There has been a massive Wood Pigeon movement throughout the country both yesterday and today…. But sadly for my watch point I didn’t see the good numbers I usually see at this time of the year. Yesterday I recorded 4,391 and today just 3,181….And for anyone who thinks well that’s not bad one sites has recorded over 200,000…..
Wood Pigeons moving south yesterday over Caldene Fields
Yesterday I noticed a Tree Sparrow in a flock of House Sparrow at Caldene Fields this is the second record this year of this uncommon finch here in Bradford. Who knows Spurn Point has had excellent numbers passing through maybe this lovely finch is making a small come back….
If anyone in our local area sees one will you please let me know. Many thanks…..
Redwings and Fieldfare were again moving today but in general E/S/E of Caldene Fields. 1,946 Redwings, 1009 Fieldfares and 369 Starlings. Nine Blackbirds were also recorded as well as 3 Cormorants…..
Cormorants moving S/W over the watch point
There has been a big arrival of Thrushes and Starlings today and thankfully there was good number passing the watch point at Caldene Fields. However, early mist and poor visibility spoilt the first hour when all Reds recorded were high and directly over the watch point and moving S/W.
Around 08.00 as conditions improved and Redwings came in with some Song Thrushes from the the W and N/E some ground hugging. At around 09.30 there was a good movement of Fieldfares coming from the N/E and E and all moved W. A few Starlings came in from the N but in the main most birds came in from the E/N/E some with Redwing parties and moved W.
All in all a very enjoyable watch especially as the temperature was a barmy 13c………..
There has been a big movement of Pink Footed Geese from the Lancashire area this morning and I picked up 1,414 S/E of Emley Moor moving E/S/E between 08.05 and 08.40
It was a beautiful sun rise this morning and very clear visibility to around 25+ miles from the watch point at Caldene Fields. The Wood Pigeons were moving S, 3,135 in total…
Breaking Dawn over East Bierley
Then at 09.15 a wader was picked up coming in from the S/E…….a Green Sandpiper! (my second record) it was seen to drop down into nearby Toad Holes Beck, it refueled then after about 5 minutes it was seen to move off low to the N. Really please with that one…….
Wood Pigeons featured strongly today at the watch point from dawn to around 10.30. The movement was on a broad front but the main movement as always here was to the E of the watch point over the pasture of East Bierley, Tong and beyond and at times a steady line of birds poured through! A good number of birds were observed moving at a fairly low altitude. Finches also moved but were under counted. 4 Whooper Swans flew E and 2 Common Buzzards E were judged to be local birds that have bred in the local area for the first time. A few thrushes were about but only a small number were recorded as moving birds. Starlings came in but mainly in small parties. |
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Redwings were coming in today at the watch point some very high from both the N/W and N/E…but finding them was at times very hard work. Many calls were heard from 07.05 till the first bird went through from the N/W at 07.50 then passage which was on a broad front basically lasted till around 09.15. During this period 26 parties moved to the S/E and W the largest been 105 but in general parties were on average fairly small. Mistle thrushes also arrived in small number with the Redwings. My first GBB Gulls moved to the N/W followed by 4 Herrings both uncommon here.
Redwings moving west of Caldene Fields watch point
What a morning! no not for the quality of the birds seen but for the fog that came in from the south east….At 07.00 visibility was about 15 miles by around 07.20 it was just 50 metres…….. these conditions lasted till about 08.30 when the fog dramatically lifted.
Fog starting to clear with views of Emerly Moor mast.
So 5 Redwings came in from the N/E + 166 Pink Footed Geese to the S/W and at least 105 Meadow Pipits to the south…..
What Fog…Jackdaws moving S/W over Caldene Fields
Incredibly a Hawfinch my second ever record flew low to the N at 09.00 this morning at Caldene Fields watch point!!!! I use the word ‘incredibe ‘ as the species is uncommon in the Bradford area and is described as a ‘ Infrequent visitor ‘ by the Bradford Ornithological Group and bizarrely the last record for the group of a Hawfinch was my record on the 5/11/2012……
Also of note today were 2 late Swallows and a hybrid Mute/whooper swan had me scratching my head as it flew N…..possibly the same bird recorded at a nearby Harold Park lake in 2012!
