Oxenhope... 2012-10-08

Snaps to follow when enough time!

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Monday 8 October 2012
Counting period: 6:45 - 10:45 &; 12:45 - 13:15
Weather (first period): wind SE1, cloud-cover 8/8, visibility 5000m, temperature 4 ℃, becoming / continuing light and very variable F1, 9ok, mist deepening, 1500m, 6degC, QNH 1019 falling 1017 Observers (first period): Howard Creber, Lester Ward, Rod Procter  

Moving Birds:
Cormorant 4 -
Collared Dove 1 -
Jackdaw - 4
Pink-footed Goose - 300
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 -
Starling - 26
Goosander 1 -
Swallow 6 -
Chaffinch 18 -
Golden Plover - 3
House Martin 8 -
Greenfinch 6 -
Grey Plover - 1
Meadow Pipit 138 -
Goldfinch 13 -
Lapwing 8 -
alba wagtail sp. 16 -
Siskin 1 -
Snipe - 3
Redwing * 6 -
Linnet 4 -
Woodpigeon 47 -
Mistle Thrush * 32 -
Lesser Redpoll 5 -

Totals: 652 individuals, 24 species, 4:30 hours

Comments: SE F1 with murky conditions which progressively got worse as the morning wore on. No sign yet of any major winter thrush movement in our area. Most interesting sighting was a single flock of 30 Mistle Thrush, which came in high over the moors to the west and continued high out over the Bradford conurbation to the east till lost to view. A good range of finches today but very low numbers. A very clear Grey Plover was heard but unseen in the fog. Notably, very few Jackdaws in comparison to yesterday. Most spectacular sight was a single skein of circa 300 Pink Footed Geese which were heard on approach from the east, making a real cacophony, until they eventually "made their entrance" from low out of the gloom at eye height..... the skein had a massive head on it coming almost straight at us with waving tentacles streaming out behind, just like a giant squid...... They were visible for one minute before disappearing west towards Lancashire back into the murk. Viewing became almost impossible mid morning and the watch was terminated at 10.45. ; A further half hour was spent 12.45 hrs to 13.15 hrs, but no change in the fog and no birds.

Howard