Sunday, November 08, 2009

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate... fatigue! 08-11-2009

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Sunday 8 November 2009
Counting period: 7:00-9:00
Weather: cold. 8 oktas. N 2-3 visibility 8 miles.
Observers: Andrew Hanby and John Blacker

Moving Birds:
Peregrine - 1
Fieldfare 37 -
Golden Plover 225 -
Redwing 12 36
Lapwing 410 -
Starling - 560
Common Gull 156 -
Chaffinch - 7
Woodpigeon 12 -
finch sp. - 5
Meadow Pipit 1 -

Totals: 1462 individuals, 11 species, 2:00 hours

Present: Kestrel 1, Lapwing 1200, Stock Dove 1, Blue Tit 1, Jackdaw 450, Rook 45, Carrion Crow 15, Linnet 2

Comments: A modest morning in which fatigue got the best of the observers and we didn't make it to 1100 hrs. Plovers still on the move with three flocks , 60, 15 and 150 coming in from the North at moderate height in v formation before rising at the ridge crest and disappearing into the cloud base and hence lost from sight. Lapwings were also restless with many flocks dithering but some making a definite move, including a single flock of 310 which headed S across the Wharfe. Starling were probably moving and the number given are the minimum, but may have been more- however commuting between large flocks in the fields confuses the issue. Again gulls moving N first thing- this time included 252 Black Heads first thing from the SW suggesting a roost origin that was not Eccup ?? Knotford Nook. Later as Dave noted a Southerly movement developed and our count of commons included a single flock of 130 common gulls headed SE low right passed us calling all the while- most impressive. The other main highlight was a male Peregrine low N overhead.

Andy and John

Oxenhope... silent skies! 08-11-2009


Low fractus off the moor! early doors... (c) 2009


Westward Ho! (c) 2009


Hope Hill, Baildon Moor across Airedale... (c) 2009

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Sunday 8 November 2009
Counting period: 7:15-11:50
Weather: NNE F1, 5decC, 1000m initially becoming 30km, 8/8 stratus - fog stratus, intermittent light rain, QNH 1002 rising 1009
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber

Moving birds:
Cormorant 1 -
Common Gull 156 -
Redwing - 80
Whooper Swan 5 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 -
Raven 2 -
Common Buzzard 1 -
Woodpigeon 61 -
Starling - 490
Merlin 1 -
Skylark - 1
Chaffinch 4 -
Peregrine 1 -
Meadow Pipit 3 -
Greenfinch - 1
Golden Plover 71 -
Grey Wagtail 1 -
Goldfinch 3 -
Lapwing 2 -
alba wagtail sp. 1 -
Black-headed Gull 1200 -
Fieldfare 67 -

Totals: 2153 individuals, 22 species, 4:35 hours

Present: Lapwing 600

Comments: Silent but far from empty skies!.. although the season up here is closing fast!! Very little movement initially but things picked up from mid morning onwards, first with a small raptor movement, followed predictably by a single skein of Whoopers and ending with a very pronounced Starling wave NW. Several skeins of Golden Plovers south also made it late morning into the count! The Whoopers, first picked up at distance on a routine scan of the northern skies at 1120 were on approach obiquely from very high over Cringles col... sometimes at cloudbase and just sometimes within / behind it. They traversed the length of mid Airedale at this height and at distance before going out and away SSE over Thornton. There was an influx / passage west of small gulls throughout the morning but becoming more intense towards mid day. I would have stopped for longer but it was starting to rain moderately and the sky was closing from the north. After the bitter hypothermic blast of yesterday very pleasant out this morning and an enjoyable watch.

Dave

Ogden, Queensbury... quiet! 08-11-2009

Ogden, Queensbury (W Yorks, England)
Sunday 8 November 2009
Counting period: 7:30-10:00
Weather: Foggy start clearing by 0800hrs leaving mist and low cloud. NNE>2-3 Showers then heavy rain by 1000hrs
Observers: Brian Sumner

Moving Birds:
Common Gull 32 -
Mistle Thrush - 3
Fieldfare 22 -
Starling - 15
Redwing 4 -

Totals: 76 individuals, 5 species, 2:30 hours

Present: Grey Heron 1, Black-headed Gull 185, Common Gull 22

Comments: A very quiet watch with little in the murky skies. Slight movement between the showers but nothing as the rain set in. Showing signs of the end of the autumn migration.

Brian Sumner