cygnificant morning!!.. 2011-11-05

 cygnus skies!!.... (c) 2011

 kelvin helmholtz in the mix!!... (c) 2011

 The lunch time scene... (c) 2011

HIGH Whoopers on approach!!..... (c) 2011

 whooper skein.... (c) 2011

whooper skein passing bye... (c) 2011

 whoopers.... (c) 2011

 whoopers.... (c) 2011

 pinks with Bowland backdrop.... (c) 2011

 pinks with Ingleborough backdrop.... (c) 2011

 pinks with Embsay Cross / Barden pinacle backdrop... (c) 2011

 pinks with Thimble Stones backdrop.... (c) 2011

pinks with Ashlar Chair backdrop.... (c) 2011

Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Saturday 5 November 2011
Counting period: 6:40 - 13:15
Weather: wind North1, cloud-cover 8/8, visibility 65000m, temperature 8 ℃, NNE F1/2 becoming N then NNW, 8ok, 8degC, 65km, QNH1005 rising 1010
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber

Cormorant 2 -
Meadow Pipit 5 -
finch sp. 4 -
Whooper Swan 37 -
alba wagtail sp. 5 -
Greenfinch 3 -
Pink-footed Goose 1295 -
Fieldfare 1478 -
Goldfinch 40 -
Goshaawk 1 -
Redwing 195 -
Crossbill 4 -
Golden Plover 11 -
Starling - 91
Bullfinch 2 -
Woodpigeon 1684 -
Chaffinch 8 -

Totals: 4865 individuals, 17 species, 6:35 hours

Comments: Gulls not counted but a further massive influx into and passage through the area. After a couple of days of preventative weather, a brilliant morning for us with thinly spread high thrush flocks SW from the off and throughout the morning and in difference to recent visits all looking very fresh. A large single Whooper skein, 37 strong and SSE, very much higher than the autumn norm on the direct SC route was stunning. Pinkies in big numbers and of obvious west coast immediate origin moving NE then SE on the usual track at this time of year. Then late morning a different stream from the north started appearing out to our east. A goshwk out of the NW continued straight through south east without deviation. Starlings still not strong and woodies moving broad front south in low numbers.

Dave