Low Moor and Oakenshaw Wildlife

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…….

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!

We decided to treat ourselves over the weekend and instead of me vismigging at Caldene Fields we spent the weekend at Spurn brushing up my Vismig ID skills.  The we came back to he heavy rain and now fog……So vismigging here was halted today at 08.15 with visibility down to around 50 metres……….

However, my spirits were lifted when I received this excellent photo of a male Common Darter taken at Oakenshaw on the 6/10 by Paula. The species is on the wing till about the end of October so a bit of nice weather and more Common Darters may be seen.

Common Darter by Paula

A really surprise this morning at Caldene Fields watch point,  4 Tree Sparrow flew low to the N last recorded here on 21/10/1979……. so really pleased with that!.  Also moving was a distance skein of 92 Pink footed geese that moved S/W (seen some at last!)  In addition 8 high flying Jays were noted also moving to the S/W

Had two local reports of Pink-footed Geese in the Oakenshaw area.  Firstly Vic saw approx 20 on the 25/9 moving over the Chair Bar roundabout heading towards the Halifax area.  Then on the 27 Sept Phil Andrew saw 60+ Pink Footed Geese moving West from the Chain Bar towards Halifax. He also saw a Red Kite 24/9 at 09.06 am which flew West parallel to the A58 over Villa Mount/Wyke Junior Academy.  I however, have not seen any Pink Footed Geese from the watch point, in fact today was very poor however, 7 Rook flew S which is a good count given the Rook is not that common here.

Two Blair’s Shoulder-Knot and 3 Large Yellow Underwing were caught in the moth trap last night