Oxenhope 22-10-2008

Open sky out to the far east! (c) 2008

Low Stratus overhead at sunrise (c) 2008

Decaying Cumulonimbus incus /capillatus (c) 2008

0715 - 1000hr DB/HC
S F3 rising W F 5, 4degC rising 5, 65km, 4-8/8, frequent rain storms - very cold, QNH 1014 rising 1016.

Frequent dousings took the edge off the morning, whilst there wasent any hail or sleet it felt exceptionally cold in the rain this morning. Despite the poor / unstable conditions for watching there was much urgency in the way birds were on the move. A reasonable count of Meadow Pipits for late October was unexpected as was the height at which the passerines were moving. Quite a few finch flocks way up remained unidentified.

Moving birds in order of appearance:

Meadow Pipit 61 > S
Wood Pigeon 27 > S
Starling 31 > W
alba wagtail 4 > SSW
Fieldfare 1 > S
Chaffinch 8 > W
finch sp 31 > S and W
Kestrel 1 > S
BH Gull 35 > S
Reed Bunting 4 > W
Snipe 2 > N
Greenfinch 54 > W and S
Redwing 1 > W

Dave

Cumulonimbus calvus (c) 2008

Frequent rain squalls (c) 2008