Sunday, April 17, 2005

Cold Edge Dams 17-04-2005

The poor Twite Brian, there wont be anything left for them again!
Dave.
----- Original Message ------
From: BrainSumner
To: David Barker
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 12:06 PM
Subject: [vismig] Cold Edge Dams
0715-1100hrs

Cold SE 2-3, misty in valleys till late morning. Still some lying snow and keen early morning frost. Late morning had blue skies and some sunshine but still the cold SE wind.A disappointing morning with conditions that seemed good apart from the cold SE wind, but the skies remained empty throughout the watch. Even the resident birds on the moor were keeping down with no signs of displaying or movement. You can tell how bad it was when even DCB left his post early!

Moving Birds:
Mipit 15 > NW
Swallow 1 > NE

Other. 1 Snipe

On seed:-
14 Linnet
1pr Chaffinch
1pr Stonechat.
BS

Wheatears 17-04-2005

Thanks very much for this and especially the Meadow Pipit info Brian. Any more mip countings for groundings, congregations or movements etc that you come across will be very very welcome. Same applies for any more of this kind of info from anyone else, where ever it may be from and especially if info can be gleaned from regular visits.
Many thanks, Dave.


----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Vickers
To: Dave Barker
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 10:52 AM
Subject: vismig
David,

Saturday 16th April 2005 (Yesterday),
60+ Meadow Pipits at Trough Lane c1030 am.
(some lying snow)

Today (Sunday),
Swallows 3 Leeshaw Res am.
Wheatears 4 Leeshaw Res am
Swallows 2 Trough Lane am
Wheatears 9 Trough Lane am
Brian.

Watchpoint 17-04-2005

Members only watchpoint 17-04-2005
Sunday 17th April 2005
0810 – 1030hr
Weather and Sky:
A fair weather morning but with bitterly cold SE wind. Early frost soon thawing, little cloud and brilliant sun.


Wind: initially SSE F2 @ 0645, becoming SE F3 by 0830hr then SSE F5 by 0945 and finally SSE F5/6 by 1030 (much more windy than recorded 19km further east. Lying snow Appraisal: considerable covering still around summit of Lad Law (c1700ft). No visibility into south Dales. Temp: initially 2 (min at home –1) dp 1 @ 0645 with very white frost on cars and in fields at home. Then rising 4 (6.3 @ wp) dp 3 by 0815 and finally 7 (7.6 @ wp) dp 3 by 1030. Visibility: Very hazy throughout. Initially, 10km max E, 5.5km max E. Improving 17km max NW, 19km max E by 1030hr. Cloud: initially open sky 0ok except for veiling of very translucent cirrostratus 9ok. During the morning the cirrostratus became much more dense gradually still 9ok but brilliant sunshine throughout. Pressure: falling overnight and during the morning, with 1006 @ 0630 and 1003 by 1030hr.

Good to be out, but bird-wise a disaster, with almost empty skies, no surface movement and no congregations at all. Everything well sluffend (to use a good old Yorkshire expression). The most interesting birds of the morning were a group of four Curlew going south, which from direct manner of flight and nature of calls were considered to be passage birds, albeit lateish. Otherwise, just five Meadow Pipits and a single Swallow were noted going north. Telephone conversations / textings with Brian and Nick confirmed the dearth of moving birds to be not just local. Interestingly Nick advised that a Greenland Wheatear had been located in Calderdale yesterday.

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 5 > N
Swallow 1 > N
Carrion Crow (no directional pattern)
Lesser Black backed Gull 4 > NW (just as leaving)
Curlew 4 > S
Dave.

Watchpoint 16-04-2005

Members only watchpoint 16-04-2005
Saturday16th April 2005
No visit.
Weather and Sky:
A cold grey overcast morning with a light southerly wind. Moor shrouded in fog / low cloud until c 0915, when cleared. Snow overnight with c50mm lying at watchpoint, mostly thawed by lunch time. Initial temperature 2degC.


BV had about 60 Meadow Pipits grounded at Trough Lane mid morning (c1030hr), so despite the snow, there must have been some sort of a move this morning.
Dave.