Oxenhope.... 2012-12-18

Snaps to follow;

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Thursday 18 October 2012
Counting period: 7:00 - 14:35
Weather: wind South1, cloud-cover 1/8, visibility 50000m, temperature 6 ℃, Inversion fogs in vallies and out over eastern plane. becoming S F4, 3ok, then 7ok, 12deg, 65000m,
QNH 996 rising 998

Observers: Dave Barker, Gordon Holmes, Rodney Procter

Moving Birds:
Cormorant - 1
Meadow Pipit 56 -
Starling 2 +  136
Golden Plover 2 -
alba wagtail sp. 6 -
Chaffinch 107 -
Lapwing - 1
Blackbird - 1
Brambling - 1
Snipe - 4
Fieldfare - 9
finch sp. - 27
Curlew - 1
Redwing - 20
Greenfinch 27 -
Black-headed Gull 3 -
Mistle Thrush - 13
Goldfinch 5 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 29 -
Turdus sp. - 718
Siskin 1 -
Woodpigeon 7 -
Jay - 7
Reed Bunting - 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 -
Jackdaw 5 + 25

Totals: 1218 individuals, 26 species, 7:35 hours

Comments: A much improved morning expecially first thing. Fieldfares a group of five NW were the first birds of the day (and apart from a single heard, the first this year) almost immediately after arrival followed by calls heard but not seen on several occasions before sunrise. Also about 20 Redwings falling out into the trees . Nothing more in that line noted til Rod picked up a large thrush flock high up NW at 1020 with a few more just after. Thought it might have been a one off but more large flocks 1130, 1157 and 1215 (a very big one, some 400 strong WNW and exceedingly high looking as midges swarming sometimes and travelling across the sky). Despite constant attention to the upper sky, no more but by this time cloud was over drawing from the south and wind picking up. Otherwise a good chaffinch count for us, Starlings getting going again, A brambling heard mid morning and a few more Jays N. Again as yday, very few gulls.

Dave