Coastal North Minileague - October 2016

Damian Money moves to the top of the comparative minileague after the month of his dreams. He added 28% and crossed the 100% barrier and onward to 121% with one of the finds of the year - a fine Siberian Accentor. This was augmented with finds of Siberian Stonechat and Little Bunting as well as adding Pallas's and Radde's Warblers and a lovely Eastern Black Redstart. Quite the haul. Ash Baines remains closest to him thanks to a flock of 9 (nine) Great White Egrets and a trio of Yellow-browed Warblers. James Spencer marks his final stretch in the PWC hotseat by moving up into third position on 109% with his own Yellow-brow plus a Hooded Crow. Also moving over the 100% mark are Iain Robson with bonus points for Yellow-brow, Great White Egret, Siberian Chiffchaff and Pectoral Sandpiper. The final addition to the 100% club this month is Mick Turton who despite missing out on bonus points as the entire birding world descended on his patch but added Siberian Accentor, Siberian Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear and Olive-backed Pipit amongst many others.

Siberian Accentor at Easington (Jim Welford)

Tim Jones updates and what a huge score he has amassed. He needs 9 points in the last two months to catch his score of 415 from 2014 and this time out found an Olive-backed Pipit as well as adding Pine Bunting, Siberian Stonechat, Brown Shrike and Red-flanked Bluetail as well as plenty of scarcities. Tim may already have 5 of the points in the bag as the identity of the 'siberian' Stonechat at the point (additional to the bird at Beacon Ponds) is thought to be Stejnegeri. Mick Turton at Easington is 22 points behind Tim and that is probably too many to overhaul without a mega find in the last two months. Rounding off the top three is Paul French who overlaps with both Mick and Tim in the Spurn area and he found OBP, Little Bunting, Richard's Pipit, Black Brant and Pallas's Warbler to go with a similar haul to the other two birders of non-found species.

To mention all the highlights in the minileague will probably take all week but a selection are included. Andy Hood had a Dusky Warbler in his garden and also connected with the Flamborough Paddyfield Warbler, Nick Addey managed to turn up a Pallas's Warbler in Scarborough and Nige Lound found a Richard's Pipit at Rimac. John Chapman found a Great Grey Shrike and a Pallas's Warbler at Whitburn whilst at Tynemouth Duncan Watson found Dusky and Pallas's Warbler plus Red-breasted Flycatcher. At the same site Martin Kerby found a Barred Warbler. Chris Small managed to connect with the Pied Wheatear on his Marske patch and at Hartlepool Headland Alan Crossley saw the Red-flanked Bluetail. And everybody found a Yellow-browed Warbler. More or less.