Oxenhope.... 2012-07-31

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England) Tuesday 31 July 2012
Counting period: 9:00-11:00
Weather: wind SE2, cloud-cover 6/8, visibility 30000m, temperature 10 ℃
Observers: Howard Creber

Moving birds:
Lapwing 49 -
Willow Warbler 1 -
Swift 5 -

Totals: 55 individuals, 3 species, 2:00 hours

Comments: Had a couple of hrs this a.m. (09.00 to 11.00) after ceasation of rain. Pretty quiet, but most notable was a SE movement of Lapwings - 5 at the start and 44 at 10.45. Both groups picked up coming over from Keighley Moor direction, then high SE, till out of sight. Just 5 Swifts high ESE. Also unusually a high Willow Warbler came in from NE and out towards the clough.

Howard 

Oxenhope.... 2012-07-29

Five images all Copyright 2012

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Sunday 29 July 2012
Counting period: 7:30-14:00
Weather: wind SW3, cloud-cover 4/8, precipitation rain, visibility 65000m, temperature 11 ℃, Squally showers visible throughout. Many cunims and much instability but improving dramatically after overnight rain. QNH 1007 rising 1009
Observers: Dave Barker, Lester Ward
 
Moving birds:
Cormorant 2 -
Black-headed Gull 5 -
Ringed Plover 1 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 284 -
Dunlin 3 -
Swift 326 -
Curlew - 1
Sand Martin 7 -

Totals: 629 individuals, 8 species, 6:30 hours

Comments: An improving morning after overnight rain with dramatic multi species skies. Few birds till c1100hr when Swifts started to appear moving strongly broadfront west, high to very high. A Ringed Plover and three Dunlin from the shore left high to the SE. No moving Swallows today.

Dave

Oxenhope.... 2012-07-28

Four images all Copyright 2012

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Saturday 28 July 2012
Counting period: 6:55-13:00
Weather: wind SW2, cloud-cover 3/8, precipitation rain, visibility 30000m, temperature 11 ℃, Much convection with congestus rapidly growing. Becoming SW F6, 60000m 13degC, QNH 1010 falling 1008
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber, Lester Ward

Moving Birds:
Black-headed Gull 1 -
Swallow 81 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 80 -
Meadow Pipit 1 -
Swift 140 -

Totals: 303 individuals, 5 species, 6:05 hours

Comments: Rapidly developing congestus with some attaining cunim. Showers visible for long periods. Swifts the prominent movers, all mainstream south broadfront and very high for as far as the optics could see. A dramatic fall off in BHG movement.

Dave

Oxenhope.... 2012-07-26

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England) Thursday 26 July 2012
Counting period: 7:25-16:15
Weather: wind SE2, cloud-cover 8/8, precipitation drizzle, visibility 100m, temperature 14 ℃, Above the cloudbase till lunchtime then visibility improving 30000m and temp 20C. Sky becoming 3ok, QNH 1020 falling 1017
Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber

Moving Birds:
Curlew - 4
Sand Martin 23 -
Black-headed Gull 875 -
Swallow 328 -
Common Gull 41 -
Grey Wagtail 3 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 171 -
Linnet 7 -
Swift 62 -

Totals: 1514 individuals, 9 species, 8:50 hours

Comments: A gloomy morning just above the cloudbase with variable visibility. Swallows however moving south steadily throughout, coming up the valley from below and sneaking south over the col with the vast majority only inches from the ground. As conditions improved after lunch the movement continued but still all mainstream south today.

Dave 

Oxenhope..... 2012-07-22

Three images all Copyright 2012

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Sunday 22 July 2012
Counting period: 7:15-12:45
Weather: wind West4, visibility 65000m, temperature 13 ℃, Sky always more open to the west and south 7ok becoming 4ok. Rain showers visible for long periods, tracking SE.
Observers: Dave Barker

Moving Birds:
Oystercatcher - 14
Swift 4 -
Black-headed Gull 42 -
Swallow 3 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 89
Grey Wagtail 1 -

Totals: 153 individuals, 6 species, 5:30 hours

Comments: An east / west divide with Lancashire sunshine but dismal over Yorkshire. Better conditions gradually spreading east and north. The very few Swifts that were in evidence were going west, Gulls as usual going both S and NW. Grey Wag SW. Both Greenfinch and Goldfinch frequently in the skies but most likely travel food related so discounted. All in all a poor morning, not improving with the conditions.

Dave

Oxenhope.... 2012-07-21

Three images all Copyright 2012

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England) Saturday 21 July 2012
Counting period: 6:50-13:15
Weather: wind var2, cloud-cover 0/8, visibility 50000m, Early mist clearing and high cloud overdrawing from W gradually. stratocumulus establishing then clearing
Observers: Dave Barker

Moving Birds
Oystercatcher - 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 -
Lapwing - 35
Skylark - 3
Whimbrel - 1
Sand Martin 15 -
Curlew - 2
Swallow 13 -
Black-headed Gull - 159
Meadow Pipit 3 -
Common Gull - 4
Blue Tit 1 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 503
Starling - 34
Swift - 9

Totals: 784 individuals, 15 species, 6:25 hours

Comments: LBBG NW and S, Curlew NW, Blue Tit S, Oyk NW, Skylarks W and NW, Swifts W and SW, BHG NW and S, Common Gulls W, Starlings N Swallows W, Whimbrel NW.

Dave