Oxenhope.... inclement! 20-09-2010

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 20 September 2010
Counting period: 6:55-12:00
Weather: W F2 rapidly increasing F6, 14degC, 50km out of rain, 8/8 torrential showers of rain, QNH 1007 rising
Observers: Dave Barker

Moving birds:
Teal 3 -
Black-headed Gull 108 -
Golden Plover 41 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 215 -
Dunlin 1 -
Herring Gull 11 -
Common Snipe 9 -
Meadow Pipit 34 -

Totals: 422 individuals, 8 species, 5:05 hours

Comments: Closed sky albeit only translucidus at midnight and continuing heavy showers overnight with westerly wind moderating. QNH troughing at c midnight 1006. Incessant torrential showers intensifying and getting stuck over the high tops of the Pennines throughout the morning / day with wind increasing rapidly first thing.... A terrible day to be out in the hills with sheeting rain and strengthening winds... just as you thought it was improving it was starting again.... first part of the watch was from the car, again rocking like a ship, hoping it would improve soon. Few passerines apparent in the sky and no early mips at all up here which given the time of year is unusual!... however up at the main watchpoint a few mip parties were struggling through even in the periods of rain, overall direction impossible to tell as they were so moulded by topography in the attrocious conditions. Again none passerines were taking advantage with gulls, Snipe and Golden Plover all on the move. Herring Gulls were interesting in that today, following yesterdays influx only three pale backs were noted but on checking the decked out first winters, today eight were present after none yesterday, so a continuing HG influx up here... hoping for much better pa movement tomorrow!

Dave

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate.... 20-09-2010

Stainburn Moor, Harrogate (N Yorks, England)
Monday 20 September 2010
Counting period: 6:50-11:55
Weather: wsw 3-4 at firt 8/8 cloud then dropping F2-3 with heavy sometimes prolonged showers. From c10;30 hrs 3-4/8 cloud and F1-2 then rising back to F3 and 8/8 cloud at end
Observers: A Hanby

Moving birds:
Cormorant 2 -
Black-headed Gull 15 -
alba wagtail sp. 7 -
Grey Heron 1 -
Common Gull 8 -
Dunnock 10 -
Greylag Goose 2 + 14
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 2
Long-tailed Tit 1 -
Anser sp. - 80
Collared Dove 2 -
Coal Tit 8 -
Canada Goose 3 -
Skylark 68 -
finch sp. 9 -
Sparrowhawk 2 -
Sand Martin 1 -
Greenfinch 6 -
buzzard sp. 2 -
Swallow 402 -
Goldfinch 15 -
Golden Plover 23 -
House Martin 20 -
Siskin 11 -
Lapwing 11 -
Meadow Pipit 308 -
Linnet 11 -
Common Snipe 25 -
flava wagtail sp. 1 -
redpoll sp. 1 -

Totals: 1071 individuals, 30 species, 5:05 hours

Present: Kestrel 3, Merlin 3, Stock Dove 10, Woodpigeon 45, Wheatear 2, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 2, Magpie 2, Jackdaw 20, Rook 50, Carrion Crow 10, Starling 600

Comments: A steady moderately interesting day without any 'biggie' but enough to keep me interested. The rain made it un-birdable for only about 20 mins and birds were going through right at the end- often in Bursts. At least three different Merlins this morning- put down as around as their precise movements were a mystery- but their plumages were distinct enough to separate as different ( included a male). Snipe put in their best showing (25) since the vis mig weekend in August and I hoped for more, but they soon petered out. Skylark(68) were also on the move today though not in biblical numbers unfortunately. Swallows (402 s) were bizarre- plodding along unimpressively until a short period around 11 30 hrs when 173 passed south in about 5 minutes, they then returned to their steady movement. Mipits were modest for the date (308), but were going all morning and nearly all S rather than W. Another 10 Dunnocks made a move ( 6 and 4), the 4 arriving from the N rather than coming up the hedge. Finches remain unimpressive, but 11 Siskin was an autumn high so far and redpoll put in a welcome appearance. So an OK but not outstanding morning but enough to keep me going.

Andy