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

Caldene Fields Watchpoint 22-10-2008

22nd October 08 Watch 07.15 – 10.00
Weather: A cool damp start with 70% thin high cloud with heavy rain clouds to the S/E and a F2/3 S/W wind. Temp 4c and visibility to 11 miles. Like yesterday the weather at around 08.00 deteriorated with low cloud and almost persistent light to heavy showers coming in from the S/W, dropping ground visibility to around 3 miles.

Comments: Despite weather and poor viewing conditions it was a good watch and with a slight drop in temperature Woodies were moving south. Finches were also moving and even improved counts would have been noted if viewing conditions had been better.
What was interesting so late in October here was a noticeable increase in Alba wagtails to the S/S/W some appearing very pale/whitish with a slightly softer call recalling White.
BH Gull also moved again this morning.

Black Headed Gull > 115 S/S/W
Pink Footed Goose > 100 + S
Wood Pigeon > 564 S + 13 N = 577
Snipe > 1 S
Meadow Pipit > 5S
Alba Wagtail > 7 E + 42 S/S/W = 49
Starling > 2 S/W
Mistle Thrush > 4 S
Song Thrush > 1 S/W Came in with Redwing, rested in nearby tree.
Redwing > 89 S/W + 8 N = 97
Fieldfare > 7 W
Carrion Crow > 7 S/S/W
Chaffinch > 39 S + 29 N/W = 68
Greenfinch > 92 S/W
Goldfinch > 6 S
Redpoll > 3 S/W

2 unidentified Geese flew high to the south

Martyn Priestley