Stainburn Moor, Harrogate.... fieldfares on the move! 02-04-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Friday 2 April 2010
Counting period: 7:15-8:05
Weather: dense fog 2C no wind
Observers: Andrew Hanby

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit - 4
alba wagtail sp. - 1

Totals: 5 individuals, 2 species, 0:50 hours

Present: Dunnock 7, Fieldfare 15, Chaffinch 6

Comments: Fog so dense John could have been there but I wouldn't have seen him!- well not quite....


Counting period: 11:00-12:20
Weather: SE 3 8C Vis 10 miles 7-8/8 cloud
Observers: Andrew Hanby


Moving Birds;
Black-headed Gull - 8
Meadow Pipit - 40
Common Gull - 120
Fieldfare - 273
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Starling - 245
Collared Dove - 4
Goldfinch 6 -

Totals: 697 individuals, 8 species, 1:20 hours

Present: Mallard 3, Red Kite 3, Common Buzzard 5, Oystercatcher 4, Golden Plover 1200, Lapwing 8, Curlew 8, Stock Dove 4, Skylark 10, Meadow Pipit 6, Pied Wagtail 3, Mistle Thrush 2, Great Tit 4, Starling 950

Comments: The main point of interest were the Fieldfares, sometimes mixed with starlings. At first thought they were around but it became apparent that they were all field hoping ENE with some higher birds. I'd have stayed longer but a touch of man flu has blunted my keen ness to stand by a road in a cold wind!

Andy

Oxenhope... a better afternoon! 02-04-2010

SSE F4/5, 6degC, 30km, 8/8, Rain for the final part of the watch, QNH 998 falling.
1340 - 1715hr

Totally different this afternoon with clear visibility and a brisk wind followed by a band of rain moving up country from the SW which we were on the front edge of for some considerable time. Despite the wind Mipits were moving with a flock of 15 followed by a flock of five and several singles all north. Most interestingly during a Skype co-ordinated watch with Brian Sumner located in Queensbury some two miles away we established that small flocks of Fieldfares were moving NE along and into the edge of the rain band... I mustered up two flocks, one early and one late totalling 63 and BS got onto three totalling c95. By this time we were sat in our respective cars rained off but still watching. I also had a single alba going N.

Moving Birds:
Fieldfare 63 > NE
Meadow Pipit 27 > N
alba wagtail 1 > N

Here is a link to Brians Queensbury report:

http://birderbri.blogspot.com/2010/04/fieldfares-return-journey.html

Dave

Oxenhope... bad friday! 02-04-2010

E F1, 1degC, 200m Fog, 9/8 Fog stratus with base at c1100ft, QNH 1002 falling
0715 - 0950hr

A bad morning here above the cloudbase with only five moving birds seen and all mips tacking (zig zagging) north purposefully through the fog at just above ground level. An obvious increase in Curlew and Redshank occupation on the surrounding in-bye... must be a good sign.

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 5 > N

Dave