Oxenhope... redwing surge! 09-10-2009

From out of the Dawn came Redwings! (c) Howard Creber 2009


Basecamp today (c) Howard Creber 2009

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Friday 9 October 2009
Counting period: 7:05-11:05
Weather: S F3 rising S F4, 4degC at 0700hr, 65km, 8/8 stratus but initially open sky out to far east, cloudbase c2200ft, cold and grey, QNH 1021 falling
Observers: Howard Creber


Moving Birds:
Cormorant 2 -
Fieldfare 20 -
Lapwing - 88
Redwing 661 -
Common Snipe 5 -
Jackdaw 1 -
Woodpigeon 164 -
Chaffinch 2 -
Swallow 1 -
Greenfinch 2 -
Meadow Pipit 51 -
Siskin 9 -
alba wagtail sp. 3 -
Lesser Redpoll 2 -

Totals: 1011 individuals, 14 species, 4:00 hours

Present: Lapwing 220

Comments: MOVING BIRDS Alba Wag sp. - 3 W Mipit - 51 W Woodpigeon - 164 W (largest flock 61) Redpoll - 2 S Siskin - 9 W Greenfinch - 2 S Chaffinch - 2 S Swallow - 1 S Lapwing - 88 N (3 flocks moving high) + flock of circa 220 blogging over Billing Hill area. Redwing - 661 W into Calderdale (in 13 flocks, largest 148 birds) Fieldfare - 20 W into Calderdale Cormorant - 2 S Snipe - 5 W Jackdaw - 1 S (very high & head down) COMMENTS After an inauspicious start (1st hour pretty much birdless - single Swallow came through in this period), things started to happen from the East.... Last nights thrush forecast spot-on Dave! At 08.35, scoping into the distance of the dawn, beyond the White Horse pub, revealed a flock of 82 Redwing , which immediately set the adrenalin pumping. Between 08.35 and 09.50 hrs, 11 flocks (maxima 148) totalling 606 birds passed through high from out in the direction of Leeds and all except one flock passed through the Soil Hill col into Calderdale. It is worth noting that these birds were hardly detectable in the bins, emphasising the importance of a good vantage point and "scoping out" at an elevated angle into and across the flow - in fact, the early high flocks simply would not have been seen. I got the impression that the birds were using Soil Hill radio mast as a beacon as several parties were seen to re-orientate towards the mast as they came in from the East. One party went NW towards the Bowland Fells. There was also a group of 20 Fieldfare following a leading party of Redwing into Calderdale. There was then a lapse of 50 minutes before two further flocks of Redwing were found in quick succession, coming from the East (29 + 26 birds). So, a meagre beginning with a spectacular end!!

Howard Creber