Wharfedale 18-09-2008

SW F2, 8degC, 4.9km mist, 1/8 open sky, QNH 1024 falling
0810 - mid afternoon

Hey up,

Had a reight good do today at watchpoint. Arrived at 08.10 hrs - misty conditions towards the fell and in valley, but clear up towards the Moor. Plenty of Coal Tits, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and several Willow Warblers. Nowt doing raptor wise initially. Then at 08.30 hrs, picked up a small (slightly bigger than House Sparrow) pale brownish undulating bird flying over field behind watchpoint from the north (height about 30 feet) - immediate impression was a woodpecker - a Lesser pecker ? but wrong colour. As it came over road, binned it and was highly delighted to record a WRYNECK - grey brown back, pale below, close barring on chin and dark stripe behind eye - I will submit a detailed description report shortly. It continued to fly south down the valley and disappeared into the low lying mist. Closest distance from bird approx 40 feet as it flew past.

Mist slowly cleared by mid morning and lovely afternoon prevailed - plenty of warm sunshine and light SW breeze.

OSPREY seen mid morning over fell - also seen by Gordon Holmes and Colin from Threshfield

HONEY BUZZARD seen at 15.18 hrs initially over the hill and then out over valley - AGG,GH,HC,AT,Colin (Threshfield) and Mark (Gargrave).

VIS - MIG

Steady flow of Swallows south but not in great numbers
A handful of Mipits seen all south

Will be up at Oxenhope in the morning.

Cheers

Howard Creber