Friday, September 16, 2005

Watchpoint 16-09-2005 eve

Members only watchpoint 16-09-2005
Friday 16th September 2005
1900 - 2030hr last light.
Weather and Sky:
A clear and very cold evening with recently clearing and fully open skies. Brilliant moonlight from almost full moon in open sky. Wind: NW F1. Temp: 4.5 degC on moor 7 at home. Visibility: >Leck Fell / Drax. Cloud: 0ok (only a very small amount). Pressure: rising strongly during the morning but steady during afternoon, 1023hpa.

At home at the time of writing (2130hr) the external temperature has dropped to 2.5degC. Coldest by far to date and very likely a frost tonight?

From arrival at 1900hr to 1930hr (c10 mins after sunset) small groups of Meadow Pipits (largest 15) could be seen going west against the darkening skies to the east and brilliantly sparkling skies to the west (sunset c 1920hr) , All were high, with nearly all of the ones overhead being too high to see with the naked eye. Most were scoped, with many being at long range both to the south-east and north-west. A total of 53 were counted excluding those overhead, which could be heard but not seen. None were seen to come to ground, they just disappeared over the ridge to the south and away. A Willow Warbler was heard in the wood and at least two Robins were singing. Well after sunset a distant Ring Ouzel was heard calling in or over the plantation.

Moving Birds:
Meadow Pipit 53 > W
Ring Ouzel

Dave.
The sky tonight 16th September 2005 (c) Posted by Picasa
Brilliant Moonlight!! (c) Posted by Picasa