Stainburn Moor, Harrogate.... 31-08-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Tuesday 31 August 2010
Counting period: 6:57-11:17
Weather: SW 1-2 cold at first, warm later. 0/8 cloud at first 1/8 later. Dry. Haze particularly to East.
Observers: Andrew hanby


Moving Birds:
Grey Heron 1 -
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 -
Spotted Flycatcher 2 -
Sparrowhawk 1 -
Sand Martin 2 -
Coal Tit 3 -
Common Buzzard 1 -
Swallow 146 -
Blue Tit 5 -
Kestrel 1 -
House Martin 38 -
Great Tit 7 -
Lapwing 47 -
Tree Pipit 2 -
Magpie 1 -
Common Snipe 7 -
Meadow Pipit 112 -
Starling 68 -
Curlew 8 -
flava wagtail sp. 4 -
Tree Sparrow 11 -
Black-headed Gull - 11
alba wagtail sp. 1 -
Chaffinch 16 -
Common Gull - 37
Dunnock 10 -
Greenfinch 1 -
Stock Dove 23 -
Wheatear 7 -
Goldfinch 18 -
Woodpigeon 83 -
Chiffchaff 1 -
Siskin 2 -
Collared Dove 4 -
Willow Warbler 1 -
Bullfinch 1 -

Totals: 685 individuals, 36 species, 4:20 hours

Present: Red Kite 12, Sparrowhawk 3, Common Buzzard 3, Kestrel 2, Peregrine 1, Golden Plover 140, Lapwing 90, Curlew 12, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 1, Jackdaw 20, Rook 60, Carrion Crow 5, Starling 150, House Sparrow 1, Linnet 14

Comments: Today has been the first day that i have felt enthusiastic enough to pen anything here. It was not so much the numbers but the variety that kept me going and my pulse racing. No rares but very much a lucky dip sort of day. It died rather abruptly around 1045 and after 30 mins of nothing very much I Jacked it in, I also arrive late ( 0657) and it didn't really get going till 0715. In general all was going W or SW- I've put as S in Trektellen- though a minority was actually going in that direction. The immature male peregrine was blasting around intermittently again today- I guess its killing stuff - but it has been a failure in all my observations! Lapwing much reduced on the deck with some definite movers due South ( 47), whereas Curlew were on the up with 12 on the deck and 8 west. Gulls were v sparse indeed. As well as two Tree Pipits South, a rare bird for us Meadow pipits were up on previous days especially between 0930 and 10 30 ( 112), biggest flock 17. Flavas with 4 continue their good showing this autumn. Dunnocks provided one of the high points of the days. After a lot of calling 7 Dunnocks rose out the hedge and head high South, followed about an hour later by three more. I've seen this on the coast but never at an inland sight. The hedge in general was interesting with a trickle of tits moving west along it was well as a Willow Warbler and a Chiff. 11 Tree Sparrows went West ( 3, 2, 1, 5) which, interestingly coincided with a House Sparrow appearing in the hedge and Chirping all morning. The other main highlight were the two Spotted flycatchers south. The first flew past me and I was left scratching my head till I heard a call and the second dropped in briefly on the handy set of wires by where we stand I(photo in album). The finale was a Bullfinch which headed down the Hedge then up high West. All in all - pretty Spiffing! Andy

Andrew Hanby