THE END IS HERE!
(actually it was here ages ago but we've only just got around to updating the page)
16th July. It's all over, bar the shouting and recriminations. Actually, after the creation of the 'democratic excel spreadsheet of love and peace', arguments over points allocations have thankfully become a thing of the past. Actually that's not true at all, but at least it wasn't as bad as the bitchfest of '06...
Well, it didn't go too badly. We managed to eek out a fair number of decent birds, although it wasn't exactly a classic. There was a clear winner, and to the victor go the spoils, which were in fact fairly minimal. Grudging respect, I suppose. Unlike last time, there seems to be a degree of hunger for a repeat run this autumn, presumably with the aim of doing some actual damage this time. Watch this space......
THE FINAL STANDINGS:
Rich Moores
Final Score - 73 points
Rares - Bee-eater (x3) Great Yarmouth 35 points
Scarce - Stone Curlew (Broads) 11 points, Spoonbill (Breydon) 2 points, Montagu's Harrier (Great Yarmouth) 2 points, 2 x Honey Buzzards (Great Yarmouth), 4 points, Common Rosefinch (Gun Hill, Overy Dunes) 11 points.
Dross - Garganey (Whitlingham) 1 point, Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Whitlingham) 2 points, Common Scoter (Rockland Broad) 1 point, migrant Red Kite (Runham, Norfolk) 1 point, Sandwich Tern (Whitlingham) 1 point, Black Terns (Norfolk) 1 point, Curlew Sand (Breydon) 1 point, Little Stint (Buckenham) 1 point
What the pundits have to say: As the instigator of FK2009, Moores must have had an inkling that he could do well, and he is a worthy winner. He repeatedly bitchslapped the rest of the pack with a constant stream of good finds, and deserves huge love for winning it without going to Ireland once, or even leaving Nelson's county for that matter... Even if most of his stuff was found whilst at work..... His 'eater trio caused maximum jealosy from the pack, and came with the added bonus of causing upset amongst the Norfolk web-o-twitchers, which is something we can all aspire to. Can he hold off the field in autumn? He'll probably have to drive further than 40 miles from home this time...
James Gilroy -
Final Score - 60 points
Rares - Franklin's Gull (Unst) 40 points
Scarce - Dotterel (Norfolk) 4 points, Icterine Warbler (Shetland) 6 points
Dross - Little Tern (Whitlingham) 1 point, Wood Sandpiper, (Norfolk) 1 point, Little Stint & Curlew Sand (The Hills) 2 x 1 point, Honey Buzzard (Shetland) 6 points
What the pundits have to say: As second favourite, James' reputation was hanging on a knife edge as he struggled even for scarce for much of the period. The class shone through in the end though, when he pulled out the best find of the spring, whilst his hands were still in the sink. Getting the silver medal for the second time in a row ought to be satisfying, but like Ricky Bobby said - if you're not first, you're last...
Alex Lees
Final Score - 35 points
Rares - none
Scarce - Montagu's Harrier (Cambs) 5 points, Icterine Warbler (Shetland) 6 points, Crane (Cambs) 2 points, Marsh Warbler (Norfolk) 14 points
Dross - Garganey (Norfolk: 1, Cambs: 7) 1 point, Red Kite, (near Chatteris, Cambs) 1 point, Knot (Cambs) 1 point, Wood Sandpiper, (Norfolk) 1 point, Black Terns (Norfolk and Notts) 1 point, Sanderling (Notts) 1 point, Glaucous Gull (Shetland) 1 point, Quail (Shetland, Cambs) 1 point
What the pundits have to say: He had high hopes from the Washes, but it turns out that Cambs is no Acle Straight... Constant low key finds and a last gasp inland scarce added up, but he's still on a bad run with no mega in sight... Will this autumn be kinder?
Dan Brown
Final Score - 18 points
Rares - none
Scarce - Wryneck (Lincs) - 8 points*, Dotterel (Wales) 4 points
Dross - Garganey (Sussex) 1 point, Osprey (Sussex) 2 points, Little Gull (North Wales) 1 point, Wood Sandpiper (Wales) 1 point, Glaucous Gull (Wales) 1 point.
What the pundits have to say: Not even Dan knows what happened this spring. Despite sweet hookups all over the country, he never even got close to the big time. Must've spent too much time trying to communicate with gaelic-speaking boat-owners on the Mullet... With the most to prove after being ousted from the pinnacle, he could be a force to be reckoned with in the autumn...
Rob Martin
Final Score - 18 points
Rares - none
Scarce - Icterine Warbler x 2 (Shetland) 6 points each
Dross - Osprey (Wales) 2 points, Osprey (Wales) 2 points, Wood Sandpiper, (Norfolk) 1 point, Garganey (Norfolk: 2) 1 point, Quail (Shetland)
What the pundits have to say: Maybe he spent too much time signing autographs, but at least he clawed some points out from under the rest of team Unst at Quendale. With a series of hot EIA patches lined up, the world expects more from House. Can he refind his '07 form this autumn?
Rik Addison
Final Score - 14 points
Rares -
Scarce - Honey Buzzard* in Berks, 5 points, Icterine Warbler (Shetland) 6 points
Dross - Migrant Red Kite in Dorset -1 point, Iceland Gull (Shetland) 1 point
What the pundits have to say: Despite a remarkable degree of effort on the south coast and managing to get up before midday at least twice on Shetland, newly toxin-free Rick only got slim rewards. He's got to be due a big bird soon...
Ilya Mclean
Final Score -7 points
Rares -
Scarce - Sabine's Gull (Lizard) 4 points*
Dross - Honey Buzzard (Kent) 3 points*
What the pundits have to say: After a good start it was a disappointing end from Ilya, clearly Cornwall can be tougher than we thought... But we expect big things and new resolve in the autumn... Unless he gets too pally with the locals and starts being forced to supress everything...
Dave "Trousers" Smith
Final Score - 4 points
Rares -
Scarce -
Dross - Water Pipit (Surrey) 1 point, Bar-tailed Godwit (Surrey) 1 point, Turnstone (Surrey) 1 point, Mediterranean Gull (Surrey) 1 point. We're told all this shit is quite rare in Surrey...
What the pundits have to say: No-one expected Trou' to hit the field more than once, so we were pleasantly surprised with his efforts, although multiple trips to Portland with Rick didn't deliver in the end. Will he keep the enthusuiasm going for autumn?
Simon Mitchell
Final Score - 2
Rares -
Scarce -
Dross - Black Tern (Norfolk) 1 point, Garganey, (Cambs) 1point
What the pundits have to say: Being a superstar indie kid didn't help his scoring, but he did go to Spurn at least once. Can he produce some of the previous year's magic this October?
Tim Mackrill
Final Score - 1 point
Rares -
Scarce -
Dross - Garganey (Rutland Water) 1 point
What the pundits have to say: Is Tim even still alive? Our sources say he is probably in love. Again.
Mark Baynes
Final Score - 1
Rares -
Scarce -
Dross - Garganey (Dorset) 1 point
What the pundits have to say: Legend. Mark went birding once, which is about on par with recent years. We'll let him off as he spent the good bit of the spring in Sweden, and fell in love a bit.
Final Score - 1 Rares - Scarce - Dross - Garganey (Cambs) 1 point What the pundits have to say: Jez apparently went birding more than once, but only ever at Fen Drayton, which is a bit like going to play cricket in an onion field. Hot tip for the autumn: Grafham.
Jez Bird
photos© punkbirder (unless otherwise stated)
photos© punkbirder (unless otherwise stated)
