Oxenhope.... 2012-08-05

Thirteen Images Copyright 2012

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Sunday 5 August 2012
Counting period: 6:10-14:30
Weather: cloud-cover 2/8, visibility 30000m, temperature 11 ℃, Calm initially becoming SW F1, rising SW F2/3, 4ok, then SE F3, 6ok as the storms drew near. QNH 1006 falling 1004.
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber, Lester Ward

Moving Birds:
Cormorant - 2
Black-headed Gull 577 -
House Martin 11 -
Red Kite 2 -
Common Gull 10 -
Tree Pipit 1 -
Marsh Harrier 3 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 648 -
Meadow Pipit 11 -
Merlin 1 -
Herring Gull 1 -
Wheatear 4 -
Hobby - 1
Swift 234 -
Jay 2 -
Snipe - 2
Sand Martin 4 -
Raven 2 -
Curlew - 4
Swallow 607 -
Linnet 36 -

Totals: 2163 individuals, 21 species, 8:20 hours

Present: Willow Warbler 2

Comments: Three distinct phases to todays watch... Initially brilliant sunshine under an almost open sky but overdrawing with a deep fog stratus block over the high moor. Soon becoming convectively unstable with rapidly developing congestus, becoming cunim by lunch time followed by the passage of intense thunder storms from south east to north west initially out to our east. To the west conditions remained essentially fair. Each phase bringing different and prominent waves of birds.... terrific! The first Chaffinches of the season with both Greenfinch and Gold maintaining a good mobile dispersive presence. Not counted. Gulls not seperated but moving both S and NW as usual.

Dave