Oxenhope 25-09-2006

Members Only Watchpoint 25-09-2006
Monday 25th September 2006
0700 - 1100hr. (DCB, HC, PC)
Weather and Sky:
A dismal overcast morning with cloud breaking only slowly. Calm to SE F1 / SW F1 variable. 13 rising 15, Ingleborough / Ferrybridge initially but later closing down to c10000m. stratus 8ok breaking stratocumulus 4ok, 1007 rising 1008hPa.

Another phenomenal morning with masses and masses of Mipits and also Swallows south. All were high to very high and to the casual birder most would have been missed. Again two counters were totally overwhelmed and all counts are an under record. A difference in methodology this morning with scopes being used much more than the norm to detect the high birds at more distance and therefore without constantly craning necks up. The silhouettes against the distant horizons and the sky above it was worked on extensively with dramatic result. The sky was dark grey, clear and the masses could be detected and resolved easily. There are a series of day photos on Skyscapes. For most of the morning, where ever you looked birds could be seen in the sky all, but all, but all mipits and Swallows heading SOUTH and SOUTH again. The twinkling sound of mip vis on the wing was constantly present overhead, but fewer close parties came by than Friday. The first bunting sp contact of the autumn came past unseen at c0720hr with a series of "teu" calls heard as the bird passed SE unseen.

Moving birds:

Meadow Pipit 6040 > S
Alba 51 > S
Swallow 539 > S
Mistle Thrush 21
Linnet 15 > S
Siskin 5 > SE
Song Thrush 4 > W
Cormorant 2
Starling 15 > S
Wood Pigeon 13 > SW
Bunt sp 1 > SE
Skylark 17 > various
W @0845, 4 > W @0912, 4 > SW @0918, 8 > SW @ 1050)
Grey Heron 1 > S
Magpie 1 > high West

Other:

Green Woodpecker 1 on moor > SW
Stonechat 1

Dave