Stainburn Moor, Harrogate.... 20-09-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Monday 20 September 2010
Counting period: 6:50-11:55
Weather: wsw 3-4 at firt 8/8 cloud then dropping F2-3 with heavy sometimes prolonged showers. From c10;30 hrs 3-4/8 cloud and F1-2 then rising back to F3 and 8/8 cloud at end
Observers: A Hanby

Moving birds:
Cormorant 2 -
Black-headed Gull 15 -
alba wagtail sp. 7 -
Grey Heron 1 -
Common Gull 8 -
Dunnock 10 -
Greylag Goose 2 + 14
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2
Long-tailed Tit 1 -
Anser sp. - 80
Collared Dove 2 -
Coal Tit 8 -
Canada Goose 3 -
Skylark 68 -
finch sp. 9 -
Sparrowhawk 2 -
Sand Martin 1 -
Greenfinch 6 -
buzzard sp. 2 -
Swallow 402 -
Goldfinch 15 -
Golden Plover 23 -
House Martin 20 -
Siskin 11 -
Lapwing 11 -
Meadow Pipit 308 -
Linnet 11 -
Common Snipe 25 -
flava wagtail sp. 1 -
redpoll sp. 1 -

Totals: 1071 individuals, 30 species, 5:05 hours

Present: Kestrel 3, Merlin 3, Stock Dove 10, Woodpigeon 45, Wheatear 2, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 2, Magpie 2, Jackdaw 20, Rook 50, Carrion Crow 10, Starling 600

Comments: A steady moderately interesting day without any 'biggie' but enough to keep me interested. The rain made it un-birdable for only about 20 mins and birds were going through right at the end- often in Bursts. At least three different Merlins this morning- put down as around as their precise movements were a mystery- but their plumages were distinct enough to separate as different ( included a male). Snipe put in their best showing (25) since the vis mig weekend in August and I hoped for more, but they soon petered out. Skylark(68) were also on the move today though not in biblical numbers unfortunately. Swallows (402 s) were bizarre- plodding along unimpressively until a short period around 11 30 hrs when 173 passed south in about 5 minutes, they then returned to their steady movement. Mipits were modest for the date (308), but were going all morning and nearly all S rather than W. Another 10 Dunnocks made a move ( 6 and 4), the 4 arriving from the N rather than coming up the hedge. Finches remain unimpressive, but 11 Siskin was an autumn high so far and redpoll put in a welcome appearance. So an OK but not outstanding morning but enough to keep me going.

Andy