Inland South Minileague - February 2016

We start the February minileagues in the Inland South and the three leading protangonists in the comparative minileague remain the same albeit in a different order. Richard Scantlebury at Fishponds in Bristol is top thanks to a Mediterranean Gull and Snipe taking him on to 85.7%. 4% further back is January's leader, Ian Bennell on 81.9% thanks to finding a patchtick Firecrest 2 hours after seeing his second Stonechat on patch. Tom Stevenson at Ewelme Watercress Beds is in third position on 76.4%. 

Lee Evans is top of the points tree and despite being 7 species worse off than his co-patcher Ian who is in second he manages to eek out a 1 point lead. Lee also connected with the Stonechat this month. Nick Croft slips to third position after failing to make any February additions after a rollicking January. There were no new bonus points this month although Roger Hicks managed to bump into his Great Grey Shrike four times this month (as well as the Flying Scotsman heading north). Rather less welcome was his first patch record of Ring-necked Parakeet. Sadly its probably one to watch out for across the region now.

Ian Bennell's Stonechat at Tring Reservoirs.

At Stocker's Lake there was a Yellow-legged Gull and 14 Red-crested Pochard for Lee Evans. Neil Burt managed to catch up with wintering Bittern three times across February at Conningbrook Lakes. Adam Bassett got a patch tick with a brace of Brambling at Little Marlow GP and his January Glaucous Gull also returned. There were Bitterns for Graham White and Nigel Milbourne at Rye Meads and Blagdon Lake respectively. Med Gulls were on both of Marek Welfords patches. Tim Farr managed his second patch record of Jack Snipe at Sutton Bingham Reservoir. Gareth Blockley proves its all about context when he registered his first Great Black-backed Gull for 4 years at Grimsbury Reservoir.