Oxenhope... icelandic window! 05-08-2010

Blackwit passage.... Icelandic window!... a montage (c) 2010
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Blackwits on the Deck.... (c) 2010


Blackwits prior to departing... (c) 2010

Blackwits... the last moments!... (c) 2010

1345 - 1500hr

Swift 21 > W

LBB Gull 420

BH Gull 42

Oystercatcher 1

Brian Vickers

W F4, 15degC, 65km, 1/8, QNH 1012 rising all day.

1840 - 2150hr

Open sky overnight until c0600hr when scattered cloud from the NW overdrew. Quickly becoming overcast with longitudinal light to moderate showery rain mass extending from c Lakes to South Pennines moving down country passing through during the morning and clearing by lunch time. Then scattered cloud from the W and WNW until c1500hr becoming few for the rest of the day and thus the transitional Icelandic window penetrating these parts. The 1200hr weather chart for the day confirms an obvious Icelandic window in place. Upon arrival at 1840 two Black tailed Godwits were amongst the gulls settled and sleeping... arrived since Brian had left mid pm.... as I moved after my initial scan of the shore the gulls got up taking the godwits with them... I thought they had gone as they seemed to go off... but they must have come back to earth further on as some twenty minutes later they were relocated again still amongst the gulls but looking very unsettled and ready for off. Something was disturbing the gulls... probably me!.. everything went up in an almighty dread including the godwits which went off high and then very high east at 1930hr.... but not without them being snapped, albeit very quick and distant record shots. Otherwise an Oystercatcher went west and a couple of Dunlin came in at the edge of dark... not sure whether they went straight through as it was too dark to see. No Wheatears and no mipits tonight. Interestingly there was an influx of Mallard and nine Curlew came in to roost.

Moving birds:

Black tailed Godwit 2

LBB Gull 236

BH Gull 410

Common Gull 2

Oystercatcher 1

Dunlin 2

Other:

Curlew 9

Mallard 21

Dave