Oxenhope... wheatear fall! 18-04-2010

Wheatears Wheatears Everywhere!! (c) 2010


Wheatear Montage.... just a few of the closer ones... (c) 2010


More Wheatears... (c) 2010

Lapwing in the Sun... (c) 2010

Redshank > NW... (c) 2010

Sacrifice Stones.... the tourist season!... (c) 2010

Wigeon in from the West.... (c) 2010

Residual Goldeneye... (c) 2010

CALM then W F1 then N F3, 1.2degC Frost, 15 increasing 40km, 1/8 deep haze increasing 8/8, QNH 1015 falling then rising 1016.

0700 - 1215hr

Deep haze and calm conditions lead to ideal viewing in the early period both near in and out to the east. For here a good diversity of birds today. A major Wheatear fall this morning in the general area with birds starting to appear mid am. Every wall top, derelict building and stone pile producing a few. By late morning.... not one to be seen.... all had moved off north. Also major Redshank and Common Sand influx overnight. Despite a poor showing yesterday in suboptimal conditions Meadow Pipits were moving strongly during the first hour or two, then to a lesser extent later on. A flava wag, quite distant, went high NE and a Redshank went fast and loud NW. A pair of Wigeon came in from the west to land and a large group of Oystercatchers went moderate height east. Interesting that in the calm gulls were almost absent in the skies... yesterdays masses of lessers had just evapourated.

Moving Birds:

Meadow Pipit 121 > N

House Martin 1 > N

flava wagtail 1 > NE

Sand Martin 2 > N

Collared Dove 3 > E

Swallow 21 > N

Linnet 32 > NW

Redshank 1 > NW

Carrion Crow 11 > N and NE

Oystercatcher 9 > E

Starling 1 > N

Jay 1 > E

Wheatear 21 > N

LBB Gull 3 > NW

BH Gull 2 > NW

Wigeon 2 > E

Redpoll 1 > N

Other:

Common Sand 3, major Redshank arrival. Willow Warbler

Dave