Midlands Minileague - December 2016

The first Yellowhammer in seven years for Tom Shields at Holme Pierrepoint helps seal his victory in the Midlands Comparative Minileague with 120.49%.

Nick Crouch didn't manage to add any new species during December and as such must settle for a very close second place. Matthew Dick added Common Gull, Merlin and Shoveler at Darley Dale, boosting his fifth place comp score by an additional 4%. However he would surely have traded these and more for the Dusky Thrush that was just a mile from his patch!

A total of 18 patchers made it into the 100% club with John Hopper the last to join after adding four points with Great Northern Diver and White-fronted Goose at Hoveringham.

Steve Nuttall is crowned King of the Midlands (well, in the Points Minileague anyway!) after Erik Ansell and Rod Baker failed to topple him. Steve added Grey Phalarope to take him three points clear of the Rutland set who are tied in joint second place after Erik closed the gap with Green-winged Teal and White-fronted Goose. Finishing in fourth, Ben Ward needed a miracle to close the 19 point gap between his humble Whisby patch and the giants of Rutland and Belvide. As previously mentioned Nick Crouch had no new additions but comfortably secured fifth place. 

Only a single 3 point species was added during the month, a Green-winged Teal at Rutland. Intriguingly a Surf Scoter there in late December failed to make it on to either patchers lists.

With close to 60 patch birders taking part in the Midlands Points Minileague in 2016, the Comparative Minileague should be even busier in 2017!

Grey Phalarope at Belvide (c) Steve Nuttall

Midlands Minileague - November 2016

It’s as you were in the top 5 of this month’s Midlands comparative minileague table. Just a ½ percent separates Tom Shields and Nick Crouch, with Nick adding Bewick’s Swan and Raven during the month, the latter being a new patch bird.  Despite being out of the country for two weeks Phil Hyde managed to move up to 6^th place stealing it from an equally disadvantaged Andy Simms whose Tanzania trip saw him slip to 7^th place. Mike Wakeman was the only joiner of the 100% club this month, though John Hopper is tantalizingly close and will surely make it by the year end.

All change at the top of the points minileague as Steve Nuttall rises to the top after adding another 8 points with Whooper Swan, Smew, Great Northern Diver and Slavonian Grebe. Rod Baker moves to 2^nd place with his Rutland Water rival Erik Ansell dropping to 3^rd place.

Bewick's Swan (c) Neil Duggan

A Hen Harrier was a patch tick for all three Upton Warren participants. Other patchers recording firsts were; Pete Fontana with 3 Pintail and Matthew Hazleton with a duo of Bearded Tit and Woodcock.  Rhys Chivers unfortunately missed out on finder's points for the Glossy Ibis at Soar Valley – though 4 points this late in the year shouldn’t be sniffed at.

Midlands Minileague - October 2016

Craig Round's vismig Great Grey Shrike at Lutley Wedge

Tom Shields moves up from third to first place in the comparative Midlands minileague table. He moves on to 118% thanks to additions in the form of Slavonian Grebe and Woodcock. Nick Crouch holds second place on 117% at Collingham and Besthorpe having also added Slavonian Grebe as well as Brambling, Rock Pipit and Water Rail. Laurie Ison moves up from sixth to third this month in an incredibly tight leave. He sits on 116% having added Bittern and Water Pipit. Steven Lewis and Espen Quinto-Ashman are the newest 100%ers and both stormed past this mark.

Erik Ansell leads on 211 points at Rutland Water having gained three points in October for Little Gull and Rock Pipit. Steve Nuttall at Belvide Reservoir stays in touch on 209 points after an eclectic haul of Purple Sandpiper, Mandarin, Hawfinch, Firecrest and Rock Pipit. Rod Baker adds five points but slips into third place.

There were two sets of bonus points for Yellow-browed Warbler this month as Ben Ward managed the first record for Whisby Nature Reserve and Andy Mackay got in on the act at Eyebrook Reservoir. There was a Great White Egret for Andy Sims at Boultham Mere and a Great Grey Shrike for Matthew Dick at Darley Dale. Perhaps the most remarkable record this month was a vismig Great Grey Shrike captured on camera by Craig Round at Lutley Wedge.

Steve Nuttall's Purple Sandpiper at Belvide Reservoir

Other notable birds included Lapland Bunting and Hooded Crow for Rhys Dandy at Cropston and Swithland and Espen Quinto-Ashman's haul of Great White Egret, Bearded Tit, Cetti's Warbler and White-fronted Goose at Wellington GPs. Steven Lewis added White-fronted Goose at Welby and finally and Toby Carter had his first Mediterranean Gull at Grimston.

Midlands Minileague - September 2016

Richard Harbird's Honey Buzzard at Morton Bagot

John Clarkson remains static at the top of the table but his score also remains static and Nick Crouch is just a whisker away after adding 6% in September. Nick's month featured Temminck's Stint and Osprey and he upgraded his Great White Egret with finders points. Tom Shields holds on to third place on 111% but doesn't add anything further as Phil Hyde closes up on the podium.

The points league has reverted to Rutland 1-2 with Erik top by 7 points on 208 and Rod in second. Erik found Rutland's first Ruddy Duck in three years and also added Pectoral Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank to keep him on top whilst in second Rod also connected with the Pec. There is a third contender and Steve Nuttall runs the Rutland boys close and is just a further point behind on 200 to hold third place and added Great White Egret, Cetti's Warbler, Curlew Sandpiper and Grey Plover this month.

Best find this month by far was Dave Roberts' Solitary Sandpiper at Marston Sewage Works. Sadly in a private area this mega wasn't available to the masses but kudos to Dave for the find. Elsewhere Jacob Spinks found Honey Buzzard and Great White Egret at Pitsford Reservoir and Richard Harbird also added Honey Buzzard as one overflew Morton Bagot. At Soar Valley, Rhys Chivers connected with American Wigeon but had to contend with just the three points. Andy Ambrose, Mike Wakeman and John Belsey were lucky enough to see both Baird's Sandpiper and Sabine's Gull this month at Upton Warren. Finally Carl Cornish managed to see Crane at Langford Lowfields. 

I'm sorry if we missed your highlight but there were just too many to list...

Midlands Minileague - August 2016

Gannet at Belvide - Steve Nuttall

John Clarkson remains top of the Midlands comparative minileague adding 6% this month with his second patch record of Marsh Harrier and his first Reed Warbler and Osprey. Tom Shields jumps from fourth to second on 111% and challenging hard. His best bird was proper #patchgold with a Purple Sandpiper at Holme Pierrepoint. Other goodies included Bittern, Little Stint and Sandwich Tern. Nick Crouch slides to third on 108% after adding Tree Sparrow and Whinchat.

Erik Ansell remains at the tip of the pyramid and maintains his 5 point lead thanks to Little Stint, Long-tailed Duck and Curlew Sandpiper at Rutland. Steve Nuttall splits the Rutland patchers thanks to the Gannet featured above plus Black-necked Grebe, Tree Pipit and Ruff. Rod Baker drops to third but is only a decent find away from top spot after also adding Long-tailed Duck this month.

Temmick's Stint at Whisby - Ben Ward

Bonus points were in limited supply but Ben Ward managed to find a Temminck's Stint at Whisby for 3 extras. Many patchers had scarcer waders featuring this month and Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and Spotted Redshank were widespread highlights as were Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchats and Redstarts. There was an Osprey for Carl Cornish and Andy Mackay connected with a Great White Egret at Eyebrook whilst Sam Pitt Miller got far too excited about a Red-crested Pochard (6 exclamation marks?).

Patchgold Goosander - Dave Roberts at Marston STW

Midlands - July 2016

Just a single addition for John Clarkson with Great Black-backed Gull keeping him ahead of Nick Crouch at Collingham in second spot. Nick climbs 4 places from sixth thanks to Quail, Great White Egret, Wood Sandpiper and Mediterranean Gull. A fine showing to breach 100% including bonus points for the Egret. Phil Hyde remains in third place having leapfrogged Tom Shields with Sand Martin and Spotted Flycatcher his best bits this time out. Matthew Dick who patches Darley Dale is our latest to 100% in the Midlands with a patch first Oystercatcher the culprit. 

Steve Nuttall slips into joint second position in the points league surrendering his lead to Erik Ansell with Rod Baker level on 184 with Steve. Erik adds Roseate Tern plus Marsh Harrier and Wood Sandpiper with Rod only connecting with the Rosy. Steve Nuttall added three points consisting of Pied Flycatcher and Barn Owl.

Grasshopper Warbler - Richard Harbird

The only bonus points this month aside from at Collingham were also for a Great White Egret at Willington GPs for Mark Gash. Ben Ward added a Wood Sandpiper at Whisby, and at Marston Sewage Works there was Turtle Dove, Yellow-legged Gull and Egyptian Goose for Dave Roberts. Grasshopper Warbler was new for Richard Harbird and as were Whinchat and Redstart for Rob Swift. Andrew Chick had a Turtle Dove in his garden whilst Jack Bradbury had a Hobby hunting Swifts over the 'toxic pool'.  

Midlands Minileagues - June 2016

John Clarkson defends his position at the top of the comparative table, adding a further 4% in June to extend his lead. His highlight this month was a Red Kite soaring over the garden. Tom Shields recaptures second place with 3% added this month and Phil Hyde stakes his claim on the podiun and becomes the 5th member of the 100% club in the Midlands after patch ticking Sedge Warbler and Curlew as he also broke the 100 points mark.

Steve Nuttall only added two points this month but stays top of the points minileague thanks to a timely Avocet. Rod Baker overhauls his Rutland rival, Erik Ansell, to retake second place and moves within 4 points of the lead after a brace of Little Terns graced the giant reservoir. Erik made no additions this month.

Red-crested Pochard and hybrid young - Jacob Spinks

Best find this month was a Great White Egret for Ben Ward to earn him 6 points at Whisby. Rob Swift at Radford meadows adds Cuckoo this month, a species which can be very hit and miss in the lowlands. There was a Dipper for Pete Fontana at Trentham Gardens and Matthew Dick at Darley Dale adds Quail and Red Kite. Matt Griffiths found the first Black-necked Grebe at Earlswood since 1955. A Red-crested Pochard was present for Edward Betteridge at Throckmorton Lagoons as we scrape the barrel for highlights... Its autumn now though!

Midlands Minileague - May 2016

John Clarkson climbs from 5th to 1st in the comparative minileague as he becomes the first of four patchers to break the all important 100% mark and early as well. This month at Louth, John's highlight was a Hobby over the town centre. Friendly rival, Andy Sims, slips to second spot but he also breaks the 100% mark with his best bits including his first patch Black Tern for 13 years and 2nd patch record of Ringed Plover when a trio touched down. Tom Shields keeps hold of third place and also leaps the 100% hurdle with a brace of Temminck's Stints. An honourable mention goes to Rhys Chivers who is just 3.65% off the top and is the final member of the 100% club this month thanks to Wood Sandpiper and Whimbrel.

For the first time this year Rutland loses its grip on top spot in the points league as Steve Nuttall at Belvide takes over. He was aided by a monster haul of two-pointers including Roseate Tern, Black Tern, Little Stint, Little Tern, Garganey, Marsh Harrier and Red Kite plus 6 points for finding a Temminck's Stint. Just a point between the Rutlanders with Erik Ansell in second place overall on 176 having added Red-necked Phalarope and Knot which also happens to be his rival, Rod Baker's highlights.

Best finds this month are Toby Carter's Purple Heron at Grimston and Ben Ward's Whiskered Tern at Whisby, both crackers. Other three pointers hosted by patchers in the Midlands include a Temminck's Stint for John Hopper. There was a Great Reed Warbler for Mark Gash at Willington GPs and a Glossy Ibis for Kate Thorpe at RSPB Middleton Lakes.

Whiskered Tern, Whisby c/o Ben Ward

Midlands Minileague - April 2016

Andy Sims has climbed to the top of the comparative tree for the Midlands minileague from his March position of third. This is testament to the time and effort Andy puts into his patch and a little bird tells me he may be across the 100% mark now... In April Andy had his first Little Ringed Plover in 33 years for the site. Rhys Chivers adds 17% to move into second place. He added Wood Warbler, Avocet and Yellow-legged Gull this time out. On the third step of the podium is Tom Shields at Holme Pierrepoint who moves up from ninth position. He adds his first site Grasshopper Warbler plus Avocet and Whimbrel.

Erik's lead at Rutland is cut to three points as Rod Baker makes up ground. Erik added Short-eared Owl, Redstart and Red-breasted Merganser. John Hopper remains in contact on 156 points at Hoveringham as he adds a first site record of Cetti's Warbler plus Brent Goose and Osprey. There were no bonus points this month but plenty of highlights were shared about.

Hen Harrier - Steve Nuttall at Belvide Reservoir

There was a Siberian Chiffchaff at Evesham for Edward Betteridge plus his second site Yellow Wagtail. Little Gulls were a feature on inland waters with birds noted at 5 sites. Some tern passage also occurred with Sandwich Terns at Upton Warren whilst Kate Thorpe had an Arctic Tern at Middleton Lakes RSPB. Ospreys passed through a number of sites including Tame Valley, Welby, Old Bollingbroke and Grimston. Steve Nuttall had the rather smart male Hen Harrier featured above. There were a brace of Black Redstarts for Matt Griffiths constituting his first record for Earlswood. Matt Hazelton managed to connect with Wood Sandpiper on both his patches and scarcer migrants abounded.

Midlands Minileague - March 2016

Andrew Chick continues to lead at Fulbeck with three further points added in March taking him to 81.6% with a herd of 25 Whooper Swans his highlight. Phil Hyde is in second spot just 2% behind with a patch tick of Nuthatch this month. Andy Sims goes over the century of points and moves onto 78.5%. At Boultham Mere Andy added Kittiwake which is his 4th record and also 9 Black-tailed Godwits which were the 2nd record in the last 10 years there.

Apologies for the tiny writing now in the minileagues - there are just so many of you in the Midlands - best to enlarge for a better view. Erik Ansell at Rutland continues to lead and is on a monster 141 points including Garganey and Pink-footed Goose. Rod Baker is nine points back with his March highlight a Firecrest. John Hopper is in third place having added 28 points this month. His brace of Cranes for six points were the highlight but an inland Kittiwake was also not to be sniffed at and neither was the flock of 49 Common Scoter. 

female Brambling at RSPB Langford - Carl Cornish

The other set of bonus points this month were for Matthew Hazelton who uncovered a Great White Egret at Summer Leys for 6 points. Another Great White Egret was at Linford NR where Rob Hill managed to see it. Elsewhere there were floods of migrants coming in and going out. Three patchers managed to connect with Garganey and two had Ospreys pass through. As mentioned above Kittiwakes were a feature and six patchers managed to find them. One lucky patcher managed a Midlands Goshawk but we wont elaborate further for obvious reasons.

Midlands Minileague - February 2016

In the Midlands the leading trio from January remain in situ for February and in the same order. Andrew Chick adds six species but can't as yet get that first two pointer. Phil Hyde made similar progress at East Keal in second place although early migrants were in evidence with Blackcap and Chiffchaff both notched. Andy Sims is in third spot ensuring the top three all break the 70% mark. Seven new species and 11 points this month for Andy with his third Short-eared Owl at Boultham Mere in 33 years. Other highlights for him included a female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Marsh Harrier.

Its now a Rutland Water 1-2 with Erik Ansell making his bow in top spot and leading Rod Baker by 5 species and points. Both listed their highlight this month as the Long-billed Dowitcher although neither managed to register any bonus points. Steve Nuttall at Belvide is in third spot on 113 points, only three behind Rod. Steve managed to turn up a trio of decent February birds with Merlin, Bittern and Iceland Gull all gracing his scoresheet.

Espen Quinto-Ashman's Siberian Chiffchaff, Wellington GPs

Away from the top three there were plenty of birds - the minileague extended to 56(!?!) players this month so there will be plenty of competition from top to bottom. There was a three pointer for Marc Landsdowne on his Trent Valley patch in Leicestershire as a Crane overflew him on the 23rd Feb. Steve Haynes at Tame Valley managed to connect with a Siberian Chiffchaff on his patch after 10 hours of patient waiting. Steven Lewis at Welby got a patch record count of 18 Jack Snipe whilst at Matthew Hazelton's Summer Leys patch he managed to record his first Pink-footed Goose.

Zac Hinchcliffe got a probable site first record of Water Rail at Old Bolingbroke plus a bonus Red Kite. Kate Thorpe had the pleasure of a Great White Egret roosting nightly with herons at RSPB Middleton Lakes as well as a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and regular Short-eared Owls. Jacob Spinks had a Glaucous Gull at Pitsford Reservoir whilst an inland Common Scoter was #patchgold for Gareth Clements in the Smestow Valley. Espen Quinto-Ashman was another to record Siberian Stonechat on his Herefordshire patch. Whooper Swans were recorded widely making the highlights reel for at least seven patchers. Finally, Andy Ambrose unearthed a Little Gull at Upton Warren. Apologies if your highlight has been missed but there have been loads! Hopefully in March we are reporting the first Sand Martins!

Midlands Minileague - January 2016

Andrew Chick tops the comparative league with 69.7% after a productive first month on patch at Fulbeck. Phil Hyde is 4% back at East Keal in second place. January highlights for him included his first Lesser Redpolls for patch and a wintering Peregrine. Andy Sims is in third place after his second Smew on patch in 33 years. 83 species is also his highest ever score species tally for January so he is on for a decent year.

Rutland Water's entrance to the competition was always going to be revelatory and so it proved as Rod Baker opened up a 7 point lead over John Hopper at Hoveringham. John managed a quintet of decent gulls with Iceland, Glaucous, Caspian, Little and Med all gracing his patch. Steve Nuttall is in third place at Belvide Reservoir after finding a Green-winged Teal.

Shag at Whisby - Ben Ward

There was plenty of interest uncovered around the patches with a Great White Egret shared by John Belsey, Mike Wakeman and Andy Ambrose at Upton Warren. Marston STW held Siberian Chiffchaff for Dave Roberts. There were Smew for Tom Shields at Holme Pierrepoint, Carl Cornish at Langford Lowfields and Andy Sims at Boultham Mere. Ben Ward had a seabird/duck bonanza at Whisby in Lincolnshire with Scaup, Shag, Red-breasted Merganser and Common Scoter. Apologies if I havent mentioned your #patchgold but there were Bitterns, scarce gulls, Woodcock, Cetti's Warblers etc everywhere.

Midlands Minileague - December 2015

Despite Tom Shields not making any additions in December and just a point for Andy Mackay at Eyebrook there was nobody breaking from the pack so Tom wins the comparative minileague for 2016 with his Holme Pierrepoint patch. A Great Northern Diver did brighten his month up whilst for Andy the solitary point he garnered was thanks to a Red-breasted Merganser. Dave Roberts closed the gap on the top two and very nearly got in the mix thanks to a December Hen Harrier to cap his best ever year on patch. There were no new additions to the 100 club but both John Hopper and Matt Griffiths fell just a point short.

Lound finishes top of the tree as the podium places were filled by the same folk as 2014 in the points league. Ian Cowgill wins the minileague with one point added in December and Andy Mackay improves on 2014 with a jump to second and John Hopper finishes third. Rhys Dandy's tactical patch switch sees him climb to fourth although he has a 26 point gap to bridge to challenge the top three in the coming year.



The bird of the month in the Midlands was a Greenland White-fronted Goose for the Marston three. Trevor Lee also added Jack Snipe in the same place. At Clayhanger and Ryder's Mere there were a trio of Caspian Gulls and a Scaup for Kevin Clements. There was another Scaup for Sam Pitt-Miller at Priory Water. Espen Quito-Ashman patch ticked Treecreeper in deepest, darkest Wiltshire. A dead Short-eared Owl sadly didnt make it on to Espen's list. Matthew Dick at Darley Dale added Mealy Redpoll amongst a group of its commoner cousins. Benjamin Ward shared Marston's ringtail Hen Harrier as it sallied over to his Aubourn patch and he also got a big fat zero points for a rather smart Nordic Jackdaw. There was a Short-eared Owl for Mark Gash at Willington GPs. Andy Sims added Raven at Boultham Mere when a quartet overflew the site which was only the third patch record for him. Finally Nick Crouch added Jack Snipe at Collingham and Besthorpe.

Midlands Minileague - November 2015

Tom Shields manages to defend top spot despite heavy pressure from Andy Mackay and Dave Roberts who are pushing all the way to the line. At Holme Pierrepoint the chief bit of quality was a trio of Whooper Swans which take Tom to 112%. Andy Mackay is 1% further back thanks to Slav Grebe, Brambling and a patch tick Mealy Redpoll. Dave added 3% including a patch tick Goldeneye and three Greenland White-fronted Geese. If one of these three can get a December bonus pointer it could be game set and match.

Black Redstart - Richard Harbird

In the points minileague and Ian Cowgill's lead is cut to just 6 points after a blank November at Lound while Andy Mackay makes gains and reinforces his place in second. John Hopper at Hoveringham adds four points to keep him in touch at the top. This months additions for John were Tree Sparrow and Brambling.

There were no bonus points this month in the Midlands but there were plenty of patch ticks and aside from those already mentioned there was a Cetti's Warbler for Marc Landsdowne, a Black Redstart for Richard Harbird and a Great Northern Diver for Nick Crouch. Espen Quinto-Ashman managed to get to his patch for the first time in 4 months thanks to stints on North Ronaldsay and in Equador and managed to turn up a Brambling. Finally, Matthew Dick at Darley Dale connected with the Great Grey Shrike which is currently spending its sixth winter on site.

Midlands Minileague October 2015

Tom Shields holds on at the top but only by the thinnest of margins as Andy Mackay jumps from 4th to 2nd and becomes the fourth person to hit 100% and adding 10% in October. His highlights this month include bonus points for a Great White Egret (although only 3 points gained as he saw one in the first winter period). Other goodies included American Golden Plover, Spoonbill, Bewick's Swan and Jack Snipe - a very decent haul for inland even if Andy did miss out on the find for the AGP.

Azorean Gull - photo courtesy of Ben Ward

Dave Roberts also has a superb month jumping from 6th to 3rd and becoming the 5th 100%'er in the minileague. His best bit find was a monster - an Azorean Gull which he co-found and is certainly a contender for this years Forest Optics best find competition. We dont adjudicate on identification - we leave that to BBRC and the consensus is positive at the moment. It is up to the individual to decide on 'difficult' species/subspecies and what to include. Azorean Gull is a RIACT species and considered rare by Birdguides and is as such worth 12 points.

Andy Mackay closed Ian Cowgill's lead down to 11 points and moves above John Hopper in the points table. Ian managed three points but no notable species whilst Andy added 17 in October. John Hopper stays in touch adding four points with his October highlights an inland Rock Pipit and a Red-breasted Merganser.

Away from the top of the table there was a Rough-legged Buzzard for Kevin Clements and patch ticks in the form of Hawfinch and Cetti's Warbler for Matt Griffiths at Earlswood with the latter a new species for site and the former the first record in over 70 years. Sometimes it is the more mundane that brightens the day and for Matthew Dick this was certainly the case as he added Wigeon to his Darley Dale patch list with 6 flyovers.