Coastal South Minileague - October 2015

Paul Freestone stays top of the comparative minileague as he marches on to a superb 123.8%. He needed to pull out the stops as Andy Rhodes added 7% this month. Paul was one of many patchers to add Yellow-browed Warbler whilst Andy's best bits included a self-found Wryneck and a patch tick Spoonbill. Amy Robjohns holds onto third spot with 111%, 10% adrift of the top 2 but 5% clear of fouth. Her highlight was a reserve first Great Grey Shrike at Titchfield. In fourth position Peter Hazelwood added the 1 point he needed to get to 100% and indeed went considerably further with a Great White Egret which was a new bird for Oldbury Power Station.

Black Brant - Sean Foote

 

Joe Stockwells move north this year hasnt hindered his dominance of the Coastal South minileague and his local rivalry with Sean Foote continues to burn brightly as he added 38 points in September and October and increasing his cushion to 7 points. Joe's highlights were self-found Honey Buzzard in September and a Yellow-brow 200m from home in October. Sean found his own Yellow-brow and also saw Black Brant and Red-backed Shrike this month. Kev Rylands added 19 points to hold firm in third but the top 2 are well clear. Kev also found a Yellow-brow and added his first Great Grey Shrike for Dawlish Warren. 

Ilya Maclean found this months highlight - a seven-striped sprite (or Pallas's Warbler if you prefer) on his Loe Pool patch on the Lizard. Paul Bowerman's trip to Shetland nearly cost him but thankfully he got back in time to see the Red-throated Pipit that was unearthed on his Severn Beach patch. Andy Johnson got in on the patch-ticking theme this month with a Great White Egret at Sandy Point. These guys seem to be everywhere this autumn and Im sure there will be plenty more patches adding them before the year is out. Roger Musgrove got his half dozen points for a Yellow-brow but a small passage of Hawfinches was considerably rarer on Wall Common. A good month all round and the wins are still up for grabs.