Queensbury Vis Mig

      Midday views east from Thornton Rd Qby.

                           Yeadon and Otley Chevin on the horizon
        Queensbury station in the foreground.

              NE with Baildon Moor in the distance.

                     The old station chimney

          Teatime, double rainbow over Chapel Lane.

  As Bradshaw John would say,  Todays Post

                  Dog walking in the dark now.

Very little time for vis mig in a morning now before work with darkness hanging on till near 0730hrs and dark for the evening dog walk at 1900hrs.

A mixed bag of sunshine and showers today with a stiff SSW>5-6 which did,nt deter Woodpigeons from moving >S first light though only in small numbers along with Chaffinch and Greenfinch also >S.
A quick lunchtime watch east produced gulls moving >NW across the valley and a flock of 17 Fieldfare headed >SE over Thornton.
Check the waters for Wigeon and other wildfowl this weekend and the skies for winter thrushes.
BS

Hopeful Wigeon invasion

With the hopes of a Wigeon invasion this weekend after several coastal reports of record numbers heading inland here are some previous years local October/December Wigeon.

                                       7 Wigeon, Ogden  October 2011

                                         Single female, Ogden

                              Single male, Ogden   October

                  6 Wigeon flypast, Cold Edge Dams,  October

A poor Vis Mig attempt this morning in the cold strong SW>6 with rain showers.
Around 40 Woodpigeons headed >S in twos and threes otherwise all was quiet.
Bradshaw John reported no sign of Common Scoters at Mixenden res today, see his report.
BS

Woodpigs on the move

A bright start to the morning with the first real signs of Woodpigeons moving though this had dried up by 0815hrs. 48 came over Foxhill >SW at 0645hrs then a second group over the garage at 0750 hrs >S comprising of around 70 birds which looked to have been roosting down in Queensbury station overnight judging from the height and position that they came over. By the end of the month large numbers should be showing heading >S.
Otherwise it was down to a few Mipits >S early doors and by midday the fog was back soon clearing leaving heavy rain.
No news on the Mixenden Common Scoters today.
BS

Wild Wildfowl Day

Nothing special around the village today due to dense fog lasting until mid morning followed by a cold SW>4 and rain.
Yesterdays heavy rain followed by overnight fog was a perfect recipe for wildfowl and waders being brought down on local waters and that is just what happened today.
First was a phone call from KM with amazing reports from Oxenhope reservoir and nearby Leeming reservoir.
This was followed with a text from DJS at Fly Flatts and finally a report from fire officer Craig from Mixenden reservoir.

A later report from Spurn told of record numbers of Wigeon heading inland and also Whooper Swans beginning to show down the coast.

The reports were as follows :-

Oxenhope res
49 Wigeon
2 Shoveler
4 Pintail
1 Dunlin
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
         KM

Leeming res :-
24 Wigeon
         KM

Fly Flatts res
13 Teal
    DJS

Mixenden res
2 Common Scoter
  Craig M.

And whilst all this was going on I was at work, Great !
Thanks to all for reports.
BS

Queensbury washout

            More small gulls returning to Foxhill park

            Common gulls back in winter plumage now

         Rainbow over Chapel Lane p.m.

     Full arc of the rainbow but lens not wide angled
        enough to get it all in.

Heavy rain throughout the night continued until late morning when it baited to a drizzle with fog swirling around in a strong SW>5. Some torrential showers late p.m..
Despite the rain a few Meadow Pipits headed >S along with 3 Skylarks at first light this morning and 6 Herring gulls headed >W early evening.
A  local Sparrowhawk skimmed low over the houses whilst 2 Mallard headed over Foxhill towards Soil Hill.
BS

Leeshaw Reservoir

                              1 of 2 Heron

 Mega distant shot, Buzzard and Magpie in tree

                  LBB learning how to fish

  Very pale bellied Buzzard, prob. juv

  Crow and LBB squabbling over rabbit

  Plenty shoreline Lapwing

                                             1 of 3 Wren

     2 cronking Raven

                                                     1 of 4 Dunnock

                                                 juv Kestrel

 

Quiet on the vis mig scene in an icy cold S>4 but bright with good visibility.
First signs of Starlings moving this morning along with finches and Mipits.
All quiet on and around the water but a Buzzard kept me aletr most of the watch.

Vis Mig
140 Starling..............................>NW
28 Meadow Pipit......................>S
19 Greenfinch..........................>S
8 Chaffinch..............................>S
9 Greylag.................................>NW

Present
1 Buzzard
91 Lapwing
4 LBB gull
22 BHG gull
2 Heron
7 Robin..........possible continentals
3 Wren
4 Dunnock
2 Pied Wagtails
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrels
8 Stock Doves
BS

Ogden, late p.m.

                  Passerine Alley

            Like looking over the estuary

            Record low water levels

                                 Plenty Goldcrests in the alley

 A late afternoon dash around Ogden found it very disappointing despite the conditions around the water although passerine alley was busy with Tits and Goldcrests.
The water itself held the usual 2 Gt Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant and a building number of Mallard whilst the extensive shoreline only managed 23 BH gulls and 1 LBB gull.
Jays were up in numbers with at least 7 flying mainly over the water from east to west.
Around 9 Goldcrests were in the alley along with Gt, Blue and Coal tits as well as Robins, Wrens and Dunnocks.
BS

Queensbury Today

       Thought this Hedgehog was ready for hibernating
      behind the house today.

 Closer inspection found it no longer with us with no
 signs of injury.
Hedgehogs are a rare sight in Queensbury now.

A poor visible migration this morning in the strong SW>5 with just a scattering of Meadow Pipits >S
and a flock of 14 Goldfinch >W which could have been local birds as opposed to movers.
Thanks to HC for the text today reporting a Bar Tailed Godwit at Oxenhope on the shoreline (KM).
Hopefully the promised bad weather tomorrow will bring something down.
BS

Queensbury vis mig and more white crow news.

                     Early morn over Chapel Lane, Queensbury

            Last of the evening sun over Foxhill

                               Moon up

 Queensbury white crow, photo courtesy Christopher Paxton

A cracking photo of the Queensbury white crow kindly sent in by blog watcher Christopher Paxton of Guiseley taken near the new building site by Queensbury golf course. Thanks for that Christopher.

With blue skies and mild temperatures this morning visible migration was slow with  a few Meadow Pipits >S along with 4 Swallows.
28 Woodpigeons were moving >S early in the season as these are usually the last to go in late October / early November.
LBB gulls were going over steady most of the day mainly >SE but no reports of Pinkies today.
The turn in the weather Saturday may liven things up a little.
BS

Queensbury Vis Mig and White Crows

 A call today from a blog watcher reported the long staying Queensbury White Crow showing
regular on the new building site by the golf course and now a second bird has been seen by golfers and building workers. Amazing to get 2 together unless the other is the Mixenden bird.

          Photos show the Mixenden bird.

     Many thanks for the call today.

Vis Mig started well this morning but soon fizzled out in the mild conditions and clear skies.

Meadow Pipit.......................  21>S
Alba Wagtail........................ 2 >S
Greenfinch.............................8 >S
Chaffinch...............................4 >S
Woodpigeon..........................16 >S
BS