Oxenhope Sentry... whooper grounding! 24-10-2009

Three out of seven.... Whooper Swans grounded (c) 2009


Four out of seven... Whooper Swans grounded (c) 2009


Looking East after the rain.... clear sterile skies! (c) 2009

Looking north west after the rain.... clear sterile skies! (c) 2009

Rain front making off over Harrogate... leaving clear sterile skies! (c) 2009

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Saturday 24 October 2009
Counting period: 7:45-10:00
Weather: SSE F4/5, 10degC, 60 - 200m, 8/8 fog stratus down to ground level and driving drizzle, QNH 1004 falling 1002
Observers: Dave Barker


Moving Birds:
Black-headed Gull 2 -
Redwing 9 -
Meadow Pipit 3 -
Rook 3 -
alba wagtail sp. 1 -
Carrion Crow 2 -

Totals: 20 individuals, 6 species, 2:15 hours

Comments: Oxenhope Sentry: A terrible morning with sheets of driving drizzle blasting across the moor and more heavy rain forecast moving up from the south later on in the morning. Thus few birds seen as it was impossible to bin into the onslaught, thus the few records this time are by naked eye and may just relate to disorientation in the low vis! The most interesting thing was that Redwing flocks, probably quite small today were heard overhead on nine occasions... one bird recorded for each registration.


Counting period: 15:00-18:00
Weather: W F4, 16degC, 100km+, 3/8 cu sp, recent heavy rain just ceased, QNH 997 falling 996
Observers: Dave Barker

Totals: 0 individuals, 0 species, 3:00 hours

Comments: Exceedingly heavy rain for the late morning and early afternoon period, now clearing to the NE. Sterile, mainly open empty skies. The only birds seen moving were the gulls and goosanders coming in to roost. A communication from Brian Vickers, late morning advised of 7 Whooper Swans dropping from the low cloud and onto Lower Laithe at 1150hr in the height of the rain, obviously travelling SE and dropped by the conditions. These were still there at 1430hr and they were not seen to leave during my watch from the Sentry

Dave Barker, with thanks to BV and RHP

Wycoller Ark... a total fog out! 24-10-2009

Wycoller Ark, Trawden (Lancashire, England)
Saturday 24 October 2009
Counting period: 7:45-9:15
Weather: ESE F4/5, 10degC, 60m, 8/8 fog stratus down to ground level, QNH 1004 falling 1002
Observers: Howard Creber

Totals: 0 individuals, 0 species, 1:30 hours

Comments: Wycoller Ark and Wycoller Park...... MOVING BIRDS - NIL..... Groung level Fog Stratus at the Wycoller Ark watchpoint caused me to try over t`hill at the Wycoller Park parking area as the fog was thick on the Yorkshire side. Much clearer here with Colne in view, but drizzle steadily got heavier. No birds at all. The only flying things were autumnal leaves in the strengthening wind and the only activity noted there was unmentionable.... what at 0745 in the morning!!

Howard Creber

Hunter Hill, Calderdale... 23-10-2009

The Watchpoint... looking SE towards Mixenden Reservoir (c) 2009


From below the watchpoint... looking SE (c) 2009


Hunter Hill, Cold Edge, Halifax (W Yorks, England)
Friday 23 October 2009
Counting period: 9:00-12:00
Weather: 9 degrees C. Thick mist down to 300m, below that still misty viiblt to 2km. F0 to F1 as the mist cleared by 11:20
Observers: Dave Sutcliffe


Moving Birds:

Common Snipe 2 N
Blackbird 4 S
Chaffinch 72 N
Black-headed Gull 2 N
Fieldfare 151 SW
Brambling 2 N
Woodpigeon 51 SW
Redwing 19 SW
finch sp. 12 N
Skylark 10 SW
Rook 1 SW
Greenfinch 36 N
Meadow Pipit 68 SW
Raven 4 NE
Goldfinch 8 N
alba wagtail sp. 1 SW
Starling 54 SW


Totals: 497 individuals, 17 species, 3:00 hours

Present: Cormorant 1, Mallard 26, Tufted Duck 1, Goosander 3, Sparrowhawk 1, Pheasant 1, Black-headed Gull 30, Common Gull 15, Little Owl 1, Wren 3, Dunnock 1, Robin 1, Great Tit 1, Magpie 14, Jackdaw 23, Carrion Crow 12

Comments: Very quiet early on until the mist started to lift a little below 300m after 10:30. Finch flocks were moving N just below the mist as were the Fieldfares but the Meadow pipits were flying straight through it. 4 Ravens together heading NE towards Soil Hill were a bonus.

Dave Sutcliffe