Oxenhope.... block! 19-09-2010

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Sunday 19 September 2010
Counting period: 11:15-13:00
Weather: WSW F6 moderating F4, 13degC, 10km E - 500m W and NW, 8/8 fog stratus and rain, QNH 1009 falling
Observers: Dave Barker

Moving birds:
Herring Gull 6 -
Dunlin 8 -
Swallow 39 -
Black-headed Gull 4 -
Meadow Pipit 10 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 68 -
Grey Plover 1 -

Totals: 136 individuals, 7 species, 1:45 hours

Comments: Firmly closed sky overnight with the first arms of the rain front passing through from the west. Very heavy rain commencing at dawn, getting stuck to the west of the Pennines and intensifying over the high tops, with somewhat less the further east you got. Stratus down over the moors until c 1030hr when cloudbase lifting to c1300ft, clearing and brightening somewhat, but only to the east of the watchpoint and remaining down and dense with heavy rain to the west thus creating a classic "block" situation with wind from the WSW and QNH falling throughout. Passerines still moving low up the valley west with small numbers of mipits but more swallows seen... but the main interest was over the water with what was probably a weather related influx of Herring Gulls, 4 present and 2 arriving from the east... eight Dunlin in one flock also coming in from the east and when I was leaving, cries from a Grey Plover from the fogs above the moor no doubt also arrived from the east and stopped or grounded by the "block"... these eventually died out. Thought I would make a second visit later on but the fogs thickend again and rain continued so it did'nt seem worthwhile.

Dave