Wycoller Ark, Lancashire... 20-10-2009

Coombe Cross watchpoint (c) 2009

Coombe Cross, Lancashire

Tuesday 20th October 2009

Counting period - 07.45 - 10.00 hrs
Weather - SSE F6 to F8, 4 deg C, 30km reducing, 7/8 initially, increasing 9/8 stratus, QNH 999 reducing 997.
Observers - Howard Creber

Moving Birds :-

Jackdaw - 18 high NW from high SE, over into Lancs
Wood Pigeon - 49 W
Starling - 120 NW (one flock) + 3 W
Mipit - 3 W
Goldfinch - 1 SE
Redwing - 38 E
Fieldfare - 62 E


Comments:

A very raw morning at this new experimental watchpoint - a cutting wind chill factor initially caused me to seek refuge in my vehicle for first half hour (and YES! I am from Queensbury!).

The SSE winds did not help matters one iota. Virtually birdless apart from a single flock of 120 Starlings seen very high over Greystones moving NW. Perhaps they move high with a tail wind and low to the contours with a head wind or little wind?

Just as I was packing in at 09.55 hrs, a flock of 32 Redwing, followed quickly by 62 Fieldfare came low through the col EAST, interestingly. The Fieldfare were extemely low over the heather until out of sight.

Will try this site again when conditions more conducive.

Howard Creber

Cold Edge / Hunter Hill, Calderdale... 20-10-2009

Cold Edge - Hunter Hill

Vis Mig
Counting period: 7:25-11:05
Weather: 4c rising to 5.5c Wind F3 to F5 SE. Broken cloud to the east and cloudy to the west reasonably good visibility throughout
Observers: Dave Sutcliffe

Moving birds
Grey Heron 2 >S
Stock Dove 3 >N
Rook 8 >N
Canada Goose 1 >S
Woodpigeon 52 >S
Raven 2 >N
Barnacle Goose 1 >S
Skylark 2 >S
Starling 28 >N
Mallard 5 >S
Meadow Pipit 51 >S
Chaffinch 18 >N
Fieldfare 110 >N
finch sp. 2 >N
Sparrowhawk 2 >N
Redwing 11 >N
Greenfinch 1 >N
Black-headed Gull 62 >S
Mistle Thrush 6 >N
Crossbill 4 >S
Common Gull 6 >S
Jackdaw 17 >S

Totals: 395 individuals, 23 species, 3:40 hours

Present: Tufted Duck 1, Kestrel 4, Green Woodpecker 1, Dunnock 1, Robin 1, Magpie 2, Carrion Crow 72.

4 Crossbills came over from Ogden direction towards Mixenden plantation and 2 Ravens over made up for an otherwise quiet morning for migrants.

Dave Sutcliffe

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