Midlands Minileague - October 2016

Craig Round's vismig Great Grey Shrike at Lutley Wedge

Tom Shields moves up from third to first place in the comparative Midlands minileague table. He moves on to 118% thanks to additions in the form of Slavonian Grebe and Woodcock. Nick Crouch holds second place on 117% at Collingham and Besthorpe having also added Slavonian Grebe as well as Brambling, Rock Pipit and Water Rail. Laurie Ison moves up from sixth to third this month in an incredibly tight leave. He sits on 116% having added Bittern and Water Pipit. Steven Lewis and Espen Quinto-Ashman are the newest 100%ers and both stormed past this mark.

Erik Ansell leads on 211 points at Rutland Water having gained three points in October for Little Gull and Rock Pipit. Steve Nuttall at Belvide Reservoir stays in touch on 209 points after an eclectic haul of Purple Sandpiper, Mandarin, Hawfinch, Firecrest and Rock Pipit. Rod Baker adds five points but slips into third place.

There were two sets of bonus points for Yellow-browed Warbler this month as Ben Ward managed the first record for Whisby Nature Reserve and Andy Mackay got in on the act at Eyebrook Reservoir. There was a Great White Egret for Andy Sims at Boultham Mere and a Great Grey Shrike for Matthew Dick at Darley Dale. Perhaps the most remarkable record this month was a vismig Great Grey Shrike captured on camera by Craig Round at Lutley Wedge.

Steve Nuttall's Purple Sandpiper at Belvide Reservoir

Other notable birds included Lapland Bunting and Hooded Crow for Rhys Dandy at Cropston and Swithland and Espen Quinto-Ashman's haul of Great White Egret, Bearded Tit, Cetti's Warbler and White-fronted Goose at Wellington GPs. Steven Lewis added White-fronted Goose at Welby and finally and Toby Carter had his first Mediterranean Gull at Grimston.