Oxenhope.... diverse and interesting!... 2011-09-18

 First Light Fogs.... (c) 2011

 Pre Sunrise to the East.... (c) 2011

 The Big Moor this morning.... (c) 2011

 Glorious Sunrise!!!... much better conditions to the east.. (c) 2011

 Evil Advance!.... spilling over from the south... (c) 2011

As bad as it got... (c) 2011

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Sunday 18 September 2011
Counting period: 6:15 - 12:45
Weather: wind West1, cloud-cover 2/8, visibility 60000m, temperature 6 ℃, W F1 reducing CALM then NW F2, 20k, 6degC rising, 60km, QNH1000 rising 1002
Observers: Dave barker, Howard Creber, Gordon Holmes, Lester Ward

Black-headed Gull 2 -
Mistle Thrush 17 -
Cormorant 21 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 25 -
Jay 4 -
Grey Heron 5 -
Woodpigeon 4 -
Raven 2 -
Pink-footed Goose - 6
Skylark 52 -
Starling - 29
Sparrowhawk 2 -
Swallow 777 -
Chaffinch 16 -
Common Buzzard 5 -
Meadow Pipit 1058 -
Greenfinch 2 -
Kestrel 6 -
Grey Wagtail 1 -
Siskin 38 -
Golden Plover 1 -
alba wagtail sp. 17 -
Linnet 17 -
Lapwing - 115
Dunnock 3 -
Lesser Redpoll 26 -
Snipe - 8
Wheatear 1 -
Species unknown 2 -
Crossbill - 1

Totals: 2263 individuals, 30 species, 6:30 hours

Comments: A diverse count but with only moderate numbers. An ideallic early morning with fogs laying in every hollow on the moor... deep fog in Calderdale spilling over into Airedale for a period but generally speaking good visibility for sky watching from the watchpoint throughout, becoming quite warm. Mipits going through in small numbers most prominent initially, Swallows later with some massive uncounted parties picked up at times up at very great altitude... again raptors interesting with Buzzard movement to the east but all the rest southish. Siskins, count of those seen but not included were five unseen flocks. Looks as though Jays might be on the shuffle again! The first pinks definate of the autumn went very high NW late morning. A small part of Dunnock were exceptionally interesting. A big influx of Skylark going west today. A movement of Herons westish was apparent. A couple of the accipiter sp currently unscheduled and heading south west at widely spaced intervals were noteworthy......

Dave, Howard, Gordon and Lester