Friday November 3rd 2006 - Haslingden Grane (Stoney Rake) 0645hrs-1100hrs Wind: W 1-3mph Movement West unless stated otherwise.
Fieldfare numbers had come off the boil from yesterday, but still reasonable numbers occasionally going through - all North West as usual, making a very enjoyable morning. After stating yesterday about no wind=specks in the sky, what a different story today, to say there was hardly any wind at all the Thrushes stayed low, in the main clinging to the top of the valley sides and this was the pattern throughout the morning, I was certainly under no suspicion or saw any evidence of any flying very high today! In fact what I did note, was with the odd party today(3 parties),seemed slightly undecided of their routing, and would sort of come in from the SE would arc to North and then arc again to the North West, also small parties of Redwing where coming back East (at least 3 very small parties and would then be seen going down to feed in the lower Grane). Small Woodpigeon parties (14) heading North West. Good numbers of Chaffinch again for here. Starlings kept going through West and where still at it on leaving.
Fieldfare: 1474 (best parties 160 & 150 - 33 parties in total average party = 40-50). Redwing: 57 (30 returned back and went down to feed) Starling: 521 (best party 50- 23 parties in total, average party= 20-30) Goldfinch: 16 Meadow Pipit: 10 Woodpigeon: 234 (best party 80) Chaffinch: 126 Linnet: 40 (one party) Skylark: 8 (6-0750hrs 2-0900hrs) Brambling: 4 Redpoll: 6 Common Gull: 1 Jackdaw: 51 (4 parties) Greenfinch: 11 Siskin: 6 Peregrine F: doing aeriel combat against a Crow (probably local). Waders (12): flying over Haslingden Moor - probably Golden Plover but cant be sure they where too far away.
