Friday, October 22, 2010

Hunter Hill, Calderdale... 22-10-2010

Cold Edge, Halifax (W Yorks, England)
Friday 22 October 2010
Counting period: 8:15-10:15
Weather: 8.5c with an F4/5 from W/S/W. Overcast with heavy cloud and drizzle clearing leaving reasonable visibility across the valley.
Observers: David Sutcliffe

Moving birds:
Sparrowhawk 1 -
Redwing - 211
Woodpigeon 3 -
Starling - 16
Meadow Pipit 10 -
Chaffinch - 56
Fieldfare - 334
Brambling - 3

Totals: 634 individuals, 8 species, 2:00 hours

Present: Stock Dove 6, Green Woodpecker 1

Comments: Some thrush movement coming from the S/E direction from Swales Moor and small numbers coming over from the south of Soil Hill - all heading N/W over 'The Withens' and the wind-farm area. Maximum groups were 90, 44, 42 and 40 of Fieldfares and 41, 40 and 30 of Redwings. A few Chaffinch from S/E in 2's and 3's along with 3 Brambling were also going in the same N/W direction.

David Sutcliffe

Oxenhope... abysmal! 22-10-2010


Pre Sunrise.... (c) 2010


Post Sunrise... the best it got!... (c) 2010

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Friday 22 October 2010
Counting period: 7:00-12:45
Weather: WSW F5, 7degC, 65km max to 20km in rain, periods of rain, 8/8 becoming 5/8, QNH 1014 falling
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber, Lester Ward

Moving birds:
Golden Plover 1 -
Fieldfare - 133
Meadow Pipit 6 -
Starling - 156
alba wagtail sp. 1 -
Siskin 1 -

Totals: 298 individuals, 6 species, 5:45 hours

Comments: Broken overnight with showers moving south, low cloud and heavy drizzle over the moors from dawn and frequently thereafter. wind from westerly qtr and QNH falling throughout. A terrible morning with virtually nothing in the sky... everything on the move was low with thrushes and Starlings NW. Hoping for much better conditions and hopefully birds tomorrow! Abandoned early to give Rag a try to be certain that the track hadnt changed.

...............................
Counting period: 13:00-14:00
Weather: WSW F6, 11degC, 65km, 4/8, now dry and opening sky until more rain upon and after departure, QNH 1012 falling
Observers: Dave Barker

Totals: 0 individuals, 0 species, 1:00 hours

Comments: Obs from Rag... much improved conditions albeit strengthening wind but still no birds....

Dave, Howard and Lester

Caldene Fields, Low Moor... 22-10-2010

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Friday 22 October 2010
Counting period: 7:30-10:15
Weather: Slight drizzle with 90% low cloud and mild 8c. A F2 S/W wind. Around 08.30 heavy cloud with light rain came in from the S/W only to clear around 09.00
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving birds:
Grey Heron 1 -
Song Thrush 6 -
Chaffinch 62 -
Black-headed Gull 28 -
Redwing 171 -
Greenfinch 26 -
Woodpigeon 619 -
Mistle Thrush 2 -
Goldfinch 61 -
Meadow Pipit 4 -
Jackdaw 52 -
Siskin 2 -
alba wagtail sp. 4 + 16
Carrion Crow 7 -
Lesser Redpoll 2 -
Fieldfare 158 -
Starling 122 -

Totals: 1343 individuals, 17 species, 2:45 hours

Comments: : Plenty of Thrushes blogging about and leaving roost sites but only a slight movement of birds moving. A few Woodies did make a show and what was interesting was that some moved to the S/W. There was an increase in Chaffinch number this morning to the W, and Jackdaws were moving again over Wyke but in general a quite watch. 5 Bullfinch stayed at watchpoint.

Martyn Priestley