Midlands Minileague - March 2016

Andrew Chick continues to lead at Fulbeck with three further points added in March taking him to 81.6% with a herd of 25 Whooper Swans his highlight. Phil Hyde is in second spot just 2% behind with a patch tick of Nuthatch this month. Andy Sims goes over the century of points and moves onto 78.5%. At Boultham Mere Andy added Kittiwake which is his 4th record and also 9 Black-tailed Godwits which were the 2nd record in the last 10 years there.

Apologies for the tiny writing now in the minileagues - there are just so many of you in the Midlands - best to enlarge for a better view. Erik Ansell at Rutland continues to lead and is on a monster 141 points including Garganey and Pink-footed Goose. Rod Baker is nine points back with his March highlight a Firecrest. John Hopper is in third place having added 28 points this month. His brace of Cranes for six points were the highlight but an inland Kittiwake was also not to be sniffed at and neither was the flock of 49 Common Scoter. 

female Brambling at RSPB Langford - Carl Cornish

The other set of bonus points this month were for Matthew Hazelton who uncovered a Great White Egret at Summer Leys for 6 points. Another Great White Egret was at Linford NR where Rob Hill managed to see it. Elsewhere there were floods of migrants coming in and going out. Three patchers managed to connect with Garganey and two had Ospreys pass through. As mentioned above Kittiwakes were a feature and six patchers managed to find them. One lucky patcher managed a Midlands Goshawk but we wont elaborate further for obvious reasons.