Meopta and Forest Optic Best Find - October

What a month September was for PWC - I really thought it would be impossible to top. But, good old October managed to do it with some real style. There were so many good birds, with multiples of Pallas's warbler, Pallid swift, and Dusky warbler, and a good selection of American waders, including Baird's and semipalmated sandpiper. There were 3 birds that stole the show though. First up, despite the fact that they're not quite the mega that they used to be, Moss Taylors mist nets bagged him a stonking red-flanked bluetail later in the month.

This was always going to have to play third fiddle to two finds that will surely rank among the all time rarest birds found in PWC for years and years to come. Andy Johnson fulfilled a long term ambition when he eventually saw the ringed plover that wasn't - he'd been looking for a semipalmated plover on his patch of Sandy point for some time, so imagine the thrill when the hard work, skill, persistence, and good luck finally payed off.

No less monumental, but a very different experience to Sean Morris, who had an out of the blue, BOOM moment when he looked through his window at Kinloch, Rhum, and realised he had a mourning dove pecking around on his lawn!

There have been some excellent birds found on PWC over the course of the year but these two really raise the game in terms of the Meopta and Forest Optic Best Find competition. Will one of them win it?

Wales Minileagues

 Well, eventually I get round to the last minileague - with sincere apologies to anyone in Wales who might have been waiting!

For once, we have a bit of a polarity between the top of the points league and the top of the comparative leagues. Our friends on Bardsey occupy 1st and 3rd place in the points league, but are bottom and 3rd bottom in the comparative league - probably a result of posting very reasonable comparative scores (which is exactly what you'd expect from a bird observatory!)

Matthew Meehan separates the Bardsey Boys in the points league, with a very respectable 205, and Marc Hughes tops the comparative league from Great Orme.

Inland North Minileague - October

Jonny Holliday still leads but it is down to 17 points from Mark Reeder and Pete Antrobus in joint second. Mark Breaks storms into 4th and looks like a serious contender for best of the rest after the long standing top 3. Phil Woolen added six species but hasn't quite bridged the gap to the Mays in 5th at Burton Marsh. Still a bit of time for some patch gold to make the difference! Best bits of the month included patch ticks at Orgreave and Neumann's with Red-breasted Merganser and Egyptian Goose respectively. Best finds include Mark Reeder's Great White Egret and, well, Jonny's Rock Pipit at Pugney's.

The comparative table is still looking very good for Phil Woollen at Backford Cross. He holds a 10% lead over George Watola and Pete Antrobus holds on to 3rd place. There are no new 100%ers but it is still a realistic target for Mark Breaks and Richard & Chloe May.

Coastal North Minileague - October

Ian Mills extends his led to a corking 57 points at Whitburn whilst Iain Robson leapfrogs Jane T making the north east the place to be. Very few additions were logged this month with the highlights being James Spencer's Richard's Pipit at Barmston and Iain Robson's Balearic Shearwater.

The Ia(i)n's switch places this month in the comparative league with Iain Robson overhauling Ian Mills' tally. Both are well over 100% and with Alan T the only other 100%'er way back the fight is on to see who ends up taking the crown.

South West Minileague - October

Kev Rylands extends his lead by twenty points with closest rival Gavin Haig failing to register any additions in October. Paul Bowerman has closed the gap on second to just two points - it looks like the battle for silver may well be the one to watch in the South West. Paul Bowyer has made the most progress this month with his addition 6 species and 13 points taking him from 8th into 4th and the best of the rest so to speak. It would take a special late autumn for somebody to break up the top 3 but 6 points cover 4th to 8th so all really is to play for in midfield. Best finds go to Kev at Dawlish with 3 Yellow-browed Warblers and Dick Best finding a coastal example of one of Somersets newest birds with a Great White Egret at Steart.

Roger Musgrove has the comparative table sown up with a 25% lead. Marcus Lawson reinforces his second place and there is little movement further down. This may well be how this table stays. Well done to Roger for his great score.

South Coast Minileague - October

If you thought Andy Johnson was going well before I'm struggling for superlatives to describe his October. With Semipalmated Plover, Red-breasted Goose, Dusky Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler all finds he has nearly doubled his lead in the points table and is now 104 points clear. Respect is due for an amazing effort, especially the plover which is a great find. Joost Brandsma's Leach's Petrel lifts him into the top 5 at Adam Faiers expense.

Despite Andy Johnson's superb October Liam Curson maintains top spot in the comparative league. Andy has however managed to join the 100 club - only the second member of the South Coast league to do so. Chris Powell has managed to overtake Mark Lawlor. Nevermind Mark - just a bird. It looks like a race between Andy and Liam for first place with Ian Roberts fighting with both Chris and Mark for third.

London Minileague - October

A meagre return overall for the capital in October with no 3 pointers aside from Marek Welford's Yellow-browed Warbler at Dinton Pastures. Despite Marek's good fortune positions remain static amongst the top three with each adding just two or three points. Kevin M has closed the gap a little on the leaders. Graham Howie and Tom Stevenson both manage to climb a place to 9th and 12th respectively.

The comparative table is extremely close with less than 1% between first and second and only 6.4% covering the first 5 places. Despite this the order remains as you were with Adam Bassett remaining marginally ahead of Marek Welford. Tom Stevenson becomes the fifth member of the London 100 club as he equals his comparative score.