Stainburn Moor, Harrogate... cold comfort! 28-03-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Sunday 28 March 2010
Counting period: 7:20-9:45
Weather: W 4-5 cool/cold 3/8 cloud. dry. Visibility 20 miles plus
Observers: A M Hanby, John Blacker

Moving Birds;
Grey Heron - 1
Skylark - 2
Anser sp. - 3
Meadow Pipit - 133
Curlew - 2
alba wagtail sp. - 2
Common Gull - 75
Starling - 112
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 3
Greenfinch - 1
Herring Gull - 1
Goldfinch - 19
Great Black-backed Gull - 8
Siskin - 3
Woodpigeon - 23

Totals: 388 individuals, 15 species, 2:25 hours

Present: Common Buzzard 2, Oystercatcher 4, Golden Plover 120, Curlew 8, Stock Dove 6, Dunnock 3, Black Redstart 1, Blackbird 1, Rook 100, Carrion Crow 12

Comments: Looked good at first but mostly a monoculture of mipits (hour counts 67, 47, 19) which tailed off rapidly after the first hour. John was worn down by the consistent wind buffet and I was unable to take the initiative before I gave it up for a game of Soldiers. The Black Redstart was still around and singing on and off.

Andy and John

Fly Flatts....more than blustery! 28-03-2010

Similar storey to Oxenhope....See Brians blog for full details:

http://birderbri.blogspot.com/2010/03/blustery-fly-flatts_28.html

Dave

Oxenhope... too windy! 28-03-2010

Deep Haze Initially... looking ENE (c) 2010


Angry Skies.... looking NNW (c) 2010

W F5 increasing W F6, 5degC rising, 20km increasing 65 Haze, 6/8 reducing stratocumulus, QNH 1004 rising.
0700 (0600 UTC) - 1130hr British Summer Time starts today!

Another let down really, especially after a reasonable start. Mipits going for it initially, broadfronting mostly high and like rockets through the cross wind soon quelled after 0815hr to leave just a trickle through the rest of the morning. Possibly many were missed as they moved against the ground or in the lee? All were going north despite their flight level. Common Gulls again in evidence on the move but unlike yesterday mostly low. Several BHGull singles went north and thats about it...All the goldies had moved on and none were in the sky today. Several single Curlews went east but these were discounted as their status was uncertain.

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 109 > N
Common Gull 35 > E and SE
BH Gull 5 > N
LBB Gull 1 > N

Dave