Inland North Minileagues - January 2016

The Inland North Minileagues are frankly bonkers with 28 folks in the comparative table and an astounding 50 in the points table it is going to be exciting for everyone, no matter the patch. The comparative table is especially exciting for David Franklin as his trio of Doncaster patches dominate with between 67-84% already. Top of the pile is Campsall CP. David has managed to get out an awful lot and he has 161 complete lists and over 2000 records for Birdtrack already. An astounding effort I'm sure you will agree. David added Mediterranean Gull at Askern, Green Sandpiper at Norton Common and Meally Redpoll at Campsall. Away from South Yorkshire and into the East Riding, Mike Pilsworth is best of the rest with his Swinefleet and Reedness patch where he patch ticked Bewick's Swan.

Chris Bradshaw holds the lead on his Wykeham Lakes patch after patch ticking Grey Plover and adding less than annuals in White-fronted and Bean Goose and Mealy Redpoll. Stalwart, Bill Aspin is in second with an 11 point lead over his long-term rival Mark Reeder. Bill's month at Brockholes featured 2 Bitterns and 3 Scaup with the former being the first multiple record since 1998. Duncan Bye at Wheldrake Ings holds third spot along with Mike Pilsworth. Duncan benefited from the monster gullfest that is going on at Rufforth with roosting Iceland and Yellow-legged Gulls.

The only bonus points in January go to Pete Antrobus who found a Green-winged Teal at Neumann's Flashes but that wasnt enough to keep him ahead of the young padawan, Findlay Wilde, who holds a one point advantage. Elsewhere there was a Smew at Killingworth for the patcher who goes by the handle of @lophophanes. Bill Aspin found Andy Bunting a Bewick's Swan whilst purchasing some new optics at Martin Mere, Gary Storey patch-ticked Willow Tit at Chopwell Woods as did Keith Dickinson at Roundhay Park and Stephen Westerberg added Kittiwake at Tindale Tarn due to one of many storms. Short-eared Owls were a feature of several patches with them being seen for the first time in several years in many places including five on Mark Doveston's Riddlesdon and Whetstone patch.