Oxenhope Watchpoint 22-09-2007

Pre Sunrise Sky over Trough Lane (c) 2007

Sunrise (c) 2007

Mist in Mid-Airedale (c) 2007

0700 - 1000hr (Dave Barker / Howard Creber)
W F2 swinging to S F2 by 0945, 8degC rising 16, 18km, 3/8, mist in valleys, Dry but very humid. QNH 1019hPa rising.

A cracking morning, hazy with mist in Airedale after yesterdays torrential rain.The peak slot (0745 - 0815 today) bringing almost uncountable surges of birds through at all levels was awsome. Mipits were exceedingly strong with several groups exceeding 60 passing through in long raggling masses and lines. Swallows were also strong with the largest group in excess of 150. Mipits and Swallows were all going hard south and away. Swallows were again undoubtably concentrated by a tremendous wall of fog over Calderdale with fingers of scud often extending our way but never quite reaching. The morning was noteable however for the first big influx of finches passing through, especially Greenfinches all going west with the biggest group of 53. Albas were also the strongest to date with a total of 32 going split between south and west. Two best birds of the day today, firstly a single Blue Tit high south west at 0830 and then a single September Swift high south with a group of Swallows at 0925hrs. Skylarks started to appear after 0920 with several singles and twos followed by a loose group of ten, the first double figure count this autumn. Six Jays comming from the high east had obviously had enough as the dropped into the trees at Long Causeway and were not seen again. All in all a wonderful morning.

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 1517 > S
Swallow 995 > S
Siskin 26 > SE
alba wagtail 32 > S and W
Reed Bunting 3
Greenfinch 152 > W
Chaffinch 40 > W
Linnet 69 > mainly S
Starling 31 > S
Jay 6 > W
Mistle Thrush 6 > W
Magpie 1 (first for some while present briefly)
Jackdaw 35
Rook 16 > N
Snipe 1 > S
Goldfinch 65 > W
Blue Tit 1 > SW
Skylark 16 > W
Swift 1> S
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 > W
BH Gull 156 > S
LBB Gull 21 > NW

At one time we were surrounded by sound from chacking Stonechats (at least 5) and a Wheatear was on the wave wall when packing up just before 1000hrs.

Dave


The Sky at Peak Time looking east (c) 2007

Mid Morning Sky looking WNW (c) 2007