Oxenhope... an improving day! 17-07-2010

Grey Partridge Covey.... (c) 2010


Grey Partridge Covey..... (c) 2010


Grey Partridge Covey....... (c) 2010

Grey Partridge Covey.. (c) 2010

Three of four Ringed Plover... passage kicks in... one ad and two juvs shown.... (c) 2010

Herring Gull.... (c) 2010

Black headed Gull.... masses on the move!... (c) 2010

Lesser black backed Gull.... masses on the move!... (c) 2010

Lessers in Abundance!... piling through... (c) 2010

Little ringed Plover... passage kicks in!.... (c) 2010

WSW F5 becoming W F5, 13degC, 65km to the east 20km W, 7/8 heavy showers coming in from the NW, QNH 1014 rising.

0900 - 1100hr

A very bright and sunny start to the morning but heavy showers soon coming in from the west and becoming continuous by 1030hr. Few birds on the move in the sky with only a handful of gulls this morning but four Ringed Plovers, two ads and 2 juvs dropped in from the NW, followed shortly afterwards by an ad Little ringed Plover... the Ringed Plovers stayed all day but the LRP had gone before the rain came on heavily. A Herring Gull came in from the NE. The local Kestrel had got a fix on the Common Sandpiper chicks and was seen to take one! A conversation with BV confirmed masses of mipits starting to flock up this morning early doors and over the last few days along Nab Water Lane.

Moving birds:

Ringed Plover 4

Little ringed Plover 1

LBB Gull 61

Common Gull 6

BH Gull 30

Herring Gull 1
Swift 26

PM visit now very bright and sunny (2/8) with a fresh but moderating (early evening) westerly wind. Visibility Ingleborough to Drax. QNH rising all day.... 1022 by 2300hr

1400 - 2100hr

Gulls piling through low over the moors and into the wind... most using the folds in the land to best advantage... even the lessers doing it this afternoon. The only new waders were an LRP > SE and a couple of Oystercatchers W. Two juv Curlews came in from the east. Interesting that a large noisy flock of Curlews went over home going west high in the sky at 2135 just as I was getting home. A Grey Partridge covey was special!

Moving birds:

LBB Gull 550

BHG 765

Common Gull 9

LR Plover 1

Oystercatcher 2

Curlew 2

Dave