Oxenhope... woefull winds continued!! 03-11-2010

Early Sky.... (c) Howard Creber 2010

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Counting period: 7:30-10:00
Weather: W F6 gusting F7/8, 8degC, 40km, 5/8, QNH 1004 rising
Observers: Howard Creber

Moving birds:
alba wagtail sp. 1 -
Starling - 36

Totals: 37 individuals, 2 species, 2:30 hours

Comments: Scattered o/night, becoming few during the morning period, then o/cast during the afternoon. Wind west and QNH rising all the time.....Don`t know how I stuck it out for so long. As Andy H says, "insane optimism" - a perfect illustration !. A repeat of yesterday with even stronger winds kiboshing the job........... Starling - 36 W (3 flocks)....... Alba Wag - 1 S............. Nine Yellow billed Swans most likely over the col between 1230 / 1300 were picked to the south over Halifax by the Calderdale Group as they passed on through. Thanks for the info Dave.

Howard.

Caldene Fields, Low Moor... 03-11-2010

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Counting period: 6:45-10:00
Weather: Dry with 40% thin high cloud a strong F4 – 5 W/S/W and mild temp 9c. After dawn sunny intervals and good visibility to around 10 miles
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving birds:
Golden Plover 67 -
Meadow Pipit - 4
Starling 54 -
Black-headed Gull 204 -
alba wagtail sp. 1 + 8
Chaffinch 17 -
Common Gull 11 -
Fieldfare - 74
Greenfinch 36 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 -
Redwing - 24
Goldfinch 22 -
Woodpigeon 78 -
Jackdaw 46 -
Siskin 5 -
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Carrion Crow 11 -
Lesser Redpoll 1 -

Totals: 665 individuals, 18 species, 3:15 hours

Comments: A surprisingly good watch given the strength of the wind. There were plenty of gulls about this morning some moving some blogging and at 08.17 a LBB Gull 'intermedius' flew S/W. A flew WP attempted to move S/S/W and Corvids also showed well. Golden Plover again moved to the S. Like yesterday lots of thrushes about and a small number moved W. A GSP came in from the S/E and moved W which was interesting.

Martyn Priestley