An 11% gain since January for
Alastair Flannagan sees him take first place in the Wales Comparative
Minileague during February with Yellow-legged Gull, Red Kite and his first
Willow Tit since 2002 helping him rocket up to 67.6% at Swansea Vale to Fendrod
Lake. His contribution to BirdTrack a
testament to solid patch birding efforts, up from 46 complete lists in January
to 123 by the end of February.
Cetti's Warbler at RSPB Conwy © Henry Cook (flickr page)
We see plenty of other movers and
shakers on the table, taking up positions in the top five after a productive
months birding. A Glaucous Gull spent two days at Peter Howlett’s Cardiff Bay
patch where he is now in third. Henry Cook connected with Merlin, Chough and
Barnacle at RSPB Conwy, putting him in fourth and just 0.3% ahead of Julian
Hughes who is also patching from the same site. A Water Pipit there was
Julian’s first record for the reserve.
The top five in the Wales Points
Minileague are all now past the ton. Ceri Jones slips from first to third place
with Richard Dobbins now in the spotlight at Teifi where Glaucous,
Yellow-legged and Little Gulls were added to his gull list which included
Iceland in January. Barry Stewart is in close second with 113 points at the
mighty Burry Inlet where Siberian Chiffchaff, Water Pipit and Little Stint made
for a fine February selection.
A Water Pipit awaited Arfon
Williams at Tregaron Bog. Strong winds brought in a few welcome seabirds with Kittiwake,
Fulmar and Great Northern Diver noted as highlights at several sites. Owls were
popular with Short-eared at Tregaron Bog, Little Owl at David Ripley’s Ogmore
Estuary patch and Barn Owl at Cosmeston, Sully and Lavernock for Ceri Jones
where Hawfinch was also present. Dan Rouse got in on the Great White Egret
action at WWT Llanelli and a Firecrest no doubt brightened things up for David
Pritchard at Aberthaw.
Whether they are patch common or #patchgold, Stonechat are always a welcome sight © Dan Rouse
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