Pennine Skywatch: 24 Oct 2008

Friday, October 24, 2008

Queensbury Woodies 24-10-2008

Casual observations to and at work.
Early a.m.
Good move of Woodpigs between first light and 0845hrs when all went quiet.
Flocks all S and SE
Total = 361

BS

Oxenhope 24-10-2008

The sky looking NW.... (c) 2008

Oxenhope, Bradford, W Yorkshire.
0750 - 1045hr DB/HC
W F3 rising W F5, 5.4degC rising 8, 22km, 5/8 reducing 2/8, QNH 1015 rising 1018.

A morning that felt right and produced a good diversity of birds albeit in smaller numbers than hoped for. Initially it seemed as if Woodpigeons were going to dominate wit several parties coming high SE over from Lancashire, but after an initial flurry no more were seen after 0830hr although BS did ring to say they were pouring through Queensbury a little further east. Starlings dominated the morning with 31 squadrons (largest 25) all going NW, mostly low only inches from the ground totalling 427. Unlike last Sunday and yesterday when the movement diddent start until later in the morning, today the species was on the move throughout the watch. Other movers of specific interest were a couple of well spaced male Goosanders both going high south, the first males we have noted in the area this autumn. The crossover for Meadow Pipits is here with all birds today (more than expected) going west. Reed Buntings were today quite strong. And finally most interestingly during the mid morning period I had in the binoculars what I considered to be a distant Swallow way out to the east going south but sady I lost it in the change over from bins to scope....... Message from BS to say that NK had had a Swallow over Soil Hill some 3km to our SE!!

Moving birds in iorder of appearance:

Cormorant 2 > W and SW
Meadow Pipit 45 > W
Peregrine 1 > W
Wood Pigeon 65 > S and SE
Starling 427 > NW
Chaffinch 3 > S
Greenfinch 35 > S and W
Reed Bunting 11 > W
Goosander 2 > S
alba wagtatil 2 > S
Jackdaw 18 > SE and S
CoalTit 1 > SW
Skylark 2 > SW
Fieldfare 60 > W
Redwing 5 > W
Goldfinch 9 > S
LBBGull 1 > S
Swallow 1 > S

Dave

Caldene Fields Watchpoint 24-10-2008

Woodies and Starlings on the move today......

24th October 08 Watch 07.15 – 09.45
Weather: A dry start with 70% thin high cloud clearer to the east and a temp of 6c. Around 08.30 cloud cleared from the S/W reducing cloud cover to 50%. No wind at 07.15 until around 09.00 when a F1/2 S/W was noted. Ground visibility to 11 miles at start reducing to 6 miles because of low ground mist to the S/E around 09.15.

Comments: With little wind of note and good viewing conditions good numbers of birds were on the move here today with Woodies moving in good numbers mainly over Bierley and Gomersal areas, but still feel the main push is to come due to some birds still having an ‘ almost relaxed flight behaviour’. Starlings were moving to the W/S/W in small parties and all medium height no low flying birds noted. And as yesterday BH Gull again showed well. An interesting Corvid movement was noted mainly of C Crow.

Black Headed Gull > 182 S/S/W
Snipe > 1 S
Wood Pigeon > 983 S
Collard Dove > 3 S
Meadow Pipit > 9 S
Alba Wagtail > 2 N/W + 17 S/S/W = 19
Starling > 304 W/S/W
Redwing > 25 S/S/W
Fieldfare > 2 W
Jackdaw > 2 W + 11 S = 12
Meadow Pipit > 11 S
Carrion Crow > 2 W + 19 S/S/W = 21
Chaffinch > 17 N/W + 10 S = 27
Greenfinch > 79 S/W
Goldfinch > 2 S
Redpoll 4 S

Martyn Priestley