Today like yesterday there was a large movement of Wood Pigeon, Jackdaws and finches particularly Chaffinch with a record count of 162 S/W and 42 N. However, today was a bit special as I had a wary friend as company a migrating Chiffchaff which stayed resting and preening for about 30 minutes at the watch point before moving off.
It was an excellent morning at the watch point this morning with a mass arrival of Redwings, Fieldfare, Starlings, Geese and finches.
Linnets waiting for the fog to clear before moving.
Redwings came in first from the N and a total of 4,076 moved to the S. Fieldfares came in 1,462 altogether around 10.00 and mainly from the S/E and moved to the S/W. There was a good movement of Pink-footed geese 1,167 in total and all to the N. A welcome surprise was a party of 73 Brambling that flew to the S/W.
To keep me company was a Small Copper butterfly and 2 Small Whites and just for good measure a Common Darter was seen moving slowly to the S
This morning was a stunning autumn morning for watching visible migration. And an early start in frosty conditions was rewarded with the first Thrush arrivals from the N/E involving Redwings and Fieldfares.
Fieldfares moving N/W
It was the Redwings that came in first with a total of 939 finally recorded. Fieldfares started to arrive about an hour later than the Redwings and a total of 386 was recorded. Pink-footed geese also were noted again with 772 moving S/W
Common Buzzard a regular sight now in our recording area even on passage
What a surprise this morning at the watch point at Caldene fields. I had just finished watching vis-mig ( visible migration ) when a bird came in low from the south….it cannot possibly be..it was a ” Kingfisher ”. And more delightful it flew just over my head and carried on north. WOW! I never thought I would record a kingfisher on migration especially when the species rarely move from their territories and the bird is not local to our area.
There was also another good movement of Pink-footed geese with 3 skeins containing 736 birds all came in from the N/E and flew N/W
There was an excellent passage of Pink-footed geese noted from the watch point today. The main movement was observed to the east of Caldene fields with the majority moving to the S/W ( 964 in total) with 2 skeins (253 in total) moving to the N/W.
Other highlights included a Great black backed gull which flew to the S/W and Goldfinches were all so on the move with 131 to the S/W and around 70+ feeding birds noted.
After my stint at watching visible migration today I thought I would go into Raw Nook NR to see if I could ID any fungi that might be showing. However, my fungi knowledge is limited to say the least and if I found any would I be able to ID correctly?
Well I was walking passed the pond to where the flooded woodland area is (on your right if coming from the bridge) when I noticed some orange bits that someone had thrown into flooded area. I walked into the area only to discover that it wasn’t orange peel but FUNGI which was orange.
It was really unusual but beautiful at the same time.. I took photos and went home to investigate.
And I was right…well in a way it is an Orange Peel fungus Aleuria aurantia and is a site first for my records.
Last night in Low Moor the weather was awful, a strong wind and lashing down rain. And Clare and Rich Stonehouse were walking home from work on Cleakheaton road just by the barbers at the opposite side of the road to the station. Suddenly their attention was drawn to a moth feeding on some pink flowers….but what was it. A closer look revealed only a stunning Hummingbird moth!
Now interestingly this moth is mainly an immigrant moth coming in from southern Europe and this sighting coincides nicely with the strong southerly gales we experienced in the last few days. I have submitted this important sighting to Yorkshire moths on their behalf.
So folks keep a lookout for one of these beauties in our recording area and if you see one please let me know…Thank you
An excellent day at the vis-mig point today. After a slow start there was an excellent southerly movement of Meadow Pipits. A total of 1,119 was recorded a record count for me.
I have also noticed that there has been a significant increase of Sand Martins passing through our area. It’s fair to say the Sand Martin is not a common passage bird here at Caldene fields.
To illustrate the point in 2015: 4 birds recorded. 2016: 0. 2017: 24. 2018: 71 to date, which is a large increase suggesting the species may have had a good breeding season…
Some local people may have noticed an increase in Swallows flying around the Raw Nook area between around 19.00 -20.00 during the last few days. I counted 800+ on the 3/9 and on the 4/9 I saw a distance view of around 2 thousand feeding before roosting. Then on the 5/9 when I was away I received a report of possibly 5 thousands flying over the fields adjacent to Raw Nook NR.
My question is does anyone have any idea on seen where these Swallow roosted as they roost in reeds at ponds and lakes. I check TH Beck with no luck. The only other area of local water with reeds are Bierely ponds and the pond off Mill Carr Hill.
Did anyone see these Swallows or have any idea where they roosted? If so would you kindly let me know please…many thanks
This morning 2 late Swifts flew west over Caldene fields and an Autumnal Rustic moth was also seen in the fields my third record of the species.
Autumnal Rustic
