;'
With a window in the weather today and a mild calm start, the Woodpigeons took advantage of it and how they came.
First light saw them coming through in small numbers all >S then a text from HC at Oxenhope simply saying " PIGS< PIGS > PIGS " and that was enough to know that today was the mega push day.
On my way to work the flood gates opened and clouds of Woodpigs piled over on a massive broad front, some low over the rooftops but most flocks very high, with several groups of around 400 birds.
This has got to be the largest move I have ever seen with swarm after swarm filling the skies.
A word with HC mid morn as it was slowing down summed it up when Howard described it as a "spectacular sight."
Things began to quieten down around 1030hrs but smaller groups kept coming until midday.
I clocked in excess of 5000 birds, before, on the way to, and at work with just casual observations so the Oxenhope team must have had way into the teens of thousands but I have,nt had a total from them yet.
Anglers country park had over 16000 over and nearly 17,000 passed Manchester whilst 24.700 passed over Widnes.
Two flocks of Fieldfare went over the garage , the first of 43 >NW which could have been overnight roosters and the second of near 200 Fieldfare>S which HC picked up scoping and alerted me as they were over the top of the garage.
CK at Oxenhope picked out a flock of Whooper Swans going down the Aire valley.
That was some morning.
Halifax again struck gold this afternoon when I got a call from NCD saying he and DF had gone to Norton Tower to try to re located yesterdays Woodlark, which had now gone, but amazingly found a Richards Pipit in the same area, An even better record than yesterdays bird. See Calderbirds for full report and photos.
Just received an e mail from blog watcher G J Wood reporting 3 adult and 4 young yellow billed swans on Royds Hall dam annoying the Mutes. Said to be Bewicks but more likely Whoopers , worth checking out if anyone is near that area tomorrow.
BS