Oxenhope... 2012-10-10

Snaps to follow when enough time!

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 10 October 2012
Counting period: 6:50 - 12:00 &; 14:15 - 15:15
Weather (first period): wind SE1, cloud-cover 7/8, visibility 125000m, temperature 4 ℃, becoming SE F2, 8ok, 20000m pollution haze, 9degC, QNH 1017 falling 1015
Observers (first period): Dave Barker, Howard Creber, Rodney Procter

Moving Birds: 
Cormorant 1+   10
Woodpigeon 75 -
Chaffinch 3 -
Grey Heron - 2
Skylark 4 -
Brambling - 1
Pink-footed Goose - 70
Meadow Pipit 165 -
Greenfinch 14 -
Golden Plover 1 -
alba wagtail sp. 13 -
Goldfinch 16 -
Lapwing 45 -
Blackbird - 1
Siskin 5 -
Snipe - 1
Fieldfare - 1
Linnet 4 -
Curlew - 1
Redwing - 160
Lesser Redpoll 7 -
Black-headed Gull 3 -
Mistle Thrush - 19
Crossbill 4 -
Common Gull 5 -
Jay - 3
Reed Bunting - 8
Lesser Black-backed Gull 220 -
Jackdaw 12+ 103
Stock Dove 4 -
Starling - 16

Totals: 997 individuals, 31 species, 6:10 hours

Comments: Exceptional visibility initially with thin stratocumulus overdraw from the W (becoming stratus), leaving just the rising sun diameter window to the open sky over the North Sea. Immingham oil refineries and Grimsby tower clearly visible at sunrise. A further reduction in mipit numbers and pigeons very poor with starlings never getting going. However an obvious thrush arrival, albeit a narrow wave lasting less than an hour, with 11 flocks of high redwings passing NW, a single fieldfare call from on high closely followed by an unseen brambling(s). Redwings seen tumbling from the high sky into the wood on a couple of occasions, suggested they had, had enough. Otherwise noteable for a couple of grey herons on high approach from the far NE continued on and over into Lancashire... they looked very thin! Just one skein of pinks this morning, west this time, with direction fitting exactly with the conditions. A new watchpoint "on the deck" tick with a (one of three) Jay dropping from the sky to perch briefly on one of the posts right on the top of the hill, mid moor! Otherwise a very non-descript morning with horrendous widespread yellow pollution haze that you could taste advancing rapidly from the SE in the first hour... origin, certainly not local! Whilst typing this, Listening Station picking up on many redwing calls at all ranges overhead.... things are happening here now!!; PM No further Redwings noted.

Dave