Vismig Thr Sept 30th 2010 - Hutton Roof, Cumbria

Thr Sept 30th 2010 - Hutton Roof, Cumbria.
0715-0820hrs and then again 0930 - 1030hrs
Wind: SE 2-5 mph
Movement: South East unless specified different.

Again this morning quite a lot of Robins had obviously landed throughout the night, along with one Chiffchaff and some suspected Blackbirds. A small Skylark move happened around the 0930hrs. Also how suprised to have a small Starling party actually going NW.

Meadow Pipits: 33
Chaffinch: 154 (70 in early hour/84 in late hour (best parties: 10,7,12. 26W all others SE)
Mistle Thrush: 14 (6,3,1,2 all West)
Starling: 27 (5,4,6,4,2, all East and 6W)
Alba Wagtail: 14
Cormorant: 2W
Goldfinch: 10S
Linnet: 5S
Siskin: 2S
Skylark: 14S (4,6,2,2)
Swallow: 4 (one party S)
BHG: 6 E (5,1)
Chiffchaff: 1 (singing from Hutton Roof)
Redwing: 10 (one party West - generally disorientated)
Raven: 2S

also 1 Wheatear near Timber Yard on Hutton Roof

Vismig - Tues Sept 28th 2010 - Hutton Roof, Cumbria

Tuesday September 28th 2010 - Hutton Roof, Cumbria.
0645hrs-0900hrs
Wind: SE 8-10mph and decreasing
All Movement South East unless stated otherwise.
Full cloud cover, and low cloud thick to East above Lune Valley, clear to West.

First thing on arrival, there were Robins singing at every bush, certainly involved over a score.. Also noticed today especially that Starling squadrons had started to go East, today they where very close to the ground within a metre! difficult with these, although I do suspect they are continental birds coming in (this is the strange direction they also take!, I would find it difficult to separate from what maybe (but I doubt!) local birds which have recently been collecting at the nearby (4mile away) sea shore. I would also now suspect that the Leighton Moss starling roost will actually now have started forming.. Had a super Siskin party of 25, just odd thrushes.

Meadow Pipits just completely quiet, did have a few in the first ten minutes, then just one bird from 0730-0900hrs. although when I check out last years we where still getting a couple of hundred by about the 5th October, so where have they gone. I am beginning to wonder now whether those recent Northerlies have cleared them out, I do know that on a couple of occasions this year during these Northerlies that some birds where at high altitude, there was also other small parties showing up as small "dots" in the far far even higher altitudes, so whether they have been missed.... Or it maybe they just havnt come yet!!

Meadow Pipit: 15 (3,2,1,7,1,1)
Chaffinch: 120 (best parties 7,7,5)
Alba Wagtail: 18 (best party 9)
Siskin: 25 one party and also others - audible only
Goldfinch: 30 (best party 20,6W)
Linnet: 9 (one party 8S)
Blackbird: 2 (both singles W)
Song Thrush: 1W
Redwing: just a single audible call only -
Heron: 1E
Starling: 115 (1,12,1,12,20,2,20,30,10,5,2 all East * See note above - cant distinguish whether Continentals or locals)
Swallow: 6NW
Mistle Thrush: 1W
Redpoll: 4
Jay: 2 (possibly local)
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1W.

Vismig - Mon Sept 27th 2010 - Hutton Roof REDWINGS

Monday September 27th 2010 - Hutton Roof, Cumbria.
0700hrs - 0830hrs and then 0920hrs-1010hours.
Wind: NE 8 mph decreasing all the time to NE 1 mph
Movement: South unless stated otherwise.
Very still, Cloudy but very clear to the West, and yet low cloud over Ingleborough and the Lune Valley to the East. Very still sort of morning with lots of Black Gnat flies and midge type flies present. (so still that it was great for audible)

Highlights: 3 nice Redwing parties, a Snipe party, Mipits still not going, the majority of the very few that where going through, where going so high in altitude, that I probably missed lots, Good Chaffinch numbers, nice 15 alba Wagtail party.

Meadow Pipits: 51 all South East (best parties: 10)
Chaffinch: 198: (95% to South East, a few to the West) best parties: 8s,7s,6s...
Alba Wagtail: 22 (one party 15) all South East
Redwing: 56 (8NE,8E, 40 NW)
Raven: 4 (3N, 1S) possibly local?
Mistle Thrush: 7 (5NE) 2NW
Starling: 7 (3,1,3 all East) probably continentals!
Goldfinch: 13 (One party 10)
Greenfinch: 2
Linnet: 2
Common Snipe: 5 (One party, first went out North East and then returned 5 minutes later to SW)
Swallow: 21 (East or West)
Siskin: 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1W
Jay: 2NE
Green Woodpecker: 1 presumed local.

Vismig Sun Sept 26th 2010 - Hutton Roof, Cumbria.

Sunday September 26th 2010 - Hutton Roof, Cumbria.
0645hrs - 0900hrs
Wind: N -6-8mph
Again very bright.

Again today Meadow Pipits never really got going. Chaffinch where very interesting with lots of large parties in the first hour or so, and also it was noted that they where all going South East today, a direction they never go as a rule. (Usually W or E). I probably missed some Redwing, on one occasion I looked down over Burton and could see a large party of thrushes (maybe 20 or 30) messing about at the bottom end of Hutton Roof. I did think at the time they where too small for Mistles, but rather dismissed them at the time, but later speaking with Dave at Bradford, he informed me he had several Redwing parties coming through, so now I rather think that that's what they may have been. Odd small Starling parties (eg 5 or so) have in the past couple of days started going East, these are probably early continental birds starting to come in. (I know it seems funny going East and away from the Coast which is only about 3-4 miles West, but thats the way they go here).

Meadow Pipits: 60 (best parties 6,6,5,5) SE
Chaffinch: 177 (best parties: 25,12,11,19,8) SE
Alba Wagtail: 5 (one pair, rest singles) S
Mistle Thrush: 22 (18,3,1) all West
Stock Dove: 1 W
Kestrel: 1
Linnet: 10 (7,3, W)
Starling: 13 (9,4, all East)
Pink Footed Goose: 40 NW at 0720hrs
Redpoll: 1 SE
Swallow: 7 (6 & 1) S
Goldfinch: 9 (one party S)
Blue Tit: 4 plus tree hopping

Reports of several parties of Redwing coming through this morning from Bradford area heading North West.

Vismig - Sat Sept 25th 2010 - Hutton Roof, Cumbria

Saturday September 25th 2010 - Hutton Roof Cumbria.
0645hrs-1000hrs
Wind: N 5-8 mph
Movement: All Pipits SE
Chaffs between SW in the main and NE

Started off with keen frost, waiting for ten minutes for windscreen to clear. 0652 first birds, then a little burst and then just steady, but Pipits seem to start proper in small parties at about 0900hrs and died off by 0945hrs.

Meadow Pipits: 216
Chaffinch: 123
Mistle Thrush: 25 (One party NW)
Alba Wagtail: 5 (all singles)
Linnet: 14 (Singles or pairs all West)
Raven: 3 (South)
Goldfinch: 17 (10,5,2)
Siskin 2 (plus some missed audible only)
Greenfinch: 3
Stock Dove: 1NE
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 2 E
Swallow: 3 (2,1)
Cormorant: 2NE
Long Tailed Tits: 9 (one party- never at this territory as a rule!)
LBBG: 4 NW (1 ad 3juv)
Grey Wagtail: 1 S
Skylark: 4 (2 at 0930 which went S and another 2 at approx 0945hrs which came NW)
Herring Gull 1NW

Vismig - Fri Sept 24th 2010 - Higher Thrushgill Plantation (Wray With Bottom) SD646622

(Click over map to enlarge, and click again to supersize)..

Friday September 24th 2010
Higher Thrushgill (Wray with Bottom) Nr. Lowgill SD646622
0715-1000hrs
Wind: NE 25mph
Movement: South unless stated.

Really superb open panoramic views to its North, in fact reminded me very much of my old stomping grounds at Haslingden, it had a lot of similaries in much of its topography. Today was spoilt with strong Winds and speckly rain at times. The Pipits did come through in small numbers all heading South and kept quite rigid to a corridor of about 36 foot wide in the main, and most where flying side on into the brisk NE wind. All where at high altitude, but some where so high you could hardly see them, certainly at cloud base, so the probabilities are that I missed lots. It really is a superb venue and I must get back next week when hopefully the winds will have abaited. This place looks like it could well be one of the main places on the west side for the Pipits. I would go everyday if I could but its about 34 mile round trip for me, so for now in the main I will stick with Hutton Roof, and try and get back just now and again. Greeted by the first birds to be Siskin!

Siskin: 3 (2,1 SE)
Alba Wagtail: 4 (all singles)
Meadow Pipits: 84 (all South, best parties: 10,8,8,5,4,4)
Swallow: 37 (best parties: 11,7.8)
Linnet: 8 all E (3,3,2)
Jay: 1 North
Buzzard: 2
Chaffinch: 4 N
Pink Footed Goose: 16 SE at 0925hours.

Vismig - Wed Sept 22nd 2010 - Barbondale (above Gawthrop) SD683865

"Click over map to enlarge"

Wednesday September 22nd 2010.
Barbondale - Above Gawthrop & Dent. (altitude of watchpoint 315 metres - Surrounded by Mountainous areas (approx Altitude of local topography maximums to a 600 metres approx), with tapering altitudes at the watchpoint (SD683865) with several converging hill/mountain ranges and valleys.
0800hrs - 1030hrs
Wind: SW 20mph (by about 0930 the wind seemed to change to a more SW).
All movement West, South West or SSW.

Quickly becoming a favourite of mine! but so windy up there today and very cold with it - even by 1000hrs.. Without doubt it was a little too much for some of the large Chaffinch parties, which coming through the incline and gap and trying to negotiate a direct South West movement (directly into the wind), and gaining altitude would soon give up and return to a nearby hawthorn tree, which at one time must have had scores of birds within it. They would then within minutes make a second attempt, which some got through and some didnt. Some I am sure found a alternative routing from within the many valleys below. At one time I was willing the birds on and felt like shouting to them "keep low and you will make it" (must be loosing it!!!), but no, they just kept climbing and trying to fight the wind, until one bird would repeatedly call and all the birds gave in and where then blown back into a sort of semi-circle... No great records, but a steady flow with good numbered parties. The Pipits had no problem getting through the wind, but their direction to the South South West was probably a little kinder and it was clear most of them where going side on into the side wind. Also noted they were either in singles or pairs, no much going on in the way of parties!

Chaffinch: 154 SW (best parties: 16,8,13,7,6,6,6,6,6,11,9,10)
Meadow Pipits: 105 SSW (best parties 8,6,3 and all others singles or pairs)
Alba Wagtail: 9 (2,1,1,3,1,1,)
Swallow: 57 all West (best parties 25,10,6)
Cormorant: 1 (from East to West)
Mistle Thrush: 11 (one party from East heading NW, but could not negotiate the wind and blown back to arc NE)
Redpoll: 6 one party, again struggled with Wind, where coming through with Chaffinch.
Starling: 4 E
Heron: 1E
Goldfinch: 2W
Kestrel: 1 (possibly local)
Merlin: 1 being harassed by 30 blogging Meadow Pipits
Linnet: 1
Blue Tit: 4

Vismig at Hutton Roof, and Newton Tues 21st Sept 2010

Hutton Roof & Newbigging Crags - Tues 21st Sept 2010
0645hrs-0915hrs
Wind: Light W 8mph
all movement West unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: By far the main mover. 161 (13 East all others W/SW) best parties: 13,9,6,6.
Meadow Pipit: 68 all SW (best party6)
Chiffchaff: One calling from Newbiggin.
Alba Wagtail: 7
Swallow: 20W
Redpoll: 3 (1W 2SW)
Goldfinch: 3,
Starling: 12E
Linnet: 8 (2,6)
Greenfinch: 2
Jay: 3 (Came of Hutton and went NE then 10 mins later came back SW)

Its becoming obvious to me that Hutton Roof is very limited in the movement of Meadow Pipits.

I have recently, been checking out all over the place to get on a Meadow Pipit corridor and I am getting quite a positive feeling about the place called NEWTON, which just runs alongside Whittington to Arkholme. I was there this morning at 1020hrs and could only spare ten minutes before having to shoot off to Capernwray, but just in that 10 minutes I had:
Chaffinch: 15 (4,2,2,2,2,3)
Meadow Pipit: 20 (2,14,4)
Alba Wagtail: 1

If the weathers OK, I will be trying this one out tomorrow....

Vismig - Sat Sept 18th 2010 - Hutton Roof PINK FOOTED GEESE

Sat Sept 18th 2010 - Hutton Roof Cumbria.
0645hrs - 1000hrs
Wind: W 3mph
Heavy Rain showers at first then OK from 0800hrs
Slight move at beginning then tapered to almost nil by 0830hrs.
All South unless stated otherwise.

Meadow Pipit: 106
Chaffinch: 69 (mainly W)
Swallow: 31
Pink Footed Goose: 131 (0800hrs skein of 50 came in from N/NE and went out over Hutton Roof to S/SW eg: Morecambe Bay)
(0815hrs skein of 70 came in from N/NE and went out far further South maybe Ribble Marshes) (0900hrs skein of 11 again came in from N/NE and went out far further South maybe Ribble Marshes).
Starling: 4E
Goldfinch: 11 (one party 10)
Linnet: 3
Alba Wagtail: 5
Mistle Thrush: 3
House Martin: 8 (one party)

Vismig at Hutton Roof & Barbondale Fri Sept 17th 2010

Friday Sept 17th 2010 - Hutton Roof
Wind: NE 8mph very cold, 0630hrs - 0800hrs

Chaffinch 93 (20E all others W)
Meadow Pipit: 58
Mistle Thrush: 3
Swallow: 28
Pink Footed Goose: 44 (one skein at 0655, seen disorderly formation at low height, probably come off estuary and climbing very high and formed orderly formation and then direction out to North East.
Alba Wagtail: 5
Linnet 20
Starling: 16E (8,7,1) first time showing squadron move direct East)
Goldfinch: 5,
Greenfinch: 2
Common Snipe: 1.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1E

Barbondale (Underwood footpatch sign) above Dent 0930hrs-1030hrs

Meadow Pipit: 33
Swallow: 13
Alba Wagtail: 11 (one party 8)
Great Tit: 1 (possibly local) at high altitude
Goldfinch: 1
Chaffinch: 2
Redpoll: 1
Buzzard: 1

also
Wheatear 1 (on walls)
Sm. Tort Butterfly.

Vismig SWALLOWS at Shore Road, Carnforth - Mon 13th Sept 2010

Monday September 13th 2010 - First Hutton Roof 0645am to 0715am, nothing moving on account of strong winds.

Moved over to Shore Lane, Carnforth
0730hrs - 0900hrs
Wind: SW 18mph to gust 25mph
Movement: South unless stated otherwise.

Strong Winds and Heavy persistant rain, closed everything down from 0830hrs and I called it a day at 0900hrs.

Summary:

Swallow: 199 (40N all others S)
Pied Wagtail: 7
Meadow Pipit: 2
Linnet: 4 (1W 3S)

Starlings now up to 600+ blogging
Lapwings now up to 100+ blogging
Curlews - several came off estuary.
Duck species: a party of 40 came in from East, too far off to confirm, probable size eg: Wigeon!!
Little Egret: 6 (5,1) Local estuary picking
Cormorant: 4 (1,2,1) all came from East.
Goosander: 3 - probably local.

Vismig at Hutton Roof - Sun Sept 12th 2010 CHAFFINCHES

CHAFFINCHES....
Hutton Roof, Cumbria - Sun September 12th 2010
0630hrs-0900hrs
Wind: WNW 10mph
all movement South unless stated otherwise.

Pipits hardly moving over Hutton Roof, lots blogging on Farleton Fell (Newbiggin Crags). Chaffinch regular. Heavy rain overnight, but this morning was blue skies with intermittent cloud.

Swallow: 34 (8E all others SW)
Linnet: 2W
Chaffinch: 166 (16E all others SW, best parties 9,9,6,6,5)
Meadow Pipit: 63 (all W/SW, best party 13)
Goldfinch: 24 (1E all others W, best party 10
Alva Wagtail: 9W (all singles)
Great Spotted Woodpecker:1 (NE)
Chiffchaff: 1 calling off Hutton Roof
Stock Dove: 1 W.

Robins calling from every bush!! Tits on the move bush hopping! and I also heard (only) Siskin!

Vismig - PIED WAGTAILS Fri Sept 10th 2010 - Shore Rd Carnforth

Friday September 10th 2010 Shore Road, Carnforth, Lancs.
0930hrs-1130hrs
Wind: W 12-15mph gust to 25mph
Heavy persistent intermittant rain showers, holding some stuff down.

Most movement today South, although some Swallows again went North East. A definate increase in Pied Wagtail movement mainly South.

Swallow: 140 (76 East, all others S, biggest party 50)
House Martin: 53 (20 East, all others S big party 20)
Meadow Pipit: 8 (2,2,2,2)
Goldfinch:3 (2E,1W)
Linnet 2W
Pied Wagtail: 34 (one party 7 all others singles or pairs 4W all others S)

Starling party toing and froing from Stock Car track probably today in the 200 plus.
Lapwings today in the 50 plus

Little Egret: 1 Local to estuary
Curlew: 1 Local to estuary
Whimbrel: heard calling from estuary

Vismig SWALLOWS at Shore Road, Carnforth - Wed Sept 8th 2010 1200-1400hrs

Wednesday September 8th 2010
Shore Road, Carnforth, Lancs.
1200hrs-1400hrs
Wind: change over to Light/variable westerlies
Movement: South unless stated otherwise.

Very late in the morning, yet still Swallows going through in nice parties. Went quiet from 1400hrs. Nice to see changeover to light Westerlies and this took the Swallows South West (instead of the E or ENE we have been getting in the last couple of days)

Swallow: 731 (best parties: 77,55,36,35,28 etc) all SW.
House Martin: 12
Sand Martin: 1
Linnet: 3 singles SW plus 10 blogging party on marsh.
Meadow Pipit: 8 (2,1,1,1,1,1,1) all SW
Goldfinch: 9 (all NW)
Skylark: 2 SW
Cormorant: 3 2+1 local
Pied Wagtail: 5 (2W all others SW)
Chaffinch: 1W.

vismig SWALLOWS & YELLOW WAGTAILS at Shore Road, Carnforth - Tues Sept 7th 2010

Tuesday September 7th 2010 - Vismig at Shore Lane, Carnforth, Lancashire and later at Havelock near Capernwray.

0730hrs-0830hrs at Shore lane, Wind: SE 7mph. Heavy rain overnight, cloud clearing on arrival to blue skies and warming up.

Meadow Pipit: 27 Total: 3SW,2,2,4,2,2,2,5,3,2.all SW
Yellowhammer: 1 calling from bushes on arrival.
Yellow Wagtail: 2SW, a pair.
Lapwing: 30 plus probably local with additionals joining.
Linnet: 20 probably locals.
SWALLOW: 272 total in one hour. largest parties 40,30,25. Most of the birds went East, ENE or North.
House Martin: 26 total, 9SE, 2, 15, also many blogging nearby Sewage Works - not counted.
Sand Martin: 1SW
Common Snipe: 6 total: 2,4 to South.
Greenfinch: 2SW.
Goldfinch: 16 total: 93w,1s,4sw,2ne.
Pied Wagtail: 12 total, 1 south all others west (Why do they go West? I have noticed this also from Hutton Roof!!
Little Egret 1sw probably local.
Dunlin or similar sized wader: 1 South
Stock Dove: 1SW.

Conifer Woodlands Across from Havelock House, Near Capernwray. Lancs. 1000hrs - 1100hrs.
Swallow: 14 all SE
House Martin: 35 (30,5, all nw)
Meadow Pipit: 4 (3,1se)
Goldfinch: 6e,
Red Admiral Butterfly 1S

Vismig SWALLOWS at Shore Road, Carnforth - Mon 6th Sept 2010 1000hrs to 1200hrs

Vismig: Swallows at Shore Rd Carnforth - Monday 6th September 2010 

Couldnt get there early because of appointment, but did manage 1000hrs to 1200hrs.

Decided to check out Shore Road, Carnforth, and the Swallows were pouring through and still going through strong on leaving.

Continually going through East to East North East, because the winds were very strong and coming from the ESE at 21mph to gust at 39 mph the birds where very low, some as low as one metre from the ground, but most of them anywhere up to about 20 metre. They seemed to be coming around the coastline from the Bolton Le Sands direction and then curving round at the Keer and heading East to ENE. the largest single parties was 40.
Swallows: 695 birds in total over the 2 hours.Best parties: 40,37,32,30,25,25,25,27 Also
House Martins: 20 birds (3,10,2,5)
Meadow Pipits: 19 (mainly single birds, best party 4)
Linnet: 27 (one party at 8 and 15)
Pied Wagtail: 1
Pintail: 2 (estuary then South)
Greenfinch: 1
Lapwing: 1

also:
40 blogging Starling party (prob local_
20 blogging Lapwing probably local.

Jack Scout - Silverdale yesterday 31st August 2010

1000hrs to 1045hrs - In the morning had a very short walk in Lords Lot Wood near Capernwray. Had a late Chiffchaff calling in very weak broken language. Blackbirds were feeding up on the now shrivelled Rowan berries. Woodpecker, very quiet but could be heard tapping away right at the top of the 30ft trees. Never saw the birds, bust heard them, and thought they could possibly be Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers.

1400hrs to 1500hrs - Jack Scout, Silverdale. Went to check out the Autumn Lady's Tresses and not to be disappointed with many specimens on view. I tried so hard to get a good photo but struggled with the continuing non let up wind. But so enjoyed a fabulous spectacle. Also had a worn Small Copper Butterfly.

1500hrs to 1700hrs - Heathewaite via Arnside Knott. Just after leaving the car park at Arnside Knott, they where burning wood (after coppiceing) and the smoke was actually catching the suns rays at one point, so could not resist a photo (see above).