Oxenhope.... 2012-09-08

Sixteen Images all Copyright 2012

Oxenhope, Bradford (W Yorks, England)
Saturday 8 September 2012
Counting period: 6:00-14:00
Weather: cloud-cover 5/8, visibility 20000m, temperature 15 ℃, CALM, becoming SW F3, 2ok, rolling fog banks and haze becoming 2000 then 50000m, rising 22degC, QNH 1021 falling 1018 Observers: Dave Barker, Howard Creber

Moving Birds:
Grey Heron 2 -
Lesser Black-backed Gull 976 -
Jay - 6
Pink-footed Goose 22 -
Stock Dove 1 -
Magpie - 1
Goosander 2 -
Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 -
Rook 1 -
Marsh Harrier 1 -
Sand Martin 1 -
Raven 1 -
Sparrowhawk 2 -
Swallow 243 -
Greenfinch 1 -
Common Buzzard 3 -
House Martin 65 -
Goldfinch 7 -
Peregrine 1 -
Tree Pipit 1 -
Siskin 34 -
Ringed Plover 6 -
Meadow Pipit 201 -
Linnet 20 -
Curlew - 25
Grey Wagtail 1 -
Crossbill 2 -
Black-headed Gull 640 -
alba wagtail sp. 3 -
Common Gull 9 -
Wheatear 21 -

Totals: 2303 individuals, 31 species, 8:00 hours

Comments: Early flies for the first couple of hours in almost doldrumic conditions became almost terminal, but an exceptionally good morning up on the tops despite rolling fog banks with capricious fractus and milk. Mips took a while to get going, as did swallows but siskins south calling on the air from the very start, many exceptionally high remained unseen (just counted as 1) but passage went on through out the watch, with todays total being an under representation. Trans-pennine waders again on the move with a good ringed plover total in bits, whilst curlews nw in flocks. A strong g spot move all west bar one south. A couple of Jay parties NW over the open moor were suggestive and a high pink skein SE was the watchpoint first of the season. A high magpie single NW was very unusual. All raptors east, bar the marshy, a cream crown south. Wheatears, a loose congregation, absent initially appeared over lunch before all filtering off SW. Gulls, a dramatic undercount, both directions today but not split. The mid day moon was shining brightly and impossible not to checkout in the scope.... what a shock when almost directly above a couple of diameters away Jupiter was seen to be shining out like a spotlamp... stunning! See bottom snap (top right).... 

Dave 

Oxenhope.... 2012-09-06

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