Oxenhope.... deep blue and empty! 30-08-2010

First Sun Today.... (c) 2010


Deep blue and empty... looking north.... (c) 2010


Deep blue and empty... looking south... (c) 2010


The best of the Holistic Sky "spots"... Air India... US bound!... (c) 2010


Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 30 August 2010
Counting period: 6:12-11:12
Weather (first period): WNW F2, 6degC, 65km, 0/8, QNH 1023 rising
Observers (first period): Dave Barker

Moving birds:
Cormorant 2 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 116 -
Meadow Pipit 64 -
Goosander 3 -
Stock Dove 2 -
Grey Wagtail 2 -
Sparrowhawk 2 -
Sand Martin 10 -
Wheatear 1 -
Curlew 2 -
Swallow 179 -
Mistle Thrush 3 -
Greenshank 1 -
House Martin 30 -
Black-headed Gull 9 -
Tree Pipit 4 -

Totals: 430 individuals, 16 species, 5:00 hours

Present: Goosander 31, Black-headed Gull 8, Lesser Black-backed Gull 89, Meadow Pipit 400, Willow Warbler 1, Goldfinch 28

Comments: Period One....Open sky throughout the night with wind light from a northerly quarter and QNH rising throughout. A brilliant but colourless sunrise in a deep blue open sky with virtually no birds in it. Mipits, many were milling around and congregating with the few that were moving first light going west, a couple of Cormorants went very high west. A Greenshank, an overnight arrival got up along with the Goosanders (roost still 31) but went SW, the Mistle Thrushes west west and Tree Pip SW. The LBB G's were both moving NW and S. By the end of this period all of the congregating mipits a big increase on the last couple of days but with no real movemewnt had filtered off west. I expected more night migrants but only a single Wheatear which moved swiftly SW with no calls from the wood.; Period Two....Virtually nothing.; Period Three....A few Swallows started to come through west, House Martins south, Tree Pip SW, Goosander NW, Sphawks SE and SW. The largest flock of Goldfinch to date came in from the SE. A Willow Warbler started calling from the wood.; Period Four....Very little change except in the wind and that the sky clouded over gradually.; Period Five.... More of the same with Sand Martin added to the list but Swallows and House Martins picking up especially after 1050hr and going south.

Dave

Caldene Fields, Low Moor... 30-08-2010

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 30 August 2010
Counting period: 6:15-8:15
Weather: A dry cool morning with a F3/4 N/N/W wind and a temp of 9c. 10% high cloud to the S/E giving long sunny periods. Excellent visibility to beyond 15 mile.
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving birds:
Black-headed Gull - 1
alba wagtail sp. - 3
Common Gull - 1
Rook 1 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 7 + 1
Carrion Crow 1 -
Stock Dove - 2
Starling - 1
Woodpigeon 33 + 3
Chaffinch - 6
Collared Dove 2 -
Greenfinch 6 -
Swallow 11 39
Goldfinch - 41
Meadow Pipit - 3

Totals: 162 individuals, 15 species, 2:00 hours

Comments: A good watch with Swallows and Goldfinch moving, the highlight has to be the humble Rook a single flew S somewhat of a rarity here!

Martyn Priestley

Stainburn Moor.... 30-08-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Monday 30 August 2010
Counting period: 6:25-10:45
Weather: 0/8 cloud at first, later 2/8. Generally cool to cold with a persistent eroding NNW F 4 wind.
Observers: A Hanby

Moving birds:
Sparrowhawk - 1
Swallow - 307
Chaffinch - 2
Black-headed Gull - 24
House Martin - 109
finch sp. - 7
Common Gull - 208
Meadow Pipit - 25
Goldfinch - 26
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 16
Grey Wagtail - 2
Linnet - 32
Herring Gull - 3
Mistle Thrush - 23
Skylark - 1
Starling - 234

Totals: 1020 individuals, 16 species, 4:20 hours

Present: Mallard 1, Kestrel 2, Peregrine 1, Golden Plover 237, Lapwing 650, Curlew 2, Stock Dove 12, Woodpigeon 50, Collared Dove 1, Meadow Pipit 2, alba wagtail sp. 2, Wheatear 1, Blackbird 1, Starling 250

Comments: Steady and moderately interesting morning with House Martins making an entrance. Biggest flock of these 21. The Mistle thrushes in flocks of 15 and 8.

Andy Hanby