Saturday, April 02, 2005

Mipits-April Wave?

Mipits-April Wave?
Last year (2004) in April between the 8th and the 18th at the watchpoint we had a considerable number of mipits through, mostly going north on the days that were counted. For information here are the counts:


8th April – 95
9th April – 680
10th April – 204
11th April – 1176
12th April – 950
17th April – 101
18th April – 88

Today, up here, we had flies, lots of them, ears, eyes and coffee cups full of em, (so plenty of food) but hardly any birds at all!! On the west coast however today I am told there have been passerines in abundance as well as the flies! I hope its our day tomorrow! This has happened before when the wave seems to streamline round the Pennines (up the coasts) first, with us catching up a bit later (just a guess I think but that’s how it seems to me). Up to 1100hr this morning we had hardly anything over here at all but this afternoon here has been very warm and sunny and tomorrow looks clearish (this fog and bad visibility permitting) at the moment with some cloud and rain later coming up from the south by tea time? Also Portland have been getting the better nos of mips for a few days now so we must be in with a chance. All this weeK there have been good numbers of territorial mipits on the moors and in the in-bye here, all up and down in the sky. So unless these mipits currently going north are just filling the gaps they must be going a good bit further north. I wonder if it’s the equivalent of last years bulge coming a bit early?

One thing I have noticed during my last week off by doing the early morning weather checks every day is that the west side of the country has had persistently clearer morning conditions that the east. I just wonder if that is one of the reasons why the birds seem to be coming up the west side first? If in fact that’s what they are doing? Anyone know? Just a thought anyway.

Would appreciate if anyone interested in when we begin to get this inevitable pipit wave, could if at all possible get out in the field and see, as next week I am unable to watch.

Dave.

vismig various 02-04-2005

Thanks for that Brian
If you have a direction on the Whoopers it would be interesting.
Dave

----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Vicars
To: David Barker
Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 5:39 PM
Subject: vismig


Dave
Wheatear 4 (Trough Lane 10.30)
Whooper Swans 2 (Silsden Res 11.30)
Fieldfare 80 > NW (Wharfedale 13.15)
Brian.

Watchpoint 02-04-2005

Members only watchpoint 02-04-2005
Saturday 2nd April 2005
0755 - 1045hr
Weather and Sky:
An improving morning weatherwise, initially almost overcast and calm with shallow rolling fog banks over the moor. Wind picking up from south-east, becoming very warm and sunny but always very hazy. Wind: initially E F1 @ 0635hr, becoming SE F1 / calm by 0800hr and after 0930hr picking up E variable SE F3 and remaining similar. Temp: initially 7 dp 6 @ 0630, then 7 dp 7 by 0800 and gradually rising 10 dp 8 by 1030hr. Visibility: initially 2000m intermittent shallow fog, improving 6000m max, remaining very hazy. Cloud: initially altocumulus mackerel 7ok gradually breaking to give a very hazy open sky by 0945hr. Pressure: very gradually falling 1021 throughout.


Nice to be out but a very poor morning with very little moving up here and yet again no gulls at all!

Moving birds:
Meadow Pipit 12 > N – NW
Carrion Crow 6 > E – NE
Goldfinch 2 > NW
Curlew 2 > ENE
Cormorant 1 > SE
alba 1 > N
Linnet 2 > E
Collared Dove 1 > NW
Greenfinch calls high

Other:
Great Tit singing
Stonechat 4 influx
Long tailed Tit heard
Golden Plover c150
Snipe 8+ drumming
Oystercatcher

Good to meet you Andy and interesting about the Woodcock on the moor.
Dave.