Inland South Minileague - December 2016

Congratulations Tim Farr! Sutton Bingham's finest has had an excellent year (you can read about it on a special blog post here). He had a great final month adding Firecrest and a Black-necked Grebe on the 31st December, an excellent finish to an excellent year which included finders point for a stunning Spotted Sandpiper amongst the most memorable moments.

Stephanie Brown finished in second, just a whisker ahead of Richard Scantlebury in third. Whilst no additions of note in December both had scored over 120%, a superb performance marked with annual highlights of Cetti's Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler respectively.

Twelve patch birders beat or matched their comparative target, three of whom ended up bang on 100%. Great effort all round.

Nigel Milbourne ends the year at Blagdon Lake on 198 points, an excellent total for an inland site and 25 points clear of his nearest competitor. Nigel has been birding Blagdon Lake for 24 years now, but December 2016 will go down in the memory as he added Jack Snipe, Bearded Tit and of course Blyth's Pipit to his patch list in the space of 48 hours. Congratulations to Nigel, the pipit really was a superb bird and finders points added too!

Blyth's Pipit (c) Nigel Milbourne (check out the Blagdon Lake birds website)

Playing for the podium spots, Tom Raven (he of Hudsonian Godwit fame) takes second place despite no additions in December. Brendan Sheils could not take advantage however, and ends in third. Well done all.

December turned up a few good birds around the Inland South league aside from the Blyth's Pipit. A Glossy Ibis at Stoke Newington was an excellent find for Chris Farthing as was an inland Brent Goose. The Cattle Egret influx in December made it's way onto Ollie Thomas's Puddletown list whilst a Little Stint was an unseasonable addition to the Longham Lakes yearlist.

A Yellow-browed Warbler found it's way to Wanstead in December. Caspian Gulls were found in December at Grimsbury Reservoir and Rye Meads while Scaup found their way inland at Dinton Pastures and Linford Lakes. Finally, a good December for Neil Burt saw Grey Partridge, Woodcock and White-Fronted Goose keep the score ticking up right to the end.

Well done to everyone who competed in the Inland South league in 2016. Hopefully we will see many of those in the points league this year move into the comparative league also in 2017. It really was an excellent year, with amongst the highlights Herts' first Bonaparte's Gull, Black Stork, Red-Footed Falcon, Ortolan Bunting, White-tailed Eagle, Wryneck, Spotted Sandpiper and Blyth's Pipit. An amazing year and a credit to those covering a network of patches right across the south.

2016 Review - Sutton Bingham Reservoir by Tim Farr

Patchwork Challenge 2016 - Sutton Bingham Reservoir

Report by Tim Farr

I had a pretty good year in 2015 and honestly thought I would be heard pressed in beating last year’s total, but I guess hard work pays off and 2016 turned out to be a real cracker of a year with four patch lifers and some quality rarities to boot. As always my apologies for the photographs…I rely on phone-scoped record shots!

January

Not a bad start to the year with a January 1^st visit producing a drake Shoveler amongst the regular wintering Wigeon. A Stonechat kindly stayed in to the New Year and got added to the list alongside Kestrel and Little Grebe. Just a couple of days later I found a small flock of Lesser Redpoll, a species I’d not seen on patch for a couple of years and a week later I added Marsh Tit, a species which took eight months to get on to the year list in 2015! Some annoying news was received on 14^th January as a fellow birder had flushed a Jack Snipe, despite trying a couple of times I failed...my first patch dip of the year, and unfortunately not my last! A spontaneous lunchtime visit on 21^st, always a bit of a rush, turned out to be an inspired decision with a group of eight Pintail and three Shelduck present off the dam. An adult Mediterranean Gull was a mid-month highlight, as was a female Gadwall. A pretty respectable 64 species of bird had been recorded by the months end.

Pintail – 21st January 2016

February
The month started late with my first visit being on 7^th but that did produce a Peregrine. Despite some nice birds being seen, nothing was added to the year list for a week when a flock of Golden Plover flew through heading north, a real unexpected bonus with it being several years since the last time I’d seen this species on patch. On the morning of 19^th I spent a bit of time working an area that I thought may get me Jack Snipe back, and the birding Gods were with me as I flushed a single bird, that made up for missing this species in January and was only my second ever patch Jack Snipe! A couple more common species were added before the end of the month. Eight species added to the year list, which was now at 72 species.

March

A Shelduck early in the month was a surprise, not an annual visitor to Sutton Bingham, so two records (of four birds) in a year is pretty good. Then is all happened on 19^th March when a quick pre-work visit produced my first patch tick of the year with an Avocet seen on a pontoon off the Sailing Club. Unfortunately it was flushed by sailors shortly after I left and only one other local birder got on it. The end of the month produced the expected Swallows and Sand Martins as well as my first Chiffchaff. The year list had risen to 77 species.

Avocet – 19th March 2016

April

The first of the month produced the first Willow Warbler of the Spring, a handful of “late” Fieldfares and a fly-over Yellow Wagtail. A week later and the first Blackcap was back on territory and a day later a couple of adult Great Black-backed Gulls were present. Six Common Cranes on 9^th provided a little excitement, though being from the Somerset Levels reintroduction scheme I didn’t add them to the list! A couple of days later and widespread news of Little Gulls moving throughout the UK meant I had to stop off on my way home from work, and sure enough two adult Little Gulls were present, my first at Sutton Bingham since 2001. Another Shelduck passed through and two drake Mandarin were noted and the first passage Common Sandpipers arrived on exactly the same date as they did in 2015 and peaked at 25 birds on 17^th. Four Whimbrel were seen mid-month followed by another individual a few days later, the latter on the same pontoon as March’s Avocet. Finally, a Northern Willow Warbler was a new sub-species for me at Sutton Bingham. A busy and productive month with the total of species having risen to 89.

Great Black-backed Gull – 8th April 2016

Whimbrel – 27th April 2016

May
With trips to the Isles of Scilly and visits to friends in Essex and West Sussex meant little time on patch, just two species were added during the month with a Hobby a nice addition to the patch list. I did however dip an adult Black Tern that lingered for less than an hour and had gone by the time I could nip out during my lunch break. All in all May turned out to be a rather quiet month with the total rising to 91 species.

June

Rather embarrassingly a Feral Pigeon produced my 100^th Patchwork Challenge point of the year, and I missed a Pochard early in the month. I managed to finally add Little Egret to the patch list and a couple of waders added a bit of class, Redshank is expected annually but a couple of fly-through Curlew were an unexpected bonus. Steadily approaching the century, the year list was at 95 at the end of the month.

Little Egret – 18th June 2016

July

Things really took off during July. Two more Redshanks turned up and yet another Shelduck, both good birds but not year ticks. Up to three adult Great Black-backed Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull were present during the course of the month and then a touch of class with a summer-plumaged Dunlin near the dam. A patch lifer in the form of a Fulvous Whistling Duck failed to make the list, despite it being a rather smart bird! My first patch Sandwich Tern for fifteen years was found on 13^th July, but it was gone the next day. Another wader in the form of a Greenshank was added to the list with a second bird a few days later. These were soon followed by a Green Sandpiper and a couple of fly-through Common Terns. Hearing an Oystercatcher whilst collecting my son in East Coker spurred me in to zooming down the road “just in case” and sure enough it had landed at the reservoir, right time and right place, and another quality patch year tick in the form of a Black-tailed Godwit (I’d missed two earlier in the year) rounded off the month. Patch lifer number two of the year came in the form of a female-type Black Redstart present on the dam one morning. No idea what that was doing there or where it came from. This was a long-awaited addition to my patch list, though I was always thinking one would turn up in the winter! A really productive month brought up the total to 103 species for the year, matching my entire 2014 total.

Sandwich Tern – 13th July 2016

 Yellow-legged Gull – 26th July 2016

 Black-tailed Godwit – 29th July 2016

August

The month continued as July had ended with a few quality birds on patch, starting on 4^th when I found a very smart summer-plumaged Spotted Sandpiper! Stupidly I had left my phone in the car so the best record shot I got was a few days later. Arguably the bird of the year, though as it spent most of the time in an inaccessible area of the reservoir arranging access was a headache with many visiting birders ignoring instructions and a few trespassing…it makes one think twice about sharing bird news! The month continued with a fine supporting cast as another Shelduck appeared, this one staying for nearly two months. Two more Oystercatchers dropped in and my first patch Lapwing of the year was a one-day bird on 15^th. An early Teal popped in mid-month and fly-through birds included a Tree Pipit and a female-type Garganey.  A couple of Green Sandpipers and a hand full of Greenshank were also noted during the month, which ended on another high with an Osprey being present. Another great summer month had pushed the year list to 108 species which equaled my previous year list record, set in 2015…and still four months to go!

Spotted Sandpiper (honest!) – 8th Aug 2016

Oystercatcher – 11th Aug 2016

Shelduck – 9th Aug 2016

September

The summer continued in to autumn with another half a dozen species added during September. The Osprey popped up on 1^st but that was it whilst a day later my highest single count of Black-tailed Godwit as a flock of fifteen flew south. On 3^rd September in heavy rain I found a Pectoral Sandpiper, present just until the rain cleared at lunchtime, when it did a bunk, this was my second for Sutton Bingham, the previous one was also found by yours truly back in 2001. The first of a hand full of Whinchats turned up on 4^th and my first patch Wheatear for several years was seen on 10^th. A little bit of excitement a few days later with three Lapwing on the West Pool and a female Blue-headed Wagtail was in a private area of the reservoir (where a Yellow Wagtail had been earlier in the month). The first Wigeon of the winter arrived on 15^th and a few White Wagtails were noted. Another couple of year ticks were added nearer the end of the month with three Spotted Flycatchers and my first patch Garden Warbler for an age both logged. The end of the month yielded a Stonechat and the patch year list had grown to 114 species.

Lapwing – 14th Sept 2016

Spotted Flycatcher – 18th Sept 2016

Blue-headed Wagtail – 14th Sept 2016

October

A Pintail was seen at the start of the month, and spent a few days on and off at the reservoir during the month, though it was more often absent than present. A couple of Green Sandpipers were loitering at the start of the month and a Redshank passed through on 7^th. Another patch dip on the 12^th, this time I missed a Red Kite, still a very scarce bird at Sutton Bingham but a Siberian Chiffchaff, a nice vocal and showy example to boot, a couple of days later was some consolation. Wigeon and Teal numbers steadily grew as the month progressed and the first Mediterranean Gulls of the winter were noted. A birthday day present came in the form of a calling Red-legged Partridge, just my third patch record for this species. October ended with a mini Goose-fest. A first winter Eurasian White-fronted Goose dropped in on the evening of 26^th with a flock of Canada Geese, and amazingly a Barnacle Goose also dropped in. A Common Sandpiper was still lingering to the end of the month also and a drake Goosander flew through on 28^th. The patch year list was now standing at 118 species.

Green Sandpiper – 5th Oct 2016

Common Gull – 16th Oct 2016

White-fronted Goose – 26th Oct 2016

November

The month started well with a female Goldeneye seen on 5^th, but that proved to be my only addition for the month, but a small grey and white wader seen in flight could have been good if only it had been close enough to identify. That being said there was a little bit of quality with the Barnacle Goose being seen on a couple of occasions and another Goosander, this time a redhead, being seen (followed by another drake at the end of the month) A pair of Shoveler were noted as were a couple of Mandarin, a drake Gadwall and a pair of Pintail but I missed four Egyptian Geese that didn’t linger long enough for me to try during my lunch break. That single addition rose the total to 119 species.

Barnacle Goose – 6th Nov 2016

Stonechat – 23rd Nov 2016

Goosander – 9th Nov 2016

December

It was a slow start to December, and to be perfectly honest I was not holding out much hope of adding anything to the year list, but with patch birding you just keep going. Rather unseasonal, a Great Black-backed Gull and Little Egret were one-day wonders and a sub-adult Peregrine kept an eye on things from a regular perch atop a pylon. A few nice winter plumaged Mediterranean Gulls were as ever a delight. Then as if from nowhere on the morning of 19^th a quick stop before work produced patch lifer number three of the year and great little gem to break the December duck…a Firecrest! Only the third record of Firecrest at Sutton Bingham and the first for thirty years. Things crept along quietly for the rest of the month but I did manage one final visit on 31^st to end the year. This proved to be an inspired decision as I found another patch lifer, this time a winter-plumaged Black-necked Grebe. What a way to end the year, and to add a little dusting of New Year joy a female Pochard completed the year list for 2017.

Black-necked Grebe – 31st Dec 2016

Mediterranean Gull – 20th Dec 2016

I ended up with a great total of 123 species in 2016, smashing my previous Sutton Bingham year list record. Just goes to show that hard work pays off, but I feel I will be hard pressed to match this total in 2017!

Inland South Minileague - November 2016

Stephanie Brown is having an excellent year on her Twyford patch and is topping the listings at 120%. Thrushes were her highlight of the month, but no additions of note means that Tim Farr and Richard Scantlebury are putting on the pressure to take the comparative league title. Tim Farr added Goldeneye this month, just his second patch record whilst Richard Scantlebury added Merlin. A good December could mean all change in the top three.

It is not just the comparative league which is tight at the top! Inland South is providing a real race to the line this year, and leader at the end of November is Nigel Milbourne at Blagdon Lake. He has assumed top spot by bagging bonus points for a Ring-Necked Duck as well as adding points for a brace of Long-Tailed Duck, both excellent patch birds. The lead is very slender, just a single point to Tom Raven in second but a certain Pipit in December should put this race beyond doubt! Tom's update this month includes October and his participation in the Yellow-Browed invasion with two birds found on patch. Top three is made up by Brendan Sheils, although he will have to turn up something special to close the gap to top spot.

Other highlights this month pointed to the onset of winter. Goosander and Goldeneye were added at patches as were Jack Snipe and Merlin. A dark-bellied Brent Goose was an excellent find at Little Marlow by Adam Bassett, but no points as it was his second of the year despite being just the third ever for patch. Perhaps a somewhat less attractive member of the family, an Egyptian Goose added a point for James McCulloch and helped him to bring up the ton of species this month.

Dark-Bellied Brent Goose was a third record for Adam Bassett, but the second this year. (c/o Adam Bassett)

Martin Wood had a trio of Great White Egrets at Longham Lakes, GWE becoming such a regular feature of updates now across the country. A ringtail Hen Harrier hunting for two days at Neil Burt's Conningbrook Lakes patch was definitely a highlight and something many patchers would love to see. A Black Redstart was also a fine record for Tim Farr at his West Sherborne patch where every new two pointer will make for a challenging comparative score for 2017!

Egrets just never get dull for me - 3 Great White Egrets lit up November at Longham Lakes (c/o Martin Wood)

Finally, a dose of the distant summer, a late Sand Martin was perhaps the most surprising record of all in November for James McCulloch.

Inland South Minileague - October 2016

Tree Sparrow - Chris Bessant

Stephanie Brown remains top of the Inland South comparative minileague despite no further additions in October. Her score of 120% for her Twyford patch is still 3% clear of Tim Farr. Tim had an excellent October at Sutton Bingham Reservoir with highlights including Siberian Chiffchaff, Red-legged Partridge (3rd patch record), White-fronted Goose (2nd patch record) plus Barnacle Goose and Goosander. Richard Scantlebury also makes progress as he holds third on 111% with Water Rail his highlight. There were no new centurions this month but a number of contestants are very close with seven over 97%.

Tom Raven fails to add in October as he remains on 167 points. Nigel Milbourne closes the gap on his local rival as a White-tailed Eagle in the Poldens graces his Blagdon Lake patch to move up to second. Brendan Shiels again makes no further additions and risks falling fro the podium as Ian Bennell gains ground.

Ian Bennell had an Aythya month to remember as he added Ring-necked Duck and Ferruginous Duck although it was just three point rations. Adam Bassett also got involved in the Aythya fun with a Scaup at Little Marlow. Nick Croft caught up with Hawfinch and Woodlark but missed the first Wanstead Great Grey Shrike in 40 years. At East Verwood, Mark Andrew's had a quartet of Spoonbills overflying his garden and finally at Stoke Newington there was a Ring Ouzel for Chris Farthing.

Inland South - September 2016

Ortolan - Nick Croft at Wanstead

Stephanie starts to find herself being closed down at the top of the comparative minileague after a second blank month. Tim Farr springs from fifth to second thanks to a double dose of bonus points for Pectoral Sandpiper and Blue-headed Wagtail. Dropping to third is Richard Scantlebury in Bristol who fails to add this month. Roger Murfitt becomes the seventh member of the 100% club this month thanks to the first site Curlew Sandpiper in 9 years at Moor Green Lakes. There are a further 9 patchers in the 90%+ bracket so expect further additions next time out.

Tom Raven reclaims top spot at Shapwick Heath/Ham Wall after the additions of Pectoral Sandpiper and Black-necked Grebe although there were no bonus points this time. Still no further update from Brendan Sheils at Trent Manor farm but he remains in second whilst at Blagdon, Nigel Milbourne is in third place after usurping Ian Bennell. Nigel added the third site record of Spoonbill this month.

Spotted Flycatcher - Chris Bessant at Maple Cross

Elsewhere there was an Ortolan found by Nick Croft at Wanstead. Adam Bassett had a Brent Goose and Jack Snipe at Little Marlow GPs and Chris Bessant had a Spotted Flycatcher at Maple Cross. At Grimsbury, Gareth Blockley managed to connect with his first Marsh Tit in three years. James McCulloch had a Black Tern at Hedgecourt NR on the lake. Redstart and Garganey were Marek Walford's star birds this month at Dinton pastures. Martin Kettell gets in on the act with a patch Bar-tailed Godwit as did Steve Chastell whilst Roger Hicks also got in on the waders with Greenshank and a patch first Grey Plover. Martin Wood scored with a Little Gull which was his first on patch at Longham Lakes. Finally at Puddletown there was a Wryneck for Ollie Thomas but alas just the three points this time.  

Inland South Minileague - August 2016

Stephanie Brown stays top of the comparative league despite drawing a blank this month. Richard Scantlebury makes some inroads as he moves to 108% but he will have to put in a big performance to close the gap entirely. Tom Stevenson's Battle Farm patch rounds off the top three as he goes over the 100% mark and leap frogs Ian Bennell in the process. His best bits for August include Spotted Flycatcher and Lesser Whitethroat.

A Common Sandpiper at Sutton Bingham Reservoir in the same place as the Spotted Sandpiper. If you use your imagination... With thanks to Tim Farr

There was no update from Brendan this month but he remains top of the minileague on points with Tom Raven equally static in second. Ian Bennell closes up three points to the leaders to remain in third position thanks to Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff and Green Sandpiper.

Two patchers got bonus points for Honey Buzzards this month as migrants graced Roger Murfitt and James McCulloch's patches. Bird of the month was undoubtedly the spotty Spotted Sandpiper at Sutton Bingham Reservoir which was unearthed by Tim Farr. Tim didnt manage a photo sadly so we have a Common Sandpiper in as proxy. A Gannet graced Blagdon Lake and Nigel Milbourne managed to connect with the bird whilst at Dinton Pastures there was a Nightjar roosting openly in a tree for Marek Walford to enjoy. Ashley Boelens managed to see a Great White Egret on patch at Manor Farm and over at East Verwood, Mark Andrews scored with an Osprey.

Inland South Minileague - July 2016

Stephanie Brown added just a point in July for Common Sandpiper but it is more than enough to keep her clear at the top of the comparative minileague on 120%. Richard Scantlebury makes no further progress this time out and stays in second and Ian Bennell is also staic in third place although both are over the 100% mark. Tom Stevenson jumps in to fourth spot and is a shade under the magic 100% climbing three places this time.

Brendan Sheils jumps to the top of the minileague having submitted his first score of the year at Trent Manor Farm. He supplants perennial leader, Tom Raven who isn't a million miles off his comparative score although there was no update for July (it seems plenty of inland birders have had a quiet month). And as we know Ian Bennell hasn't updated this time out either so he remains on 148 points, 16 behind our new leader.

Roger Murfitt managed the only bonus points of the month with Great White Egret providing him with a handy 6 points. Other good bits include a patch lifer for Tim Farr at Sutton Bingham in the form of a Black Redstart and similarly a Pied Flyctacher for Adam Bassett whilst not a first was notworthy at Little Marlow. Neil Burt is one of the lucky few to record Turtle Dove this year and in conjunction with Spotted Flycatcher as well. James McCulloch found an Arctic Tern amongst the Commons at Hedgecourt NR and a few people mentioned Med Gulls and Common Sandpipers. Its pretty quiet but not for long. We know there is a Yank Wader in August but who for and how many points?

Inland South Minileague - June 2016

Despite no additional points at Twyford, Stephanie Brown maintains her healthy lead in the Inland South comparative minileague. Richard Scantlebury also drew a blank at Fishponds in Bristol meaning that Ian Bennell had the opportunity to close the gap. The Tring based patcher duly obliged with 4% added this month taking him over the 100% mark and into virgin territory courtesy of a Common Scoter and Black-necked Grebe combo.

No news from the Avalon marshes means Tom Raven has his lead chipped away at by Ian Bennell. Adam Bassett adds a single point to ensure he stays in third place and whilst the pickings may be slim, patch Black-tailed Godwits are never to be sniffed at.

Black-necked Grebes at Stoke Newington - Chris Farthing

There were no bonus points this month but there was some quality in the form of a pair of Black-necked Grebes for Chris Farthing at Stoke Newington reservoirs. Gareth Blockley found his second patch Nuthatch at Grimsbury Reservoir after one last year. Paul Freestone managed to get in on the now annual Red Kite passage in the South West with 10+ birds over his garden whilst also adding Osprey, Hobby and Grasshopper Warbler this month. There was a Peregrine for Martin Wood and a Hobby for Steve Chastell whilst at Sutton Bingham Tim Farr recorded his first Redshank and Curlew of the year.

Inland South Minileague - May 2016

Stephanie is having her best ever year at Twyford and is top of the Inland South comparative table adding Common Tern, Cetti's Warbler and Hobby in May. She is on a heady 118%, way ahead of Richard Scantlebury who holds on to second place despite a quiet month. Ian Bennell at Tring Reservoirs takes over in third as he crests 100% although just 5% covers 3rd-8th. Ian's star bird was a Roseate Tern, just the 3rd for Hertfordshire and the 2nd site record. 

Roseate Tern c/o Ian Bennell

Returning migrants see Tom Raven add 26 points at Shapwick Heath to create a gap to second where Ian Bennell resides. Adam Bassett at Little Marlow is in third place, up a spot from April with Black Terns, Little Gull, Cuckoo and a second site Cetti's Warbler this month.

Honey Buzzard c/o Josie Hewitt

Away from the top and find of the month goes to Mark Andrews at East Verwood with a Red-footed Falcon seen from his new 'watchpoint'/patio. There were also bonus points for Josie Hewitt at Blackbushe Airfield with an overflying Honey Buzzard. Several patches recorded inland Arctic Terns, Sanderling and Cuckoos. A Black-necked Grebe for Martin Wood at Longham Lakes and a Brent Goose for Matt Phelps at South Guildford were probably the pick of the rest.

Inland South Minileague - April 2016

 Stephanie Brown at Twyford and Richard Scantlebury at Fishponds in Bristol both breach 100%. Richard's highlights include Reed Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher whilst Stephanie adds Lesser Redpoll and Marsh Tit. Marek Walford is in third place.

With Lee Evans deciding to drop out of the competition the Inland South points league has a familiar feel with newly crowned Forest Optics Best Find 2016 winner Tom Raven now leading the line. Ian Bennell is in second place after a productive month which included patch ticks of Ring Ouzel and Short-eared Owl and the top three is rounded off by Nick Croft at Wanstead who added Osprey, Redstart and Ring Ouzel in the 'burbs of London.

Tree Pipit - Chris Bessant

Best find this month was undoubtedly by Rob Hill who turned up a Gannet at Linford NR. There were two Black-winged Stilts at for him at Manor Farm which Ashley Beolens also saw although it wasn't a find for either. Chris Bessant had a Tree Pipit at Maple Cross and other summer migrants were spread widely with many patchers getting Ring Ouzel and Redstart. Tom Stevenson had a Garganey at Dorchester Gravel Pits and a Merlin for Tim Farr at West Sherbourne.