Oxenhope... CRASH! 20-10-2009

Sun Pillar... before sunrise (c) 2009


Pre Sunrise Sky... looking ENE (c) 2009


The Pennine watershed today! (c) 2009

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Counting period: 7:15-11:00
Weather: SSE F6 gusting F8, 4degC, 30km reducing, 7/8 initially increasing 9/8 stratus, QNH 999 reducing 997.
Observers: Dave Barker


Moving Birds:

Black-headed Gull 65 -
Fieldfare - 190
Common Gull 36 -
Redwing - 30
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 -
Jackdaw 30 -
alba wagtail sp. 1 -
Starling - 171

Totals: 524 individuals, 8 species, 3:45 hours

Comments: CRASH!! Virtually no birds today. Conditions not conducive to the interest or supportive of migration through the hills but nevertheless all of the birds that were seen on the move here were high and without doubt using the tail wind! Starlings were especially interesting with the three squadrons seen, going very fast and much higher than the usual NW. With none at all low to the contours (the usual strategy here) today with this tail wind. One squadron picked up far out to the ESE on approach was at first thought to be Redwing, as they were so high but ultimately they came right overhead and were confirmed as Starlings!! Probably more in the sky than seen as the optics could not be held still due to trembling with cold and buffeting by wind! Otherwise, continuing trickle of Common Gulls and a few Jackdaws in two groups seen passing west coming in from the east and again passing high over head. A look in the wood at the end of the watch produced nothing!

Dave