Monday, April 07, 2008

Large Movement of Meadow Pipits

I have noticed this morning a large movement of Meadow Pipits through the valley along Widdop Rd every field seemed to be holding flocks of 30+ birds, in total I have seen probably in excess of 200 this morning all seemingly heading N.

Also 2 Male Wheatears, 2 Kestrels m&f, 2 Oystercatchers, 7 Curlew.

NB. An Osprey was seen heading North at approx 10am this morning at Old Moor RSPB, keep your eyes on the sky if your out and about.

5 comments:

john beaumont said...

Hi Andy
I would be surprised if many of your pipits did move off North. When snow covers the tops they are displaced off territory and flock up again, its usual to see flocks in the lower fields. Ady Zabucas and I once had a flock of 90+ Skylarks on the grassed over tip at E G Ps at this time in spring, again when snow covered higher ground

Nick Carter said...

Nick Dawtrey tells me one was seen over Soil Hill earlier today, didn't make it to either of the grapevine coordinators to my knowledge I'm afraid (thats an Osprey not a Meadow Pipit by the way!)

Andrew Huyton said...

John, cheers for that, they must have just been disturbed by my presense then I wondered why some of the flocks appeared to head off whilst others either stayed put or just jumped fields.

Nick, yes saw that on Birdguides shame no one from Calderdale got it.

Nick Carter said...

I hear Nigel Kerwin was the lucky observer

Alastair said...

I had Mepits moving on the coast on Friday, 60 odd in 20 mins coasting west - they were going for the two hours I was there and then at home later there were a few moving north as there were the next morning. Thre were territorial birds singing whilst this was all going on - this was before the main snow though.