Oxenhope... mipits pick up! 18-09-2009

On site 06.10 hrs till 09.00 hrs. Very calm and murky conditions. Res was like a mill pond.

Initially, very little sign of vis-mig, then at 07.10 hrs mipits started to appear, much higher than usual - only calls gave me any chance of picking up the actual birds. Most mips went South, with others going West and a small minority going East. Largest flock was 30.

One Swallow flock of 26 birds South was picked up at extreme height whilst scanning the grey skies for mips.

Vis mig quietened off significantly at 08.15 hrs.

Birds seen in order of appearance :-

Vis mig

Meadow Pipits - 381 (all South except 35 West and 17 East)
Alba Wag - 14 West
Swallow - 28 South
Siskin - single bird South
Reed Bunting - single bird from NW to SE

Others

Goldfinch - 46 blogging
Chaffinch - 3 blogging
Mistle Thrush - 2 wood
Goosander - 45 on res early
Gull roost - circa 320

Cheers

Howard Creber