Excellent conditions this morning with a light SSW>3 and grey dry skies giving the birds a clear run through.
Meadow Pipits piled through firstly from the north then coming down the Aire Valley hitting Queensbury from the NE all heading direct >S for the first time this season.
Meadow Pipits early on in the season head >W then as the season goes on they veer to >SW before finally heading direct >S as we get to mid season.
A report from DJS at Ogden was getting very little as the flocks were passing through well to the east of his position whereas HC/DCB at Oxenhope were getting the numbers but only by scoping out at a distance.
My largest flock through was 39 and the move petered out by 0915 hrs.
A mid afternoon at Ogden found it amazingly quiet when after 2 circuits of the water I failed to find the tit flock or Goldfinches which were again probably seeking shelter in the wood from the now increased SSW>5. My whole passerine count amounted to 2 Great and 1 Blue tit which has got to be some sort of record.
The water held 5 Cormorant and a good count of 35 Canadas plus the usual gulls and Mallards with yesterdays Tufteds moved on.
Still no Pink Footed geese as yet although SJ at Manchester had a skein and DCB has had a small skein over Wilsden so who,s going to come up with the first lot, eyes to the skies.
Qby Vis Mig before and on the way to work :-
378 Meadow Pipit............................. >S
18 Goldfinch....................................>W
21 Chaffinch....................................>W
5 Swallows......................................>S
Casual obs from work 0800 hrs on found a continuous flow all >S until 0915 hrs. approx another 200.
Update.. 1456 Mipits for Oxenhope, HC DCB, well done lads, not easy scoping them.
BS