Watchpoint 14-05-2005

Members only watchpoint 14-05-2005
Saturday 14th May 2005
0850 - 1105hr
Weather and Sky:
A fair weather morning with a cool NE wind, considerably cooler and stronger in the hills. See detail report.

Very few passerines in the sky at all during the first hour of the watch, however a loose group of three high gulls on approach from the west, just before 0945hr was soon refined to three Kittiwakes as they went past. These came in low to the water but did not settle, going straight on cNE out over the valley and away, gaining height. A total of eight Common Gulls moved through and off SE, a single Black-headed Gull went through, NE and seven Lesser-black backs went over going NW. At 0945hr the first Swifts were picked up high, going NE into the wind and during the next 55 minutes a total of 69, on a very thin broad front, all going NE and relatively high had been located. A pair of the Swifts were even copulating enroute? NE. Otherwise, just a few Swallows and a single Linnet.

Moving Birds:
Swift 69 > NE (55 mins)
Common Gull 8 > SE
Black-headed Gull 1 > NE
Swallow 6 > NE
Kittiwake 3 > NE
Lesser Black-backed Gull 7 > NW
Linnet 1 > NE

Dave.