Stainburn Moor, Harrogate... not outstanding! 04-04-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Sunday 4 April 2010
Counting period: 6:45-10:40
Weather: 3C rising to 8 later. 4 Oktas - visibility outstanding at forst - 50 + miles ( if the curvature of the earth allows for that!) Wind NNW 2 rising to 3 later.
Observers: Andrew Hanby, John Blacker

Moving Birds:
Cormorant - 3
Sand Martin - 2
Mistle Thrush - 2
Grey Heron - 2
Swallow 2 2
Carrion Crow - 4
Cygnus sp. 2 -
Meadow Pipit 26 + 293
finch sp. - 1
Black-headed Gull - 1
alba wagtail sp. - 3
Goldfinch - 9
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 + 4
Blackbird - 1
Linnet - 7
Herring Gull - 9
Fieldfare - 30
Great Black-backed Gull - 3
Redwing - 1

Totals: 408 individuals, 19 species, 3:55 hours

Present: Mallard 3, Red Kite 6, Common Buzzard 4, Kestrel 1, Oystercatcher 4, Golden Plover 880, Curlew 10, Woodpigeon 80, Skylark 12, alba wagtail sp. 2, Magpie 4, Carrion Crow 18, Starling 350

Comments: Another steady but not outstanding movement of mipits with little supporting cast.


Counting period: 13:45-14:30
Weather: 8C, Wind NNW 3-4 light showers.
Observers: Andrew Hanby

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 1 + 3
Goldfinch - 2

Totals: 6 individuals, 2 species, 0:45 hours

Comments: Vain hope to see if the White tailed eagle would come by but the bleeper told me it was in the Flamborough area at 1315 so I guessed it wasn't going to come by anytime soon- so my enthusiasm waned- augmented by a 'virtually no bird situation. However negative reports are also useful too!

Andy and John