Caldene Fields, Low Moor.... classic! 17-10-2010

Gulls high up!... (c) Martyn Priestley 2010


Pinks NW.... (c) Martyn Priestley 2010


Yet more pinks up there!... (c) Martyn Priestley 2010

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Sunday 17 October 2010
Counting period: 7:15-12:15
Weather: Dry with 50% high cloud and a drop in temp to 1c. Around 09.00 a F1 W wind was noted and cloud cover reduced to 15% giving open sunny skies. Excellent visibility to 30+ miles
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving birds:
Pink-footed Goose 129 + 68
Skylark 13+ 12
Starling 1646 -
Mallard 4 -
Meadow Pipit 6+ 1
Chaffinch 61 -
Sparrowhawk 1 -
alba wagtail sp. 26+ 5
Brambling 1 -
Common Buzzard 1 -
Blackbird - 1
finch sp. 12 -
Kestrel 1 -
Fieldfare - 101
Greenfinch 94 -
Golden Plover 4+ 223
Song Thrush - 4
Goldfinch 89 -
Black-headed Gull 236 -
Redwing - 431
Siskin 1 -
Common Gull 4 +3
Mistle Thrush - 3
Lesser Redpoll 2 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 -
Jay 1 -
Bullfinch 2+ 5
Woodpigeon 657 -
Jackdaw 105 -
Collared Dove 2 -
Carrion Crow 20+ 3

Totals: 3979 individuals, 31 species, 5:00 hours

Comments: A bit of a ‘classic’ ! The first hour was very busy and I struggled as birds poured through, sadly ‘many finches were just not counted!. Then around 09.00 passage slowed down but was constant till around 11.30. Starling were the main movers with 53 parties noted on a fairly broad front. There was only one 100+ party with the overall average size been around 25+. Two Skeins of Pinks were noted as well as my first Brambling of the autumn. Skylarks showed well including a single party of 12 to the N. The drop in temp also saw Woods moving to the S and an impressive number of Jackdaws moved to the S/W giving me a new record of 105. A C Buzzard to the S finished of another good day here.

Martyn Priestley