Stainburn Moor, Harrogate....less of the same! 11-04-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Sunday 11 April 2010
Counting period: 6:15-10:30
Weather: 6/8 cloud at first 2/8 later. Visibility very poor becoming better later. 5 c rising to 13 with an ENE 1-2 breeze making it feel quite cold.
Observers: A Hanby

Moving Birds:
Goosander - 4
Sand Martin 1 + 1
Willow Warbler - 1
Lapwing - 10
Swallow - 3
Jay - 1
Curlew - 9
Meadow Pipit 3 + 93
Starling - 2
Black-headed Gull 1 + 5
alba wagtail sp. - 1
Goldfinch - 3
Common Gull - 6
Fieldfare - 514
Linnet - 10
Woodpigeon 33 + 95
Redwing - 5
Lesser Redpoll - 1

Totals: 802 individuals, 18 species, 4:15 hours

Present: Red Kite 4, Sparrowhawk 1, Common Buzzard 8, Kestrel 4, Oystercatcher 2, Golden Plover 450, Stock Dove 4, alba wagtail sp. 2, Blackbird 1, Mistle Thrush 2, Willow Warbler 1, Carrion Crow 37

Comments: A slow day with less of the same; with a resurgence of Curlews and good nos of Fieldfare being the exception to this. The largest Fieldfare flock was 250 ( all went ENE). I doubt whether the Woodpigeons represent real migratory activity- rather post roost dispersal.

Counting period: 12:30-13:15
Weather: as end of above/below
Observers: A Hanby

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit - 3

Totals: 3 individuals, 1 species, 0:45 hours

Comments: Got a call about Common Cranes at Nosterfield heading south. They didn't pass me but later were at Wintersett so I guess I should have tarried longer.

Andy Hanby

Fowl Day at Fly Flatts.... 11-04-2010

See Brians Fly report and read in conjunction with mine.... too true, thats all I did get... just wet feet!

http://birderbri.blogspot.com/2010/04/fowl-day-at-fly-flatts.html

Dave

Oxenhope... little activity! 11-04-2010

Dawn to the North West... (c) 2010


Looking WNW.... (c) 2010

E F1 rising E F3, 5degC, 6000m haze becoming 200m fog then 20km, 6/8, QNH 1032 falling.

0600 - 1130hr

Conditions looked ok initially but obviously not right and deteriorating as virtually nothing was in the sky.... except for a flock of 24 Linnets W..... then at 0720 the fogs rolled in from the east and this put paid to any action until 0855 when clearance again from the east advanced. Skies still empty so a trip to the Spring watchpoint was in order to see if things were any better.... still nothing doing so back round and then home early.

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 20 > N
Goldfinch 1 > W
Linnet 25 > W
alba wagtail 2 > N
Chaffinch 2 > W
Jackdaw 3 > NW

Others:
Common Scoter 1
Pink footed Goose 1
Wigeon 3

1530 - 1700hr

A second visit paid off as LBB Gulls were moving well all going N and NW

Moving Birds:
LBB Gull 85 > N and NW

Dave