open window!.... 2011-11-07
Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 7 November 2011
Counting period: 6:40-13:30
Weather: wind North2, cloud-cover 5/8, precipitation drizzle, visibility 40000m, temperature -2 ℃, CALM to N F1 to NE F4, 2 reducing 9ok, -2degC, 65km reducing 2000m, drizzle, QNH 1028 falling 1026
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber, Lester Ward
Cormorant - 3
alba wagtail sp. 2 -
finch sp. 22 -
Whooper Swan 8 -
Blackbird 5 -
Greenfinch 20 -
Greylag Goose 1 -
Fieldfare 2309 -
Goldfinch 7 -
Marshharrrier 1 -
Redwing 410 -
Lesser Redpoll 1 -
Snipe 2 -
Mistle Thrush 6 -
Crossbill 6 -
Woodpigeon 1229 -
Jackdaw 3 -
bunting sp. 1 -
Skylark 1 -
Starling - 206
Meadow Pipit 2 -
Chaffinch 8 -
Totals: 4253 individuals, 22 species, 6:50 hours
Comments: A morning with open sky / brilliant potential spoilt by overdrawing and reducing cloudbase to end in deep fog stratus with damping drizzle. Caught unawares before sunrise with a party of bugleing low Whoopers on approach and right over our heads. However the main event of the day and more expected was a big arrival of very very high thrush balls SW from first light initially picked up along the advancing edge of the cloud shelf but continuing as it passed over below the stratocumulus stratiformis and later deep stratus behind. As the visibility reduced later in the morning they became lower and more difficult to see but passage continued right upto lunch time and beyond. Several high balls were seen to have had enough, plummeting down into woods below. Tried a lower watchpoint for the last 90 minutes to see if any better, flocks more visible but not in any big numbers this time and parties small. Pigeons a none event for us today and no improvement in starlings but passage did continue in low numbers right through the watch. Yet another Marshy picked up in the early period and travelling in the now usual direction.
Dave
posted by Dave Barker at
11/07/2011 03:56:00 pm
2 Comments:
Whooper pic incredible Dave.F/F count turned out quite respectable.Early session with insect like thrush flocks at extreme height between the clouds was a great challenge, hard work , but the ultimate in vismig enjoyment, personally speaking.
Yes Howard but well massaged due to absence of light. Spot on, agree entirely that the extreme and fresh vis is by far the best... made even better by the knowledge that it would be up there there today!..... team work and success again!!
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