Oxenhope Watchpoint 02-11-2007

Hi Dave, contrary to my e-mail last night, I did manage to get up to TMR today albeit for the later period 08.15 hrs - 10.15 hrs. F3/F4 W. A very pleasant morning with good visibility and sunny skies to the east - 4 oktas on the whole with varying cloud forms - Cirrus & Cirrus Floccus, Altocumulus Lenticularis, Startocumumlus with Fractus, Velum out to the NE and a massive stratus cloud bank right down the North Sea.

It was a "FINCHY" morning, with the main feature being a party of 15 Brambling that came in from the far east to Jacks wood for several minutes before moving off high and West again. Largest flock of Fieldfare was 120 West. Squadrons of Starlings West were an ongoing theme throughout the watch.

Mipits - 8 > S
Fieldfare - 157 > W in 4 parties
Redwing - odd birds in with Fieldfare flocks but only a handful.
Mistle Thrush - 3 > high W
Alba wag - 3 > W
Starling - 187 > W in 12 parties
Woodpigs - 63 > SE in 6 parties (largest 45 birds coming in from Lancs)
Chaffinch - 18 > NW
Greenfinch - 31 > NW (largest group 13 birds)
Goldfinch - 4 > SW
Bullfinch - 1 > W via Jacks wood (juv)
Brambling - 15 > W
Redpoll - 4 > W (one stopping over in Jacks wood temporarily and gave lovely views in scope)
Reed Bunting - 4 > W
Skylark - 2 > NW
Stockdove - 2 > SE

Other :
Raven - 2 over Sacrifice Stone and bumps area.

Howard Creber