A morning of perfect moving conditions with a light SW>3 and skies of blue and milky white clouds with the wind increasing slightly later bringing some showers.
Meadow Pipits were on the move from first thing on a broad front with good numbers from Oxenhope, Northowram and Queensbury although counting was hard with the bright background making the Mipits hard to pick out.
The birds continued to pile over until 0930 hrs ,where at one point AC was counting 15 per minute throughout an hour, but after that they petered out with small numbers of stragglers over although this went on all day with Mipits still moving over Ogden at 1630 hrs.
Ogden was on form late afternoon with passerines all around the perimeter with firstly the Chaffinch flock just inside the first gate on the west bank with around 40 up and down from the trees to the shoreline. A little further on the flock of Goldfinch were in the tops of Alders numbering around 80 along with at least 2 Redpolls and 5 Siskin mixed in.
As I was watching these a lady came up to me and said she had just seen a Kingfisher fly along the waters edge but a dash further along failed to re locate it , however good news that its back.
Passerine alley was also buzzing with at least 6 Siskin, 2 Chiffchaffs and a very late Willow Warbler together with around 5 Goldcrest and a female Blackcap.
The water was poor with just the usual species.
On the way back around 100 Mipits were moving around the fields on Syke Lane and Ned Hill, no doubt waiting to move in the morning.
UPDATE... HC/DCB had 3776 Mipits over this a.m.
Vis Mig Qby a.m.
418 Mipits.............................>S + a steady uncounted flow all day.
31 Goldfinch..........................>S
23 Chaffinch........................>S
6 Coal Tits .........................>S
2 Snipe...............................>W
3 Mistle Thrush..................>W
1 Song Thrush....................>W
4 Blackbirds.......................>W
16 Lapwing........................>E
7 Alba Wagtails.................>SW
c 100 Mipits........................blogging, pm, Ogden.
BS
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2024).