Caldene Fields, Low Moor... woodie record breaks!! 07-11-2010

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Sunday 7 November 2010
Counting period: 6:45-10:45
Weather: Slight drizzle at first then dry with a cold F2 /3 N/W wind and 60% cloud cover reducing to around 30% around 09.00 then open skies. Clearing visibility from 8 to 15 miles.
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving birds:
Pink-footed Goose 182 -
Skylark - 4
Carrion Crow 6 -
Mallard - 2
Meadow Pipit 3 + 2
Starling 541 -
Golden Plover - 141
alba wagtail sp. - 6
Chaffinch 12 -
Black-headed Gull 16 -
Waxwing - 15
Greenfinch 25 -
Common Gull - 2
Fieldfare - 659
Goldfinch 11 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 5 -
Redwing - 295
Lesser Redpoll 3 2
Woodpigeon 13016 + 218
Jackdaw 69 -
Snow Bunting - 1

Totals: 15236 individuals, 21 species, 4:00 hours

Comments: What a morning!! It started slow with nothing moving till 07.15 then 3 Wood Pigeons moved S then the ‘flood gates’ opened with WP pouring through like yesterday on a broad band from Low Moor through to Tong in the E. At one point a 1,000+ birds flew directly over my head!!. From 07.15 till 08.00 7, 411 birds passed through. Then from 08.00 till 09.00 passage slightly slowed with 5,131 moving, then from 09.00 – 10.45 682 passed through. At 10.00 there was an unexpected passage to the N involving 3 parties totally 208 birds. 77 parties over 10 were recorded with 6 over 500. Finches were in the main not counted but I did pick up on thrushes moving mainly Fieldfares. 2 parties of Waxwing moved W ( a Vismig ) first for me and a low flying Snow Bunting flew N/W mid watch.

Martyn