Oxenhope Watchpoint 04-11-2007

Pre Sunrise this Morning (c) 2007

0645 - 1015hr (Dave Barker / Howard Creber / Chris King)
NW F0 increasing W F2, 1degC increasing 7, 20km (ground haze) at ground level - Airport lights just visible, 1/8 increasing 8/8 translucent cirrostratus, QNH 1030 steady.

Idealic conditions to be out but much reduced numbers of birds as compaired to yesterday!! Temperatures low enough for frost but none here at the watchpoint and lots of mist and Bonfire smoke in the valleys. Just a touch of NW air initially but soon swinging to W F1 and then W F2. The sun rose over the Lincolnshire coast horizon confirming an absence of major cloud in this direction but further north the North Sea was blanketed in deep cloud with cumuloid tops. Initially open sky here at the watchpoint but translucent cirrostratus complete with a persistent sun dog, becomming 8ok very soon. Woodpigeons were again the birds of the day with tight balls and long raggling groups of birds powereing SW. As yesterday many were at great height and distance out over the open moor to the northwest and west. Contrary to forecast, thrushes were conspicuous by their absence and the very few that were seen were going EAST, so no arrivals at all here. Starlings were initially fast and furious > north with the largest group being c300, all of the birds were low and ground hugging this morning!! The northward movement of Lapwings continued in small numbers. By 0830hrs virtually all of the movement had stopped leaving a more or less birdless last 115 minutes of the watch. A disappointing morning here!!

Moving birds:
Goldfinch 2 > S
alba wagtail 4 > S
Fieldfare 31 > E
Lapwing 57 > N
Woodpigeon 1672 > SW
Starling 731 > N
Meadow Pipit 3 > W
Redwing 1 > E
Brambling 1+ > W
Redpoll 2+ > S
Chaffinch 7 > W
Reed bunting 13 > W
Cormorant 2 > N
Bullfinch 2 > W

Dave

Cirrostratus prevails above the Watchpoint!! (c) 2007