Under 25's - November 2016

Some fine efforts this year in the comparative league, Amy Robjohns continues at the top adding Black Redstart in the month. At 142% she looks unbeatable, that's going to make a mighty challenging target next year! In any other year, Ash Baines on 131% would be looking at top spot, it is a really impressive effort this year. A Desert Wheatear was a superb addition to his patch list plus Scaup and Twite amongst his other highlights. Three other patchers have joined then in the 100 club. Just a few more point would see Tim Jones beat his comparative which would be a superb effort given the challenging total he has to hit.

Not so surprising is Tim Jones in top spot and a clear 136 points above his nearest rival. It has been an amazing autumn at Spurn and he has topped 400 points despite not adding any new birds in November. So it is all about the south coast battle for second and Joe continues to have the edge. A 9 point gap is not insurmountable but it would take something notable to change the podium places now.

There were a few late autumn / early winter rares in the under 25 league this month. The Galway Bay Forster's Tern was a star bird for Cathal Forkan whilst a bit of viz-migging at Birkenhead Docks really paid off with a flyover Richard's Pipit for Elliot Montieth, unexpected and very useful bonus points. Will Scott and Hunmanby was not letting Elliot get away from him though in the table, with bonus points of his own in the form of a Sabine's Gull plus Pomarine Skua and Snow Bunting kept his impressive total ticking along.

Forster's Tern at Galway Bay (c/o Cathal Forkan)

Rhys Chivers was the latest to add Glossy Ibis to his patch list whilst Great-Northern Diver was a fine addition to Jacob Spinks's total at his inland Pitsford Reservoir patch. Luke Nash in North Norfolk reaped the benefits of November seawatching with Black-Throated Diver, Little Auk and Glaucous Gull all fine additions. He also added a Waxwing - a few of these were found along the east coast in November but I suspect many more patchers will have them in the highlights in December.

Patch birding is all about what is exciting on your patch, so a Marsh Harrier at Winsford Flash was a patch first for Findlay Wilde whilst for Joe Proudfoot two Tree Sparrow's were a complete shock at Booterstown plus a Jack Snipe was one of his birds of the year. Final notable records for November were a Raven at Old Bolingbroke and a very late Sand Martin at Hedgecourt NR.