Stainburn Moor, Harrogate.... 18-09-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Saturday 18 September 2010
Counting period: 6:15-12:00
Weather: WNW 2-3 cool/cold even. 4/8 cloud- showers to the SW. Visibility generally v good
Observers: AHanby J Blacker

Moving birds:
Cormorant 2 -
Skylark 30 -
Coal Tit 8 -
Pink-footed Goose 75 -
Swallow 96 -
Blue Tit 3 -
Greylag Goose 15 -
House Martin 37 -
Nuthatch - 1
Golden Plover - 29
Meadow Pipit 516 -
Jay 4 -
Lapwing 39 -
Grey Wagtail 1 -
Chaffinch 52 -
Black-headed Gull - 59
alba wagtail sp. 14 -
Greenfinch 2 -
Common Gull 29 -
Dunnock 4 -
Goldfinch 43 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 6
Wheatear 2 -
Siskin 1 -
Collared Dove 4 -
Mistle Thrush 29 -
Linnet 32 -
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 -
Chiffchaff 3 -
Reed Bunting 1 -

Totals: 1138 individuals, 30 species, 5:45 hours

Present: Red Kite 8, Sparrowhawk 2, Common Buzzard 5, Kestrel 1, Stock Dove 8, Woodpigeon 30, Meadow Pipit 50, Whinchat 1, Wheatear 1, Blackbird 1, Great Tit 4, Jackdaw 650, Starling 200

Andy and John
Comments: An interesting day with some good high point- but generally steady overall. A massive movement of Gulls N from the general direction of Eccup was not counted as presumed roost dispersal to feed; in fact I counted gulls only from 0730 onwards. Mosts stuff going generally West ( recorded as S). The Pink feet ( 33, 2, 40) were our first of the autumn and came within a 5 min period between 0840 and 0845 and headed ESE. Additional geese- up to 400 were seen v early over Eccup way and look also like Pinks but are not included in the totals. Meadow Pipits were low for the time of year (numbers not altitude!) and quite a few seem to be hanging around. I had a flock of 25 possible Redwings, but I am not wholly confident as it was early and in poor light- again not included in the totals. Coal tits continue to move West along the hedge with 8 this morning representing a new peak- some of these lifting up very hight after the gap. The star bird of the day was a Nuthatch which came along the hedge before heading off high N across the fields. I've seen coastal Nuthatches at this time of year- however I assume they represent local dispersal rather than long distance migrants. The nearest breeders would be about 2 miles away at Harlow After 11 Slow from earlier but excellent visibility made easy wattching. Another chiffchaff along the hedge then a confiding wheatear landed 3m away but was scared by a cyclist and off before I could get a photo!

Andy and John