Stainburn Moor, Harrogate... 06-11-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Saturday 6 November 2010
Counting period: 7:10-10:17
Weather: NW 1; 7/8 cloud. Cool and getting colder
Observers: A Hanby, John Blacker

Moving birds:
Cormorant - 4
Skylark 38 -
Carrion Crow 2 -
Greylag Goose 3 -
Meadow Pipit 23 -
Starling 443 -
Canada Goose - 1
Grey Wagtail 2 -
Tree Sparrow 9 -
Common Snipe - 3
Waxwing 17 -
Chaffinch 11 -
Black-headed Gull - 85
Fieldfare - 167
finch sp. 60 -
Common Gull - 152
Redwing 12 -
Greenfinch 1 -
Herring Gull 3 -
Coal Tit 1 -
Goldfinch 5 -
Woodpigeon 18437 -
Jackdaw 3 -
Lesser Redpoll 1 -

Totals: 19483 individuals, 24 species, 3:07 hours

Present: Sparrowhawk 1, buzzard sp. 1, Golden Plover 2000, Lapwing 450, Stock Dove 12, Dunnock 1, Ring Ouzel 4, Blue Tit 3, Magpie 1, Starling 1200

Comments: A day dominated to enormous numbers of Woodpigeons, a massive 18,437 with the inherent count error likely to be at the understimate end- especially as some rather large high flocks were nearly missed ( and therefore some ill have been). There were two main streams one to the West and another immediately to the East; in fact prob a third stream further out over the vale of York. The numbers completely got in the way of properly counting other Birds for at least an hour- hence the high nos of Finch sp (AH solo for a lot of the major part of the movement). The other Highlight was a flock of 17 Waxwings SW c 0939.

Andy and John