Inland North Minileague - August 2016

Despite no further additions David Franklin continues at the top of the table with Campsall in top spot on 122% and Askern in second on 117%. Lower scoring inland sites tend to do best in spring and this is where David made his strides but I am sure he will be eager to connect with a few more migrants in the autumn to take both patches over the 100 points mark. John Law at Wath Ings is in third position and he adds 3 points this month closing the gap on David. Wath, consisting of the RSPB sites at Adwick and Old Moor is a high scorer and there is plenty of potential for passage waders, terns and several of the gull species which John refuses to acknowledge (although I'm sure he would whack them on his list should he by chance espy one) so change at the top is still likely. The top ten have all now passed the 100% mark as Bill Aspin, Nick Tongue, Mark Reeder and Nick Morgan become the latest additions to the club.

Common Scoter at Brockholes - Bill Aspin

As well as challenging in the comparative minileague John Law continues at the top of the points minileague but he is joined there by Mark Reeder who has had an impressive resurgence since his tern around and this month adds Little Stint and Spotted Redshank. Duncan Bye at Wheldrake remains in third but is now only a point behind top spot, as is Bill Aspin who shares the third rung on the ladder despite his daily complaints of how bad Brockholes is (water levels, crassula and now Chinese Mitten Crabs). Duncan adds Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Ringed Plover whilst Bill adds his first Pied Flycatcher in 18 years as well as Wood Sandpiper and Common Scoter.

Elsewhere Peter Williams manages to add Spotted Crake to his haul at North Cave Wetlands in East Yorkshire and there were Ospreys for David McGrath and Nick Morgan plus a much sought after Coot for the latter. Mark Doveston added Tree Pipit which is a sad state of affairs as this former breeder at his Harden Beck patch is now just a passage migrant. Nick Tonge managed to add his first Rodley Little Egret to the list whilst there was more Osprey action for Steven Ward at Hawes as well as Merlin and Greenshank. Finally at Rossington, Stuart Churchill added Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart.