Oxenhope... alba attack! 01-10-2010

Dawn!.... low fractus above... but dry!! (c) 2010

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Friday 1 October 2010
Counting period: 7:00-9:00
Weather: SE F4 increasing F5, 11degC, 20km W reducing 50m o/a, 9/8 fog stratus, QNH 1000 falling 998
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber

Moving birds;
Meadow Pipit 19 -
Goldfinch 2 -
Grey Wagtail 1 -
Snow Bunting 3 -
alba wagtail sp. 22 -

Totals: 47 individuals, 5 species, 2:00 hours

Comments: Open sky til midnight then deteriorating from SW with rain by 0200hr. Then a good dry spell but heavily o/cast from 0400 - 0755 during which time fog stratus always at c1350ft giving a good outlook to the NW, then base dropping to envelope us and effectively end the session. Rain from SW in SE blow onset at 0855. Wind S o/night then SE with QNH dropping quickly throughout. Mipits coming through high S but only in small numbers. Albas fighting back however with a good move today with the max train being a 7 cross wind east. At 0742 a single close bunting "tue" drew my attention west to three approaching pa sp also east cross wind and almost over my head, a boldly pied male and two female Snow Buntings. They continued on east towards the mast sticking tight together, eventually being lost in the gloom. By 0800hr the stratus base had dropped further, intermittently enveloping us and wind had picked up but the albas kept on going. Not often more albas going through than the mips!.

Dave and Howard