Stainburn Moor, Harrogate... brambling boost! 17-10-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Sunday 17 October 2010
Counting period: 8:05-11:05
Weather: o/8- 1/8 cloud. F1 WSW wind; 1-2C first thing rising to c11C Visibility fair to excellent.
Observers: A Hanby, J Blacker

Moving birds:
Cormorant - 2
Collared Dove 7 -
Magpie 6 -
Teal 1 -
Skylark 36 -
Starling 524 -
Sparrowhawk 2 -
Meadow Pipit 73 -
Tree Sparrow 4 -
Golden Plover 757 -
Grey Wagtail 1 -
Chaffinch 53 -
Lapwing 60 -
alba wagtail sp. 15 -
Brambling 39 -
Common Snipe 7 -
Blackbird 2 -
finch sp. 18 -
Black-headed Gull - 5
Fieldfare 394 -
Greenfinch 4 -
Common Gull 24 -
Redwing 842 -
Goldfinch 9 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Goldcrest 6 -
Linnet 13 -
Herring Gull 2 -
Coal Tit 2 -
Lesser Redpoll 1 -
Stock Dove 4 -
Blue Tit 7 -
Yellowhammer 1 -
Woodpigeon 114 -
Great Tit 3 -
Reed Bunting 2 -

Totals: 3041 individuals, 36 species, 3:00 hours

Present: Grey Heron 1, Kestrel 2, Golden Plover 600, Lapwing 150, Common Gull 80, Dunnock 7, Blackbird 8

Comments: A rather late start which will have reduced our numbers somewhat. Golden Plover appeared to be moving S all morning- trouble is there is always the worry that they will re-trace their steps in the afternoon. The direction was very constant without the to ing and fro ing seen on occasion. No big woodpigeon movement as seen in S Yorks was evident- but missing the first 45mins of birdable light may have played a part in that. 73 mipits is, for us, quite a high count for this late in October. All the thrush movement we picked up was at pretty low altitude with 395 Fieldfare and Redwing dominating with 842. Brambling were probably the star performers with 39 through including a flock of 17 and a flock of 12, the former giving great views as they few ow overhead late in the watch. Yet another Yellowhammer headed South, cementing this species as a 'signature species' for our watch point. Late edit- forgot the Starlings!

Andy Hanby and John Blacker