GREETINGS FROM GRETNA.... just a few Starlings!

Gretna Green Starling Roost.... Remember the Bradford City Centre Roost Like This!!! (c) HC 2008

Here is a taster Dave - this has to be the most amazing birding spectacular Marian and I have ever witnessed..... - staggering, mindboggling, jaw dropping......................... birds started to appear over the B7076 at 15.45 hrs, steadily coalesced and went to roost at 16.30 hrs in the conifers behind the Gretna Green A74(M) motorway service station. As you can see, we were right underneath this lot - the downdraft has left my hair curly - left me looking like Kevin Keegan on a bad hair day!

I`m sure the Starling 33 birds in from top left and 67 down came thro` Oxenhope last Saturday - do you recognise it ?

A GREAT thankyou to Jean for advising of this undoubtedly "humongous" roost and to everyone else for the info on the other roosts..... all waiting for a visit!!

Cheers

Howard Creber

Oxenhope 15-11-2008

Rain at dawn (c) 2008


















Rain ceases, in-bye brightens (c) 2008
















Sky opens from the north (c) 2008

0745 - 1000hr DB
W F4, 10degC, 1000m - 45km, 8/8 reducing 4/8, horizontal drizzle until 0855hr, QNH 1021 rising.

Cloudbase down and horizontal driving drizzle until 0855hr... shelter in car and go to sleep! Up at the watchpoint at 0900hr and rain just ceased things were very quiet.... virtually nothing in the sky for the whole of the watch.

Moving birds in order of appearance:

Greylag Goose 31 > E
Meadow Pipit 2 > S
Starling 5 > NW at 0950hr

Dave

Rich colours in the early sun (c) 2008