Thursday, July 08, 2010

Oxenhope... bh gulleries burst!... 08-07-2010


Curlews coming in to Roost... (c) 2010


More Curlews on approach.... (c) 2010


Penyghent under Altocumulus lenticularis at last light... (c) 2010


Changing Altocumulus lenticularis even later... (c) 2010


Curlew Roost... just a small section strung out along the shore at last light... a long exposure... (c) 2010

WNW F2 becoming CALM, 17degC, 65km haze, 8/8 light rain at times, QNH 1017 steady.
1845-2200hr
A mainly overcast day with a few spots of rain commencing at c1830... intermittent but becoming heavier at last light. The BH gulleries have burst... during the early part of the afternoon c340 were counted by others and during my visit a substantial 590 with some large flocks coming in and seen on the move. Lessers still on a moderate low and no other gull species recorded this evening. Swifts were flying into the wind in small numbers and a few Curlew went west. The Curlew roost had come back up again to 51... tonight a last light count... as usual the pattern was to string out along the shore. Lapwings seem for the moment to have vanished. It should be noted that tonight the sky in the far north and west was always open whilst o/h and to the east it was very firmly 8/8 closed!!
Moving birds:
LBB Gull 179
BH Gull 590
Curlew 12
Swift 43
Other:
Curlew 51
Dave