Oxenhope... many and varied! 05-10-2009

Pre sunrise... Drax belching fumulus into the upper sky! (c) Howard Creber 2009


Looking NW... Mr Holmes! I Presume! (c) Howard Creber 2009


A Pleasant Skyscape... looking NW (c) Howard Creber 2009


Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 5 October 2009
Counting period: 7:00-11:30
Weather: S F1, 5degC at 0700, 65km, 4/8 altocumulus, altostratus, velum, cirro sp, cu mediocris building in Lancashire, QNH 1011 rising then falling.
Observers: Howard Creber, Gordon Holmes

MOVING BIRDS:

Meadow Pipit - 843 mainly S
Alba Wagtail - 7 S
Wheatear - 3
Chaffinch - 75 S
Greenfinch - 112 S
Goldfinch - 75 S
Starling - 48 (42 S & 6 W)
Siskin - 3 S
Woodpigeon - 75 W
Stockdove - 1 NW
Mallard - 2 NW from far out SE
Mistle Thrush - 22 W
Snipe - 31 W
Blackbird - 4 W
Golden Plover - 87 NW
Greylag Goose - 7 W
Pink Footed G - 134 W in 3 skeins (largest 75)
LBB Gull - 4 W
Lapwings - 94 W
Carrion Crow - 5 high NW
Jay - 9 (3 + 6) high N
Reed Bunting - 2 W
Linnet - 2 W
Redpoll - 6 W
Swallow - 14 S
Jackdaw - 18 high W
Tree Pipit - 1 W

Totals: 1684 individuals, 27 species, 4:30 hours

Present: Sparrowhawk 3, Kestrel 2, Green Woodpecker 1, Magpie 4

Comments: An extremely pleasant, almost balmy morning following a nippy start. Excellent viewing conditions, especially to the NW, though smog appeared out over Leeds and beyond later in the morning. Birds were many and varied, characterised by an excellent movement of finches (273 over 6 species), ably supported by three skeins of pinkies (largest of 75 at 09.45 hrs watched for 30 minutes from out high over Leeds to westward turn over Watersheddles col to the NW), Snipe and the start of obvious Woodpig movement. As has been the pattern this year, Meadow Pipits maintained a steady and constant flow throughout the period of observation, predominantly and as usual to our east (largest flock 45). All in all, a very birdy morning.

Howard Creber and Gordon Holmes