Oxenhope... blackhead crash! 09-08-2010

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 9 August 2010
Counting period: 10:20-11:40
Weather:
Observers: Brian Vickers

Moving Birds
Cormorant - 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 365 -
Curlew 5 -
Yellow-legged Gull - 2
Black-headed Gull 20 -

Totals: 393 individuals, 5 species, 1:20 hours

Comments: Yellow legged Gull... 1 ad... 1 2s

Counting period: 14:30-16:00
Weather: Strengthening winds. Low cloud and drizzle starting
Observers: M and F Stones

Moving Birds;
Curlew 3 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 399 -
Black-headed Gull 108 -
Herring Gull 2 -

Totals: 512 individuals, 4 species, 1:30 hours

Counting period: 18:40-21:30
Weather: W F3 reducing F1, 16degC, 65km, 4/8 becoming 8/8, QNH 1008 falling all day
Observers: Dave Barker

Moving birds;
Curlew 3 -
Swallow 43 -
Black-headed Gull 11 -
Meadow Pipit 10 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 151 -

Totals: 218 individuals, 5 species, 2:50 hours

Present: Curlew 9

Comments: Open sky overnight until c 0900 then becoming scattered, with rain after 1120 and also during pm with very heavy shower late pm. Sky improving after tea. Few mipits on the westward track again but most interestingly after sunset three groups of Swallows totalling 43 came up out of the valley close to the ground... even at this time quite obviously on the move westward over the open moor! At least nine Curlews came in to roost.

Dave