Oxenhope... black terns! 13-09-2010

The very best it got!.... (c) Howard Creber 2010


Kelvin helmholtz!!...... (c) Howard Creber 2010

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 13 September 2010
Counting period: 6:30-10:30
Weather: WSW f2 increasing W F4/5, 12degC, 15km, 8/8 Stratus nebulosus, fog stratus, altocumulus lenticularis, stratocumulus undulatus, Kelvin helmholtz, velum, QNH 1021 falling
Observers: Howard Creber

Moving Birds:
Canada Goose 1 -
Swallow 32 -
Teal 2 -
Meadow Pipit 346 -
Black-headed Gull 12 -
alba wagtail sp. 2 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 281 -
Chaffinch 15 -
Black Tern - 2
Siskin 5 -
Sand Martin 3 -

Totals: 701 individuals, 11 species, 4:00 hours

Present: Mallard 12, Goosander 28

Comments: First hour very murky with low stratus just overhead - lots of Mipits heard but unseen in the grey dense stuff, hence the 364 actually seen is minimum count. Much reduced movement and lack of diversity today, but more than made up for at 08.15 hrs when two Black Terns suddenly appeared from the east over the parking area. The birds rode high over the embankment into the strong wind, initially going down to far end of water and then u-turned and rose very rapidly to become almost insect like as they headed off NW. Whats betting the two turning up at Leighton Moss this afternoon are these as NW would take them direct to Morecambe Bay!......"13/09 14:50 LANCASHIRE : Black Tern, Leighton Moss RSPB...two from Public Hide". A Stoat kept me company throughout the stay - only 15 yards away, when it kept disappearing into the wall. A real cheeky chappie !!!.......... Mipits - 364 W, Sand Martin - 3 W, Swallow - 32 S, Siskin - 5 S, Alba Wag - 2 SW, Chaffinch - 15 W,, Black Tern - 2 NW Canada Goose - 1 in from NE,
............................................................................
Counting period: 18:55-20:30
Weather: WSW F6, 17degC, 30km reducing 100m, 8/8 fog stratus and rain, QNH 1012 falling
Observers: Dave Barker

Moving birds:
Meadow Pipit 6 -

Totals: 6 individuals, 1 species, 1:35 hours

Present: Canada Goose 1, Mallard 6, Goosander 27, Lapwing 134, Black-headed Gull 3, Lesser Black-backed Gull 274

Comments: Open sky during the first part of the night, then several bands of rain moving over from the west from 0300hr but fining up after 0600... A real mixed sky bag. Wind WSW becoming SSW. QNH ridging at c2100 hrs last night then falling overnight and throughout the day, wind from a westerly quarter picking up quite rapidly during the late afternoon. Intermittent rain and essentially a closed sky throughout. Tonight virtually nothing seen in the sky except for a single group of six mips, struggling west into the wind! Lapwings appear to be roosting now and the LBB Gull roost was as over the previous few weeks still in place after dark. All in all a terrible night to be out.

Dave