More recent notes!

Monday 6th February 2017 - Dalton Crags 0900hrs to 1000hrs

Lark ascending was not to be

I watched and I listened for twenty three

Perhaps too cold to show so bold

Another day’s fine to catch thy gold.

Five "tuck, buzzing" Hawfinches squabbled past

they flew over “Beeches” without a brook,

So close above me with a silhouette look,

Which gave me a "beam" so good!

Mistle "whistled" like a distant Wigeon's woe,

Quiet, then loud he scratchily tried to sing,

Telling the World that Dalton is MY patch,

And to show another that he was THE catch...

Another strange call from a Tit so great!

Hundred’s of songs for hundreds of hours,

This one you know, but this one you don't

I've caught you out again, thinking I was rare.

They piped away so pitiful in a sort of crying "peeu",

Much bullish colour and a white flashing bum,

A bird I like to whistle to, who usually sings a reply,

A regular around the Crags, our dear Dalton Crags.

(Activity on 6th February 2017 - Bryan Yorke)

Saturday 4th February 2017 1100hrs to 1230hrs

Well I was tempted out today especially because Andy from Hellifield mentioned yesterday that he had been seeing Skylarks on high ground. So early!! well as a rule our "Sky" is back on territory and singing from Valentines Day or shortly afterwards, but today on Dalton Crags guess what? Sky is there singing his little heart out whilst marking his territory and sure enough I could hear the call of the "Tree Pipit" within his by now famous repertoire! I not only got chance to see "SKY HIGH IN THE SKY" but also another couple of accompanying larks looking to claim nearby territory. I can't say I have ever noticed them back on territory so early in February, for me they are at least ten days early this year.
It seemed strange hearing that beautiful song far above my head whilst at the same time feeling the chill burning of my cheeks, but thankfully just now and again the sun would shine and give you a moment or two of restbite!

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Sketch showing 5 different types of Hypericum within a area less than 1/2 mile. (Click over to enlarge)

To get five different hypericum types in one place can't be that common I would have thought. So I have done this sketch and you can check them out for yourself this summer if you so wish. HYPERICUM WAY!! please click over the sketch to enlarge

0900hrs to 1000hrs Dalton Crags - Fri 20th January 2017

Nice start whilst walking through the woodland just after leaving Plain Quarry and I clearly heard a Redpoll with its distinctive call, and what better than to hear him yet again on my return.

Had two Mistle Thrushes singing away from far distant corners of the Crags with a slow but melodic purposeful song.

Goldcrest whispering to one another has I climbed up through the Crags. So at least now I know my hearing must be OK to hear these! (I must say though they are getting quieter by the year!)

Did manage to get as far as the "Line of Trees", but its hard work at the moment, hopefully keeping adding a little more each day. I know for a fact when the sun shines my paces will get longer!

Stopped in my tracks on the way back down just at the point where I take the track over the "bonk" (well thats what I have always called it beofre), and especially because it came into my mind that I must do a short piece on this special place and maybe get a drawing, or sketch a map etc etc etc. So what makes it so special and why on earth should I give it a new name and call it "Hypericum Way"? Well you could if you wanted turn it into a lovely short circular walk of up to one hour and cover a short distance of less than a mile, but wait for it! - Its so special because- you can see Perforatum (H. Perforated), Pulchrum (Slender), Hirsutum (Hairy), Androsaemum (Tutsan), and to round off with the rare Montanum (Pale St. John's), that's five of the hypericum family all very very close to one another and all on one short footpath and they look like very friendly neighbours! and the bonus is that when these plants are showing their best, the Tree Pipit and the Garden Warbler will also be serenading you within a "stone throw" away.

Today was good still seeing plenty of "burnt out" pulchrum spoils, but roll on a few month and lets have a peep at those special "yellow pearls"

Andy Holden's photo of the Pink Feet crossing over Hellifield on 18th January 2017
What a fabulous spectacle! (Photo: Andy Holden)

0900hrs to 0930hrs Vicarage Lane, Burton - Thurs 19th January 2017.

Went out with the view of seeing Pink Feet on their return migration from Norfolk/Lincolnshire or for that matter even Lancashire and on their way back to Caerlaverock (staging post!). Just saw a smaller skein of about 50 ish in the distance heading North West.  There have been reports in the past couple of days of many skeins going over Elterwater and also reports from Hellefield, together with the odd evening skein moving North West over Bradford a couple of nights ago.

Today seemed quiet, but generally noticing birds are beginning to get fidgety, maybe because of the mild temperatures, Blackbirds are singing away and their cousins the Mistle Thrushes are giving off a hoarsey tune.  The finches are lively to.  It was lovely to see a pair of Goldcrest on Vicarage Lane, especially when one of them was seen flaunting his "yellow head line" and wow! when you see them like this in close company with the local Robin, it makes you appreciate just how small delicate size really is!

Always great to hear the piping Bullfinch calling from somewhere in the Old Vicarage grounds. And passing a tree I could not help but see at least twenty House Sparrows foraging, this seems to be a rarish sight these days and always so welcome. 

Its great to be back in action! 

0900hrs to 1030hrs just around Dalton - Mon Jan 16th 2017

A small finch party flew overhead which I think were Siskin, a very early Mistle Thrush singing merrily away and telling the World it was his territory, he was far more course or graty sounding than the beautiful sounds of the Song Thrush, yet so pleasant to hear at this time of year. Whilst going through the woodland near Plain Quarry its always nice to pick up on Goldcrest. I also had the "yaffler" calling from the upside of Dalton Crags

I also met up with Robert from Kendal and he told me the regular wintering Stonechat were still present in Dalton Crags.

reasonable numbers of Woodcock and Snipe are being reported from the more expected regular haunts 

1500hrs approx on 9th January 2017 - On my walk over by Dalton it was lovely to hear the Bullfinches calling with their pitiful feeu calls.  A regular place to see them and not far from where they breed. 

1115hrs on 9th January 2017 - Just had a large skein of about 90 Pink Footed Goose going over Burton In Kendal to the North West

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Two days (New Years Eve) ago Waxwings were recorded from Dalton hamlet by Alec and yesterday (Jan 2nd) a party of at least 20 were seen on Vicarage Lane, Burton by David.  Its more than probable that these could well be the same party

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You might be interested to check out my new blog which I have started in the past couple of days.  Its been set up specifically to share my "orchid photos" and my findings during my research on the atrorubens and schmalhauseneii hybrids and the various varieties.

My blog is currently at the build stage, although I will be adding almost daily.  Hope you check it out by clicking here 

To check out some of the best wildlife photography by Craig Bell why not check his catalogue by clicking here

I AM SORRY I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH TO SAY RECENTLY. Its because I am currently convalescing on doctors orders and got to take things easy for a bit. Only getting around the local lanes and fields (strictly on level ground for a few weeks) where I am seeing one large party of mixed Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrows, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Robert Ashworth from Kendal has been keeping in touch regular to give me the heads up on Hutton Roof, and so far we have not had a visit from the Grey Grey Shrike, also Dr. Stuart has been keeping me informed about the Woodcock, Jack Snipe and Common Snipe situation from Dalton Hall Estate.

We have not had any further Waxwings to my knowledge since the last report offered up by Robert.

Will keep writing and annoying you at my first opportunity, all the best Bryan.

added 22nd December 2016

Stopping in has given me plenty of time to catch up with writing and other things and I have been enjoying setting up my new powerpoint presentation in readiness for 2017 which is called: The Special Orchids of Hutton Roof.  I guess there is so much to talk about on this I could do with two hours, but seriously I am aware that its got to be condensed into a one hour presentation.  Just to give you a summary of what its all about: It contains a Brief history of Hutton Roof, past ownership and how it became No. 193 of the Rothchild Reserves, why it became a very special place nationally and how it obtained its Status and its SSSI protection. Then down to business with a showing of the straight forward Dark Red Helliborine of how you expect to see it, and then bringing all the oddballs, again following on but with the Broad Leaved Helliborine, and showing photos of how close both species can stand side by side (not that this matters but still so interesting).  Then we get down to the actual hybrids themselves (Schmalhauseneii - Bigger, Bolder, Brasher etc etc. Mentioning about the time involved and only ever recording definite numbers of around the mid 20s in total it rarely goes above or below in numbers, although after saying that we are now getting lots and lots of other very suspicious plants which I think are F1 and throw backs etc, you get a special feel about these "weird" plants when you are seeing them day in day out!.  Also the most beautiful Lemon-Petalled on Green variety, or the Lemon-Petalled on Purple variety.  Also I show other variants we have recently found eg: Albiflora (only the 2nd ever found on UK soil), Chlorantha, Variegated, Purpurea.  Also a small section on recognition by various pointers I have sketched out and also by their individual denticulation patterns which you can confirm under x40 or microscope - interestingly that atrorubens does have a double layer of teeth unlike the others!!.  I was very privileged this year to meet up with a World authority whilst up on Hutton Roof and he says he can help me and has offered to try and do full DNA testing on several of the plants which these are now in his posession so all this is also in the pipeline, so eventually we may even get a confirmed result, but for now everything is going well.


added 22nd December 2016

Dr. Stuart Sharp has kindly informed me that a Woodcock which he rang on the Dalton Hall Estate on the 4th January 2016 has been recovered shot at Arkholme on 3rd December 2016.  This is a interesting record in that should the bird be a migrant it will obviously mean that the bird has returned to the close proximeter areas later on in the same year, although obviously this cannot be totally confirmed in case it is a local breeding bird.

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Chaffinch numbers slightly down but still very reasonable

The price you pay to be a "vismigger" - Click over to enlarge

It looks very much like the vismig (visible bird migration) season could well be over for another year, or that's how it looks to me at the moment!

Any birds is great! although perhaps numbers have been down if we take into consideration past years records and notes for comparisons. And following on it's probably a good job we have got these records to show these changes.

The Thrush Push - Little happened this year with just a flurry of the Fieldfare peaking here between the 20th and 22nd October with counts of 3165 and 3007 respectively over a approx four hour period. The Redwing as is usual (but not always the case) a little earlier with the main activity this year on the 9th October when I had 2586 over a four hour period.  I also had yet another reasonable count of 1602 two days later on the 11th October.

Looking back to the 1980's when I first started checking out the vismig and bird numbers, I do remember that in most years the start of the main migration of Fieldfare seem to edge more to the early November days as "peak" days where nowadays its been creeping up more towards the middle of October. The Redwing which never really historically got going before about the middle of October can nowadays but not always be a week or ten days earlier starting to come through. Well I guess whats a few days early, or a week or two! you might ask....

As each recent year goes by it's as though "a cataract is forming and just keeps on growing year by year". Gone seem the days when I got many more thousands of grouped thrushes making them special peak day offerings, when you could expect any numbers between five or ten or even teens of thousands to appear along those long established well chosen ancient corridors which for us usually (but not always) come up from the direction of the Aire Gap and progressed West/North West up towards the Lyth Valley where they established themselves for a few days feeding up before they secretly move off!

The Chaffinch  - Our area is without any doubt superb for the onward passage of Chaffinch and to a far lesser Goldfinch to which seem to come from several different lines from the West/North and North East. One line comes in as though following the motorway and then crosses over Burton whilst keeping heading to a South East at points between Dalton Hall and Priest Hutton, another main route and the one I tend to watch more regularly appears to come from the direction of the Lyth Valley and Whitbarrow, then continues above and over Vicarage Lane and joins up also with birds coming across from Curwen Wood, Lancelot Clark Storth onward over the Dalton Hall Estate to probably Capernwray and maybe Arkholme and onward. Another line follows the East side of Farleton and Hutton Roof and will then make a lift near to the point of reaching Kelker. The birds then seem to cross over points of Uberash and almost to the point where the Trig Point lies before going onward in a Capernwray direction. I have spent lots of time observing this line from a point near the summit close to Whin Yeates. .

The following records are purely from Chaffinch counts made of the birds that directly fly over the Vicarage Lane Area. Going back three years to 2014 I had some superb counts from near Vicarage Lane, Burton in Kendal when on peak days I had eg: October 9th 1310 birds (over 6 hours), October 10th 1351 birds (over 6hrs), October 18th 1022 birds (over 4 hours) and a later secondary peak on October 25th 1079 birds over 4 hours). Totals from that watchpoint for the full time observing (Sept 10th to Nov 3rd 2014) was as follows: 15,955 (Fifteen thousand nine hundred and fifty five birds) over 130 hours watching.

Now then 2015 varies a lot because quite a lot of the time I was watching odd days from a different site, however it was still noticed that from the times I was at the Vicarage Lane site (the main peak period), the counts were very low in comparative to what I had in 2014 eg: The only peak days I had were October 11th 121 birds (over 3 hours, October 15th 133 birds (over 3 1/2 hours) October 16th 118 birds (over 3 hours), October 17th 104 birds (over 7 hours) and a later secondary peak on 31st October with 122 birds (over 4 hours). Totals from that same watchpoint for the full time observing (Intermediate dates between Sept 10th to Nov 3rd 2015) was as follows: 1,397 (One thousand three hundred and ninety seven birds) over a 68 hours watching. 
Although dividing my time counting from another site as well.  I did spend all the peak period Oct 4th to 31st) counting from this same (Vicarage Lane) site although with lesser hours, yet the numbers had dropped staggeringly low in comparison to 2014.

During 2016 I have maintained the same watch site and the numbers have been as follows for the peaks.  September 21st 314 birds (over 3 1/2 hours), September 26th 841 (over 4 1/2hours), September 30th 355 (over 4 hours) and more peaks Oct 1st 621 birds (over 2 3/4 hours), Oct 2nd 528 birds over 3 3/4hours, and Oct 3rd 713 birds (over 4hrs) a much later peak presented itself on Oct 15th 698 birds (over 2hrs) and finally Oct 16th 683 birds (over 2 1/2hours) - Totals from the same watchpoint for the full time observing (Sept 10th to Nov 3rd 2016) was as follows: 12,577 (Twelve thousand five hundred and 77 birds) over a 138 hour watching period.

I was at first alarmed by the decrease in Chaffinch between 2014 and 2015, but now having done the 2016 counts I am more happy that numbers are not so bad after all.

Things are just about (slowly) getting back to normal and I have paid several visits up to the Trig Point in particular searching for the Great Grey Shrike, but to no avail at the moment (10th November 2016), although no Shrike, Its been great to have a report from Robert Ashworth who had a party of four Waxwings crossing over Dalton and Lancelot last Saturday.

There were hundreds of thrushes present (mainly in Dalton Crags) but these seem to have moved on at the moment.

Also had the regular two Stonechats (paired) who seem to like overwintering in Dalton Crags, odd Snipe being flushed on the Common.

I had forgot all about Max Ming, must have done this about ten years ago!

Click over to enlarge

THERE WAS PLENTY GOING ON AT ARNSIDE KNOTT BACK IN 2012 but I have not heard of any around there yet!

2016 Autumn Visible Bird Migration has started and here are my records to press!

Wednesday 2nd November 2016 - Viocarage Lane, Slape Interjunction SD5383276988 - Burton In Kendal. 0700hrs to 0830hrs

Wind: NNW 6mph, 5c, 43% Cloud, 19600m vis, 1026mb pressure.  Good frost this morning and remained almost frozen for most of the count.  Things are starting to go downhill now especially with the Thrushes and Finches.  Only a few days left at best. All movement SE unless specified.

Chaffinch: 54 (best: 6,5)

Redpoll: 1

Blackbird: 3W

Redwing: 31N (20,11)

Mistle Thrush: 1

Starling: 40W 20,15) also: 125 ex roost to East - 5 parties

Woodpigeon: 260 both South and North (6 parties 1x60,3x50) seemed loose ones everywhere, every direction.

Tuesday 1st November 2016 - Vicarage Lane, Slape Interjunction SD5383276988 - Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 0930hrs

Wind: NNE 9mph, 7c, 63% cloud, 18500m vis, 1027mb pressure. Very quiet in general although a good run of Chaffinch around the 0845am period involved several large parties of Chaffinches all following one line (corridor) presumed to be ex roost with one party of 27. All dropped off by 0900hrs.

Chaffinch 180 SE (best parties: 1x27,2x10,1x9,1x8)

Goldfinch: 18 (10,5,3)

Alba Wagtail: 1

Fieldfare: 174 N and S directions undecided, most into Hutton Roof or nearby for feed.

Redwing: 62 N and S directions undecided, most into Hutton Roof or nearby for feed

Starling: 55W (3 parties), plus 120 x roost to East.

Woodpigeon: 74NW (40,30,4) again messing and eventually into Hutton Roof or nearby for feed.

Pink Footed Goose: 100 NW (one skein - far away to West)

Monday 31st October 2016 - Vicarage Lane, Slape Interjunction SD5383276988 - Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 1000hrs
Wind: SSE 3mph 6c 22% Cloud, 10000m vis, 1027mb pressure. Complete mist out in bottom and valleys which started to rise up all morning. never cleared properly visibility OK for immediate area but could not see outside the immediate.  All movement SE unless stated. Told today that a few thousand FF had crossed over Yorkshire heading WSW.

Chaffinch: 81 mainly pairs or trios.
Goldfinch: 6 (one party)
Alba Wagtail: 1
Fieldfare: 8 SE
Redwing: 104 (34W,40S,30NE)
Starling: 32W (also 310 in several parties x roost to E)
Red Admiral Butterfly: 3 South

Sunday 30th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane, Slape Interjunction SD5383276988 - Burton In Kendal 0715 to 0900hrs (Clocks went back last night by one hour). 
Wind: South 5mph,10c,  100% Cloud, 1030 pressure. Overcast with thick grey, I guess a pre-halloween sky!)  Pretty dire throughout.

Chaffinch: 51 (best: 7,2x6,5)
Fieldfare: 171 S/SE all (70,30,11,30,30)
Redwing: 27 S/SE
Starling: 70 W (plus 16 x roost)
Woodpigeon: 34 SE (14,20)

Saturday 29th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane, Slape Interjunction SD5383276988 - Burton In Kendal.  NO COUNT FULL FOGGED OUT

Friday 28th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane - Slape Interjunction SD5383276988 - Burton In Kendal 0800hrs to 1030hrs.
Wind: NW 3mph, llc, 89% Cloud, 20000m vis, 1031mb all movement SE unless specified.

Chaffinch: 65 (included one blogging party of 30 but mainly singles or pairs)
Goldfinch: 47 (parties: 25,12,6,4)
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1W
Woodpigeon: 90W (30,30,30)

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Two of Andy Holden's photos from yesterday (Click over to enlarge)

Notes:

It was great to hear from Andy Holden yesterday especially letting us know that thousands of Thrushes were held up feeding near to Austwick, Clapham and Settle. I have in the past witnessed this sort of sighting myself but up in the Lyth Valley.  Its a regular thing up at Crook and only on Sunday last I also witnessed this near to Croswaite -  I wonder if these are the main two feeding areas in the North West or are there more?  Would love to hear from anyone who knows of more One thousand or more congregation areas!

Fieldfare start work at 1000hrs

Why pack up counting birds at 0900 thinking everything has finished?
Well I reckon I am as guilty as anyone else with that one!
Confabbed with other birders every year on this, saying hang on a while,
The Fieldfare sometimes only start to move at 1000hrs.
Yes I must say I agree with that whole heartedly.........

They are a bird who may like a good lie in! "naht wrong theer"..
They did this only last week on both the 20th and 22nd!
And the dates turned out to be our peak dates this year for Fieldfare.

Sometimes you might just be lucky enough to be near a roosting site!
And check your clock because you might just see the great "lift off" just befooer ten,
When plumes of feathers will mix a peppered sky, just like it does "nah and again"
Here on Hutton Roof and scores of other places as well!

(27th October 2016).


Thursday 27th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane - Interjunction with Slape SD5383276988 - Burton In Kendal 0800hrs to 0930hrs.
Wind: 10 to 15 WSW, 12c, 100% Cloud, 14800 vis, 1027mb pressure. Very quiet today, it was quite dark until well after 0800hrs. Very few thrushes in HR to clear out. All movement SE unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: 126 (best parties obviously ex roost and progressing: 57,30 but mainly singles and pairs.
Alba Wagtail: 2 - a pair
Redwing: 117 W (3,8,25,30,40,4,7)
Pink Footed Goose: 94 (14SE at 0830, 80 eventually SE at 0840 (circling unsure for a while)

Whoopers today over Dalton (Click over to enlarge)

Wednesday 26th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane - Interjunction with Slape SD5383276988 - Burton In Kendal 0750hrs to 1000hrs
Wind: 8mph SW, 10c, 95% Cloud down to us 50%, 15400m, Humity 1%, Rain 1.6mm, 1021.9mb pressure.  All movement SE unless specified.  Todays special was 8 Whoopers came in from the North and then circuled above me and eventually made off to the South East.

Chaffinch: 237 (best: 15,14,13,10)
Goldfinch: 11
Greenfinch: 3
Alba Wagtail: 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1W
Skylark: 1
Fieldfare: 190 N/NW (best: 80,50)
Redwing: 360 N/NW/W (best: 50,2x40)
Starling: 148 W (best:60) also 350 x roost to East
Whooper Swan: 8 SE (one party)

Tuesday 25th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane - On Top of Bonk SD53729376704 - Burton In Kendal 0750hrs to 0930hrs
Wind: East 5mph, 8c, 20% cloud, 19600m vis, 1022mb. Movement to the SE unless specified.

Chaffinch: 126
Alba Wagtail: 2
Redwing: 267 N/NW (8 parties) (Best 100,50,40)
Fieldfare: 242 (7 parties) (Best: 100,70,60)
Starling: 20 (1 party) also 400 plus ex roost to E.
Greylag Goose: 35 (two parties 5,30) Circling local territory then off South


Monday 24th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane - On Top of Bonk SD53729376704 - Burton In Kendal 0750hrs to 1000hrs
Wind: 8mph NE 4c, 37% Cloud, 19700m vis, 1016mb pressure.  All movement South East unless specified. Today showed first frost taking ice of windscreen, a very cold start, and little wind. The birds were very few and far between throughout.

Chaffinch: 95
Fieldfare: 564 N/NW (11 parties) (Best parties: 1x120,1x100,1x70)
Redwing: 116 N/NW (8 parties) (Best parties: 2x20,3x15)
Blackbird: 2W lots in hedgerows obvious new arrivals score or so
Starling: 155W (9 parties) (Best parties: 1x40,1x30,2x20)
Alba Wagtail: 1
Goldfinch: 3 (one party)
Goldfinch: 11 (5,6),
Greenfinch:2
Woodpigeon: 155W (6 parties) Best parties: 1x50,2x30)
Cormorant: 3SE

Sunday 23rd October 2016 - Vicarage Lane - (On hill off lane) SD54157659 Burton In Kendal
0738 to 1300hrs

Wind: ENE 14mph, 6c, 8% Cloud, 17500 vis, 1017mb pressure. First birds through at 0738. Still quite a number of Thrushes heading mainly North to North West.

Chaffinch: 180 SE (best parties: 1x20,1x18,1x12,1x11,
Goldfinch: 23 (8,15)
Redpoll: 1
Alba Wagtail: 2 (1,1)
Fieldfare: 1707 N/NW (46 parties) Best Parties: 1x130,3x100,1x90,2x80
Redwing: 517 (22 parties) 196S and 321N/NW Best Parties: 1x50,5x40,1x30
Starling: 236W
Pink Footed Goose: 80 (50N and 30SE)
Lapwing: 4S
LBBG: 310 SE
BHG: 246 SE

Also: Sunday afternoon checked out Lyth Valley and there where fieldfare movements in a couple of places and lots of activity around the Croswaite Areas.

Saturday 22nd October 2016 - Vicarage Lane - On Top of Bonk and then after one hour moved over 200 yards to (on hill off Lane) SD53729376704 then SD54157659 Burton In Kendal 0730hrs to 1500hrs

Wind: ENE 8-10mph, 5c, 50% cloud, 17900m, 1020mb pressure. First birds through at 0734 Pinks
Another great day with the Thrushes.  Counts dropped by 0900hrs but kicked off again from 1000hrs. Eventually died off at 1300 with occasional trickles from then on.  Also interesting was to note that small parties of Redwing and one party of Fieldfare where to be seen going back in a South/South East direction (thought to be bounce backs). Vast numbers of Gulls (probably up to 1000, mainly Lesser Black/Herring plus some BHG were on the move as well this morning. All birds South East unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: 294 (best parties: 1,40,1x20,1x16,2x12)
Linnet: 1
Goldfinch: 11 (5,6)
Redpoll: 5 (3,2)
Greenfinch: 1
Siskin: 2
Alba Wagtail: 3
Meadow Pipit: 1
Fieldfare: 3007 N/NW (31 parties best:1x370,1x350,1x350,1x250,1x240,1x160,4x120,4x100)
Redwing: 454 (349 N/NW105S)
Mistle Thrush: 5W
Blackbird: 1W
Starling: 256W (best 50,2x40)
Woodpigeon: 40W
Pink Footed Goose: 16 SE
Lesser Black Backs/Herring/Black Headed over 1000 all South

Friday 21st October 2016 - Vicarage Lane (on hill off Lane and later from "Top of Bonk" SD54157659 and later SD53729376704 - Burton In Kendal 0715 to 1115hrs and then 1230hrs to 1400hrs.
Wind: ENE 3 mph, 5c, 86% vis 18800m cloud, 1022mb pressure. All movement SE unless stated otherwise.  It started really well especially with the Fieldfare but then dropped off by 0845 with only very occasional flocks after this. Obviously it was a Starling peak arrival day. Also Pink Feet were on the move and everytime I looked up to the North West I could see outlines of yet another skein from well up in the Lakes making there way South/South West into Morecambe Bay. I records 11 skein but there will have been lots more. And I guess there would have been over 600 birds involved. Chaffinch numbers dropping by the day.

Chaffinch: 193 (Best: 15,14,11)
Goldfinch: 20 (7,4,6,3)
Fieldfare: 1529N/NW (29 parties - best parties: 1x250,1x150,1x120,1x100,2x90)
Redwing: 298N/NW (12 parties - best parties: 1x40,5x30,
Starling: 422W(15 parties - best parties: 1x140,1x40,4x30
Skylark: 3 (one party)
Alba Wagtail: 5 (1,1,1,2)
Whooper Swan: 4W
Pink Footed Goose: 600+ Seen in far distance coming down from the Lakes and heading towards Morecambe Bay - Just occasional glances produced 11 Skeins.
Greylag Goose: 15, eventually SE.
Woodpigeon: 249 North/NW


Thursday 20th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane (on hill of Lane) SD54157659
Burton In Kendal 0730 to 1200hrs
Wind: North 10mph, 6c, 85% Cloud, 18000m vis, 1025mb pressure. All movement SE unless stated otherwise.  A obvious Thrush peak day. Which although I got a good start this soon petered out by 0830hrs, but then by about 1000hrs Fieldfare and to a far lesser degree Redwing starting coming through on a regular basis.  And by my finish at 1200hrs I had over 3000 Fieldfare. And I was to later find that the passage must have been busy all afternoon, because birds were still going through at 1700hrs when I had to further parties of 30 and 47 Fieldfares. Earlier in the morning the passage had all been to the NW but when the move restarted around the 1000hrs the movement was all to the North. The birds had been seen coming from further back over Dalton Hall. Also a nice surprise with a late Swallow.  I expect tomorrow to be a super day!!

Chaffinch: 385 (best: 15,2x14,2x10)
Goldfinch: 33 (best: 13,6,)
Skylark: 35 (best: 15,9)
Alba Wagtail: 1
Fieldfare: 3165 NW or N (58 parties - best parties: 3x150,2x120,5x100,1x90,3x80.
Redwing: 457 NW or N (17 parties - best parties: 1x50,1xc40,2x30
Blackbird: 3 (one party)
Starling: 100W (best party 60)
Swallow: 1 NW Strange going the o
Greylag Goose: 33 W to E

Wednesday 19th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane (on hill of Lane)) SD541576959 Burton In Kendal 0735 to 1015hrs
Wind: NNW 6mph, 6c, 15% Cloud, 19000m vis, 1022mb pressure.  All movement SE unless specified. Very few Chaffinch to norm, more Thrushes all going North West. Also more Starlings and also a few parties of Woodpigeon.

Chaffinch: 159 (140 SE, 19W)
Goldfinch: 4
Alba Wagtail: 1
Fieldfare: 878 all NW (18 parties) 30,10,40,50,100,20,10,40,80,15,60,40,6,25,100,50,22,80.
Redwing: 666 all NW (17 parties) best parties: 120,100,80
Blackbird: 1
Starling: 90S (one party)
Woodpigeon: 220 (10 parties: best 40,30,20)
Pink Footed Goose 18E

Tuesday 18th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane to Slape Interjunction SD5383276988 Burton In Kendal. 0740hrs to 1045hrs
Wind: WNW 10mph, 8c, 58% Cloud, 13700m vis, 1014mb pressure. Change after all this time to North Westerly sort of created a block and Chaffinch party numbers dropped and were well down in size, and other than one party of 24 thought to be ex roosting parties progressing. More in the way of Thrush passage today with more in the way of Fieldfare numbers. Nasty early heavy showers then OK after about 0800hrs.

Chaffinch: 325 (266SE and 59 either W or S) Best: presumed earlier ex roost 24, then 10,3x8
Goldfinch: 55 (5,3,5,20,4,10,8)
Redpoll: 1
Alba Wagtail: 12
Lesser Redpoll: 1
Fieldfare: 361W (11 parties 20,30,50,60,10,70,30,14,35,30,8)
Redwing: 298W (10 parties 21,30,30,15,10,27,25,80,10,50)
Starling: 1E
Common Snipe: 1
Pintail: 1W
Pink Footed Goose: 150 One Skein NW to South


Monday 17th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane to Slape Interj SD5383276988, Burton In Kendal 0915 to 1130hrs.
Wind: South 12-16mph 10c, 91% Cloud, 16600m vis, 1009mb pressure.  All movement SE unless specified. Off and on regular heavy rain showers which did clear up from about 1030hrs. Sadly missed first two hours because of other comittments. Chaffinch still a good count for time of day. Yet another good count with Goldfinch which so far best year on record.

Chaffinch: 297 (245SE and 52W)
Goldfinch: 98 (9 parties: best 30,3x12,3x8)
Alba Wagtail: 21 (best: 7,4,2x2 all rest singles)
Skylark: 1
Redwing: 20 (NW-S) one party
Fieldfare: 57 all SE (30,8,12,7)
Starling: 1W

Sunday 16th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal SD541576959 - 0730hrs to 1000hrs
Wind:ESE 15 - 25mph, 7c, 85% Cloud 19500m vis, 1009mb pressure. Odd light rain specking and showers from 0900hrs.  All movement South East unless specified.  I get the impression with today and yesterday that the Chaffinch are now into their final build and could peak very soon. At least this year does look like we are getting back to the numbers of 2014 after the atrocious counts recorded from 2015.

Chaffinch: 683 (643SE,40W) (Best parties: 2x21,20,2x16,2x14,13,12,4x10)
Goldfinch: 132 (Best parties: 20,15,14,2x10)
Greenfinch: 1
Alba Wagtail: 17 (1,8,8)
Fieldfare: 148 (Best: 70S,40NW,30S)
Redwing: 285S (Best: 4x20)
Starling: 30

Saturday 15th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal SD541576959 0730hrs to 0930hrs
Wind: East 7-12mph, 6c, 95% Cloud cover, 18500m, 1004mb pressure.  All movement SE unless specified. Good move with finches up until about 0845hrs with both Chaffinch and large numbers of Goldfinch then trickling through from then on. Thrushes again very thin just odd parties which went through and these could well have been clear outs from roosting in Hutton Roof.

Chaffinch: 698 (26W all others SE) best: 70,22,4x20,16,15,14,2x12,2x11,6x10
Goldfinch: 136 (Best: 50,40, 3x8)
Linnet: 20 (one party)
Redpoll: 2
Alba Wagtail: 5 (all singles)
Fieldfare: 68 S/SW (40,28)
Redwing: 365 S/SW (60,50,40 3x30)
Starling: 88 SE Presumed local ex roost.

Friday 14th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal SD538447701  0730hrs to 0830hrs
Wind: East 7-12mph, 6c, 5% Cloud, 15400m vis, 1009mb pressure. All movement to the SE unless specified.

Chaffinch: 100 (9W all others SE) Best parties: 3x6, 1x5.
Goldfinch: 7 (one party)
Alba Wagtail: 1
Blackbird: 1
Redwing: 30 (20S,10S/SE)

Thursday 13th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal SD5384477017 0720 to 0800hrs and 0830hrs to 1000hrs (130mins)
Wind 9-25mph ENE, 7c, 50% Cloud, 16600m vis, 1020mb pressure.  All movement SE unless stated. Broken count and away at peak period. Although going quieter there were still parties coming through on leaving.

Chaffinch: 264 (15W all others SE) parties mainly 4 to 6 with occasional larger
Goldfinch: 39 (20,7,5,7)
Alba Wagtail: 17 (5,7 all others singles)
Fieldfare: 294 W/NW (best: 2x50,2x40)
Redwing: 946 W/NW (up to 40 ish going South West)
Starling: 20E (presumed ex roost to feeding grounds)

Wednesday 12th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal SD541576959 0715hrs - 0900hrs
Wind: 9-25mph ENE, 7c, 20% Cloud cover, 16900m vis, 1020mb. All movement SE unless specified. Today the thrushes decided to go mainly to the South with just odd parties West/North West.

Chaffinch: 245 (13W all others SE)
Linnet: 3 (1,3)
Meadow Pipit: 2
Alba Wagtail: 5 (3,1,1,)
Redwing: 887 (516 South, 371 West/North West)
Fieldfare: 65S (15.50)
Starling: 15E (one party thought to be ex roost to East)


Tuesday 11th October 2016 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal SD541576959 0715-1000hrs
Wind: ENE 9-22mph, 7c, 20% cloud cover, 18900m vis, 1027mb pressure.  All movement SE unless specified. Good early move of Redwing which went off the boil from 0900hrs onwards.  Some birds went South and the majority went West or North West.  Not sure what was going on, but most birds did go straight through with only a small amount who could not resist the offerings of Hutton Roof. The birds like the past two days have clung to the west flanks of HR but some also were far more noticeable further West as though giving the impression they had come in from the South.

Chaffinch: 332 (10W all others SE) best: 15,2x10 several 9s and 8s majority 2 or 3s.
Goldfinch: 10 (6,4)
Lesser Redpoll: 1
Alba Wagtail: 2 (1,1)
Redwing: 1602 (1252 W or NW and 340 S)
Starling: 33E (presumed from local roost)
Pink Footed Goose: 14 (3S at 0800hrs and 11W at 1000hrs)

*******************************************

Lots of beautiful shaped clouds this morning over Dalton Crags

Monday 10th October 2016 - Plain Quarry, Dalton Lane, Burton In Kendal - SD5528176225 0715-1030hrs
Wind: NNE 5-8mph, 4c, 10% Cloud cover, 19100m vis, 1029mb pressure.  Movement to West unless stated otherwise. Decided to try area this morning.  It is superb for checking out Thrushes heading along the West flank of Hutton Roof, and it does have a few passerine passage.  Today just a small quantity ambling through at sporodic intervals.

Chaffinch: 42 all SE (Best 4, then singles and pairs)
Goldfinch: 56 (10,8,6,12,20)
Redwing: 588 (337W and 251S)
Mistle Thrush: 12W(3,2,2,2,1,2)
Common Snipe: 1W
Red Admiral Butterfly: 1

Sunday 9th October 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln (SD541576959 Burton In Kendal 0715 to 1030hrs
Wind NE 7mph, 6c, 40% Cloud, 19100m vis, 1031mb pressure.  Movement to SE unless specifed. Definately far more Redwing today and once settled down went over to the West or North West. Early on lots again were brought down into Hutton Roof but at about 1000hrs all resting birds took off in one long continuous line exit to the West, a spectacular sight and obviously for someone would see a party of some maybe seven hundred birds together! First small Fieldfare party.

Chaffinch: 295 (30W all others SE) Best: 12,9,8 a few 5s.
Siskin: Two overhead parties heard but not seen.
Linnet: 1
Goldfinch: 15W (one party)
Redwing: 2586 W or NW (81 parties) Appeared to come in from over the Dalton Crags direction and followed tight to the west flank of Hutton Roof and some continued following the Farleton Flank NW and some veered out to the North West. Best parties: One large party of 160, a few between 50-70 but in the main 20s,30s,40s
Fieldfare: 9 NW (one party) First and only party so far this year.
Blackbird: 1 S
Lapwing: 4 very high N to S
Chiffchaff: 1 in Ash tree alongside singing away full song!

Never noticed a cloud formation like this before! (Click over to enlarge)

Saturday 8th October 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln (SD541576959 Burton In Kendal 0715 to 0930hrs
Wind NE 6-7mph, 7c, 80% mottled cloud (photo below) 19400m, 1028mb pressure

The movement never really got going.  Again the Thrushes were not interested and you could see them on passing over Hutton Roof being sucked down as though with a magnet.  Although some did get through in both directions, there did seem to be a lazy day feel to any migration including the passerines.  Nice to get 4 Swallows.

Chaffinch: 205 (13W all others SE) best: 9,2x8 and majority pairs
Greenfinch: 2
Goldfinch: 8 (5,3)
Swallow: 4 (one party)
Redwing: 464 (some South some West) 90% passing over Hutton Roof and lots dropped in and later seen to carry on their journey (best: 5x40 then lots of 10 to 20s)
Fieldfare: 1
Starling: 2x15

Friday 7th October 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln (SD5410576959 Burton In Kendal 0715 - 1000hrs
Wind East 10-25mph, 10c, 50% Cloud cover, 15400m vis, 1025mb pressure. All movement SE unless specified. More Albas going through today. Dark early start or slow start. Patchy drizzle towards end

Chaffinch: 322 (30W all rest SE) Best: 1x12,3x10
Redpoll: 8 (one party)
Linnet: 2 (1,1)
Goldfinch: 4
Meadow Pipit: 2
Alba Wagtail: 35 (2,11,2,5,1,10,1,1,2)
Redwing: 389 (50% NW 50% S) difficult to say whether or not they where the same birds, both times crossing Hutton Roof - West Side. Birds seem tumbling at times. No solid movement just patchy stuff!
Fieldfare: 4
Mistle Thrush: 1
Starling: 46E (probably ex LM roost)
Long Tailed Tit: 15 (3,8,3,1)
Blue Tit: 1,2,1,)


Thursday 6th October 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln (SD5410576859 Burton In Kendal 0715 - 0900hrs
Wind: 12-25 ENE (freshing to strong at times), 7c felt a lot cooler as well this morning. 10% Cloud cover, 20000m visability, 1032mb pressure.  All movement unless specied SE. Today the numbers dropped even more, there seems little going on with this prolonged Easterly high pressure at the moment! A few going through from what appeared to be to the South or South East. They did give the appearance many (but not all) of the birds had actually come of Hutton Roof where I think they had been roosting during the past day or two. I noticed also yesterday as well scores of Blue Tits and some Great Tits all going South East whilst "hedgehopping".

Chaffinch: 239 (16W all others SE) Best: 12,10, a few at 8
Greenfinch: 2
Goldfinch: 40 (one party)
Song Thrush: 2
Starling: 4W
Redwing: 313 S/SE  (best: 2x40s several 30,20,25)
Mistle Thrush: 1S
Skylark: 1W
Common Snipe: 12 (one party W to E)
Heron: 1 SE to NW (0830hrs)
Blue Tits: Scores moving SE - hedge hopping

Wednesday 5th October 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln (SD5410576859) Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 0930hrs
Wind: 12-30mph (freshning to 15mph by 0930hrs) Most birds finished by 0900hrs then trickling through. 10c, 40% Cloud cover, 18700m vis, 1033mb pressure. All movement South East unless specified. Pressure seems to have set in and the worst counting day so far this month. A trickling of Chaffinch with small party numbers. A few Redwing passing through all more or less going South/South East following the line of Hutton Roof (west side) and leaving to the South.

Chaffinch: 238 (10W,12S all others SE) Best: 13,9 but mainly 2s and 3s.
Goldfinch: 14 (7,7)
Meadow Pipit: 2
Blackbird: 1
Redwing: 289 (1N,14E, all others either South or South East
Starling: 25W (one party)
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1 NW

Tuesday 4th October 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln (SD5410576859) Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1045hrs
Wind: 12-28 ESE, 11c, 60% Cloud cover, 12900m vis, 1031mb pressure.  All movement SE unless specified. No Meadow Pipits, Finch numbers much reduced though still going through on my depart. Party numbers dropping instead of build, but think this will be purely down to local conditions. Redwings nominal early morning stuff with small (12 ish) parties heading S/SE and a few parties heading NW which like yesterday could not resist the temptation to drop down into Hutton Roof, just like a magnet pulling them out of the sky.  This in itself is always a sign that there will be no migration today! Majority of movement had dropped at 0900hrs with odds and sods after.  Although the Chaffinch are still going through at about 1 per minute on my leaving.

Chaffinch: 365 (27W all the rest to the SE) Best: 1x11,1x9,2x6
Goldfinch: 21 (8,7,6)
Siskin: 1
Greenfinch: 1
Starling: 5W (2,3)
Alba Wagtail: 3 (2,1)
Swallow: 5 (1,4)
Mistle Thrush: 1
Song Thrush: 6 (5,1)
Redwing: 297 (146 S/SE and the remainder W/NW) best: 3x30 most parties 12 to 20
Skylark: 12 (one party)
Common Snipe: 4SE (one party)
Greylag Goose: 7 (one party considered local)
Brent Goose: 1S

Also Yellow Browed Warbler seen yesterday in Lancelot (Hutton Roof) by Robert Ashworth


Monday 3rd October 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln (SD5410576859) Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1115hrs.
Wind: 7-12 ESE 6c, 68% Cloud cover, 20000m vis, 1027mb pressure.  All movement SE unless specified. Quick blast with many birds at first light which died off after some 20 minutes and returned to something normality. First descent Redwing parties, a single calling Fieldfare. Majority of the Redwing came in from the Dalton side and crossing over Hutton Roof which most were tempted down and into the ~Dalton Crags areas and Lancelot/Burton Fell areas. Some went straight through to NW then later to the West.

Chaffinch: 713 (44W then all SE) Best: 20,16,2x12,2x11,3x10
Meadow Pipit: 88 (Best: 15,12,9)
Alba Wagtail: 5 (3,1,1)
Goldfinch: 20 (1,7,5,6,1)
Swallow: 2 (1,1)
Redpoll: 2
Song Thrush: 10 SW (one party)
Blackbird: 2
Redwing: 640 to NW or W (28 parties) best: 3x50,
Fieldfare: 1 SE
Starling 23 E
Common Snipe: 4SE (one party)
Pink Footed Goose: 50 (one skein NW to SE at 0900hrs)
Red Admiral Butterfly: 3 (1,1,1)

Went up to Whin Yeates (Top of Hutton Roof between Farleton) at 1230hrs and there was a blogging Meadow Pipit party of 70 plus and also lots of Redwing on Hutton Roof itself.

Sunday 2nd October 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln (SD5410576859) Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1100hrs.
Wind: 6-8mph NNE, 5c, 1% Cloud, 19600m vis, 1016mb pressure. All movement SE unless specified. 0800hrs severe drop in movement then small but regular after 0930hrs until close. Birds still trickling through on leaving. Informed large Redwing arrivals with 50 parties approx coming through over Bradford very high to WNW but could not get on these.

Chaffinch: 528 (23W all others SE) Best parties: 60,35,12,11
Goldfinch: 22 (7,5,5,5)
Swallow: 24 (1,25,3,1,2,4,2,1,1,2)
Linnet: 4 (2,2)
Redpoll: 2 (1,1)
Redwing: 9 SE (one party 0730hrs)
Mistle Thrush: 2
Song Thrush: 2W
Lapwing: 15 (one party)
Red Admiral: 3 (1,1,1,)

No Meadow Pipits, but the strange thing is if I was only half a mile away on the East side of Hutton Roof example Whinn Yeates then I would probably have a hundred or two.  Check yesterday afternoon late posting below.

Saturday 1st October 2016 - Whinn Yeates, Clawthorpe Road, Apex of road just before Whinn Yeats (GPS: SD5507678996) 1400hrs to 1530hrs

Wind East 6-8mph

Meadow Pipit: 112 all SE as though coming out of Lakes and heading towards Ingleborough direction, still trickling through on leaving. Best parties: 7,2x6,2x5
Chaffinch: 2W
Skylark: 2S
Swallow: 4 SE
Red Admiral: 1

Saturday 1st October 2016 - Off Vicarage Lane, (SD5410576859) Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1000hrs
Wind: East 6-8mph, 6c, 58% Cloud, 12600m vis, 1006mb pressure. All movement SE unless specified. Good early passage of Chaffinch up until 0745hrs then just steady from then with big drop at 0945hrs. Goldfinch doing OK, Redwing calls yesterday and again today with birds in the large Ash trees which are obviously dropping in overnight.  Also lots of Blackbirds.

Chaffinch: 621 (41W all others SE) Best parties: 1x16,1x13,2x10
Goldfinch: 66 (6,12,6,10,16,12,6)
Linnett: 2 (1.1)
Greenfinch: 2
Alba Wagtail: 2
Reed Bunting: 2
Meadow Pipit: 15
Swallow: 6 (1,2,2,1)
House Martin: 13 (one party)
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1
Skylark: 2
Mistle Thrush: 4 (2,2)
Song Thrush: 2
Blackbird: 8 (2,6 to SE) but lots of birds in large trees and hedgerows.
Redwing: present in large Ash trees.
Greylag Goose: 6 N-S at 0750hrs.

Friday 30th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Lane, (SD5410576859) Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1130hrs
Wind: SW 8-10mph, 8c, 85% reducing to 60% Cloud cover, 18700m visability, 1008mb pressure.
Heavy showers with occasional long dry spells and then showers repetitive. Obviously a few Pink Feet on the move. Suspect Song Thrush or Redwing party of 6 E-W.Goldfinch and Albas on the move. Nice mixed party of 30 plus both Swallow and House Martin feeding up on the way through

Chaffinch: 355 (32W all others SE)
Goldfinch: 58 (30,10,12,6)
Alba Wagtail: 3
Swallow: 7 (4,1,1,1,) plus the large mixed feeding party of 15 plus)
House Martin: 4 (at least 4 and probably more from the mixed feeding party)
Small Turdus 6 (2S and party of 6 W) presumed to be either Song Thrush or Redwing.
Starling: 2 East (probably roost to feeding grounds)
Pink Footed Goose: 228 (3 skeins: 1@80 plus NW to SW at 0840hrs, 1@48 South at 0942, 1@100 approx NW to South at 0950hrs
Pintail: 7 (one party East to West at 0751hrs)
Red Admiral: 2 (surprised! not by the date but with the weather and little sun)

Thursday 29th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, (Tram) Burton In Kendal (Checked out at 0715hrs and went home.  Then did a 15minute check out at 0845hrs to 0900hrs, also did a 30 minute stint at 1300hrs to 1330hrs
Wind: WSW 21 to 31mph and later increasing to West 24-36mph, 12 to 13c, 73% Cloud cover down to 18% Cloud cover, 18300m vis down to 16600m, 1008mb pressure.

15 minute count only:
Chaffinch: 36
later 30 minute count only:
Chaffinch: 11
Swallow: 2
Pink Footed Goose: 8 NW- South (1315hrs)

Wednesday 28th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, (Tram) Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1000hrs.
Wind: 12-20mph WSW, 13c, 99%cloud, 17800m vis, 1019mb pressure. Movement mainly to the SE unless stated otherwise. With catching wind today creating arcing and a biased flight more SSE and S. First birds at 0726 remained darkish at first. Movement very slow today with low mist forming at 0900hrs followed by drizzle and then heavy showers.  Odd birds still going through. Came away at 1000hrs.

Chaffinch: 256 (20W 2S) Best: 17,9,8, lots of 5s
Swallow: 1
Meadow Pipit: 8 (6,2)
Common Snipe 1W
Alba Wagtail: 3
Goldfinch: 6 (one party)
Starling: 7E (0834hrs)

Tuesday 27th September 2016 - Main Street, Burton In Kendal - approx 1900hrs
Had 3 Redwing calling to-night as they left a local garden with tall trees. FIRST OF THE YEAR FOR ME

Tuesday 27th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, (Tram), Burton In Kendal 0700 to 0930hrs
Wind: 16-31mph, 13c, 99% Cloud cover, 14000m vis, 1015mb pressure. All movement South East unless specified. At times blow back and arcing and at times birds going through with side of compensation. Drop at 0750 with at times freshning winds and drizzle again at 0915hrs. Never really got going.

Chaffinch: 205 (14W all others SE), best: a few x8, a few x6 and several x5
Swallow: 8 (3,4,1)
Goldfinch: 12 (6,6)
Song Thrush: 2 (SW to NE)
Common Snipe: 1 (NW to S)

Monday 26th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Lane, (Tram) Burton In Kendal 0700 to 1130hrs
Wind: SSE 8-14ph, 8c 98% Cloud, 15900vis, 1018mb pressure. All movement SE unless stated. Some birds flying very high at first and then later to normal levels. Dropped at 0745hrs, was about to give up at 0845hrs, but then movement went really well from 0900hrs onwards.  Slight drop at 1115hrs, movement still strong parties (5 to 6 on leaving). Chaffinch parties building now with several parties at 16s and 12s.

Chaffinch: 841 (24W,4S all rest SE) Best: 1x22,3x16,1x15,5x12,3x10
Swallow: 23 (Best 2x6)
Alba Wagtail:14 (Best 2x3)
Linnet: 1
Meadow Pipit: 16 (2,6,8)
Reed Bunting: 3 (one party)
PINTAIL: 2 NW to SE
Pink Footed Goose: 97 (one party of 60 NW to SE 0715hrs - and one party 37 E-SW at 0740hrs)

also further count from 1400hrs to 1430hrs.
Chaffinch: 50 (best: 5,4) (bringing day total to 891)

Sunday 25th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 0945hrs
Wind SW 12-23mph, 12c, 75% Cloud, 14200m vis, 1005mb pressure. Regular rain showers throughout but mainly 0745hrs to 0800hrs. Movement did have a slight bias to SSE when birds coming over Tram. Movement more or less dropped at 0900hrs.  All movement SE unless stated otherwises.

Chaffinch: 263 (21W, 20S all others SE) best: 2x10,9,8,3x7,4x6,
Meadow Pipit: 1
Swallow: 14 (5,4,3,1,1)
Goldfinch: 26 (2x10,6)
Alba Wagtail: 1
Small Turdus: 1SE
Starling: 8E
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1SE
Cormorant: 1 NW to SE
Wigeon: 3 E-W
Greylag Goose: 5 (0720hrs NW-S)

Saturday 24th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 1030hrs
Wind: South 18-32mph, (Strong Southerlies are without doubt blocking winds!) 12c, 89% Cloud, 18500m vis, 1012mb pressure. Movement South East unless specified. Wind far too strong, very few birds getting through, most being continually blown back in "arc". 0915 wind strengthening. Site: GPS is SD5394276908 (Gate to Tram)

Chaffinch: 101 (9W all others SE) (best: 3x6, 2x5
Goldfinch: 35 (20,7,8)
Alba Wagtail: 2
Swallow: 16 (5,4,3,1,1,1,1)
Song Thrush: 1W
Mistle Thrush: 1E


Friday 23rd September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 1030hrs
Wind: SW 5-7mph, 8c, 65% Cloud, 18900m vis, 1021mb pressure. All movement SE unless stated otherwise. Quiet with best movement from 0900hrs onwards.  Still reasonable passage on leaving.

Chaffinch: 273 (33W, 10S all rest SE) Best: 15,11,8,7,4x6.
Meadow Pipit: 12 (best 5,3)
Starling: 26 (5 to the W)
Small Turdus: 1W
Greylag Goose: 40 South to NW
Swallow: 13
Alba Wagtail: 3
Mistle Thrush: 1
Goldfinch: 5 (one party)

Thursday 22nd September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs - 0900hrs
Wind: 8-16 mph South West, 12c, 62% Cloud, 8900m vis, 1015mb pressure. Location GPS: SD5390376792 - All movement South East unless stated otherwise.  Movement dropped at 0800hrs.

Chaffinch: 143 (25W, 16S all the rest SE) Best: 1x9,2x6,3x5)
Linnet: 3 group
Greenfinch: 1
Goldfinch: 9 (one party)
Reed Bunting: 1
Swallow: 3
Starling: 30 E (presumed from Leighton Moss Bird Reserve) Numbers definately growing!
Kestrel: 1
Alba Wagtail: 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1W
Pink Footed Goose: 24 SE at 0840hrs

Roe Deer: 3

Wednesday 21st September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln Burton In Kendal (Two Sessions)
Wind: 8-16mph SSE, 11c, 80% Cloud, 18400m vis with at times deteriation, 1017m.
All movement to the SE unless stated otherwise.

First Session: 0700hrs to 0820hrs

Meadow Pipit: 37 (best 14)
Chaffinch: 155 (7W, 12S all rest SE) Best: 3x7,1x6, several at 5)
Swallow: 7
Starling: 34E (best 30)
Linnet: 7 (3,2,2)
Goldfinch: 25 (10,6,5,4,)
Redpoll: 2S
Alba Wagtail: 4 (3,1,)
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1E

Jackdaw numbers swelling into hundreds.

Second Session: 0930hrs to 1115hrs

Chaffinch: 159 (19W, 1S all others SE)
Starling: 14W
Swallow: 40 (1W all others SE) best 14
Linnet: 1
Goldfinch: 32 (21,10,1)
House Martin: 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker:1

Combined totals:

Meadow Pipit: 37
Chaffinch: 314
Swallow: 47
Starling 48
Linnet: 8
Goldfinch: 57
Redpoll: 2
Alba Wagtail: 4
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 2

Other interesting records to report (Possible Vismig)

1015 and 1020hrs Tuesday 20th September 2016 - Whilst driving from the Morecambe Prom in line with Happy Mount Park

Two seperate skeins of Pink Footed Goose one of 22 at 1015hrs and one of 30 at 1017hrs approx coming from over the West of me which would have ended up approx by the Happy Mount Park


Monday 19th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, Burton in Kendal 0700hrs to 0830hrs

6-8mph North, 9-12c, 27% Cloud, 124000-18900m vis, 1023mb pressure.
All movement SE unless given different.

Chaffinch: 117 (15S, 38W all the rest SE) best: 14,12)
Swallow: 33 (21W)
Starling: 18E (presumed local from roost)
House Martin: 4
Pink Footed Goose: 50S - (0718hrs)
Linnet: 1
Meadow Pipit: 2
Most probable HOBBY

Other interesting records to report (Not Vismig):

1810hours Sun 18th Sept 2016: Whilst walking along Canal from Station Road.

at least 40/50 Alba Wagtail coming in from the West and heading in the direction of Burton Motorway Services.  I presumed going to roost.  Also noticed another spot just before Tarn Lane with scores of Chaffinch heading towards the maize, presumed a regular roost.

Sunday 18th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0730 to 0915hrs
Wind: 3-6mph South,60% Cloud, patches of low cloud, 20000m vis, 1021mb pressure.
All movement SE unless given different.

Chaffinch: 109 (32W,8S) Best: 1x6, 2x5
Meadow Pipit: 5 (4,1)
Blackbird: 1
Starling: 6 NE (probably local from Leighton Moss)
Swallow: 6W (maybe local)
Common Snipe: 1
Goldfinch:3
Greenfinch: 1

Saturday 17th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0800hrs to 0930hrs
A lot cooler 5-7mph, 39% Cloud, 1023mb pressure.
All movement SE unless given different.

Alba Wagtail: 1
Chaffinch: 48 (90% SE, 10% W or S) best: 1x5, 2x4
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1W
Meadow Pipit: 6
Goldfinch: 1
Swallow: 6 (4,1,1)
Mistle Thrush: 4W
Pink Footed Goose: 11 E to W (0940)



Thursday 15th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0930hrs to 1100hrs
Wind: 3-5mph SSW to SSE 14c-20c, 80% hazy low cloud, 17700 to 15300m vis, 1012mb pressure.
All movement SE unless given different

Chaffinch: 120 (best: 9,8,6,6)
Meadow Pipit: 23 (best 6,5)
Goldfinch: 6 (one party)
Alba Wagtail: 2
Swallow: 84 (best: 52,8,7)
House Martin: 4 (2,2)
Greenfinch: 2
Linnet: 1
Kestrel: 1S
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 SW

Wednesday 14th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0715-0945hrs
Wind 9-20mph NE, 15c, 5% Cloud, 15000m vis, 1013mb pressure. GPS: SD534477017
All movement SE unless given different.

Chaffinch: 186 (75% SE 25% W/SW) (best: 16,10,)
Meadow Pipit: 19 (best:5)
Swallow: 36 (best 16,6) missing most with being too high but did see glimpses
Goldfinch: 25 (one party 2-0 E to W) plus 2,2,1.
Linnet: 3 (one party)
Greenfinch: 3 (one party)
Reed Bunting: 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1 to NW
Kestrel: 1S
Red Admiral Butterfly: 4 singles South
also Small Tortoishell: 1

Tuesday 13th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs to 1100hrs
Wind: 6-8mph ESE, 14c, 1% Cloud, 19500m vis, 1010mb pressure. GPS: SD5384477017
All movement SE unless given different

Chaffinch: 240 (maybe 30 to West (Best: 2x10,2x8,3x7)
Meadow Pipit: 95 (best: 12,11, several 8)
Goldfinch: 18 (6,5,6,1)
Redpoll: 3
Swallow: 162 (best: 30,10,9)
House Martin: 4
Starling: 2W
Pink Footed Goose: 40 West (early report given to me a skein at 0700hrs)
Blackbird: 1
Red Admiral: 10 South


Monday 12th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0900hrs-0915hrs
Wind: 20-31mph South, 16c, 73% cloud, 18300m vis, 1008mb pressure.
All movement SE unless given different

Chaffinch: 16 (best 9)
Reed Bunting: 2 (1 pair)
Swallow: 2
Mistle Thrush: 1

Sunday 11th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs-0900hrs
Wind: 7-14 in gust SSW, 10c, 63% Cloud, 20000m vis, 1014mb
All movement SE unless given different

Swallow: 39 (best 10,6,5)
Meadow Pipit: 15 (best 4x3)
Chaffinch: 55 (a third to SW) best 2x6,2x5 several 4s mainly singles/pairs
Starling: 7E (4E,3E) probably local
BHG: 9 (best 7)
Pink Footed Goose: 40 (12 W to E at 0740hrs, 28 E-W 0838hrs
Alba Wagtail: 1
Jay 2 (probably local)


Saturday 10th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0830hrs to 1100hrs
Wind: 2 to 3mph WNW,7c, 79% Cloud cover, 17700m vis, 10-1100mb pressure.
All movement SE unless given different

Swallow: 74 Majority SE but 10W
Chaffinch: 61 Majority SE several SW
Pink Footed Goose: 1 skein of 21 E-W at 0855hrs
Goldfinch: 3
Osprey 1 SE at 0953hrs
Linnet: 1W
Bullfinch: 1W
Meadow Pipit: 13 (one at 4 all others singles and one pair)


Friday 9th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 1020hrs to 1120hrs
All SE unless stated otherwise

Swallow: 12 (2,4,6)
House Martin: 2 (paired)
Goldfinch: 1
Chaffinch: 32 (singles, pairs odd 5,4) - Some birds to SW
Meadow Pipit: 1
Woodpigeon: 1
HERON at least 200ft high going East to West.

Thursday 8th September 2016 - Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal  1330hrs to 1415hrs

Swallow: 39 (all SE) (9,17,12,1)
Meadow Pipit: 4 (SE)