............................>SW
62 Redwing.................................>SW
475 Woodpigeons.......................>S

Brian Sumner

Caldene Fields, Low Moor... excellent! 04-11-2009

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Counting period: 6:45-10:45
Weather: Intermittent showers light/heavy shower with a temp 7c and a F1/2 S/W. 80% patchy cloud with clearer skies to the E/S/E. Overall visibility was excellent beyond 10 miles, however during the periods of heavy rain this was reduced to 5 miles.
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving Birds:
Pink-footed Goose 300 -
Collared Dove 2 -
Carrion Crow 15 -
Anser sp. 12 -
Meadow Pipit 9 -
Starling 138 -
Mallard 2 -
alba wagtail sp. 28 -
Chaffinch 12 -
Sparrowhawk 1 -
Fieldfare 1704 -
finch sp. 8 -
Black-headed Gull 161 -
Redwing 193 -
Greenfinch 74 -
Common Gull 5 -
Mistle Thrush 5 -
Goldfinch 31 -
Woodpigeon 2531 -
Jackdaw 4 -
Bullfinch 1 -

Totals: 5236 individuals, 21 species, 4:00 hours

Comments: An excellent watch despite showers with Woodies moving in the main well to the E over Birkenshaw, Liversedge and Mirfield areas. Few birds were moving from dawn until 08.00 when 10 counts of 120 + were noted this lasted till around 10.00 then numbers subsided to 50+ groups. Also caught up in this movement well to the E were Fieldfares with a record count as they moved to the S/SW there were some Redwings that moved with the Fieldfares but these were in low numbers. There also a movement of geese with a single skein of Pinkies to the S, 2 unidentified to the S/W and an excellent sighting of 22 large, long necked dark geese with calls like Bean Goose flew E. Given the rarity of Bean Goose here I have decided to call then unidentified until further research is carried out.

Martyn Priestley

Stainburn Moor... a quick visit! 04-11-2009

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Counting period: 6:55-7:34
Weather: WSW 3-4 6 oktas showers becoming heavy. Visibility- 15+ KM to E, 5 to West
Observers: A Hanby


Moving Birds:
Greylag Goose 27 -
Starling 15 -
Canada Goose 5 -
Chaffinch 43 -
Common Gull 4 -
Brambling 2 -
Woodpigeon 715 -
finch sp. 15 -
Meadow Pipit 26 -
Greenfinch 5 -
alba wagtail sp. 1 -
Goldfinch 4 -
Fieldfare 718 -
Linnet 2 -
Redwing 123 -

Totals: 1705 individuals, 15 species, 0:39 hours

Present: Golden Plover 50, Lapwing 250, Blackbird 2, Jackdaw 255, Rook 40

Comments: A quick look before work revealed a relatively heavy movement, but the need to earn a living and heavier rain forced me to leave earlier than I would have liked. Most stuff moving due South. 3000 plus small gulls headed N for Leeds direction- not in totals.

Andy Hanby