Coastal South Minileague - December 2016

A confiding Snow Bunting during December was the final addition to Amy Robjohn's mammoth patch birding year at Titchfield Haven. Hardcore effort at this site resulted in a final comparative score of 142.93%, one of the highest in all of #PWC2016 and first in Coastal South Minileague.

Amy's Caspian Stonechat find was hands down her highlight of the year but closely followed by Stone Curlew and Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Second place remains in the hands of Paul Freestone at Gwithian who had an equally impressive year, finishing on 121.31% with top finds such as Isabelline Wheatear plus Dalmatian Pelican, Rose-coloured Starling, Wryneck etc.

Mark Lawlor, Dick Best and Paul Bowerman all keep their same positions in the top five at the end of the year, having beaten their comp score targets. Mark's Kentish Plover find is certainly worthy of an end of year mention, the first on Guernsey in thirteen years!

Snow Bunting at Titchfield Haven (c) Amy Robjohns

Joe Stockwell's lead on the Coastal South points table was secured for the year thanks to a wildfowl-fest at Ferrybridge to Weymouth during December which saw Goldeneye, Eider, Black Brant and Egyptian Goose bring his points score up to 277.

Amy's success in the comparative league was complemented by a second place position on the points table where Andy Johnson moved into third place ahead of Paul Bowerman by a matter of two points, helped by Snow Bunting and Long-tailed Duck added at Sandy Point in December.

Some highlights at the months end included a Hume's Warbler at North Portland for Sean Foote, an amazing flock of nine Cattle Egrets found by Ilya Maclean at Loe Pool on 30th December and a patch tick Caspian Gull for Kev Rylands at Dawlish Warren.

Aside from some of the aforementioned megas, the Coastal South Minileague was awash with rare and scare birds during #PWC2016 with the likes of Ross's Gull, Red-throated Pipit, Greenish Warbler, Bonaparte's Gull, Great Grey Shrike, Shorelark, Temminck's Stint, Cory's Shearwater, Ortolan Bunting and Serin making the best bird of the year comments section from this years contestants.

The PWC #patchgold favourite, Coot, also got an honorary mention as bird of the year for Sean Foote at North Portland! ;)

Hooded Merganser at Radipole...eating fish and NOT bread as kindly pointed out by Joe Stockwell :)

Coastal South Minileague - November 2016

Joe Stockwell extends his lead in his long running battle with Amy 'Record shot' Robjohns at the top despite Amy adding Black Redstart in November. Paul Bowerman continues to hold on to 3rd thanks to a Bewick's Swan and Woodcok in November but its getting close behind him with Andy Johnson and Ilya Maclean are only 3 points behind. Joe Cockram had a good month finding a Red-throated Pipit, probably the last one to be a 3 pointer in PWC as it moves up to 4 in PWC2017. Chris Townend had a good October (late with the scores ;-)) finding Serin and YBW. On the other side of things Paul Freestone had a bad month, no new birds and missing both Spoonbill and Whooper Swan!

Amy looks to have wrapped up the comparartive league thanks to her obsessive (her words!) birding at Titchfield Haven this year. 141% is an incredible score!! Likewise Paul Freestone looks to have 2nd place in the bag despite all the dipping in November. The podium position up for grabs is third, currently held by Mark Lawlor but Dick Best and Paul Bowerman aren't far away. Everyone else looks to be struggling to reach teh 100% mark this year, not through want of trying and Andy Johnsons 3 GW Egrets in November give him a small chance if December treats him well. Kev Rylands may be languishing down the table this year but he had a good November including an excellent piece of #patchgold and full fat patch tick, Barn Owl.

Coastal South Minileague - October 2016

No bonus points for Amy but she adds 6 points and 3% to move to 138% by the end of October at Titchfield Haven. She adds Yellow-browed Warbler, Brambling and Goosander this month. Paul Freestone moves up from fifth to second at Gwithian this month after finding Isabelline Wheatear to go with Wryneck and Rose-coloured Starling taking his score to 121%. In third place is Dick Best who falls one place despite adding 2%. Paul Bowerman and Mark Lawlor both move over the 100% mark with Paul adding Crane and Mark finding a Yellow-browed Warbler. 

Isabelline Wheatear at Gwithian - Paul Freestone

Joe Stockwell extends his lead to 6 points at Ferrybridge to Weymouth and this month after finding 7 Yellow-browed Warblers. Amy remains in second place on 255 points and is 18 clear of Paul Bowerman in third. Paul ensured that all three members of the top three added Yellow-brow this month as well as Ring Ouzel and Black Redstart for his personal list.

Find of the month obviously is Paul Freestone's Isabelline Wheatear which was the second for Cornwall. Elsewhere there were bonus points for Sean Foote who added Greenish Warbler, a Cattle Egret for Joe Cockram at WWT Steart and a Great Grey Shrike for Andy Johnson at Sandy Point. Andy also gained 6 points for a Yellow-browed Warbler.

Coastal South Minileague - September 2016

Amy Robjohns just keeps seeing new birds and spending every waking hour on site appears to be reaping rewards as adds another 5% this month to move onto 135%, a mere 33% ahead of second place. This month she adds Semipalmated Sandpiper and finds a Honey Buzzard to keep the ball rolling. Dick Best at Steart in Somerset moves up into second place from 4th in July as he also goes over the 100% mark. Paul Bowerman moves onto 96% to keep third place adding Great White Egret and Pectoral Sandpiper whilst gaining the bonus points for finding a Sabine's Gull.

Woodchat Shrike (c) Joe Stockwell

Joe Stockwell overtakes Amy in the battle for top spot in the points minileague. Joe moves onto 254 points after finding Woodchat Shrike, Sabine's Gull and getting the 2 point bonus for Blue-headed Wagtail. Amy is just 5 points behind and is 27 points clear of Paul Bowerman in third place on 222 points at Severn Beach.

Mark Lawlor found a Short-toed Lark and a Wryneck on Guernsey whilst there was also a Wryneck found by Andy Rhodes at Calshot. Rob Rackcliffe at Woolmer beach added Greenish Warbler this time out whilst at Steart, Joe Cockram managed to connect with the Lesser Yellowlegs that was present. Elsewhere Andy Johnson managed a patch first Nightjar and added Sooty Shearwater whilst Kev Rylands added Osprey and Wood Sandpiper to his house list.

Short-toed Lark at Hommet, Guernsey (c) Mark Lawlor

Coastal South Minileague - August 2016

A Honey Buzzard, a Wood Sandpiper, a Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Redshank are all it needed for Amy Robjohns to continue at the top of the Coastal South comparative minileague. Amy continues her Annus mirabilis and moves onto 130% and lead by 37% as no other Coastal South birder is over the 100% mark. First in the bunch is Paul Freestone on 93% but he fails to add in August as he spent most of the period on holiday. Paul Bowerman is in third as he overtakes local rival Dick Best thanks to seabirds arriving in the Bristol Channel of which the highlights were Roseate Tern, Black Tern and Storm Petrel.

Rob Rackliffe - Red-backed Shrike

Amy is now three points ahead of Joe Stockwell despite the latters pioneering night migrant recording which meant he heard and recorded a passing Ortolan, one of a number that were in the region during August. Sean Foote adds 8 more points but other commitments mean his chances of replicating his comparative score are slim. He did manage to find a Wryneck for bonus points and also added Balearic Shearwater from Portland.

Kev Rylands' addition of Cory's Shearwater at Dawlish Warren brings up the milestone of 270 species on patch, a figure most of us can only dream of and a welcome 6 points for this patch devotee. Rob Rackliffe managed to uncover a Red-backed Shrike featured above for 6 points at Walmer Beach and there were further bonus points for Ilya Maclean as he connected with both large shearwaters and found his own Wryneck and Icterine Warbler on the Lizard. Elsewhere it was relatively quiet but I am sure September and October will be profitable for our patchers.

Coastal South - July 2016

Amy Robjohns continues to move onward in her quest for minileague glory. She extends her lead by 3% this month as Paul Freestone and Dick Best fail to make any additions in second and third place. Amy's best this month was a Nuthatch although she also found a Great White Egret. 

Amy remains top of the points minileague as well with a 7 point cushion over Joe Stockwell as he failed to add for the second month in succession. Sean Foote closes on the leaders adding a couple of points with a Yellow-legged Gull.

Bearded Tit - Amy Robjohns

The only other bird of note was the Dalmation Pelican at Loe Pool for Ilya Maclean. Ilya has decided not to take any points for this bird but naturally he is welcome to add 5 or 15 as appropriate should it get accepted. In 12 years. After a review of the first review. And further records. And isotoping. Just joking of course. As mentioned on the podcast it is up to personal views until the record is assessed and should it be rejected it should be removed from the lists of those who have it on.

Coastal South Minileague - June 2016

Everyone is playing for second in the comparative league as Amy continues to dominate at the top. Paul Freestone submitted his score this month which included a mighty 15 points for the Gwithian Pelican! Even with this boost however, he is still adrift of the leader who is pushing the 120% mark.

Dick Best at Steart holds onto third place but only just with Paul Bowerman at Severn Beach hot on his heals.

In the points league, Amy and Joe were neck and neck last month. But Amy has edged ahead with Great and Arctic Skuas as well as an returning Green Sandpiper her highlights whilst Joe had no additions in June. Sean Foote consolidates his position in third adding an early Curlew Sandpiper to his total and bringing up the 150 species mark.

June is a month to enjoy the summer residents and breeding birds rather than bag lots of points in PWC. There were a few additions to be had however with the Dalmatian Pelican at Gwithian back in May a find for Paul Freestone as it flew over Gwithian. This bird which has since become a bit of a local celebrity in Cornwall is a potential UK first (which will be a first for PWC!) and bags 15 points. As per the PWC podcast discussion this is accepted by us but whether the points stand will be on the decision of the BBRC, it will be interesting to see the outcome. Whatever that might be it is a great looking bird and was probably not on Paul's patch target list for the year!

A White Stork was welcome at Steart Marshes in the month whilst a Roseate Tern would make the highlights of anyone's month, as it did for Andy Johnson at Sandy Point. Other June additions which were a little more expected were Grasshopper Warbler and Nightjar at Coverack and Cuckoo (not always the easiest to get sadly nowadays) at Severn Beach.

A Yellow-Legged Gull at Walmer Beach was new for the year for Rob Rackliffe as many of us will be on the lookout for this larid in the next couple of months.

 Finally - #patchgold award this month goes to Kevin Rylands from his Teignmouth rear window! It is only 61 years since the first UK breeding record, but there are not many patches now that have to wait until June to record Collared Dove.

Curlew Sandpiper at North Portland - c/o Sean Foote

Coastal South Minileague - May 2016

 

 

The year that Amy Robjohns is having at Titchfield Haven could be no better depicted than by finding a stunning looking Caspian Stonechat while looking for snails! Our Stonechat is a lovely bird but this had a real dose of extra pizzazz and is one of the birds of the year so far. It also served to put Amy on 118%, an astounding lead at this early stage of the year.

 

Caspian Stonechat at Titchfield Haven (photo c/o Amy Robjohns)

 

Paul Bowerman is putting pressure on Dick Best in second. Paul found a Temminck's Stint and Golden Oriole in May to give him a score that he would not expect until a little later in the year. 

 

Amy and Joe have been having their own battle in the points league for the south coast and at the end of May they are tied for top spot! Sean has surpassed the 200 point marker too and is still in contention, there is plenty of the year left to run! Joe averaged 3.1 points per bird for his May additions including finding a Temminck's Stint and enjoying a patch first Cattle Egret. Add to that fantastic Tern passage and May was a good month for Joe!

Cattle Egret at RSPB Lodmoor c/o Joe Stockwell

Perhaps the bird that made the most headlines in May was the long staying Great Spotted Cuckoo at Portland. For a while it seemed that it might not venture onto Sean Foote's patch but it did make it North Portland in the end. A superb bird which stayed long enough for many to twitch it.


This well watched Great Spotted Cuckoo finally made it onto Sean Foote's patch. c/o Sean Foote


There have been a few Kentish Plovers around the country this spring and not surprisingly the south coast sites have played their part. In May, bonus points went to Ian Pitts at Church Norton and Mark Lawlor on Guernsey for this stunning little wader. Other classic spring fare made it onto patchers lists too this month including a Wood Warbler for Amy Robjohns, a Hoopoe at Coverack for Dan Beadle and a Bee-eater picked out on call by Joe Cockram at Steart Marshes.

It must be a superb bird when a patch rival asks for bonus points for a competitor. That was the case this month when Sean Foote found a Coot at Chesil Beach! Joe Stockwell successfully twitched it and then noted in his highlights that Sean should get extra points for this mind-blowing find. Coot is almost the defining species for the #patchgold hashtag.

Mega alert - Coot - the definition of #patchgold at Chesil Beach. c/o Joe Stockwell





Sean Foote - #PWC 2016 part 6

We haven't kept up to date with Sean since his February posting so here is the early part of Sean's spring in three parts.



February



April part 1




April part 2

Coastal South Minileague - April 2016

Four new patch ticks for Amy Robjohns saw her pass the comparative score for Titchfield Haven by a single point. As we know Amy has had a very successful May this will only grow... Her ticks this time out were Great White Egret, Stone Curlew, Dartford Warbler and Arctic Skua. Dick Best moves into second place in the comparative table after a profitable April. Steph Brown hangs onto third place with returning Chiffchaffs her highlight.

Despite adding 40 points in April, Amy Robjohns loses top spot to Joe Stockwell in Weymouth. He added Balearic Shearwater plus Pied Flycatcher and Cuckoo with the latter two new for the patch. Like Amy we know he has added bonus points in May so perhaps there will be a fight on for top spot next month. Sean Foote on North Portland is in third place just 2 points behind Amy. As well as finding a Hoopoe he also added Hawfinch and Iceland Gull.

Hoopoe at Portland - Sean Foote

Away from the podium places there has been plenty going on with spring hotting things up. Ilya Maclean added Woodchat and Hoopoe on the Lizard as well as finding Siberian Chiffchaff. Also getting in on the Hoopoe act was Andy Johnson at Sandy Bay who turned up his own one this month. Paul Bowerman adds Blue-headed Wagtail this month along with Garganey and Osprey in Somerset. Kev Rylands had a good month at Dawlish with Kentish Plover, Black Redstart and Roseate Tern although Willow Tit takes pride of place. Dan Beadle missed out as an Iberian Chiffchaff turned up 100 yards outside his patch. 

Coastal South Minileague - March 2016

A whopping 23 points added by Amy Robjohns in March means she is on a heady 78.8% and 8% clear of the field. What a fantastic start to the year - perhaps Amy will be challenging overall by the year end? This months additions included Velvet Scoter, Water Pipit and Glaucous Gull which were all new patch birds for her plus Osprey and Black-necked Grebe. Paul Freestone upped the ante and moved up from 12th to second with 46 points and 40% added at Gwithian after a patch tick of Common Scoter and finding a Glaucous Gull and a Dartford Warbler. Stephanie Brown also moved up the table on her Swanage patch after a good start to the year.

Rob Rackliffe - Northern Long-tailed Tit

Amy's domination of the Coastal South minileagues is complete as she does the double this month after overhauling the early dominance of Joe Cockram. Joe himself added a patch first Glaucous Gull to hang on to second place from his namesake, Joe Stockwell at Ferrybridge. Joe S added a brace of Siberian Chiffchaffs for some meagre bonus points which keeps him in contact with the top two.

Siberian Chiffchaff - Joe Stockwell

Other good bits included four Northern Long-tailed Tits for Rob Rackcliffe and some bonus points to boot. There were still a trio of Yellow-browed Warblers on patch for Ilya Maclean but his highlight was perhaps the Ring-necked Parakeet that put in an appearance at Loe Pool. Mark Lawlor on Guernsey managed a first Shoveler for Hommet to Rousse whilst on Portland it was a Red-legged Partridge that got Sean Foote jumping for joy.

Coastal South - February 2016

Another month gone and Titchfield Haven is still the patch to beat. Amy Robjohns added a further two species - Merlin and Black-throated Diver - which helped her remain as the top of the Coastal South Comparative Minileague. She may be top of the league but she'll be getting no awards for records shots...

Cracking ;-)

Elsewhere, Dick Best moves his Steart patch into second place with a tidy haul of 17 species. However, at 57% on the board to Amy's 66%, he's still got some catching up to do if he wants to challenge for first place. While dropping into third position, Mark Lawlor at Guernsey: Hommet to Rousse is only 5% short of second place and could regain ground next month.

There's been a bit of a shakeup in the points league this month. Joe Cockram at Steart Marshes WWT managed to steal pole position, with an eight point lead over Amy Robjohns in second. With the help of an unexpected Kittiwake,  he made the leap from fourth and ending the month on 130 points. 

Kittiwake, Steart Marshes WWT (Credit: Joe Cockram)

Although, dropping a position, Sean Foote managed Velvet Scoter to add to his points tally for the month. At Severn Beach, Paul Bowerman ticked Little Gull and Bonxie, but more impressively managed to add 322 BirdTrack records. Excellent work, Paul!  

Elsewhere, Rob Rackille connected with Raven, Firecrest, Bullfinch, and Shag at Walmer Beach. While other were mopping up bits here and there, Kev Rylands had his worst month ever with Buzzard, Collard Dove and Pheasant being his only year ticks.

With the Spring migration just around the corner, the coastal south leagues could be the ones to watch!

Sean Foote - North Portland #PWC2016 part 5

Sean's rather abbreviated patch diary update for February. Dont worry Sean, it will be spring soon!

Coastal South Minileagues - January 2016

As ever, the Coastal South leagues are are eagerly awaited, and the array of species seen in January have not disappointed. Highlights included (but were not limited to!) Penduline Tit, Bonaparte's Gull, Firecrest, and Black Brant.

Amy Robjohns tops the comparative leader board this month at the ever awesome Titchfield Haven with a respectable 63%, giving her a 6% lead over Mark Lawlor at Guernsey: Hommet to Rousse. Both have set quite a lead over the other patches who are currently lingering well below the 50% mark (although, it is only January, after all!).

#patchgold Barn Owl at Titchfield Haven (Credit: Amy Robjohns)

Moving on to the Coastal South Points Minileague, Joe Stockwell sets the standard at Ferrybridge to Weymouth with 98 species and 121 points. He added two species which didn't feature on his patch last year: Bittern and Little Gull. In second place is Amy Robjohns at Titchfield Haven where she connected with Penduline Tit, Iceland Gull and Barn Owl to leave her with 99 species and 115 points for January. Very close in third place is the Dawlish Warran patch where Kev Rylands managed a great mix of species including Bonapartes Gull, Purple Sandpiper, Yellow-browed Warbler, Sandwich Tern, Velvet Scoter, Firecrest, Cirl Bunting, Coal Tit, Treecreeper and Little Gull. Excellent!

Ilya Maclean also bagged some cracking species at Lizard point with highlights being Ross's Gull, Rose-coloured Starling, Grey Phalarope, Pomarine Skua, Balearic Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Great Skua and Yellow-legged Gull. 

Bonus points for the month included a Black Brant at Sandy Point for Andy Johnson; Siberian Chiffchaff at Loe Pool for Ilya Maclean; and Yellow-browed Warbler at Lizard Point for Ilya Maclean. Cracking stuff!

Sean Foote - North Portland #PWC2016 part 4

Join Sean for the fourth part of his Patchwork Challenge video diary as he concludes January.

Sean Foote - North Portland #PWC2016 part 3

Coastal South Minileagues - December 2015

Nothing new for Paul Freestone but he managed to hang on to top spot in the Coastal South comparative minileague despite a very strong finish from Amy Robjohns. Paul finished on 132% thanks to a December Jack Snipe whilst Amy added 9% to finish on 130%. Amy managed bonus points for finding a Siberian Chiffchaff and also saw the trio of Penduline Tits which arrived at Titchfield late in the month. Andy Rhodes added 3% and dropped a place into third despite an outstanding year where he scored 127%. His perserverance paid off with last gasp Shag and Kittiwake. Roger Musgrove was the seventh and final 100%er in the Coastal South minileague.

Joe Stockwell debuted a new patch for 2015 working the Weymouth reserves and Ferrybridge in Dorset. He finished the year just one point short of 300 and beat local rival Sean Foote by 19 points. Joe added Scaup and Grey Phalarope and briefly thought the phalarope took him over the triple century mark but alas its a two pointer. Sean added just a single point but it was his first patch record of Pheasant! Kev Rylands finished off a relatively poor year at Dawlish Warren with two points which gave him a five point cushion over Paul Bowerman at Severn Beach.

Amy Robjohns' trio of Penduline Tits at Tichfield Haven

On Guernsey there was a Short-eared Owl for our logo-man himself, Mark Lawlor. Worse for him was the Little Swift which was present on the 31st December just off patch and there is a rather fine photo he took of the bird with his patch in the background. So close. Ilya Maclean managed to find a Siberian Chiffchaff in his garden to ensure a good end to his debut year. Peter Hazelwood got a full fat patch tick with a Marsh Harrier at Oldbury Power Station. Despite Kev Rylands only adding Jack Snipe in December it certainly wasnt a quiet month with Slav grebe, Siberian Chiffchaff, Bonaparte's Gull and Yellow-browed Warbler also featuring scorelessly. Andy Johnson managed to beat his 2014 score but also accrued his lowest ever number of patch species so a mixed year although a late Iceland Gull provided a highlight.

Sean Foote - North Portland #PWC2016 part 2

Here is the second installment of Sean's video diary for #PWC2016. Will he break his Jnauary 1st record?

Sean Foote - North Portland #PWC2016 part 1

Here is part one of Sean Foote's video diary of his year on North Portland for #PWC2016. Future installments to follow. Its a damp but very decent start for Sean.

Coastal South Minileague - November 2015

What a year it has been so far for the top three in the Coastal South Comparative Minileague with impressive 120%+ scores. 

Paul Freestone's run in first at Gwithian was boosted by additions of Fieldfare and Firecrest in November as he edges closer to 130% with one month left to go. Second place Andy Rhodes added three #fullfatpatchticks at Calshot with flyover Brambling and both Black-throated and Red-throated Divers (with his second Great Northern Diver of the year making for a nice trio that month). Amy Robjohns has been having a superb year at Titchfield Haven where she sits in third place on over 120% and just shy of 150 species and 200 points. Siberian Chiffchaff, Short-eared Owl and nice daytime views of Tawny Owl were all new for Amy in November.

Tawny Owl © Amy Robjohns

Sean Foote reached his 100% comp score target with Siberian Chiffchaff at North Portland but was knocked out of fifth place by Paul Bowerman who had a great month at Severn Beach where nine year ticks included a self-found Glossy Ibis and #fullfatpatchtick Black Guillemot and Black-throated Diver. 

An update from Joe Stockwell furthers his lead on the Coastal South Points Minileague table with a very nice bonus points find of Hume's Warbler for him back in October plus Barnacle Goose and Velvet Scoter in November at Ferrybridge to Weymouth bringing him ever closer to 300 points. Will he glean the final five points needed during December?

Kev Rylands added six new species at Dawlish Warren in November where he sits in third. The highlights section on the score submission form received yet another mouth watering list of species, simply put as follows: "Little Auk, 59K Wood Pigeon, Green Sand, BT Diver, Fieldfare, Lapwing, Tristis, YBW, Firecrest, Black Red, Bonaprte's Gull, SEO, Dartford W, Water Pipit".

Rarity find of the month undoubtedly goes to Andy Johnson with his Olive-backed Pipit at Sandy Point, just the 5th record for Hampshire but the second for his patch. Cracking stuff!

A Grey Phalarope which spent two days off Oldbury Power Station was new for Peter Hazelwood's PWC BirdTrack year list which is closing in on 250 lists and 11500 records.