Oxenhope..... 2012-08-28

Two Images, Copyright 2012 HC

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Tuesday 28 August 2012
Counting period: 6:00-12:30
Weather: Details later
Observers: Howard Creber

Moving Birds:
Cormorant 4 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 96 -
Goosander 1 -
Swift 1 -
Knot 1 -
Swallow 26 -
Arctic Skua 1 -
Meadow Pipit 41 -
Black-headed Gull 1 -
Greenfinch 1 -

Totals: 173 individuals, 10 species, 6:30 hours

Comments: Weather details and migs present to follow. A slow morning in gusty 4/5 westerly winds. Movement minimal but drudgery broken by two excellent birds. Firstly a Knot flew in very close to the watchpoint and went high over the moor to the south west (0715). Then, during the middle of the second period, a warm toned juvenile Arctic Skua was observed being mobbed by six Jackdaws in the direction of Keighley.The bird managed to shake off the corvids and flew west until over towards Keighley Moor , whereupon it did a 180 and set off high ,directly east, at a tremendous rate of knots until lost to sight way out towards Bradford (1150). A short period away, mid morning was unavoidable.
Howard Creber