@patchbirding
A #patchbirding challenge across the UK and Ireland where the aim is to see and find as many birds as possible on your patch. For more info, go to our blog: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com Join our Bluesky buzz by tagging us in your posts #PWC2026
Seems like there are plenty of Common Scoters turning up on inland water bodies today! Maybe there will be one on your patch?
Good luck to all patch birders over the weekend, chance of an early Hirundine, Wheatear or Little Ringed Plover too! #PWC2026
The great-tailed grackle amongst a host of golden daffodils 🌼 on tonights #patchbirding
I met 2 lads who’d driven up from Hertfordshire today , to try and get a 💩 sample , as they got a sample from the other 2 uk grackles , but they had no luck sadly .
Nice work, Neil! That time of year for wildfowl...
A bit of patch gold after work today with a moulting drake SHOVELER (a terrible record shot🤣) feeding on the Hothfield Waterfall Lake, very scarce on this side of Ashford. Year ✅ #70 #patchbirding #PWC2026. Little Grebe, 2 Tufted Ducks (a pair with a 3rd drake noted on Tuesday) and 12 Teal.
Still not signed up but want to be included in this years competition? Then follow this link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
If you have any questions on how to sign up, how the scoresheet works or how to submit scores, then don't hesitate to get in touch via the email!
Remember, get only your February scores and highlights in by 8pm tomorrow evening so they can be downloaded for the February review! After this, you can start to add in your March results.
If you have any pictures for possible usage that aren't connected to a #patchbirding hashtag, post them below
Excellent stuff, Liam! Certainly one to be entered into the spring best find competition when it is live for public vote sometime in June.
Spring is most certainly here with migrant Chiffchaffs even making it to the Hebrides. Lets hope that it is going to be an exciting few months!
Awesome work that John! There'll be some excellent data there I am sure.
Excellent work, Owen! It looks superb.
Remember to get your February scores submitted onto the spreadsheet by the evening of the 7th March, ready for the February round-up on the blog.
If you haven't signed up yet and want to be included, follow this link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
You have had a brilliant start to the year, Dan!
For more info on signing up for this year's competition, then check out the blog here: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com
For the sign-up sheet, follow this link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
The Patchwork Challenge 2025 article is now out in the latest issue of @birdguides.bsky.social's Birdwatch Extra Magazine! We hope all subscribers enjoy the write-up, it was a brilliant collaborative effort and we thank those patch birders that helped! Enjoy!
Spring wader migration is already well underway! Remember to keep checking those water bodies as much as you can as waders may only rest up and feed for only a few minutes. In the meantime, check out Graham's article:
Currently on the scoresheet so have it, certainly something we need to review though for 2027!
Well done on getting in on the invasion of them, Phil! Now is very much the time to get them on patch
Stock Dove in flight showing the upper wing and rump against a blue sky. Westray, Orkney Isles, 23 February 2026
Stock Dove in flight showing the underside and underwing against a blue sky. Westray, Orkney Isles, 23 February 2026
#WestrayBirding #PatchGold (no, not the blue sky) - only the third #Westray record of Stock Dove 🙂 which coincides with birds on Orkney Mainland and at @northronbirdobs.bsky.social in recent weeks (I know it’s not the latter bird cos that one got done by a Hen Harrier). #PWC2026
Good luck to everyone out #patchbirding this weekend! Remember that it isn't too late to sign up for this year's competition, so if you have a patch you enjoy watching, why not sign up?!
For more info on how to do so, follow this link: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/2026...
Nor am I Daniel! Will need to do more research. Nice birds though!
Great to see so many #patchbirding updates today, remember to keep the posts coming with the relevant hashtags!
If you haven't read the January round-up on the blog yet, then go over and take a look now to see how the first month affected the mini-leagues: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com
Superb work Matthew, #PatchGold!
24-carat #PatchGold for Pete! Superb inland bird.
The #PWC2026 January review is now out!
Take a look at where you have come in the mini-leagues and gawp at what others have seen on their patches! To do this, click the link to go to our blog: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/janu...
Hope you enjoy reading it!
A Cormorant having a poo. The bird is standing but just about hoizantal with its tail coked up at 45 degrees and there is an almost metre long stream of off-white poo being ejected
You don't want to get too close to the rear end of a Cormorant when it decides to have a poo..... (Cardiff Bay this morning) #BirdingWales #birds
Have you checked out the Patchwork Challenge shop lately? Take a look at it now, as soon we might switch some bits about making some current items unavailable: patchwork-challenge.teemill.com
All money raised goes to funding prizes for #PWC2026 mini-leagues and best find competitions!
Sounds like a fab day, Nick!
Sounds like a cracking morning!
Right, we are now back from our winter birding trip to Spain so we will be back to being more active on all our social media and the blog from now on. Hopefully all #PWC2026 birders have had a good start to February and picked up on some decent birding!
Good luck for the rest of the weekend!
Good luck, Amy!
