Watchpoint 21-09-2005

Members only watchpoint 21-09-2005.
Wednesday 21st September 2005
0755 - 1015hr (DCB)
Weather and Sky:
A improving morning with breaking cloud but quite hazy and again little increase in temperature throughout with damp air. Wind: initially at 0620hr, light and variably, picking up SE F2 by 0730hr , S F2 by 0800 and SW F3 by1015hr. Temp: initially 10 @ 0620, 11 by 0815hr and 12 by1015hr. Visibility: initially Elslack Moor NNW / Kippax E. Cloud: initially stratus and broken stratus @ 0615, similar @ 0815, breaking further, showing high cirrostratus 8ok by 0900, with lots of contrailing, then by 1015 hr becoming complex stratus, stratocumulus, altostratus, cirrostratus and altocumulus, 8ok but still with some sun penetration through cirro cloud – sighn of next advancing weather system? Pressure: fall overnight after ridging about midnight (c1026) 1022 by 0620 and 1021hpa by 1015hr.

A great morning with moving passerines very hard to miss when looking at the sky, certainly until c 0930hr.. Meadow Pipits were moving throughout the visit nearly all were going due south – a difference here from yesterday – birds were at all levels and the movement was on a broad front, possibly a little more pronounced to the south-east of the watchpoint than to the north-west. The lower movement seemed to decrease, and was possibly even decreasing upon arrival but the high south push continued on going until well after 0930hr and pipits were still prominent on the move when I was leaving. Swallows were also going south today with small numbers of birds on the move in upto 20’s throughout, opposite to the pipits many more went through towards the end of the visit than first thing. Swallow movement was also continuing strongly as I was leaving. Albas, the first appreciable movement of the autumn here came today with at least 33 going mainly south, several threes, a long train of six and then an even longer train of nine went through. There must be at least some significance to this sudden start to the movement here??? Most exciting however were the Jays, never ever had as many as this on vis here before. All passed through at about eye height or just below going north-west, through the col to my immediate north-east. The first, a six and a one came just after 0830hr. then at about 0840hr came a long broken group of nineteen, all going straight on and into the next valley. All went on, not loosing height, out over the valley and then even more followed on behind and did exactly the same, intent in moving on, rather than dropping down into the valley to the NW. By c0900hr all had gone, with no more seen to come……….. Whats happening with these irruptive Jays? who else is getting em? If anything I would have said that some of them looked thin around the belly whilst flying but it could just have been that I was seeing them out of the woodland habitat? Lots more that could be talked about but no more time now.

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 1078 > mainly S
Goldfinch 49 > S
Swallow 226 > S
Chaffinch 125 > S and W
Grey Wagtail 3 > W
alba 33 > Southish
Lapwing 1 > NW
Siskin 26 > S / SW
Starling 24 > W
Jay 6+1+19+10 = 36 > NW
Lesser Black backed Gull c45 > S
Tree Pipit 1 > SW
Mistle Thrush 15 > NW
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 > W
Jackdaws c30
Carrion Crow c70
Rook 6
Snipe 4 > W
Redpoll 6 > S
Linnet 10 > W
Greenfinch 3 > S
Skylark 4 > W
Magpie 3 > NW
House Martin 26 > S

Dave.