Bowland Fells and Beyond looking WNW thro Coombe Cross col (c) 2009
The odd Curlew still moving North (c) 2009
Looking NE after sunrise (c) 2009
From whence the Waxwings came!... looking west (c) 2009
The back edge of the "front".... looking east (c) 2009
Lesser Black Backed Gulls..... many moving NW (c) 2009
0645 - 1020hr DB
NWF1, Calm, 2degC, 65km+, 2/8 deep cloud....8/8 cirrostratus, QNH 1014 falling.
OXENHOPE SENTRY: Like the wind, the birds were calm and quiet! but quality not quantity! More Shelduck this morning with three NW, very high over Airedale being almost the first birds seen at 0650hr. Mipits were almost a none entity today with just a few seen going north, contrary to my intuition, all were low to medium height, not high. Albas were relatively strong today. Again early birds, a flock of ten Waxwings heard trilling on approach passed close by, just above the ground and on ENE. From where these had started out from would be interesting to know! A Merlin at very great height continued at such, gaining even more height, batting away west until lost from view in the scope, without doubt a moving bird seen only by skywatching. An interesting but discounted wagtail going silently north, could have been a yellow. The movers of the morning were Lesser Black backed Gulls with many, many moving north west in increasing numbers throughout the middle / later part of the morning. They were mostlty very high, often soaring and gliding NW, but some went through in high level flight. Kowking birds were frequently heard overhead in the near silence as they moved through, with the calls being the first indication that they were passing overhead. At least two Herring Gulls were noted amongst the LBBG's. An obliging displaying Skylark threesone was oblivious to my presence at the watchpoint and allowed some good photographs. Also a Ring Ouzel very close to the watchpoint was extreamly tame and also allowed snaps without moving off.
See vismig.blogspot.com for Skylark and Ring Ouzel shots!
Moving Birds in order of appearance:
Shelduck 3 > NW
Merlin 1 > high W
Curlew 1 > NW
Waxwing 10 > ENE
Meadow Pipit 18 > N and NW
LBBG 1 very sooty bird > S
LBBG 149 > NW
Herring Gull 2 > NW
SEO 1 > N
Sparrowhawk 1 > NW, 1 > W
BH Gull 2 > W
C Crow 4 > NE
Dave
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Here is Howards report from our new spring watchpoint:
Hey up Dave,
South Lakeland fells clearly visible initially hazing up later on, after which the smap below was taken (S Lilley)
An extremely slow morning once again - had visions of posting a nil return at one stage. Not even enlivened by an exotic until I got to Oxenhope Watchpoint, where as you know, a lovely male Ring Ouzel obliged.
Mipit - 15 NW
Linnet - 1 S
Sand Martin - 1 N
Grey Geese - 15 WNW (prob Greylag)
Wheatear - 1 E over moor
SEO 1 > N
Other :-
Sp Hawk
Teal - pair on res.
Skylarks
Curlews
Canada Geese
Mallards
NB - 3 Swallows on Long Causeway when returning home via 1st gate.
Cheers
Howard
South Lakeland fells on the most distant horizon from the watchpoint this morning becoming very hazy!! Very familliar profiles to me! (c) S Lilley 2009
All in all an interesting but very quiet morning!!
Dave
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