Oxenhope 06-09-2008 Afternoon

1230 - 1530hr
SIGNIFICANT SWALLOW MOVEMENT

As Dave knows, I had to sort car out this morning, hence my late show at the watchpoint. A very pleasant afternoon with light southerlies and plenty of sunshine. Heavy rain clouds to far NW. QNH 994 and rising.

VIS MIG :-

Swallow - circa 450 South. Steady movement throughout but characterised by two heavy streams at 13.00 hrs and 14.30 hrs, both groups numbering circa 150 birds. Vast majority were couple of hundred feet over res, with a small number moving through fast just over surface of water.

Meadow Pipit - 16 South (3 groups).

OTHER :-

Spotted Flycatcher - single on telegraph wires near Jacks wood at end of stay.

Linnet - 15

Meadow Pipt - 8 bloggers

Willow Warbler - single in wood

Blackbird - single fly through NW behind treatment works

Kestrel - at least 7 different birds - all points of compass

Sparrowhawk - 1 over Oxenhope moor

Red Grouse - 1

LBB - 64

BH - 23


ALSO noted a strong movement of Peacock butterflies West over res throughout - counted 43 and 5 Dragonfly sp.

Cheers

Howard.

Good job you visited this afternoon Howard in the dramatically improved conditions as I diddnt have a single Swallow this morning. First Meadow Pipits south also interesting - up to now the vast majority have been travelling west.... the changing season!

Dave

Oxenhope 06-09-2008

Water Water Everywhere! (c) 2008

0730 - 1000hr DB


E F1 increasing E F2, 13degC initially, 100m increasing 5.5km, rain now ceased, 8/8 low cloudbase / Fog, QNH 989 just bottomed out and rising.



Currently located at calm in centre of deep depression. c24 hours of rain including heavy rain overnight leading to local flooding. Rain now ceased and cloudbase lifting. Very little movement initially but things picking up after o9oohr in conjunction with better visibility / raised cloudbase. Goldfinch were new for the season and a very noisy Skylark passed west, overhead at cloudbase level, just making it into the count at 0959hr!. A very large group of mipits were blogging at the SE end. These were very flighty and could not be approached closely but nevertheless they could not be induced to leave the site.

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 24 > W, max 5 group
alba wagtail 3 > S
Goldfinch 5 > SW
Siskin 15 > SW in two groups.
Curlew 1 > S
Skylark 1 > W
Lapwing 3 > NW
LBB Gull 1 > S
BH Gull 2 > W
Linnet 16 > S

Dave

Caldene Fields Watchpoint 06-09-2008

Caldene Fields Watchpoint
6th September 08 Watch 08.15 – 09.15
Weather:
80% cloud cover with a hint of a N/E wind, dry with a rising temp of 12c. Visibility 1 mile.

Comments:
A fairly steady movement of low flying Swallows of which about 50% were Juvs. The surprise of the watch were 2 calling Siskin which presumably were northern British birds.

Lesser B B Gull 1 > E
Alba Wagtail 1 E
Swallow 49 > 6 > E = total 55
Stock Dove 2 > N
Redpoll 3 > S/E
Siskin 2 > S/E

Martyn