Oxenhope... 2012-10-07

Snaps to follow when enough thime!

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Sunday 7 October 2012
Counting period: 6:30 - 14:45
Weather: wind NE0, cloud-cover 0/8, visibility 65000m, temperature 2 ℃, HARD FROST, becoming light and variable often with CALM, 100000m then 65000, 12degC, QNH 1020 rising then ridging 1022
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber, Lester Ward, Rodney Procter, Chris King, Mick Cunningham, (Mark Doveston, briefly)

Moving Birds:
Cormorant 16 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 406 -
Jay - 5
Grey Heron - 1
Woodpigeon 706 -
Jackdaw 33+ 728
Pink-footed Goose 6+   325
Green Woodpecker 1 -
Rook 2 -
Greylag Goose 30 -
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 -
Starling 14+   66
Goosander 23 -
Skylark 24 -
Chaffinch 36 -
Hen Harrier 1 -
Swallow 7 -
finch sp. 40 -
Sparrowhawk 5 -
Meadow Pipit 267 -
Greenfinch 12 -
Common Buzzard 8    
alba wagtail sp. 29 -
Goldfinch 42 -
Kestrel 1 -
Blackbird - 5
Siskin 24 -
Peregrine 2 -
Song Thrush - 4
Linnet 3 -
Golden Plover - 4
Redwing - 65
Twite 3 -
Lapwing - 89
Mistle Thrush - 11
Lesser Redpoll 12 -
Black-headed Gull 397 -
Coal Tit 1 -
Reed Bunting - 3
Common Gull 1 -
Blue Tit 1 -
Red Admiral 7 -

Totals: 3468 individuals, 42 species, 8:15 hours

Present: Yellow-legged Gull 1

Comments: Blackbirds and Song Thrushes in the air again at first light. Suspect Redwings however, evidenced by calls overhead in the night in continuing move from last evenings NW push and through the night leaving us with little visible again today (seven small very high flocks NW). A massive increase in Jackdaws on the continental track/mode and continuing on from yesterday. Woodpigeons, the first reasonable move of the season. But without doubt the best birds today werea Coal Tit overhead and a Blue Tit dropping from the sky to land on post at the watchpoint in the middile of the moor!.... followed closely by a ringtail, later tracked south by others out over Hebden Bridge. Pinks mainly west on the regular track with just a few east today. A little group of Twite, right overhead SE at the very end of the watch was very much worth waiting for... Buzzards drifting between SE and SW continued after we had left as advice from DJS over the hill confirmed yet more later, which wouyld have been nice.....

Dave