Oxenhope.... 2012-10-26

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Friday 26 October 2012
Counting period: 7:35 - 15:15
Weather: wind NE3, cloud-cover 2/8, visibility 70000m, temperature 0 ℃, FROST, becoming N F3, 6ok, then 3ok, 2deg, 100000m, QNH 1020 falling 1017
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber, (Brian Vickers, Rodney Procter part AM)

Moving Birds:
Cormorant 1 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 55 -
Jay * 6 -
Pink-footed Goose * 66 -
Woodpigeon 577 -
Jackdaw - 20
Goosander 12 -
Swallow 1 -
Starling 4 + 346
Marsh Harrier 1 -
Meadow Pipit 24 -
Chaffinch 16 -
Sparrowhawk 1 -
Grey Wagtail 1 -
Brambling - 3
Merlin 1 -
alba wagtail sp. 6 -
Greenfinch 15 -
Peregrine 1 -
Blackbird - 3
Goldfinch 43 -
Golden Plover 6 -
Fieldfare - 4217
Siskin 4 -
Lapwing 93 -
Song Thrush - 1
Lesser Redpoll 1 -
Snipe - 1
Redwing - 866
Black-headed Gull 22 -
Long-tailed Tit - 14

Totals: 6428 individuals, 31 species, 7:40 hours

Comments: provisional, full counts and species list to add, PM last hour low watchpoint DCB...... A fog and mist free morning with Fieldfares moving well, very high initially N and NW, still appearing very fresh. A spectacular flock of 1000+ very high N over the open moor was the highlight of the day. Redwings, fast very high flocks west also appeared fresh, thought they might get stronger, but only short lived and soon died back. By lunchtime the Fieldfare movement, still going was lower in the sky, soon very low with flocks waving over the contours of the moor, for us much more difficult to get onto and see. The last hour at the low watchpoint found them still going after we were getting very few on trhe tops. This migration drawing to a close..... A flock of Whoopers down on one of the nearby waters were either missed or came in a different way. Two flocks of Long tailed Tits. the best birds of the day were both picked up at distance, with one coming right over head NW.

Dave