Watchpoint 11-04-2005

Members only watchpoint 11-04-2005
Monday 11th April 2005
0820 – 1100hr
Weather and Sky:
A deteriorating, yet improving morning, with virtually clear skies overdrawing, but with cloudbase lifting locally, visibility increasing dramatically with rising wind and warm temperature continuing to rise. Wind: W F2 initially @ 0645, and similar @ 0830hr but increasing W F3 by1000hr and finally W F5 by 1050hr. Temp: initially 7 dp 6 @ 0645, becoming 9 dp 6 by 0830 and 10 (8.5 @ wp) dp 5 by 1000hr, with final readings 11 (10@ wp) dp 3 @ 1100. Visibility: initially 10km max NW (cloud block over Jacksons Ridge and Keighley Moor and much fractus over western moors), 64km max E (Drax, upper Humber), increasing to 60km+ NNW (Leck Fells), 90km max NE (Cleveland Hills), 102km+ E (Humber Bridge), 116km ESE (Lincolnshire Wolds) by 1030 and remaining similar. Cloud: initially altocumulus with lower fractus 2ok @ 0645, increasing low scud, stratocumulus, altocumulus all more especially to west, with brighter alto cu and much less stratocumulus to east by 0830hr total 7ok. Cloudbase lifting locally by 0930hr, gradually becoming lower and deeper stratocumulus to east but with clearer sky and less alto cu to west total 4ok (with open areas to west). Pressure: more of less static over night with 1027 throughout the morning. Just out of interest and for future reference the sunrise time today was 0616hr (GPS).

From first fresh air at 0755hr, whilst stacking the car, whilst none were seen, moving mipits were heard in the sky over home (quite unusual for here!). Whilst in the car and driving to the watchpoint, mipits (at least two parties) were noted in the sky and going north across the open moor and in-bye to the east of the Dog and Gun. Whilst opening the bottom gate, what I first considered to be a large group of c35 were over head and going north, other groups were seen crossing the access road……….. By the time I had reached the carpark, it was very obvious this was no ordinary "move" with probably about 150 clocked up already – and I was kicking myself for not getting out sooner! Once at the watchpoint, set up and weather readings taken, the broad front of the wave could be appreciated. Mipits in all directions and at ranges, as far as the scope could resolve were flooding NNW. It was obvious that the move had not just started and that many would already have been missed. Many were higher than would have been expected, suggesting they had been going for a while? Some were cutting through the scud below and others up to just below the cloudbase, estimated to be locally at c 2000ft asl (with much lower scud sometimes down to ground), but much higher further east and north. Some of the birds out to the N and E were therefore much higher, where there was more flexibility. Birds were coming through the cols to the east and west of the watchpoint as well as over the ridge to the south. I addition there was a distinct broad stream seemingly following the line of the NE flank of the watershed about 2000m out over the lower land, these were possibly going a bit more NW. All( or most) were striking out very high over the valley to the NW As yesterday a sight line back along the track of the ones on approach and passing overhead came form the general direction of the Emley Moor TV transmitter mast and possibly just a bit south of it but this might just have been local orientation. Every scopefull had birds and not just a few, a scenario that those having seen the equivalent autumn waves will be very familiar with. The largest counted group was c95 but this is not really realistic as for some of the time at peak, the groups just merged into a continuous passage, not easily splitable, but the scan had to stop somewhere. The major problem with situations like this is that one person just cant look everywhere – more observers were needed today, and with a full team, of pointers and shouters (not to parallel with shooters and beaters), some doing scope scans, some with bins and then the ones overhead, perhaps twice as many would have been counted. It was however most surprising how quickly the move tailed off, possibly something to do with the wind picking up to F5+, but that’s just a guess. The other birds along with this move were also in inflated numbers but sorry, no time for descriptions now, it will have to suffice just to list on this occasion.

My apologies for ringing round and leaving so many voicemail messages, but nobody would answer!. In the event I only managed to raise Brian Sumner, Brian Vicers and Keith Clarkson, with hope that someone might be able to put an early message on the net or ring round or something – just like the old days but by that time the battery in my phone would only allow 30secs of conversation before cutting off (sorry about that Keith) and then flat.

Hope all this lot makes sence as have not had time to read it back thoroughly!

Meadow Pipit counts. Each count applies to the fifteen minutes before the stated time.
0830hr not counted properly – more detail later.
0845hr 443
0900hr 518
0915hr 213 (birds lost to time on telephone)
0930hr 469
0945hr 123
1000hr 68
1015hr 25
1030hr 16
1045hr 6
1100hr 3
Total mipits 1902 > NNW

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 1902 > NNWapx
Skylark 43 > W – N
Greylag Goose 2 > SE (local)
Oystercatcher 2 > SE
Alba 16 > N – NW
Swallow 22 > N ish
Sand Martin 4
Hirundines others (quite a few)
Stock Dove 4 > W
LBB Gull 6+ > NW, just started to come when stopping counting)

Dave.