Oxenhope 23-08-2008

Early Morning Haze.... looking ENE (c) 2008

0715 - 1200hr

NW F1, Calm, SW F2, 11degC initially, 60km, 2/8, QNH 1014 starting to fall.

0715 start with great difficulty after late "mothing" last night. A ridge of high pressure passing east this morning. Virtually the first bird of the morning was a high Jay > west. A sparse morning of quality without quantity. Very few Meadow Pipits today but all the movement of this species seen was still to the west. Swallows however were on the move with 107 > South. The largest group being 55. As usual there were several gatherings (first one 0842hr) high in the sky to the north over the Worth basin with parties then making off high to the south. Then came a run of "good" birds starting with Common Sand, off the end of the reservoir west, followed at 0909hr by a Yellow Wagtail > west south west. This was heard on a level approach, picked up, then gained height to be lost from view as it passed over the watershed high into Calderdale. Then a Tree Pipit passed high south west at 0919hr. Two Curlews went west at 0922. Later in the morning came a string of westward passing Red Admirals.... always nice to see at this time of year.

Moving Birds:

Jay 1 > W

Meadow Pipit 21 > W

Swallow 107 > S

Willow Warbler 1 > SW

Common Sand 1 > W

Lesser black backed Gull 1 > S

Linnet 5 > W

Yellow Wagtail 1 > WSW

Tree Pipit 1 > SW

Curlew 2 > W

Dave