Pennine Skywatch: 30 Sept 2007

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Still Plenty Mipits in the Pennines 30-09-2007

1600 -1700hr Norr Hill Wilsden

SE F2, 7/8 translucent sky, 60km, Dry.

Further to my mail yesterday and visit to Norr Hill another visit this afternoon. Another big load of blogging Mipits c200+ spread around the various fields and roughs. Probable new arrivals today at the end of this mornings big push? and more than likley waiting to go in the morning? Could tomorrow be another good mipit day here?

Interestingly only 6 Skylarks this afternoon on the rough in contrast to yesterdays 56! Does that mean that yesterdays birds have moved on in either last nights or this mornings perfect conditions?

Blogging Birds:

Mipit c200+

Skylark 6

65 Linnets

Also vis migration still going on:

3 Swallow > S

2 Alba wags > S

1 Reed Bunt > W

For the record here is a perma link to the photos of the mipit and Skylark roughs on the Norr:

http://vismig.blogspot.com/2007/09/still-plenty-pipits-in-pennines.html

Dave.

Fly Flatts and Sacrifice Stones 30-09-2007

Oxenhope Watchpoint from Sacrifice Stones (c) BS 2007

30/09/2007 0700-1030 hrs
A very still start to the watch with no breeze at all increasing slightly >SSE 1. Clear blue skies with increasing cloud. Mipits trickling through all morning but in low numbers.

MIPIT.........................280 >S
SWALLOW.......................36 >W and >SW
SISKIN........................9 >W
LINNET........................4 >SW
COAL TIT......................4 >W
CHAFFINCH.....................31 >W
ALBA WAG......................16 >SW
JAY...........................10 >W
SNIPE.........................11 >SW
BRAMBLING.....................6 >W
PF GOOSE......................53 >E
SKYLARK.......................7 >W

Other :-
4 Stonechat
1 Wheatear
2 Raven

Oxenhope Watchpoint 30-09-2007

The Sky at Sunrise (c) 2007

0700 - 1100hr (Dave Barker / Howard Creber / John Suckley)
S F1 swinging ESE F2, 1.8degC (frost) rising 14, 100km reducing 60, 1/8 increasing 5/8, Dry, mist over the plain of York, QNH 1021 rising.

A wonderful morning in all respects with most importantly birds and fair weather. The Redwing migration here is exhausted with only three small groups west and totalling less than 20. Mipits however were back on the boil with a good passage south lasting through out the morning. Many were distant and in small groups and singles but one large group of over 100 was noteable. Skylarks also were very well represented with a total of 41west all very high, some so high that the calls could not be heard. The largest Skylark group was ten. A count totalling 95 Swallows south was pretty good for the time of year. It was specifically noted that the locally breeding Swallows in view of the watchpoint were not in evidence and were presumed to have left since last seen yesterday in thick fog!!!! Grey Herons were interesting with a total of five singles spread throughout the morning all going very very high to the north west. Both Chaffinch and Brambling were seen and heard as usual all going west. Albas were also exceptionally strong. Two skeins of PF Geese were seen totalling 103 > east. A third skein seen by Mark and Rod of 41 / 42 birds past both Paul Clough and Denholme Clough was missed. The best bird of the day was a single very late Tree Pipit heard tzee-ing its way SW.

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 1240 > S
Brambling 8 > W
Chaffinch 34 > W
alba wagtail 44 > S
Grey Heron 5 > NW
Woodpigeon 14 > various
Skylark 41 > W
Siskin 8 > S
Redwing 19 > W
Swallow 95 > S
Golden Plover 4 > W
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 > W
Snipe 4 > W
Starling 7 > W
Goldfinch 3 > S
Greenfinch 23 > W
Canada Goose 10
Tree Pipit 1 > SW
Magpie 4 > various
Pink Footed Goose 103 > E
Linnet 26 > S
Stanechat 4
Sparrowhawk 1 > E
Mistle Thrush 19 > W
Redpol 2 > W
Song Thrush 2 > E

Dave