Inland Ireland Minileague - October 2016

The purple patch for Michael John O'Mahony at Upper Rathudff continues with Teal and Lapwing added in October which ensures his lead at the top of the Inland Ireland Comparative Minileague for another month, now over 115%.

Alan Lauder mopped up Yellowhammer and Fieldfare for the year at Carrick Mountain but it was the sound of some Greenland White-fronted Geese migrating at night over his house which helped take him past the comp score target and finish on 104% by the months end. With a few more likely species still to get, Alan stands a chance at making a move on third or second place depending on how other contestants get on on the final months of the year.

Sparrowhawk at Upper Rathduff (c) Michael John O'Mahony (flickr page)

We see no change in the Points Minileague rankings with the only other mentions of new species added as per the score submission form updates including Skylark at Carrigmore for Christian Osthoff and Teal at Grand Canal Way for Ian Stevenson. 

Teal at Upper Rathduff (c) Michael John O'Mahony (flickr page)

Wales Minileague - October 2016

Mike Cram made the most of the fine weather during October with three weekend visits to Broughton and Llangennith which produced no less than sixteen (16!) year ticks during a fantastic purple patch which saw him add some goodies such as Hobby, two Black Redstarts and Water Rail. The result of this is a very impressive 142.7% which puts Mike firmly in the lead on the Wales Comparative Minileague table. With a margin of over 20% between first and second place, it seems Mike may have it all sewn up here unless the Conwy boys can manage something spectacular between now and the 31st Dec!

A Hoopoe at RSPB Conwy was the first for the reserve and a fine treat for patch duo Julian Hughes and Henry Cook, as well as the local Peregrine! Julian's second place position at 118% is safe for another month while Henry remains in third on 115%.

Trevor Fletcher connects with a patch tick Yellow-browed Warbler (all the rage these days!) at Rudry Common and also a #patchgold Rook taking him over the ton and into third place with 109%, moving ahead of Alison C and Peter Howlett.

Hoopoe at RSPB Conwy (c) Henry Cook (flickr page)

The top of the points minileague table looks rather similar again this month but we see David Carrington jump from ninth to sixth place at Sker & Kenfig where a Baird's Sandpiper and a Yellow-browed Warbler helped him reach 165 points from 130 species by the months end.

Yellow-browed Warblers feature heavily in the Wales Minileague during October with a total of seven patch birders reporting them as part of their highlights for the month. In addition to Sker & Kenfig and Rudry Common, these delightful Siberian gems were also seen at WWT Llanelli, Little Orme, Cosmeston and Lavernock, Rhyl and Ogmore Estuary.

Other notable mentions for the month included a Wryneck at Paul Robert's Ogmore Estuary patch, Crossbill and Brambling for Peter Howlett at Cardiff Bay, a Merlin at Lavernock for Ceri Jones, Eider, Curlew Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull and Peregrine for Chris Jones at River Clywd estuary and a Kestrel at Brynna Woods for Tony Swann.

Ceri Jones breaks the 20,000 records mark submitted to BirdTrack during October with over 1,300 complete lists while the overall tally for the minileague comes to 68,241 records from 3,171 complete lists.

Under 25 Minileague - October 2016

Amy Robjohns consolidates her position at the top of the Under 25 comparative minileague on 138%. This month she adds Yellow-browed Warbler and Brambling. Ash Baines cut Amy's lead to 18% as he found three Yellow-browed Warblers and a flock of nine Great White Egrets as well as adding Barnacle and Brent Geese. Ben Moyes moves over the 100% mark and into third place thanks to a Great White Egret and Black-bellied Dipper combo. Espen Quinto-Ashman also joins the 100 club after adding Bearded Tit and Great White Egret.  

Black-bellied Dipper - Ben Moyes

Perhaps the best ever autumn at Spurn draws to a close as I write and Tim Jones was central to it, seeing plenty and whilst the Siberian Accentor and Eastern Black Redstart were off-patch he did manage to find an Olive-backed Pipit as well as seeing Pine Bunting, Red-flanked Bluetail, Stejneger's Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Rustic Bunting, Radde's Warbler, Pallas's Warbler and plenty more besides. This haul sees him on a titanic 406 points, 145 ahead of Joe Stockwell in second place. Joe himself adds six points after unearthing seven Yellow-browed Warbler s on patch. Amy remains in third.

Elsewhere there were further Yellow-browed Warblers for Dan Rouse and Elliot Montieth at WWT Llanelli and Birkenhead Docks respectively. At Frampton, Jack Dawson managed to connect with the Long-billed Dowitcher and Black-necked Grebe whilst at Luke Nash at Cley to Kelling saw the Desert Wheatear and Dusky Warbler that were present. Will Scott managed a nice haul at Humanby, topped off by a Balearic Warbler, Slavonian Grebe and Scaup. There were Hen Harriers for George Dunbar and Edward Betteridge and Max Hellicar saw Cattle Egret and Dusky Warbler at Rainham Marshes.

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.

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.

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.

Inland North Minileague - October 2016

Bearded Tit - Duncan Bye (Wheldrake Ings)

Still no change at the top of the Inland North comparative table as David Franklin sits pretty but another month of no additions for him at both Campsall and Askern leaves him vulnerable with the vultures starting to gather with John Law in third just 1% behind and Duncan Bye just a further 3% back. John this month added Rock Pipit to keep up the pressure with his Wath Ings patch. 

John Law continues at the top but he is now sharing it with Mark Reeder who adds four points this month for Pintail, Knot and Twite. Duncan Bye at Wheldrake is just a further two points behind in third place level with Andy Bunting's Martin Mere WWT patch. Duncan added his first Wheldrake Jack Snipe and Bearded Tits as part of a notable eruption this autumn. It should also be noted that Brockholes hovers just 3 points behind the podium places. What can Bill do to close the gap?

The only bonus points this month were for a Yellow-browed Warbler in Stephen Dunstan's garden. There was a male Hen Harrier for Alan Todd at Mootlaw Quarry and a radio tagged juvenile for George Dunbar at Woolston Eyes. Pete Antrobus had a Jack Snipe at Neumann's Flashes and there was a White-fronted Goose for Peter Williams at North Cave Wetlands. A Tree Sparrow at Tindale Tarn was a patch tick for Stephen Westerberg and Findlay Wilde had his first patch Firecrest at Winsford Flash.