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NAME	POINTS TOTAL	COUNTABLE SPECIES FOUND LIST

IAN MCKERCHAR	515	Caspian Gull (2), Mealy Redpoll (3), Glaucous Gull, Pintail (6), Sanderling, Yellow-legged Gull (6), Rock Pipit (3), Ring Ouzel, Black-tailed Godwit (20), Iceland Gull, Whimbrel (13), Blue-headed Wagtail, Whinchat (6), Merlin, Twite (5), Lesser Whitethroat (6), Garden Warbler (7), Black Tern (2), Spotted Flycatcher (6), Little Gull (2), Temminck's Stint, Turnstone (2), Marsh Harrier (2), Crossbill (4), Common Scoter, Scaup (2), Redstart, Hen Harrier, White-winged Black Tern, Greenshank, Whooper Swan (39), Grey Plover, Short-eared Owl (2)

ROB AND SONIA ADDERLEY	331	Caspian Gull (3), Kumlien's Gull, Yellow-legged Gull (3), Rock Pipit (8), Common Scoter (2), Kittiwake (4), Little Gull, Glaucous Gull, Ring Ouzel (4), Whimbrel (3), Lesser Whitethroat, Sandwich Tern (2), Sanderling (15), Redstart, Crossbill, Greenshank, Iceland Gull, Scaup, Scandinavian Rock Pipit

DAVE BROOME	306	Mealy Redpoll (26), Pintail (3), Whooper Swan, Kittiwake, Iceland Gull, Red-breasted Merganser, Garden Warbler (3), Lesser Whitethroat (3), Little Gull, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit, Osprey (2), Yellow-legged Gull, Yellow-browed Warbler, Red-throated Diver, Glaucous Gull

SIMON JOHNSON	248	Glaucous Gull, Kittiwake (6), Whooper Swan (43), Iceland Gull, Rock Pipit (3), Scandinavian Rock Pipit, Common Scoter (6), Redstart, Red Kite, Whimbrel (2), Lesser Whitethroat (5), Crossbill (13), Black Tern, Spotted Flycatcher (3), Whinchat, Pintail, White-winged Black Tern, Caspian Gull, Scaup

SIMON WARFORD	200	Crossbill (3), Pintail (2), Iceland Gull (2), Glaucous Gull, Kittiwake, Common Scoter, Ring Ouzel (7), Redstart (3), Greenshank (7), Whimbrel, Garden Warbler (9), Sanderling, Whinchat (2), Spotted Flycatcher (11), Black-tailed Godwit (3), Little Egret, Turnstone, Pied Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat (3), Osprey, Knot, Whooper Swan (46), Merlin, Red-breasted Merganser

IAN WOOSEY	158	Hen Harrier, Pintail (3), Avocet (3), Black-tailed Godwit (2), Ring Ouzel, Little Gull, Garganey (2), Garden Warbler (2), Black Tern (2), Lesser Whitethroat, Marsh Harrier (2), Kittiwake, Osprey, Whooper Swan (5)

DAVID WINNARD	153	Merlin (3), Garden Warbler, Marsh Harrier, * (4), Greenshank (2), Common Scoter (52), Spotted Flycatcher (3), Redstart, Spotted Redshank, Crossbill, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl

JOHN TYMON	135	Iceland Gull, Pintail (3), Garden Warbler (3), Mealy Redpoll (11), Lesser Whitethroat (2), Black Tern (3), Brent Goose, Whooper Swan (16)

ROB THORPE	122	Pintail, Merlin, Common Scoter (2), Osprey, Lesser Whitethroat (4), Cattle Egret, Black Tern (2), Garden Warbler, Garganey (2), Greenshank, Whimbrel (3), Spotted Flycatcher, Whooper Swan (33), Merlin, Scaup

ANDY ISHERWOOD	110	Merlin, Mealy Redpoll (3), Pintail (3), Whooper Swan (48), Ring Ouzel, Whimbrel (3), Lesser Whitethroat (5), Whinchat (2), Spotted Flycatcher (4), Garden Warbler, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher

PAUL HAMMOND	92	Whooper Swan (3), Kittiwake (8), Rock Pipit, Common Scoter, Knot, Grey Plover (2), Whimbrel, Alpine Swift, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Turnstone (3), Black-tailed Godwit (6)

STEVE ATKINS	92	*, Ring Ouzel, Bar-tailed Godwit (2), Garden Warbler, Sanderling, Crossbill (8), Greenshank, Twite (15), Merlin (1), Spotted Flycatcher, Brent Goose, Short-eared Owl

SIMON HITCHEN	74	Kittiwake (6), Rock Pipit, Twite (2), Red-breasted Merganser (2), Common Scoter (3), Ring Ouzel, Whinchat (6), Lesser Whitethroat (2), Whimbrel, Garden Warbler (3), Sandwich Tern, Whooper Swan (14)

PAUL HEATON	56	Iceland Gull, Merlin, Whooper Swan (3), Rock Pipit (3), Whimbrel (3), Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat (6), Garganey, Common Scoter (6), Sanderling, Turnstone (2), Black-tailed Godwit (6)

MARK RIGBY	53	Black-tailed Godwit, Whooper Swan (22), Osprey, Little Gull (3), Whimbrel (2), *, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher (2), Garden Warbler, Black Tern, Common Scoter, Merlin

GEOFF HARGREAVES	43	Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Spoonbill, Black Tern

PAUL CLIFF	30	Mealy redpoll, *, Crossbill (8), Short-eared Owl, Merlin

PAUL WILSON	27	Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redstart, Whinchat, Firecrest

HENRY COOK	24	Lesser Whitethroat (3), Honey Buzzard, Garden Warbler

TIM WILCOX	22	Red-throated Diver, Black-tailed Godwit, Garden Warbler

STEVE COLLINS	16	Kittiwake (7), Whimbrel

STEVE SUTTILL	12	Twite (5), Whinchat

ALAN WARFORD	10	Pintail (2), Greenshank (1), Spotted Flycatcher, Merlin

JIMMY MEADOWS	7	Garden Warbler (4), Lesser Whitethroat (3)

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to read the updates starting in order from the beginning of the year

In the final throws of the Tournament there were to be no upsets, no massive Bewick's Swan flocks, no major rarity finds as countable birds seemed few and far between despite a concerted effort by many Tournamenteers. The final points of the year came from four finders beginning with myself with a new Scaup at Heaton Park Reservoir on the 21st ,Rob and Sonia Adderley with a Common Scoter at the same location on the 26th then Dave Winnard with a last ditch effort at catching Ian Woosey with a Merlin at Ashworth Moor Reservoir on the 30th not worth sufficient points to capture that sixth place but Steve Atkins did catch up a place on the 30th, drawing equal with Mark Rigby thanks to a last gasp Short-eared Owl at Kingsway Business Park also on the 30th.

So what a Tournament it turned out to be, just the briefest look at the total and the quality of species found by all the Tournamenteers proves the competition's worth and the effort that the entrants went to, county birding is fantastically all the richer for it and long may it continue. The final winner was, well it was me again (!) but I bow out gracefully in 2009 to simply adjudicate on the proceedings, watch the fun from the outside and to crown a new champion at the end of it.

Ding dong merrily on high, for the battle for second place continues! On the 1st, Rob (really not trying hard honest) Adderley finds a Scaup on Audenshaw Reservoirs and then an Iceland Gull at Heaton Park Reservoir on the 13th, so further extending his tenuous lead from Dave (really not trying hard either) Broome who fights back on the 13th, doing well in digging a fine Glaucous Gull from the hoards at Worthington Lakes. So the stage was set for a grand finale to the end of the year as the two (really not trying hard you know) competitors scoured the county for points in their attempt to secure second (or even first) place, but that was until Rob (now listen, I'm really not that bothered about this Tournament thing you know but...) Adderley quite rightly recalls that he never submitted his points for the Scandinavian Rock Pipit at Audenshaw Reservoirs back in April due to the fact that the county rarities committee were reviewing their status as county rarities at the time and so he had put his own record to one side, but of course they were still county rarities when he saw his and so 20 points are belatedly awarded. This now leaves Dave 23 points behind Rob so is it all over for the race to second place? Well, knowing both of them then the answer to that question is only a three star county rarity away!

The very last days of November sought to remove Paul Wilson from his bottom of the rankings board position after his finding of another excellent Firecrest in his Daisyfield Garden on the 27th but the early half of December brought the perhaps expected gullers delights and the points they entailed. On the 5th, a Caspian Gull was dug out of the Heaton Park Reservoir gull roost thanks to a combined effort of finding and identifying by Simon Johnson, Rob Adderley and myself with the same day and location also producing a Scaup for Simon Johnson, a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull for myself and a day later a 4th winter for Rob and Sonia Adderley. Bringing up the rear was a very belated Garden Warbler for Henry Cook from the 8th of September at Davenport Green.

The pace of the Manchester Tournament continues (expectedly) to slow with shorter days, poor weather conditions and the lure of out-of-county birding all adding to it's reduction in pace but some points were achieved during the past couple of weeks and not bad species were they! Simon Hitchen added his second Red-breasted Merganser of the Tournament on the 6th once again at Hollingworth Lake with a single Whooper Swan there on the 11th, Rob Thorpe a Scaup on the Wigan Flashes on the 16th, David Winnard the double whammy of a Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl at Ashworth Moor Reservoir on the 21st and I find two Short-eared Owls on the 24th at a site withheld due to it's sensitive nature.

It's been a while since the Tournament's last update, not least due to my own holidays out of the county (thankfully ☺) and a slow in pace of points procurement as countable species became increasingly difficult to find, but they're out there and as if to prove the point three county rarities and a small handful of scarce went the way of non-Tournamenteers during late October/early November ! On the 26th, the four man team of junior and senior Warford, Dave Winnard and Mark Rigby all spy a Merlin at Rindle Road simultaneously and collect their points for it, whilst on the 27th Rob Thorpe collects the rewards for 27 Whooper Swans over Scotmans Flash and at the same location on the 31st Dave Broome manages 2 Pintail. With October now out of the way, November's points started early with a Merlin at the Wigan Flashes for the hard birding Rob Thorpe and with November often being a good month for county birding (as if there's actually a bad one!) there's still all to get out and go birding for.

Whooper Swans once again make up the bulk of this brief update (brief as I'll be away for just over the next week, so don't expect any answers to your emails for a while!) and it is Ian Woosey, fresh from his out of county holiday, sorry, out of country holiday (!) who profits with 3 at Lightshaw on the 21st and 2 over Scotmans on the 22nd but it is Warfy junior's joy of finding 5 on Rumworth on the 22nd only to be informed that he had been beaten to them by a non-Tournamenteer which is perhaps funniest (sorry Simon!). Meanwhile on the 22nd, a rather unseasonal juvenile Grey Plover on Pennington Flash (photographed, albeit craply. Is craply a real word? Spellchecker says no, but I say yes and that's all that matters, craply it is!) was a very smart and much appreciated addition to my Tournament list.

My, my, talk about hitting a points gold-mine! The Tournamenteers continue to feast on the plethora of Whooper Swans currently crossing the county with big points for some meaning a positive shift in their rankings position but firstly Rob and Sonia Adderley kicked off our new batch of points by continuing to cash in on Audenshaw Reservoir's own little rich 'seam' with another Rock Pipit there on the 17th. So, back to those Whooper Swans with the 18th producing fine points indeed for those with eyes to the skies where ever they may have been, Simon Warford bagged the most with 46 at Elton Reservoir (flocks of 28 and 18, which has apparently atleast momentarily stopped his bleating about missing the Brents and White-winged Black Tern there ☺), Simon Johnson with19 at Heaton Park Reservoir (a single and also the same 18 as seen by the young Warford at Elton), 18 for Mark Rigby from his Oldham garden (the same 18 as seen by young Warford and Simon Johnson!), 12 for me at the Astley Peat Pools and 6 for Rob Thorpe at Pearsons Flash, whilst Rob and Sonia Adderley continue to plunder Audenshaw's Rock Pipit stores with yet another single there the same day. On the 19th John Tymon jumps in on the Whooper Swan action with 16 at Pennington Flash and all these points mean more leapfrogging on the rankings board but little that a decent flock of Whooper Swans between them wouldn't change.

The county's gone all Whooper! With still seemingly little to find of late, the Tournament makes the best of what's available and that seems to be Whooper Swans! On the 15th I, admittedly, was very fortunate to drop on 27 overflying Hope Carr and Paul Hammond manages to pick another one out of Audenshaw Reservoirs, made even more satisfying by beating the Adderleys to it and Simon Hitchen collects 13 at Hollingworth Lake on the 17th. Apart from Whooper-mania, Rob and Sonia Adderley at least manage 2 Rock Pipits at Audenshaw Reservoirs on the 15th (seems like they didn't need that single Whooper after all anyway Paul!) and Mark Rigby robs the points for a Common Scoter right from under the noses of those Audenshaw Reservoirs regulars on the 16th, smart Tournamenteering indeed!

As expected the Tournament was bound to slow down sooner or later but those managing to add some points included some really good ones to boot. On the 1st Of October I added a Greenshank at Pennington Flash and on the 2nd Dave Broome continue his fine run of form with an excellent Red-throated Diver on Scotmans Flash. On the 5th, Watergrove Reservoir was plundered by non-regular patch watchers there (remember pinching birds off your mate's patch is to be wholly encouraged) with Paul Cliff managing a Merlin and Dave Winnard a Crossbill, fine Tournamenteering indeed! John Tymon bumped into a Brent Goose overflying Scotmans Flash on the 11th, elevating him into 8th position overall and on the 14th, Audenshaw Reservoirs provided Paul Hammond with finds of Whooper Swan and a Grey Plover.

Wow, what a purple patch the Manchester Birding Tournament hit over the past few days with some seriously good county rarities being found by it's entrants which really put our county up there with the best of the other UK inland counties, if only for a short while? Simon Warford started it off with 3 Spotted Flycatchers at Elton Reservoir on the 24th and it continue on the same date with 3 Pintail at Pennington Flash for me, a single Pintail at Heaton Park Reservoir for Simon Johnson and then best of all a Honey Buzzard over Hale for Henry Cook. The full saga of the events leading up to the 26th are inconsequential but needless to say that a tern found by Simon Johnson at Heaton Park Reservoir was identified by me as a White-winged Black Tern, so a full 35 points all round which continued the very next day on the 27th when Dave Broome found a Yellow-browed Warbler at Skittles Wood! There was no let up to be had though as David Winnard found a Spotted Redshank at Ashworth Moor Reservoir also on the 27th, Rob Adderley a Greenshank at Audenshaw Reservoirs on the 28th and to finish off the purple patch, Simon Warford a Greenshank at Elton Reservoir and Steve Atkins a 20 point Brent Goose at Ashworth Moor Reservoir also on the 28th. Good work all round!

Not a day goes by currently without points being found somewhere in the county and on the 18th David Winnard's 3 Spotted Flycatchers and single Redstart on Rochdale Golf Course were good additions, as were Rob and Sonia Adderley's Crossbill on Ludworth Moor and Andy Isherwood's Spotted Flycatcher at Worsley, all on the 19th. On the very next day Andy Isherwood went on to find a Pied Flycatcher at Worsley, Steve Suttill a Whinchat at Castleshaw Reservoirs and Ian Woosey a very fine male Marsh Harrier at Horrock's Flash with the 21st bringing 6 points a piece for the Pauls of Hammond and Heaton, both simultaneously finding the same 6 Black-tailed Godwits at Pennington Flash and a further 2 points for the now very close to fourth position Ian Woosey, courtesy of a Black Tern at Dover Basin. Simon Hitchen's hard Hollingworth Lake patch work perhaps deserved more that his single Common Scoter there on the 22nd but they all count and now bring him within a couple of points of jumping up a place on the ranking board, whilst a single Garden Warbler at Pennington Flash (south side) for me also on the 22nd was the last of the past 5 days points.

Busy, busy, busy! The Tournamenteers are relentless in their quest to find their own county birds and whether as a by-product of that or as the motivation to get out in the first place, that means more points for their efforts. Paul Cliff kept things rolling with a Short-eared Owl at White Ash Reservoir on the 15th a fine find indeed whilst Simon Johnson plundered Elton Reservoir on the 16th and bagged a Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher but not content with that then went on to find another Spotted Flycatcher at Ringley ETW on the very same day. The 17th brought an especially appreciated Marsh Harrier at Pennington Flash for me and two Lesser Whitethroats at Lightshaw for Rob Thorpe, who then went on to find another Garganey at Horrock's Flash on the 18th, a date which included finds of yet another Osprey over the Wigan Flashes for Dave Broome who now slips into second place overall, Spotted Flycatcher and Whinchat at Pennington Flash for me and a Knot at Elton Reservoir for Simon Warford.

September continues to shine on those in the Manchester Birding Tournament and the 6th of the month finds Paul Wilson hauling himself deservedly off the 'bottom end' of the rankings board courtesy of singles of Redstart and Whinchat at Elton Reservoir with the 7th seeing Simon Hitchen adding another Whinchat to his total, this one at the Kingsway Business Park and Paul Hammond managing to break himself free from toiling away at work and find 2 Turnstones at Audenshaw Reservoirs (remember Paul, 'all work and no play...'). The 8th brings 3 Common Scoter to Heaton Park Reservoir and Simon Johnson who happens to find them and the 11th a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull to Scotmans Flash for Dave Broome, bringing him perilously close to toppling the Adderleys from their second position. The next three days all bring points with a Spotted Flycatcher at Wilderswood for Rob Thorpe on the 12th, Spotted Flycatcher at Hope Carr on the 13th for me and another Garden Warbler at Pennington Flash for me again on the 14th.

With autumn alive and well in the county the migrants are in full flow and the Tournamenteers there to mop up on the vast majority of them. On the 31st August, John Tymon adds 3 Black Terns at Pennington Flash to his Tournament, whilst the 1st of September finds a Spotted Flycatcher at Elton Reservoir for Simon Warford and a very fine male Hen Harrier on Wilder's Moor for myself. On the 3rd Dave Broome cashes in on one of a few Ospreys through the county at that time, his at Scotman's Flash and Ian Woosey doesn't miss out either adding his very own over Lightshaw on the 6th which rather nicely elevates him into 4th position overall. Also on the 6th, 'hill dweller' Steve Atkins adds another Crossbill over Watergrove Reservoir and belated points with a passage Merlin there on the 10th of August and Spotted Flycatcher on the 24th of the same month. Back to September again and the 6th of the month continued the run of points with 3 Whinchat near Light Hazzles for Simon Hitchen and yet another Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher for the junior Warford at Elton Reservoir.

Late August certainly produced the goods, if not only for the Elton Reservoir boys who made the most of what they've got and thrashed the place for points, so it was a shame that the Shag and it's 20 points went to a non-Tournamenteer. Either way, Simon Warford started things moving with a Garden Warbler at Elton on the 26th, then 3 more with 3 Lesser Whitethroats on the 29th! That was only the start of it though as on the 30th he then found an Osprey there with Simon Johnson and Mark Rigby nabbing a Black Tern from right under his nose and all 3 adding the same Spotted Flycatcher there on the same date. On the 30th Andy Isherwood found his own Spotted Flycatcher at Morley's Hall, Astley and Simon Johnson a Crossbill over Red Moss, whilst the 30th produced yet another different Garden Warbler at Elton for Warford senior and junior. On the 31st, the serious 'county gulling season' commenced once more for me and cashing in on the county passage of Lesser Black-backed Gulls I found 2 immature Yellow-legged Gulls (photographed and also witnessed by Pete Berry), which as county rarities, were worth serious points (though that will be subject to change for next year me thinks!).

Slower than expected during August, the Tournamenteers make do with what they've got and hunt high and low for countable species with Andy Isherwood finding a Whinchat on Rindle Road on the 21st and Simon Hitchen making do with a single Lesser Whitethroat at Hollingworth Lake on the same date the only reward for his hard efforts there. Rob and Sonia Adderley added 2 Kittiwakes and yet another Sanderling to their already bulging Sanderling count, all at Audenshaw Reservoirs on the 22nd, the best I could manage was Lesser Whitethroat at Hope Carr NR on the 24th, whilst Simon Warford went one better with a nice Redstart at Elton Reservoir on the 25th.

Proving it's never too late, Steve Suttill adds his, rather belated, first points of this year's Tournament with 5 fine Twite at Dovestones on the 6th of July, leaping four places in the process! Back to August and Simon Warford adds an Elton Reservoir Garden Warbler on the 5th and yet another 2 Greenshanks on the 14th, Andy Isherwood keeps his total ticking with 3 Lesser Whitethroats near the Bulls Head in Astley on the 8th (I was in there myself last week and saw/heard nothing, although I have to say I was very, very drunk ☺). On the 14th Dave Broome too 'keeps his hand in' with a single Black-tailed Godwit at Horrock's Flash whilst on the 15th, my fortuitous visit to Smithills Moor coincided with a fall of birds which included 3 Twite and 3 Whinchat, point-tastic stuff indeed!

With the battle for 4th to 9th place (atleast) a very close affair, points are extremely valuable so Simon Warford never allowed me to forget that I'd missed his Pied Flycatcher at Elton Reservoir from the 25th of July off and quite right too pal! With August now in full flow Paul Heaton managed a family of Lesser Whitethroats at Shell NR on the 2nd, with 4 in all and on the 3rd Simon Warford, now pulling out all the stop to either maintain or improve his position, found yet another Greenshank at Rumworth. The 4th produced a fine Kittiwake at Scotmans Flash for Ian Woosey whilst I dug out a juvenile Scaup from Pennington Flash and on the 5th, more serious 'mooching' rewarded me with a Redstart at Wilderswood.

With no let up in Tournament entrant's intensity they continue to find the lion's share of the best birds in the county and with it claim their respective points, proving the point Paul Heaton finally nails some more Audenshaw goodies with a Sanderling there on the 19th undisputedly his find whilst I strike fortune again with a Whimbrel over Hope Carr NR on the 22nd. On the 24th however, and as if to prove my 'your next big points are only ever round the corner' ethos for the Tournament, David Winnard struck points gold when 52 Common Scoter flew over Ashworth Moor Reservoir, netting him a whopping 104 points and a mighty leap up the rankings board, imagine if that had been you and you weren't entered, kicking yourself comes to mind (and don't say you're not interested, otherwise why read this anyway?)! 'Normal' points resumed on the 25th with a single Common Scoter at Pennington Flash for myself (even I'm not that lucky for such a big flock ☺) and a Turnstone for Simon Warford at Elton Reservoir on the 28th. On the 29th Audenshaw Reservoirs produces the 'countables' as Paul Heaton adds points again with 2 Turnstone and a single Common Scoter and Rob And Sonia Adderley find their second Sandwich Tern of the year there, whilst on the 31st, Rumworth Lodge, making like a 'mini Spurn' provided passage passerines points for myself with a Lesser Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher.

On the 12th, Simon Johnson plunders Elton Reservoir again and produces yet another Lesser Whitethroat but it is Steve Atkins who's 'moorland mooching' produces fine and well deserved results with 15 Twite at Owler Clough and despite the area being usually exempt from Twite points (due to it's proximity to Light Hazzles Reservoir), summer sightings are rare enough at best and the Manchester Tournament is all about rewarding good birding and good bird finding, so well done Steve! On the 13th Rob Thorpe finds a trio of Whimbrel on Horrock's Flash and John Tymon finds another Lesser Whitethroat at Pennington Flash on the 17th (one of a pair, the other bird likely the singing male of spring at the same location).

Points still continue to flow for the few, as Steve Atkins and David Winnard grab a Greenshank at Watergrove Reservoir on the 6th whilst David added another the previous evening this time at Ashworth Moor Reservoir, I clutch 4 Crossbills at Wilderswood, Horwich on the 7th, whilst Simon Warford lands a Little Egret at Elton Reservoir on the same day (surely due for an upgrade in points next year with it's recent elevation to full county rarity once more) and finally, Simon Johnson secures a Common Scoter at Heaton Park Reservoir on the 11th.

After lying dormant of late, not due to a lack of trying by those concerned I might add, the Manchester Tournament springs back into life and further jostling for position on the rankings board ensues. On the 17th Of June Paul Heaton's 5 Common Scoter at Audenshaw Reservoirs netted him a nice 10 points, enough to elevate him one place but it wasn't until July that the next batch of points were to come along! On the 5th Simon Johnson added 12 Crossbills at Walker Fold Wood and a single Lesser Whitethroat at Elton Reservoir but even such a good haul to his Tournament failed to move him on the ranking board, the same cannot be said for Geoff Hargreaves however who, no doubt encouraged by his recent purchase of a new £1500 telescope, then put it to good use finding himself a very fine Spoonbill indeed at Horrock's Flash also on the 5th, worth 35 points it immediately whipped him up the board to one place above Paul Heaton, so negating Paul's earlier jump up the board. On the 6th, proving that those 'one pointers' can add up I find (and rather poorly photograph) 19 Black-tailed Godwits on Astley Moss East whilst Rob Thorpe manages a Greenshank and Common Scoter on Scotmans Flash which places him firmly within striking distance of those competitors above him.

As the birding slow continues so do the Tournament points but they're still out there for those that look and Paul Cliff's finding of an extra 8 Crossbills to those already at Binn Green on the 30th of May netted him enough points to leap four places on the rankings board. On the 8th of June Jimmy Meadows extended his tally of single point finds with another Garden Warbler, this time at New Springs and Dave Broome also added a single point with another Lesser Whitethroat, this one at Green Lane, Higher Folds on the 5th, whilst on the 12th I get lucky with a Marsh Harrier over Smithills Moor but it is Steve Atkins and his 7 Crossbills at Wardle on the 14th, elevating him 5 places, that fares best.

The expected slow of points began with the onset of summer although Tournamenteers still managed to root out their fair share. Simon Warford added another Black-tailed Godwit to his Elton tally on the 28th of May and Rob and Sonia Adderley extended their already huge Sanderling haul by a further one at Audenshaw Reservoirs on the same date. On the 29th Steve Atkins added his own Sanderling at Watergrove Reservoir, on the 30th Mark Rigby found himself a Garden Warbler in the Medlock Vale at Lees with Andy Isherwood found his own too at Worsley Hall garden centre, although he was definitely NOT being dragged round the garden centre by his missus, no he was certainly out birding and just happened to pick that as a likely spot and just happen to bump into his wife and kids there, coincidences eh ☺. On the 1st of June Rob Thorpe added a male Garganey to the female already at the Wigan Flashes and on the 5th Jimmy Meadows added further singles of both Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat at Coppull Lane, Wigan and Mort Lane, Tyldesley respectively.

Come rain or shine the Tournamenteers boldly bird on and find countable species, Paul Hammond a Turnstone at Audenshaw Reservoirs and Jimmy Meadows a Lesser Whitethroat on Arbour Lane, Standish both on the 24th, The Warfords co-find a Greenshank at Elton Reservoir on the 25th, on the 27th Mark Rigby manages a Spotted Flycatcher at Binn Green, I have 2 Turnstones on Astley Moss East Pools and Rob and Sonia Adderley haul a total of 18 points with a fantastic 9 Sanderling at Audenshaw Reservoirs whilst capping it all off Steve Atkins finds 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Garden Warbler at Watergrove Reservoir on the 28th. All good stuff indeed!

Yet another good few days for the Manchester Birding Tournament with a plethora of points on offer! Simon Hitchen kick-starts things on the 18th with 2 Garden Warblers in the Piethorne Valley and Andy Isherwood joins in with 2 Spotted Flycatchers in Tyldesley Cemetery. Rob and Sonia Adderley, never too far away from any points, drop on a Sanderling at Audenshaw Reservoirs on the 19th, whilst on the 20th Dave Broome manages a Turnstone at Pennington and on the 21st I add 2 more Spotted Flycatchers and a single Lesser Whitethroat to my tally this time on Worsley Moss, Paul Heaton a Garganey at a private site and Simon Warford 2 more Spotted Flycatchers at Holcombe and a Garden Warbler for good measure. It is the 22nd however, that brings most points as Rob and Sonia Adderley, eager to make the Manchester Birding Tournament title their own, find 2 further Sanderling at Audenshaw Reservoirs and a Redstart (site withheld) but after being contacted early morning to identify a wader found by local watchers at Pennington Flash the shortest of views are all it takes for me to confirm the bird is a Temminck's Stint and I add a further 20 points to my total with last but my no means least Mark Rigby belatedly adding a Lesser Whitethroat at Etherow CP on the 13th and Rob Thorpe a Lesser Whitethroat at the Abram Flashes on the 23rd.

After the beginning of May's apparent southern Mediterranean feel to it's county birding and the points haul cashed in on by the Tournamenteers, things slowed slightly of late although that atleast meant the tips of my fingers could heal slightly from updating the website ☺. On the 12th, Andy Isherwood continues his quiet points additions with another Lesser Whitethroat, this one at Gin Pit Village and on the 15th Dave Broome also continued his chipping away at the top of the table with another Lesser Whitethroat aswell, at Scrowcroft, Hindley. On the 16th, Mr. Broome added another single with a Garden Warbler at Higher Ince, Rob Adderley found another Whimbrel at Audenshaw Reservoirs and I finally located a Spotted Flycatcher on the mosses with one off Moss Lane. The 17th saw another minor points surge with Simon Warford locating 2 Black-tailed Godwits on Elton Reservoir, Paul Hammond a Sanderling on Audenshaw Reservoirs (and not forgetting to add his Bar-tailed Godwit found there on the 8th!), Simon Johnson a Lesser Whitethroat at Ringley ETW and I drop on 2 Little Gulls during a late evening visit to Pennington Flash.

Our points-'fest' continues with sustained vigour and seemingly no pause for breath as on the 7th Rob and Sonia Adderley find a Whimbrel on Audenshaw Reservoirs and I dig out 3 Garden Warblers from Barrow Bridge, on the 8th Dave Broome helps himself to a Little Gull at Scotmans Flash, Paul Heaton 2 Lesser Whitethroats at Partington, Rob Thorpe continues the Garden Warbler tally at the Wigan Flashes with another single but it is Geoff Hargreaves who does best with a Grey Plover on Horrock's Flash a very good find indeed. On the 9th, I find 2 Black Terns at Hope Carr and Simon Warford 2 Spotted Flycatchers at Holcombe whilst on the 11th (what, no finds on the 10th?), Simon Hitchen continues, on form, to pull good birds out of Hollingworth Lake with a Sandwich Tern there and Tim Wilcox adds his own Garden Warbler at Rindle Road.

With some of the best county birding in memory these past few days the Tournamenteers were there to pick up the points, with 2 of the big 3 county mega's being found by those entered and more points for the rest than you could shake a bloody big stick at! So, take a big breath and get a load of these points...

On the 1st of May, Ian Woosey starts the ball rolling with a fine Black Tern on Horrock's Flash and a Garden Warbler near Scotmans and then on the 2nd a Lesser Whitethroat and a further Garden Warbler at the Wigan Flashes. Also on the 2nd, John Tymon finds 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 2 Garden Warblers at Pennington Flash, I add another 2 Whimbrel at Astley Moss East, whilst on the 3rd Simon Johnson adds another Lesser Whitethroat at Elton but it is Paul Hammond who sets things alight with his find of an Alpine Swift at Audenshaw Reservoirs, a true county mega! Things continue on the 3rd with Rob Thorpe adding his own Wigan Flashes Lesser Whitethroat (and providing a superb map plotting all their locations to prevent duplication), Mark Rigby a Little Gull at Audenshaw Reservoirs, Simon Hitchen a Garden Warbler at Hollingworth Lake, David Winnard finds an excellent Marsh Harrier at Ashworth Moor Reservoir, a Garden Warbler and also adds 4 species withheld for sensitive reasons, I find a Whinchat on Moss Lane and the next day on the 4th, Andy Isherwood increases them to 2 birds. Still on the 4th, Jimmy Meadows adds single Garden Warblers at Lady Mabel's Wood and Giants Hall, Rob Adderley a Sandwich Tern and Sanderling at Audenshaw, Simon Warford 'nicks' another Sanderling from under those Audenshaw boys noses, Paul Heaton finds a Garden Warbler at Shell Nature Reserve and me yet 2 more Whimbrel off Rindle Road (having made sure there was absolutely none around the whole area the previous day) but this time it is Rob Thorpe's turn to stir those county listers into action with a Cattle Egret at Horrock's only the second county record and a great reward but he also added 2 Black Terns at the same time! On the 5th I dig out 2 Garden Warblers on the western edge of Botany Bay Woods, Simon Johnson has a Whimbrel over Heaton Park Reservoir, Simon Warford has another Garden Warbler this time at Clifton and also 2 Whinchats at Rumworth and finally on the 6th, Ian Woosey finds another female Marsh Harrier at the Wigan Flashes (clearly different that the bird on the 5th) and so ends the points 'fest' of the past few day...phew!

As spring surges on so do the countable species and the points they bring but one person certainly makes the most of a perhaps unseasonable occurrence. On the 26th, John Tymon finds a large flock of Redpolls and 11 of them strike him as being typical Mealies, obtaining photographic evidence along the way John earns himself 77 points in one find, so rocketing him into a remarkable 6th position in a fraction of a second. On the 29th Mark Rigby adds a species withheld for sensitive reasons, I add two of my own (for the same reasons) and Simon Hitchen finds two Whinchat at Clegg Hall all on the same date. On the 30th, Dave Broome reaches the 200 points mark with a pair of Garden Warblers and Lesser Whitethroat at Bryn Marsh (the Lesser Whitethroat at the farm end), Simon Hitchen continues his excellent run with a Lesser Whitethroat in the 'big hedge' at Hollingworth Lake and a Whimbrel over for good measure and both Henry Cook, with his first points of the year, and myself wade in on the Lesser Whitethroat 'fest' with 3 each of our own, Henry's in the fields north of Shay lane, off Buttery House Lane (and not including a bird found there by a non-Tournament entrant) and mine all in the Astley area with one off Chaddock Lane, one off the East Lancs Road by Peel Farm Pools and the easiest points of the year with my usual one singing at the back of my house as I update this site ☺

On the 25th Paul Heaton increases the Whimbrels along Rindle Road by three to seven in total and earns himself 6 points along the way, Ian Woosey finds another or perhaps even the same (Pennington Flash) drake Garganey at Pearsons Flash and Rob and Sonia Adderley add Whimbrel and Lesser Whitethroat at Bredbury Tip and Lower Bredbury respectively to their Tournament. On the 27th Simon Warford manages another Ring Ouzel on Harcles Hill and a Whimbrel there too, Simon Johnson a Whimbrel at Heaton Park Reservoir and a Lesser Whitethroat at Elton whilst Paul Hammond and Steve Collins latch onto the same Whimbrel at the same time at Audenshaw Reservoirs and Paul Cliff adds himself more points, although the species and site are withheld for sensitive reasons. Last but by no means least back on the 19th Steve Atkins adds four points thanks to a fine male Ring Ouzel at Watergrove Reservoir.

After another flurry of countable species, the Tournamenteers once again jostle for position on the rankings board with some excellent finds along the way. On the 21st Rob and Sonia Adderley score once again with a Glaucous Gull at Audenshaw Reservoirs whilst I add a further 2 Whimbrel to my tally on Astley Moss East and on the 22nd the Adderleys wade in once again with 4 Ring Ouzels on Ludworth Moor a great find. On the 22nd Simon Johnson bags himself a county rarity with a Red Kite over Heaton Park Reservoir and on the 23rd points seem aplenty with me scoring heavily on Irlam Moss with Blue-headed Wagtail, Whinchat and Merlin all good points, Mark Rigby finds another 2 Whimbrel off Rindle Road, Astley, the Adderleys (never far away from the points!) a Kittiwake at Audenshaw Reservoirs and Ian Woosey adds his own Little Gull at Scotmans Flash and then on the 24th steals a Garganey from under the noses of the Pennington regulars, a top piece of Tournamenteering ☺

More points, more species, more individuals and more shuffling about on the rankings board. Simon Hitchen adds to his steadily improving ranking with a Ring Ouzel at Chelburn Reservoirs on the 16th, whilst on the 19th Rob and Sonia Adderley find another Little Gull at Pennington Flash, Simon Johnson adds three more Whooper Swans to his tally at Heaton Park Reservoir and Andy Isherwood manages three Whimbrel over Moss Lane and a Lesser Whitethoat at Hope Carr NR. On the 20th the haul continues with Simon Warford's six Ring Ouzels on Holcombe Moor, John Tymon's Garden Warbler at Pennington Flash, Mark Rigby adds two more Little Gulls to the two already present at Pennington Flash, I drop on 5 Whimbrel on Astley Moss East and Simon Warford and Simon Johnson find a Redstart at Elton Reservoir.

Thirty two points in two days between 6 Tournamenteers as those countables continue to be found. Simon Hitchen has a bumper day at Hollingworth Lake, just rewards for his continued efforts there, as he finds a Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Common Scoters on the 12th jumping up a place in the process into 9th position although Paul Heaton goes further still and leaps four places in one find also on the 12th thanks to 3 Rock Pipits at Audenshaw Reservoirs. Further points found on the 12th came as Simon Johnson continues his finds on his regular patch with 2 Common Scoters at Heaton Park Reservoir, Andy Isherwood pulls another out of the bag with a Ring Ouzel on Moss Lane (beating me to it by 10 minutes!) and I grab another 'white-winger' with an Iceland Gull on Astley Tip, whilst Simon Warford collects a single Common Scoter on Elton Reservoir on the 13th and Simon Johnson more points on the same date with another Rock Pipit at Heaton Park Reservoir.

Well, well, well, what a difference a day makes! I've said all along that you're next big find is only ever round the corner, you've just got to get out there and find that corner but they're out there waiting and as if to prove the point one of my early favourites, Dave Broome, finds an all too rare Red-breasted Merganser on Scotmans Flash on the 8th and obviously not content with this literally bumps into a large flock of 45+ redpolls at Amberswood the same day, probably all of which were Mealy Redpolls but Dave admirably concedes to positively identifying only 20 or so of the flock and claims only those. Of course this nets him a huge 140 points alone (not including the Merganser), firing him straight into a very dominant first position on the rankings board and of course, whilst that hill looks even higher for us all to climb now should we endeavour to challenge him (and we bloody should ☺), this one day in the Tournament proves that big, ranking board changing points were out there to be found by someone, anyone but where were you? In the meantime, us lesser mortals have to do with lesser points but Paul Cliff got his Tournament off to a well deserved start with a Mealy Redpoll at Binn Green on the 4th and Simon Hitchen continues 'plugging away' and picks up 2 Twite over Littleborough on the 10th as a reward.

It's still all go in the Manchester Tournament as another six entrants continue to find valuable birds in the county and even at this still early stage, one look at the rankings board is enough to illustrate the success of the competition as you cast an eye over the haul of birds found already by those entered in it. Simon Johnson finds 3 Rock Pipits at Heaton Park Reservoir on the 4th, one of which is a littoralis race and worth 20 points, Mark Rigby finds an Osprey at Castleshaw Reservoirs also on the 4th and Rob Thorpe has one over Sandyforth Opencast Mine on the 6th and I find a fully breeding plumage Black-tailed Godwit at Astley Moss East Peat Pools on the 5th (still closed to general access but this may change imminently, details will be posted on the website as and when this occurs) which Ian Woosey then finds on the Abram Flashes on the 6th.

With the imminent arrival of a new season come new birds and of course new points for those fortunate enough to find them and find them they do as five Tournamenteers continue the points haul. Paul Wilson finds a Black-tailed Godwit at Elton Reservoir on the 1st and with it puts his first points of the year on the rankings board, Mark Rigby makes a typical birders impromptu roadside emergency stop as 4 Whooper Swans fly over his car in Newton Heath on the 2nd and on the same date Simon Johnson finds a new Iceland Gull at the roost at Heaton Park Reservoir, whilst the 3rd of the month brings a Ring Ouzel a piece to Ian Woosey and myself, Ian's at Rumworth and mine at Holden's Plantation.

Finally the pace has slowed slightly but three entrants still managed to add some points since the 'crazy day' of the 26th as Tim Wilcox continues his excellent run with another Black-tailed Godwit at Dover Basin (now up to 4 birds present) on the 26th, Dave Broome added a fine juvenile Iceland Gull at Scotman's Flash to his Tournament on the 29th, I dug out yet another immature Yellow-legged Gull (photographs to follow), this time a 2nd winter bird, from the gull roost at Heaton Park Reservoir on the 29th also and Steve Atkins finally gets his Tournament going (details withheld).

Relentless, absolutely relentless! That's all you can say really after a day which was the best the county has offered for some time and Tournamenteers were there to pick up some points from it too. Of course a frankly enormous 560 points went begging at Pennington in the morning of the 26th with the 28 Brent Geese which were picked up by a non-entrant but it went to prove just how your ranking can potentially change with just that one find. Anyway, on the 26th Simon Hitchen increased his Hollingworth Lake and Tournament Kittiwake total thanks to another 2 birds, Dave Broome added a Kittiwake of his own on Scotmans Flash, Paul Hammond really plundered Audenshaw Reservoirs, finding Grey Plover, Knot and Common Scoter all in that one morning, worth a very nice 11 points but it was Tim Wilcox, coming from Tournament obscurity, who fared best when he co-found the Pennington Red-throated Diver and shot himself straight into 9th position! Meanwhile, Simon Warford found a Kittiwake of his very own at Elton on the 24th and Warford senior, Alan, co-found the pair of Pintail there on the 23rd and gets himself on the rankings board atleast (my fault for missing them off ☺). Can this pace continue? Only the next Tournament update knows...

With barely time to pause for breath five more Tournamenteers score heavily, disrupting the rankings board as they all leapfrog one or more others atleast! Paul Hammond jumps an impressive nine places with 8 Kittiwakes and a single Rock Pipit at Audenshaw on the 21st and 23rd respectively, Simon Hitchen digs out two more Kittiwakes from Hollingworth Lake on the 23rd making this one of his best passages of this attractive little gull ever and promoting him a single position but Simon Warford fares better with some fine Tournamenteering (great, another new word ☺) at Pilsworth Tip on the 24th producing well deserved points thanks to two Iceland and a single Glaucous Gulls, preceded with a pair of Pintail at Elton Reservoir on the 23rd all boosting him 3 places into 7th position. Simon Johnson continues his run of excellent form with his patch of Heaton Park Reservoir producing 4 Kittiwakes and a superb flock of 21 Whooper Swans on the 23rd, elevating him a single position into a fairly comfortable 6th whilst I continue to steal points from his patch (☺), this time with another 2 Rock Pipits and single 3rd-winter Yellow-legged Gull (photographed and confirmed as another new individual) on the 24th pushing me past Woosey and into second behind the all conquering Adderleys.

Yet another bumper few days as Tournamenteers plunder all points of the county for the available 'countables' and it seems there were plenty to have! More Whooper Swans on the 17th brought 3 points for Paul Heaton at Audenshaw Reservoirs and 1 for Paul Hammond, although the latter Paul, hearing them flying over his house at night whilst in bed (!), could only count one bird even though a flock was obviously involved as Dave Broome had already set the precedence on that issue! Rob Adderley, always amongst the points, continues his finds at Audenshaw Reservoirs with yet another Rock Pipit and a Kittiwake after he boosted the Audenshaw flock on the 21st from 13 to 14 individuals and speaking of Kittiwakes, Steve Collins gets his Tournament off in fine style, going straight in at 6th place on the rankings board thanks to that flock of Kittiwakes at Audenshaw on the 21st. After 8 had been found there (by a non-Tournamenteer), Steve went and upped the flock to 13 and after Rob had added his single, Steve then went on to up it again, this time to 16 birds so earning himself 14 points thanks to his personal tally of 7 birds. Simon Hitchen at Hollingworth Lake on the 20th and Simon Johnson at Heaton Park Reservoir on the 21st, both found more Kittiwakes with a single and pair respectively whilst also at Heaton Park Reservoir on the 21st I managed to locate a single Rock Pipit and 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull.

Superb efforts all round produce points for six Tournamenteers although leading to only one change in the current rankings board. Unsurprisingly, Rob (really not trying hard you know) Adderley starts it off with two Rock Pipits at Audenshaw Reservoirs on the 16th, another on there on the 20th and also a Common Scoter at the same site on the 20th whilst Simon Hitchen improves his ranking by one place thanks also to a single Rock Pipit at Blackstone Edge Reservoir on the 16th. Rob Thorpe's efforts of late continue to produce the goods with a Merlin at Lightshaw on the 17th and a Common Scoter at Pennington (whilst both braved horrible conditions) on the 20th, Ian Woosey plugs valiantly away at county sites and increases the Dover Basin Black-tailed Godwits to three so helping himself to another point. On the 17th Pennington produces a rather unseasonal, but still very much appreciated Sanderling for me but Dave Broome fares worse with only a single point for a flock of Whooper Swans over Skitters Wood, Ashton-in-Makerfield also on the 17th as Dave very commendably concedes that as he could only hear the flock, it being pitch dark at the time (!), he can only count points for one bird.

The Manchester Birding Tournament, now in it's second year, continues to fulfil my expectations with a real battle for top spot even at this early stage and some seriously good points due of course to county birders getting out and finding some real goodies. This time both John Tymon and I score with possibly the same birds, John initially with three Pintail through Pennington and then I with three at Hope Carr later the same day on the 16th but Andy Isherwood, fulfilling his promise of an improved Tournament this year, scores a massive 48 points thanks to an apparent passage of Whooper Swans across the county on the 16th, which included 48 birds over his house, lucky or what? Either way, Andy's haul promotes him to a fine third place and John Tymon's to a relieving (for him!) sixth, I can only hope the Tournament continues in the same vain for the rest of the year!

Finally, a break from the seemingly endless gull points of late comes in absolute fine style from Ian Woosey, not only changing his Tournament fortunes in an instant but also proving to one and all that your next big points are only ever around the corner. His finding of no fewer than three Avocets at Horrock's Flash on the 15th, each worth 35 points, earns him a very healthy 105 points and so catapulting him into a fine second place. Meanwhile, Geoff Hargreaves quietly gets himself onto the ranking board after finding another Black-tailed Godwit on Dover Basin on the 15th also.

With a little flourish the Tournament opens up again as four entrants add points, their first of the year for three of them! Dave Broome adds the first points with an extra Pintail at Dover Basin on the 7th worth two points, John Tymon a fine adult Iceland Gull at Pennington Flash on the 8th worth five points, Simon Hitchen a Kittiwake at Hollingworth Lake on the 9th worth two points and finally, Simon Johnson cashing in on the Heaton Park Reservoir white-winged gull bonanza with another new juvenile Glaucous Gull there on the 9th worth 8 points.

John and both Simons indeed added their very first points of the year, bringing the total Tournamenteers to score points so far to thirteen, not only a very good effort by all but proof, if it was ever needed, that only time and effort (perhaps a bit of luck sometimes!) are the main requirements to kick start your Tournament. With the imminent on set of spring, let's all get out there!

One horse race? Never, there's still ten months to go but Rob and Sonia Adderley bolster their claim to the trophy with yet more countable gulls, this time another Caspian Gull (adult) and another third winter Yellow-legged Gull at Heaton Park Reservoir on the 1st of the month. They're out there, just keep looking and bring on the migrants!

Okay, so it's been quiet Tournament wise but cries of dissent and for 'easier points' are silenced as three Tournamenteers dig out points from the calm, proving yet again that they're out there for those who care to look, hard enough! Ian Woosey's dawn raid on Lightshaw (whilst everyone else seemed to be at Dunham) on the 23rd produced three fine Pintails, always good for points and Mark Rigby got his Tournament off the mark (no pun intended ☺) with a very good Black-tailed Godwit at Dover Basin also on the 23rd but it was Rob and Sonia Adderley who's obvious determination and ambition for making the fine Manchester Birding Tournament Trophy theirs for next year shone through with yet more exhaustive gulling providing a fine 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull at Audenshaw on the 19th. Such efforts never go without reward and the spot Rob regularly polishes on his mantelpiece in anticipation of the trophy's visitation next year looks set to come to fruition even at this early stage of the year, determination personified indeed!

Andy Isherwood continues his assault on the top of the leader board, rooting out three Pintail at Hope Carr Reserve on the 10th and staying true to his word of improving his effort on last year's Tournament.

Despite their apparent unwillingness to be found, those all important 'countables' are out there as Paul Heaton proved, finding a Merlin at a private site near Carrington Moss on the 8th elevating him to a current fifth position.

With 'white-winged' gulls at seemingly every gull roost of late and becoming increasingly hard to track (so's not to duplicate points), there was no such problem with a first-winter Glaucous Gull in the Pennington Flash roost on the 3rd, not only worth a pleasing eight points to it's finder, me, but also the first site record for some considerable time.

What a difference a day makes! After being quiet of late, the 2nd of February produces the points with the permit holders at Heaton Park Reservoir cashing in on a points bonanza with Paul Heaton managing a 1st winter Iceland Gull but Rob and Sonia Adderley going a long way one better, picking out a 3rd winter Kumlien's Gull, only the second county occurrence of this Iceland Gull sub-species. Meanwhile Simon Warford quietly picked up his first Tournament points thanks to three Crossbills at Walker Fold Woods, which despite being covered regularly have not produced any for a while now, hence I've deemed these as countable.

With very poor weather of late and Tournamenteers taking full advantage of the opportunity to blame it for their lack of finding any countable species, Ian (wandering) Woosey gets himself up on the Horwich Moors in gale force conditions on the 26th and finds himself a very nice male Hen Harrier. No, wait a minute that's not quite right...his girlfriend Helen finds a male Hen Harrier and Woosey cashes in on the points, claiming the identification! What a true gent...

Last years runner up, Dave Winnard, inevitably gets on the Rankings Board early courtesy of a Merlin at Ashworth Moor Reservoir on the 12th but with such a great current county rarity as Green-winged Teal going un-found by a Tournamenteer, there must be so much out there yet to be found. Just how much do you want it?

Rather unsurprisingly, it was never going to be long before the 'big hitters' Rob and Sonia Adderley forced their way onto the rankings board but their find of a superb 1st winter Caspian Gull at Heaton Park Reservoir on the 11th (very obviously different from the bird on the 1st) awards them the points for a county rarity with less than 10 records in fine style.

The 'Mealy melee' continues as Dave Broome finds another Mealy Redpoll this time at Three Sisters and I spend a couple of hours sifting through the remaining birds at Gin Pit only to find Andy Isherwood was indeed right and there were more Mealies there, 4 to be precise! As Andy had suspected but failed to confirm the presence of 3 in total on the 7th he should and indeed does collect the points for the extra 2, whilst I collect points for confirming 2 and finding an extra single bird. Confused? You should be!

After the first full week four Tournamenteers have now been successful in finding countable species, Andy Isherwood adding more points with a Mealy Redpoll at Gin Pit Village on the 7th but with the rest of the bunch out eagerly searching it certainly won't be long before more names are added to the rankings board. Bring it on!

Three days in and into full swing already? Either way Dave Broome makes his early attack on the title with 5 Mealy Redpolls at Victoria Fields, Bickershaw shooting him into an early joint lead, especially after I award myself the 5 points I omitted for a county rarity with less than 10 records from the 1st (thanks to all those who pointed out my error by the way ☺).

On the very first day of the year and of the 2008 Manchester Tournament, the very first points are added in fine style with Andy Isherwood managing a female type Merlin near Astley Moss and Rob Thorpe a drake Pintail on at Three Sisters whilst I start early with a candidate for rarest bird of the year courtesy of the county's 4th Caspian Gull, this time a fine 2nd winter at the unfortunately strictly permit only Heaton Park Reservoir (photographed, videoed and witnessed by Phil Rhodes).