Pennine Skywatch: 2 Oct 2010

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Oxenhope... ringing skies! 02-10-2010

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Saturday 2 October 2010
Counting period: 6:30-13:00
Weather: SSW F2, 8degC, 200m - 30km cu fractus / haze, no sig cloud, QNH 1002 rising
Observers: Dave Barker, Chris King, Howard Creber

Moving birds:
Pink-footed Goose 127 -
Swallow 8 -
Greenfinch 38 -
Greylag Goose 2 -
Meadow Pipit 546 -
Goldfinch 7 -
Common Buzzard 2 -
Grey Wagtail 1 -
Siskin 15 -
Common Snipe 4 -
alba wagtail sp. 15 -
Linnet 12 -
Black-headed Gull 96 -
Mistle Thrush 6 -
Lapland Bunting 2 - East
Lesser Black-backed Gull 31 -
Carrion Crow 10 -
Snow Bunting 1 - East
Herring Gull 1 -
Starling 14 -
Reed Bunting 5 -
Woodpigeon 2 -
Chaffinch 74 -
bunting sp. 5 -
Skylark 7 -
Brambling 1 -
Red Admiral 3 -

Totals: 1035 individuals, 27 species, 6:30 hours

Comments: Open sky overnight and through the day. Wind from a southerly quarter throughout, QNH rising, then ridging 1003 at c0830. A terriffic morning of high movement with the skies once again ringing with bunting teu's, E nearly all in the 0700 - 0800 slot. Sadly the broader picture was once again obscured by poor visibility initially but there was lots to keep us occupied. Chaffinch were on the move high above the fractus from sunrise with many parties over initially W and later S so high that they could only be heard and not seen to count. Mips were moderate but again good numbers high S above the fractus as well as some big parties lower down and later on and continuing right through past lunch time. Siskins were in the mix with four parties high SWish. High Buzzards went W at 0920 and 1230 right over the Pennines to be lost in Lancashire. Pinks also W far out over Airedale with three skeins 0920, c1245 and 1255. Reed Buntings W. A single Brambling zeeek overhead. Albas had died back. Starlings just a few today but most on the continental track once again.

Dave, Chris and Howard

PAUL CLOUGH 02-10-2010
0700 - 0915.
Chaffinches moving through in small groups from first light, a good variety of the common species although a Merlin dashing through after a flock of chaffinch was unusual.

Chaffinch 234, Siskin 10, Redpoll 2, Reed bunting 1, Greenfinch 15, Coaltit 5, Alba Wagtails sp 4, Brambling 3, Redwing 6, Mistlethrush 5, Goldfinch 12, Bullfinch 5, Mpipits 60+, Merlin 1,Sparrowhawk 1.

Brian Vickers

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate.... 02-10-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Saturday 2 October 2010
Counting period: 6:45-12:45
Weather: SW 0 rising to 1-2 8/8 -4/8 cloud. Max 14 C. Dry; hazy
Observers: A Hanby

Moving birds:
Cormorant 3 -
Meadow Pipit 575 -
Great Tit 8 -
Pink-footed Goose 15 -
Grey Wagtail 3 -
Tree Sparrow 1 -
Greylag Goose 48 -
alba wagtail sp. 57 -
Chaffinch 62 -
Sparrowhawk 1 -
Dunnock 8 -
Brambling 6 -
Lapwing 46 -
Blackbird 5 -
finch sp. 51 -
Common Snipe 5 -
Song Thrush 6 -
Greenfinch 24 -
Curlew - 1
Mistle Thrush 5 -
Goldfinch 124 -
Black-headed Gull - 86
Chiffchaff 3 -
Siskin 173 -
Common Gull - 23
Goldcrest 2 -
Linnet 86 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 8
Long-tailed Tit 18 -
redpoll sp. 20 -
Skylark 19 -
Coal Tit 32 -
Reed Bunting 3 -
Swallow 581 -
Blue Tit 11 -
bunting sp. 1 -

Totals: 2120 individuals, 36 species, 6:00 hours

Present: Sparrowhawk 2, Common Buzzard 19, Kestrel 3, Golden Plover 75, Lapwing 35, Stock Dove 10, Woodpigeon 25, Jay 2, Jackdaw 363, Starling 250

Comments: A busy morning split between a rush in the first 90 mins comprising the bulk of the Mips ( 575) and then another between 11 and 12 or so when Swallows piled through( 581). Two small Pink flocks went through- 9 at 0805 and 6 at 0820. There also seemed to be some genuine Greylag movements= with 3 flocks in from the WNW. One of the highlights was 'rent a crowd' tit AKA Long tailed tit- which went down the hedge as a single flock of 18- the first since last year. Coal Tits ( 32) are still on the move whereas greats and Blues were relatively diminished. Three Chiff-chaffs moved through in association with the tits. The finch numbers continue to escalate ( when it isn't raining) and included in their number 6 Brambling. the counts of Goldfinch (124) and Siskin( 173) were notable for this site. The bunting so was probably a Yellowhammer.

Andy

Reva, Rombalds Moor.... 02-10-2010

Reva, Rombalds Moor (Bradford, England)
Saturday 2 October 2010
Counting period: 8:00-10:00
Weather: slight SE breeze, 20% blue sky at first but increasing from the north. No rain. Visibilty fair to good.
Observers: shaun radcliffe only

Moving birds;
Skylark 10 -
Starling 5 -
Meadow Pipit 93 -
Chaffinch 4 -

Totals: 112 individuals, 4 species, 2:00 hours

Comments: Only a few mipits moving with some Skylarks but a disappointing visit. After 09.30 literally nothing moved past. Local birds - Buzzard, Kestrel, Canadas, Greylags, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting plus a single Redwing feeding on hawthorn with Blackbirds.

Shaun

Caldene Fields, Low Moor.... 02-10-2010

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Saturday 2 October 2010
Counting period: 7:00-9:30
Weather: : Dry with 60% cloud always clearer to the E/S/E and low lying mist. A F1 S/W wind mild temp 10c and good visibility to around 15+miles.
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving birds;
Canada Goose - 6
Meadow Pipit 64 -
Carrion Crow 14 -
Mallard 4 + 12
alba wagtail sp. 21 -
Starling 4 -
Goosander 4 -
Blackbird - 1
Chaffinch 21 1
Black-headed Gull 590 + 164
Redwing - 4
finch sp. 1 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 -
Mistle Thrush - 1
Greenfinch 14 + 29
Woodpigeon 55 + 37
Magpie 1 -
Goldfinch 155 -
Swallow 3 -
Jackdaw 14 -

Totals: 1222 individuals, 20 species, 2:30 hours

Comments: A lot better day with a gulls and finches moving. BH Gulls were moving to the S and then around 09.30 164 moved to the N. Goldfinch were moving again and due to low mist probably a good number were missing as some were travelling low. 2 parties of Greenfinch moved to the S/E which is uncommon here and 5 Bullfinch came and spent the morning in nearby bushes and could have been genuine moving birds but were discounted as some local birds were about. A high flying Magpie S and 4 Goosander S/E finished off a good morning.

Martyn