Oxenhope... forlorn outlook! 02-11-2009

Sun Hill still prevails! (c) Howard Creber 2009


Forlorn Outlook (c) Howard Creber 2009

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 2 November 2009
Counting period: 7:15-10:00
Weather: WSW F5 gusting F6, 8degC, 65km initially reducing 40, 6/8 altocumulus, fractus and cumulonimbus over Calderdale, QNH 994 rising
Observers: Howard Creber

Moving birds:
Whooper Swan 2 -
Fieldfare - 15
Black-headed Gull 32 -
Starling - 200
Common Gull 2 -
Chaffinch 1 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 -
Goldfinch 5 -
Woodpigeon 44 -
Siskin 1 -
Meadow Pipit 1 -

Totals: 305 individuals, 11 species, 2:45 hours

Comments: Wind just a bit too strong up here today! Two highflying Whooper Swans at 08.35 hrs were the highlight of an otherwise rather forlorn morning.The birds came in high from the north, way out over Keighley and went out through the Causeway Foot col into Calderdale .Starlings maintained some movement but not on Saturdays tremendous scale. Weather dominated the scene today with strong blustery winds and frequent squally showers making the watch less than comfortable and clearly discouraging the birds. Still awaiting the final flourish of thrushes !. PS a telephone call mid afternoon from BS at Qby advised of two further or the same Whooper Swans flying from Ogden in the Qby direction then turning and back towards Oxenhope (DJS).

Howard Creber

Caldene Fields, Low Moor... some redwings moving 02-11-2009

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 2 November 2009
Counting period: 6:45-10:45
Weather: Intermittent showers and a F2 to 4 S/W and a slightly falling temperature of 8c. 50% moving cloud with sunny periods later on. Excellent visibility beyond 10 mile.
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving Birds:
Mute Swan 1 -
alba wagtail sp. 18 -
Carrion Crow 23 -
Mallard 12 -
Blackbird 1 -
Starling 197 -
Black-headed Gull 281 -
Fieldfare 131 -
Chaffinch 19 -
Common Gull 21 -
Song Thrush 2 -
finch sp. 20 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 3 -
Redwing 1305 -
Greenfinch 81 -
Woodpigeon 134 -
Coal Tit - 2
Goldfinch 11 -

Totals: 2262 individuals, 18 species, 4:00 hours

Comments: With the fall in temperature I expected a Woodie surge, but perhaps the wind was too strong as few birds moved. Redwings as expected from hearing many call last night did move in good numbers with 2 waves noted, the first, which was the strongest 06.45 till around 07.45 then no birds till around 08.30 then till around 10.15. Gulls were also moving and I had difficulty judging many distant low BHGs over the areas towards Emley Moor if they were moving birds or local therefore they were not counted. A single Mute Swan was a surprise over the Dewsbury area. The highlight this morning was 2 moving Coal Tits that passed the watchpoint and were judged to have moved at least 2 miles to the N.

Martyn Priestley