Stainburn Moor, Harrogate.... 25-09-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Saturday 25 September 2010
Counting period: 6:35-10:45
Weather: 5C rising to 10C later; NNW F 3-4 = nasty wnd chill. 1/8- 3/8 cloud
Observers: A Hanby, J Blacker

Moving birds:
Cormorant 1 -
Woodpigeon 47 -
Coal Tit 7 -
Pink-footed Goose 110 -
Collared Dove 2 -
Blue Tit 6 -
Greylag Goose 73 -
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2
Great Tit 4 -
Anser sp. 41 -
Skylark - 37
Jay 1 -
Canada Goose 13 -
Swallow - 9
Magpie 2 -
Golden Plover 172 -
House Martin - 5
Jackdaw 4 -
Lapwing 139 + 18
Meadow Pipit 127 -
Chaffinch 4 -
Common Snipe - 32
Grey Wagtail - 1
finch sp. 12 -
Black-headed Gull - 4
alba wagtail sp. - 3
Greenfinch 12 -
Common Gull - 91
Dunnock 2 -
Goldfinch - 6
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 6
Mistle Thrush 3 -
Linnet - 36

Totals: 1032 individuals, 33 species, 4:10 hours

Present: Sparrowhawk 3, Common Buzzard 10, Kestrel 2, Golden Plover 150, Lapwing 45, Swallow 30, Jackdaw 333, Rook 30, Carrion Crow 8, Starling 60

Comments: A generally slow day with a N bias to movement except for mipits which were generally S, SW or W. A lot of geese, presumed Greylags, headed east from the Harewood area ( not inc in counts). Additionally other flocks, apparently separate moving birds, headed in from the N SW, together with a few Canadas. The Pink Footed geese ( 55[08.40], 13[08.50] and 42[ 09,35]) went ESE/SE, with the two larger flocks almost certainly flying in sight of Oxenhope ( counts could be =/- 1 or 2 as some flock clumping). Snipe had a good day (32). They do have an annoying habit of pitching into fields before taking of again via the circular route before continuing. As at Hay a Park, skylarks were all heading N. All in all a v slow day with the Snipe and Pinks as the highlights.

Andy and John