Oxenhope.... 2012-10-24

Snaps to follow:

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Wednesday 24 October 2012
Counting period: 7:30 - 13:00
Weather: wind NE2, cloud-cover 8/8, precipitation fog, visibility 50m, temperature 10 ℃, becoming F4 on tops and cooling 7degC, much less strong below, 200 - 3000m, 9degC, QNH 1024 falling 1023 Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber  

Moving Birds:
Fieldfare - 80
Starling - 177

Totals: 257 individuals, 2 species, 5:30 hours

Comments: During twilight, thrushes calling from the cloudbase very strongly but very few seen. A very dark start and fogs even more dense and deep than yesterday, especially at the high watchpoint. Lower down, a ceiling but much reduced on yesterday. After an initial couple of small Fieldfare flocks, could find no thrushes moving whatsoever, anywhere. Lunchtime saw a few large Starling flocks in the continental direction where there was visibility over one of the low watchpoints, the best birds of the day and perhaps the start of things to come.... otherwise a virtual blank! Abandoned early....

Dave