Stainburn Moor, Harrogate.... 22-09-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Wednesday 22 September 2010
Counting period: 8:50-11:12
Weather: Hazy; F2-3 SW wind; cool at first then becoming v mild. Visibility up to 15 miles to NW but prob 6 max to east.
Observers: A Hanby

Moving birds:
Kestrel 1 -
Swallow 261 -
Magpie 3 -
Golden Plover 5 -
House Martin 4 -
Tree Sparrow 8 -
Lapwing 27 -
Meadow Pipit 451 -
Chaffinch 19 -
Common Snipe 11 -
Grey Wagtail 3 -
finch sp. 15 -
Black-headed Gull 1 -
alba wagtail sp. 4 -
Greenfinch 12 -
Common Gull 28 -
Mistle Thrush 19 -
Goldfinch 40 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Coal Tit 10 -
Siskin 22 -
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Blue Tit 3 -
Linnet 63 -
Skylark 35 -
Jay - 1
Twite 25 -

Totals: 1073 individuals, 27 species, 2:22 hours

Present: Red Kite 10, Common Buzzard 5, Kestrel 5, Stock Dove 8, Woodpigeon 15, Dunnock 1, Coal Tit 4, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 1, Jackdaw 45, Rook 25, Red Admiral 2, Comma 1

Comments: A late start- on school run duty meant that the cream of the morning had gone. Things also died off fairly rapidly after10.30, however the early portion suggests I had missed a lot. Skylarks continue to move S; I wonder if they generally choose lower routes at this time of the year- hence less at higher places like Oxenhope. At 261 Swallows were well done but early doors were flying over my house in Harrogate so I think I missed a shedload. The hedge was quieter with only really Coal Tits going for it- 10 went through plus another 4 u-turned. Siskins ( 17 and 5) are on the up and may appear in greater numbers when the wind goes NE. Finches provided the stars of the day with a grand flock of 25 Twite low West along the road past me- reminded me of my recent holiday on Orkney.

Andy