Wednesday 18 May 2016

Wales Minileague - April 2016

Spring was kind to the contestants of the Wales Minileague where we see good ground being made on the comparative table. No less than seven patch birders are now above 80%. Alastair Flannagan still leads the charge from his inland Swansea Vale to Fendrod Lake patch with 85.7% where Glaucous Gull was a patch tick plus his third patch record of Redstart provided added value. Close behind in second and third with 84% are Henry Cook and Julian Hughes, both patching from Conwy RSPB and both connecting with a male Blue-headed Wagtail and a colour-ringed Twite there. Henry edges just ahead on the table with a Spotted Redshank. 


colour-ringed Twite at Conwy RSPB © Henry Cook

Peter Howlett jumped from eight to fourth at his Green minileague Cardiff Bay patch, finishing on 83% by the months end thanks to 19 species added including Iceland Gull, Short-eared Owl, Yellow Wagtail and Whinchat. 


The same names crop up in the Wales Points Minileague during April. Richard Dobbins and Wendy James occupy first and second place again at the productive site of Teifi where a White Stork was a great find by Richard and also seen by Wendy. Barry Stewart increased his points total at Burry Inlet by 34 with Garganey, Little Gull, Yellow Wagtail and Razorbill taking him to 147 points and third place.

Thirteen patch birders are now above 100 points which is no surprise given the list of highlights reported to us at the end of April. Yellow Wagtails, Grasshopper Warblers and Whimbrel were popular along with Ring Ouzel at Little Orme (Henry Cook) and another Ring Ouzel, Osprey and Pied Flycatcher at Ogmore Estuary (Paul Roberts). Kentish Plover was a fine patch tick for David Carrington at Sker and Kenfig in addition to other highlights such as Garganey and Little Tern.

The PWC favourite #patchgold species, Coot, was a patch tick for Martin Bell at Parc Taf Bargoed and Coed Cefn Forest. Long live the Coot!



Long-eared Owl and Short-eared Owl at River Clwyd estuary © Chris Jones

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