THE VISIBLE MIGRATION / MOVEMENT OF BIRDS OVER BRADFORD (UK) AND SURROUNDING AREAS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON WEATHER AND SKY. NOW Including:
"OXENHOPE HOLISTIC SKY"!
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Swifts and this afternoons weather
Swifts and this afternoons weather. Interesting scenario re Swifts this afternoon in this part of West Yorks, that these birds have been moving WNW into the wind on the front of the calming wind conditions moving obliquely westwards. Run the wind speed (strength) animation, after letting the colours load, for the late afternoon period on:
or hit the link on the left side of the bradford blogger and you will see what I mean. If you wish to see it you need to do this now as the animation rolls and the max period it is available for is only 24 hrs. Wind here has now swung round N altogether as you will see from the animation. It has reduced N F1 / 2 and there are still a very few Swifts in the sky still going north.
Weather and Sky (current): Wind: N F1. Temp: 6 dp 4. Visibility: very clear. Cloud: Cu sp / cumulonimbus 2000ft - 2500ft. 4ok. Pressure: 1012 steady. Dave.
Great stuff Brian! ----- Original Message ----- From: Brian Sumner To: Dave Barker Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2005 6:55 PM Subject: [vismig] SOIL HILL SWIFTS 1730-1830 SOIL HILL TOP. Hail, sleet and snow, WNW.F5-6. Swifts pouring over from direct south @ approx 100 per hour. Also: 7 Wheatear + 2 Stonechat + usual. Brian Sumner.
Late PM update 1800hr Waves of 30 - 40 Swifts still comming through c WNW here, seemingly most associated with the back edge of the heavy rain / hail showers. Movement pattern of some higher birds often in large loose circular sweeps but lower movement more direct. Much recent activity has been along and crossing north ridge of Thornton valley. Dave.
Swifts 08-05-2005 pm Just done a quick watch and count from the back garden at home and Swifts are now flooding through here at variable heights. 1615 – 1645hr (30 mins) 341 counted going generally WNW more or less into the wind and mainly between? the considerable showers of rain and hail. The moving birds are very obvious. Cloud: very deep cumulus sp 6ok. Temp: 6 dp 4. Some Swallows also noted + other movement. Anyone else getting em or had moving Swifts today? Please comment below. Dave.
Swifts - Fly Flat and Leeshaw 08-05-2005 Of great interest to compare to Cold Edge and watchpoint: Leeshaw (Rod Proctor) 0900 –0920hr. Swift 63 > NW low into wind. + some Linnet and House Martin.
Fly Flat (Howard Creber) Similar time and period. Swift c50 > NW low into wind. + some House Martin and Swallow.
Members only watchpoint 08-05-2005 Sunday 8th May 2005 0835 - 1110hr Weather and Sky: A deteriorating morning with rapidly increasing cloud, bitter cold in strong WNW wind, but remaining very clear. See full detail. Here a morning with birdless skies, most likely related to lack of shelter from bitter cold penetrating winds. Brian over the hill, Howard at Fly and Rod at Leeshaw all had relatively good hirundine / Swift movement, predominantly NW and low into the wind, but here next to nothing!! Despite constant scanning of the south / SW, horizon and cols only seven Swift were noted going north and north-west and two Swallow were going back south-west (a retro job?) were the only other hirundines. This just shows how low the Swifts must have been. Later on a couple of Wheatear went west.
Moving Birds: Swallow 2 > SW Meadow Pipit 1 > N Swift 7 > NW Wheatear 2 > W
Hi Brian, Thanks for that. You certainly had em all on your side of the hill today! Dave. ----- Original Message ----- From: Brian Sumner To: Dave Barker Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2005 12:03 PM Subject: [vismig] Cold Edge Dams 0715-1100hrs Icy cold WNW > 4-5 Clear blue skies and sunshine, clouding as morning went on. Good visibility. Rain could be seen to the far S.(Manchester).
A good morning for hirundine and swift movement with some early morning wagtails which are unusual for this watch-point.
Moving Birds: ALBA WAG 5 > NW GREY WAG 3 > NW SWALLOW 111 > N HOUSE MARTIN 19 > N SAND MARTIN 4 > N SWIFT 141 > N
Other :- 1pr Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 1 PF Goose,1 Common Sand, 2 Redshank, 1pr Reed Bunt, + usual Brian Sumner
