Oxenhope... no fireworks yet! 05-11-2010

Early east!... (c) Howard Creber 2010


The Great NW.... (c) Howard Creber 2010

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Friday 5 November 2010
Counting period: 7:00-11:00
Weather: W F5, 10degC, 20km, 6/8, QNH 1015 rising
Observers: Howard Creber

Moving birds:
Cormorant - 1
Redwing 3 -
Whooper Swan 2 -
Starling - 80
Pink-footed Goose 90 -
Chaffinch 6 -
Woodpigeon 10 -
Goldfinch 3 -
Fieldfare 145 -

Totals: 340 individuals, 9 species, 4:00 hours

Comments: Open sky for last part of night, becoming scattered then broken. Wind from westerly qtr and QNH ridging 1017 at c1100hr. Based on weather forecast, wind unexpectedly strong again, but slightly abated compared to previous days.Things got off to a promising start at 07.45 hrs with two Whoopers directly over the watchpoint at c100 feet. They moved off quickly SE courtesy of the strong tailwinds, gaining height all the time. At 09.10 hrs, a very distant skein of c90 PF Geese was picked up far out over Calderdale, moving East. Starlings were notable by there absence, until a single flock of c80 birds came in low over the nearby farmhouse at 10.15 hrs and off West down the valley. Apart from the Starlings, all activity had ceased at 09.10 hrs and watchpoint was vacated at 11.00 hrs...... Redwing - 3 E........... Fieldfare - 145 E (6 flocks)................ Wood Pigs - 10 E........ Goldfinch - 3 E.............. Chaffinch - 6 W............. Starling - 80 W ........ PF Goose - 90 E......... Whooper Swan - 2 SE............. Cormorant - 1 NE.......... Others :-..... Mipit - several grounded..... Stockdove - 12 grounded....... Grey Partridge - 3....... Alba Wagtail - 1............

Howard

Hunter Hill, Calderdale... 05-11-2010

Cold Edge, Halifax (W Yorks, England)
Friday 5 November 2010
Counting period: 8:15-10:15
Weather: Wind from the west F4. 10c - cloud throughout but visibility reasonably good
Observers: David Sutcliffe

Moving birds:
Grey Heron 1 -
Redwing - 2
Lapwing - 2
Starling - 14
Woodpigeon 8 -
Chaffinch - 52
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Totals: 80 individuals, 7 species, 2:00 hours

Present: Little Owl 1, Green Woodpecker 1

Comments: Not much moving this morning although lots of local birds in the valley fields with corvids and B H Gulls making the most of the very wet fields after yesterdays continuous downpour. I thought we would be off to a good start after receiving news from the Oxenhope watchpoint with 2 Whoopers were heading our way at 07:40 but they were not located passing over Calderdale unfortunately - but thanks for the news from HC. Chaffs were all heading NW.

David Sutcliffe

Caldene Fields, Low Moor... 05-11-2010

Caldene Fields, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Friday 5 November 2010
Counting period: 6:45-10:00
Weather: Dry with 50% high cloud cover increasing to 90% heavier cloud by 08.00 and a F2/3 W wind. Mild 9c and fair visibility to 10+ miles.
Observers: Martyn Priestley

Moving birds:
Pink-footed Goose 327 -
Meadow Pipit 2 = 9
Chaffinch 33 -
Canada Goose 8 -
alba wagtail sp. 7 + 4
finch sp. 4 -
Goosander 2 -
Fieldfare 113 -
Greenfinch 29 -
Golden Plover 61 + 22
Redwing - 76
Goldfinch 30 -
Lapwing 128 -
Mistle Thrush - 1
Siskin 5 -
Black-headed Gull 16 -
Jackdaw 35 -
Lesser Redpoll - 4
Common Gull 4 -
Rook 1 -
Bullfinch 3 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Carrion Crow 16 -
Woodpigeon 1129 -
Starling 42 -

Totals: 2112 individuals, 25 species, 3:15 hours

Comments: A good morning! with a small WP movement noted with some birds travelling to the S/W, 24 parties noted. Pinks showed well, a good movement of Lapwings to the S & N and Golden Plovers continue to move here mainly to the S. A lot of thrushes about again but no real movements noted. 3 high flying bullfinch moved to the S/W and 2 Goosander to the S/W finished the morning off.

Martyn Priestley