Saturday, August 27, 2005

Watchpoint 27-08-2005 eve

Members only watchpoint 27-08-2005
Saturday 27th August 2005 eve
1910 – 2100hr
Weather and Sky:
A gradually improving day with open skies only coming after tea here. Wind: initially W F3, becoming SW F3 from 2035hr – a marked change. Temp: 12. Visibility: Leck Fell max / Drax max. Cloud: very little now 1ok. Pressure: rising with 1016 to 1017hpa.


Very unexpectedly were four Swifts moving moving off east (the direction shown on the mid evening photograph below), feeding on the move (PC / DCB) at 1915hr. They were almost the first birds seen upon arrival. Swallows and Pipits were both negative but Robins, the first of the winter were heard, with three singing from the wood at dusk and later edge of dark. Regular evening visits last week did not detect these. Magpies also were fresh in with none being seen previously for a considerable time. Also a report of Common Partridge with young! After sunset a small group of 6 Curlew was heard and then seen moving west, high over the moor, Dunlin calls, (several birds) were heard from the distant shore and at the very edge of dark at 2055hr the Common Sandpipers (one seen present earlier on) came alive with constant calls and circling for minutes, before the, calls became distant and rising into the sky and away unseen to the west. A worthwhile evening, which nearly didn’t happen!

Moving birds:
Swift 4 > E
Common Sandpiper 2 left west
Dunlin arrivals or passing through
Curlew 6 > W
Magpie arrivals?
Robins

Other:
Lesser black backed Gull 14 remaining (35 moving on NW)
Black headed Gull 1
Dave.


The sky tonight 27th August 2005 (c) Posted by Picasa
The sky tonight 27th August 2005 sunset (c) Posted by Picasa

Oxenhope / Watchpoint 27-08-2005

Thanks for the info Brian. Dave.
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Vickers
To: daveb
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 3:45 PM
Subject: My todays sightings


Dave,
Very little movement at Paul Clough, but 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Reed Buntings, several Bullfinch. The Sparrowhawk was active keeping the birds out of sight.


Wheatear 8 Trough Lane
Wheatear 3 Fly Flatts
Wheatear 2 Nab Water Lane
Whinchat 5 Nab Water Lane
All sightings am.

Watchpoint:
Ringed Plover 1
Brian

Watchpoint 27-08-2005

Members only watchpoint 27-08-2005
Saturday 27th August 2005
0805 - 1045hr (DCB, JS, JP)
Weather and Sky:
A static and heavily overcast morning with not a hint of sun. Wind: W F3 throughout. Temp: 12 @ 0650, rising 14 by 1030. Visibility: Settle / Ferrybridge. Precipitation: ground wet at 0645hr after early shower. Cloud: low fractus, stratocumulus, altocumulus lenticularis, altostratus stratiformis. 9ok. Low fractus moving east quickly, but never really proceeding out beyond the main South Pennine mass whilst altocumulus lenticularis appearing by nature, static for at least the first hour. Cloud block over Kly. Moor. Pressure: more or less static over night then rising 1013 @ 0650hr to 1015 by 1045hr.


Very little movement initially, in ideal watching conditions, with all recent pipit and other congregations now moved and on with virtually no birds of any description to be seen in the area at all. Same applies whilst travelling to site as well with no congregations seen. No evidence of any movement earlier on and missed either. Apart from a couple of singles the first movement of any kind didn’t come until 0955hr when a group of nine Meadow Pipits, heard on approach, passed directly overhead, going west. Following this a few Swallows, House and a Sand Martin were noted going over the in-bye, travelling west. As well as some closer birds. At 1028hr a large group of about 70 Meadow Pipits, were seen at distance, possibly having been disturbed by something of other and working west. On leaving the site a bit lower down several groups of Meadow Pipits, Swallows and House Martins were noted, both going over and flushing from the roadsides in typical fashion of an earlier move. If it of any interest / relevance our House Martins at home are much fewer in number today than they were last weekend.

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 30 in bits + 70 = 100 > W
Swallow less than 20 > W
House Martin less than 20 > W
Sand Martin 1 > W

Other:
Lesser Black backed Gull 23
Black headed Gull 2
Waders none
Dave.


The sky this morning 27th August 2005 (c) Posted by Picasa

Paul Clough 27-08-2005

Thanks for that Phil, Dave.
----- Original Message -----
From: Philip Cunningham
To: daveb
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 10:18 AM
Subject: Paul Clough

Hi Dave,
No movement by 8:30, in the Clough just Male and Female Blackcap were new but still a few Willows and Chiffs.

Phil