Oxenhope.... lapwings return! 01-09-2010

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 1 September 2010
Counting period: 18:30-21:00
Weather: CALM, 17degC, 40km haze, 8/8 cirrostratus but in real terms 0/8, QNH 1020 falling
Observers: Dave Barker

Moving birds:
Lapwing 1 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 26 -
Curlew 2 -
Meadow Pipit 5 -
Black-headed Gull 121 -

Totals: 155 individuals, 5 species, 2:30 hours

Comments: Open sky throughout night and during the day with QNH gradually falling. Virtually no wind all day and currently calm. Unlike last night little evidence of much movement although LBB Gull numbers in the sky had further reduced but BHGulls had increased! A single Lapwing came in from the east. Mipits were even more weak than last evening with only five going west tonight. Biting flies horrendous!

Counting period: 0:00-0:00
Weather: Fine sunny and almost calm
Observers: Brian Vickers

Moving birds:
Lapwing 34 -
Common Snipe 3 -

Totals: 37 individuals, 2 species, 0:00 hours

Present: Chaffinch 42

Comments: Lapwings probably the start of the autumn movement here for this species... they have been absent from both the shore and skies for several weeks now. BV also recorded 39 Lapwings nearby at Leeshaw Reservoir today. 42 Chaffinch in the wood at the watchpoint being somewhat early... were probably high pressure wanderers? A continuation of the Wigeon passage through the area with 22 at Fly Flatts over the hill.

Dave and Brian

Hunter Hill, Calderdale.... 01-09-2010

Cold Edge, Halifax (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 1 September 2010
Counting period: 8:00-10:00
Weather: No wind (nearby wind turbines at a standstill) clear sky and good visibility. 12c and rising quickly.
Observers: David Sutcliffe

Moving birds:
Cormorant 2 -
Swallow 239 -
Black-headed Gull 1 -
House Martin 14 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 + 6
Meadow Pipit 32 -
Woodpigeon 2 -
alba wagtail sp. 2 -
Swift 5 -
Greenfinch 2 -
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 -
Linnet 2 -

Totals: 309 individuals, 12 species, 2:00 hours

Present: Kestrel 2, Red-legged Partridge 2, Common Snipe 1, Stock Dove 6, Green Woodpecker 1, Meadow Pipit 80, Wheatear 8, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Carrion Crow 22, Goldfinch 12, Linnet 6, Bullfinch 2

Comments: This is the first time I have been up here and not needed a coat and the midges were biting!! A reasonably good movement of Swallows on a broad front, some feeding low and others passing through very high (lots of insects about). 5 Swifts were feeding high over the golf course before moving on and 2 Cormorants couldn't decide which way to go but eventually settled to go south. 80 Meadow Pipits in the quarry with just a few passing over > SW. 1 Spotted Flycatcher in a hawthorn bush was a bonus.

Dave Sutcliffe