Meadow Pipits were coming over well early morn in the grey skies and SW>4 but dying down by 0800 hrs as I got to work. Lunch time saw an increase again over Foxhill much lower now in the light rain making the best days count so far. Looking at other reports these were coming over on a broad front. Reports of good numbers from Ovenden, Northowram, Beacon Hill and Caldene fields.
A Buzzard headed >E over Crow Point mid afternoon but this was possibly a local bird.
1500 hrs and off to Ogden for the target bird, Yellow Browed Warbler of course, but conditions by now were poor with heavy drizzle then rain with darkening skies making scanning difficult with rain on the bins and a good soaking from the trees every time the wind blew.
As usual for an afternoon passerine alley was empty, this area coming in to force on a sunny evening, so I finally caught up to the tit flock on the west bank in and around the Firecrest tree but they were very mobile flitting rapidly from tree to tree in the thickest darkest area around the track. Lucky really I never spotted a YBW as a photo would have been impossible.
I did however pick out around 30 Goldfinch, at least 12 Goldcrest, 3 Siskin and umpteen Great, Blue and Coal tits with surprisingly no Long Tailed tits.
2 Chiffchaffs were present but Willow Warblers now seem to have gone.
The water held the usual 3 Cormorant, 12 Canadas and several small gulls.
For those of you wondering what a Yellow Browed Warbler is and what all the fuss is about here,s some pics from the last twitch when one turned up 30/09/2012.
Vis Mig
273 Meadow Pipit................>SW am
38 Meadow Pipit.................>SW midday
4 Snipe................................>W am
7 Chaffinch........................>W am
2 Swallow..........................>S am
1 Alba Wagtail...................>W am
1 Buzzard..........................>E pm possible local.
BS