Oxenhope... super whoopers! 12-04-2010

From out of the Fogs.... came forth WHOOPERS!! (c) 2010

Whooper Swans... five images (c) 2010
For your enjoyment.... double click these images to make them bigger!

E F1 rising E F3, 2.2 deg C, 300m reducing 60m then increasing 60km, 8/8 fog reducing 3/8 cu sp, QNH 1031 steady.

0615 - 1200hr... the first three hours conventional counting then casual obs for the rest of the visit.

later pm visit also to confirm the LBB Gull passage rate at 46 per hour.

Limited visibility initially was again short lived as the fogs rolled in from the east before 0700hr and all shut down. Just a few mipits moving and again Linnets in the first hour but this upland watchpoint was really enveloped in fog and conditions were ubsuitable. As the fogs started to lift at 0945hr "whooping" was heard from the middle water now becoming visible and low and behold a herd of whoopers was slowly emerging towards us (myself, Shaun and Mike.... our new warden).... they were exceptionally tame and at one point we thought that they were coming to be fed!!.... a totally un natural experience....

Moving Birds:

Meadow Pipit 17 > N

Linnet 7 > W

LBB Gull c 40 > N and NW

Other;

Whooper Swan 8

Oystercatcher 2

Lesser black backed Gulls passing through.... (c) 2010

Linnets... fresh back this week! (c) 2010

Dave, Shaun and Mike.

Contrail Vis....C-130 hercules! 12-04-2010

Hardly contrail vis but this Lockheed C-130 Hercules was believe it or not at first picked up mistaken for a skien of birds as it tracked south over the basin this morning.... binocular contact soon dispelled that notion as it lost height to skim the moor top and on south.... somewhat distant and enveloped in heat haze but nevertheless an exhillarating experience!

Lockheed C-130 Hercules... two images (c) 2010

Dave