It's the halfway point in the year and time for a look back
over the first six months for the
Inland Mini-leagues. I'll not get bogged down with point scores etc as that is
best left to the monthly reviews, this is more of a personal selection of the more
interesting sightings submitted in the highlights box and rough tally of best find
records.
Before I start, let's just recap on the prime purpose of the
Challenge, which is to record the species over time in a small area and make
those records available for others to use the data. So anyone who isn't logging
their sightings on Birdtrack needs to start now and with the mobile app it is
even possible to log sightings in the field.
2015 had been fairly quiet year for most patch-workers with
a lack of true megas until April when Tom Raven noticed an odd looking godwit
late in the day at his Shapwick Heath/ Ham Wall (South) patch. After swotting
up overnight he managed to re-find the bird the following day and put out the
gen. The first twitchable Hudsonian Godwit for a number of years and a bird
that hung around for some time allowing a huge number of people to catch up
with it. Sadly not me though.
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| Hudsonian Godwit - thanks to James Packer |
Back to the (no offence!) more run of the mill birds. A flock of 16 Bean Geese was a good start to the year for
Chris Bradshaw on his Wykeham Lakes patch (North), surprisingly no other Inland patch
workers reported this species. Alistair Forsyth at Old Nisthouse (Scotland) definitely
deserves a mention for his hat-trick of American ducks, Blue-winged and Green-winged
Teal in January and American Wigeon in March.
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| American Wigeon - thanks to Alistair Forsyth |
In Yorkshire, Rob Worsfold was in the right place at the
right time to score with a Velvet Scoter on his Tophill Low patch (N.) in
January. Moving across to our only migratory duck there was a definite Northern bias to the records
for Garganey, with 3 patch-workers connecting during April in Inland North,
whilst only Andy Stocker at Woolmer Forest managed to pick one up in Inland
South. As the year progressed more were found and the total now for the Inland
leagues is a dozen sites with Garganey.
The flyover Black Grouse that Steven Ward was lucky enough
to see was a patch first at Hawes & River Ure (N.) and he reckons it was
driven down from the hills by the poor weather.
Black-necked Grebes were found on several patches and that
is all we will say about them, as breeding was proven at a few sites and not publicised
at the time.
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| Black-necked Grebe - thanks to Joe Seymour |
A Night Heron was located by Tim Farr on his Sutton Bingham
Reservoir patch (South.). One of a few that were in the UK but he was the only
patch-worker lucky enough to connect.
Raptors next and I'll not put locations unless at well known
viewpoints. Osprey numbers were lower than expected with only 5 patches
recording birds, however Scott O'Hara at Forrest Estate (Sc.) had a bird in
March which was certainly early, oddly enough the most Southerly record was
also the latest in May. Black Kite at Wanstead in London assured Nick
Croft a mention, this is a bird I am sure is under recorded due to the relative
difficulty of separating Red and Black Kites. Five patches recorded wintering
Hen Harriers, 3 in Inland North, the others East Anglia, which is to be
expected as the geography of those areas favours the bird, shame the same can't
be said for their breeding areas. Surprisingly, given the numbers in the UK
last winter, there was only one patch-worker reporting Rough-legged Buzzard
during this winter. Well done Alison Allen at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe (E. A.) for
nailing the bird on her 5th attempt. The usual sites in Inland North and East
Anglia ensured that Honey Buzzard made the list, whilst there were 7 patches
that held Goshawk during the first half of the year, can't really say more than
that.
Common Cranes were found by several patch-workers in East
Anglia which is to be expected but mention should be made of a couple of
flyover birds away from there, Paul Massey found a singleton at Grindon Lough
in Northumberland, whilst Andy Walker really scored on the day he saw the bird
at North Duffield (N.) as it was the only day he was on patch during the whole
of May.
It was April before any waders of note were reported, the
Whimbrel seen by James Common Stobswood / Widdrington (N.) was a patch first,
five other patches also reported this species during April and May. The latter
month was when Andy Bunting found a Temminck's Stint at Martin Mere WWT (N.),
the following month Paul Massey (getting his second mention) found that most
prized wader, a Red-necked Phalarope, on his patch.
January's Little Gull at Felmingham (E. A.) was an
unexpected tick for Ashley McElwee, whilst in May Adam Bassett - Little Marlow
(So.) had the first Little Gull record for 10 years. Mediterranean Gull were
recorded on 10 patches, Iceland and Caspian on 4, while Yellow-legged were reported
from only 2 patches. White-winged Black Tern were found by both Andy Bunting
and Jamie Wells - Paxton Pits (E. A.).
Worryingly only 2 patches reported Turtle Dove, hopefully
more will be found during the later part of the year. Cuckoos were first reported
during April from 3 patches, with 3 more cropping up in May. Going all
crepuscular, owls of one species or another were reported in every month including proven
breeding of long eared owl at Goole Fields (N.) - congratulations Tom Lowe.
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| Turtle Dove - thanks to Jonny Rankin |
February's Woodlark was an early record for Joe Harkness at
Haveringland Hall (E.A.), the only other report for this species being from
Andy Walker in March. Last year's star bird, Blyth's Pipit hung around long
enough at Pugney's (N.) for Johnny Holliday and Hilary Milburn to add it to their 2015 patch lists, no finders bonus for Johnny this time though. April and the world went Ring Ouzel mad with 8 patches
reporting them, including a staggering count of 32 for Lizzie Bruce at her Roydon
Common NWT patch (E.A.), a sight I would have loved to have seen.
Warblers of one group or another were reported in every
month including, a Siberian Chiffchaff for Adam Bassett and a Dusky found at
Marton Mere LNR (N.) by David McGrath - both good January ticks. The Grasshopper
Warbler found by Nick Tonge at Rodley(N.) was a patch tick, while Roger Hicks
on his Henlow Grange patch (So.) found a bird that offers us a sobering lesson
- a Whitethroat that had Lesser Whitethroat rattle in its song.
Willow Tit were recorded on 4 patches during June -which as
those records are logged in to Birdtrack means that the information will be
contributing to the conservation program.
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| Golden Oriole - thanks to Sean Foote |
Andy Stocker gets his second mention for the only Great Grey
Shrike reported so far this year, while
Stuart Reeves - Mutford (E.A.) has the
only Golden Oriole, a heard only record though as these are decidedly tricky
birds to see, so a big thanks to Sean for allowing me to use his photo.
A bird of note was Pete Antrobus's Tree Sparrow on his Lachmaben
patch (Sc.) - the first record for 31 years! Mike Pilsworth - Swinefleet &
Reedness (N.) had good counts of both Linnets (600) and Corn Buntings (47)
during February, whilst Steven Ward managed a patch mega during the same month
with a Yellowhammer, proving that it doesn't have to be nationally rare to be a
mega on your patch.
Well I've worked my way through the species list and I hope
it has been an interesting read for you. Can't wait to see what the next 6
months brings for Patchwork Challenge.
