Oxenhope.... 2012-09-29

Three Images all Copyright Howard Creber 2012

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Saturday 29 September 2012
Counting period: 6:30-11:45 Weather: wind West4, cloud-cover 2/8, precipitation rain, visibility 30000m, temperature 7 ℃, becoming W F4/6 gusting F7 and more, rain squalls, 6ok at times, 10000m and less for a while, 9degC, QNH 1011 rising 1015
Observers: Howard Creber, (Rod Procter, Brian Vickers, Mark Doveston & Dave Barker (other commitment), all briefly)

Moving Birds:
Cormorant - 3
House Martin 1 -
Goldfinch 13 -
Black-headed Gull 46 -
Meadow Pipit 1222 -
Siskin 3 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 24 -
alba wagtail sp. 5 -
Linnet 2 -
Stock Dove 3 -
Mistle Thrush 4 -
Lesser Redpoll 14 -
Woodpigeon 32 -
Chaffinch 4 -
Reed Bunting 1 -
Swallow 5 -
Greenfinch 3 -

Totals: 1385 individuals, 17 species, 5:15 hours

Comments: A frenetic start from the off with 320 Meadow Pipits thro` south in the first 15 minutes. Mipits were also coming through in big numbers on the western routes but grossly undercounted due to concentration out to the east. Other routes also remained uncounted in total due to reduced manpower. Mipit passage continued strongly until 08.30 hrs when quelled significantly. At this time, wind speed went up two notches with buffeting gusts, making standing alone quite difficult. Also visibility out to the east, where the bulk of the movement had been noted, deteriorated into a milky morass, making effective observation impossible. After this time, just a few small flocks pulsed south thro` the usual col. In an adjacent clough, a very noteworthy 34 Bullfinches made their way thro` the clough and then left high over the moor in three seperate flocks. 54 Mipits, 7 Alba Wag, 2 Grey Wag,34 Chaffinch, 2 Swallow and 25 Long Tailed Tits were also noted thro (BV) . In another adjacent clough, 1 Redwing and 1 Fieldfare were seen (MD) and in yet another wooded area over the tops a Yellow browed Warbler was discovered (Halifax Birders). A little covey of Grey partridge at the watchpoint and important as "friends" to us totalling just four this year...

Howard Creber