Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Counting period: 6:25-11:30
Weather: SW F3, 11degC, initially 200m but always vertical visibility - increasing 30km, 4/8 initial fractus streaming off the moors the cu sp to stratocumulus, QNH 1014 falling then rising 1016
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber
Moving Birds:
Golden Plover 12 -
Meadow Pipit 37 -
Goldfinch 6 -
Lapwing 201 -
alba wagtail sp. 8 -
Lesser Redpoll 2 -
Black-headed Gull 6 -
Stonechat 1 -
Crossbill - 3
Common Gull 1 -
Fieldfare 642 -
Bullfinch 4 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 -
Redwing 195 -
Lapland Bunting - 4
Woodpigeon 247 -
Starling - 348
Reed Bunting 1 -
Skylark 20 -
Chaffinch 10 -
Swallow 1 -
Greenfinch 12 -
Totals: 1762 individuals, 22 species, 5:05 hours
Present: Lapwing 110
Comments: Initial fractus streaming off the moors like dense smoke obstructed visibiliy for a while but intermittent reasonable vision was often possible. A scattered multy direction movement of Redwings in small flocks was initially apparent both through and above the fractus... but nothing like the scale as seen after some big thrush migrations. During the morning Redwings were initially prominent but were soon overtaken by Fieldfare but only in small numbers, not high and rapidly diminishing in frequency. However, the morning was noteable for, first a single Swallow south at 0948, followed shortly after at 0952 by an absoutely remarkable very loose procession of four Lapland Buntings all calling intermittently as they approached high from the SE and passed and away to the NW and a group of several Crossbills also NW but unseen in the intermittent fractus base. After this thrushes just died.... The current thrush migration and immediate onward passage is at and end! Skylark passage was however increasing, only a small number but still quite good for here. It was specifically noted that gull passage was almost absent this morning. Two small Bullfinch parties passing west were unusual. Lapwings were mainly going east.
Dave Barker
