Patchwork Challenge

Happy New Year and good luck to everyone who is out #birding, making a start to their #PWC2026 totals this morning! If you have not yet signed up then use this link to do so! docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d… Keep us updated on your finds by using the #Patchbirding and #PWC2026 tags!

We have the first half of #PWC2026 best find competition coming back soon, with finds up until 30th June included. Like last year, we will ask for finds to be submitted with a paragraph to why that bird was special and then they will be put to a vote, this will be live in July.

Did you get a chance to read last months #PWC2026 round-up? If not, then why not take a look now by clicking this link to our blog: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com Seems to have been a little flurry of migration activity recently, so we are already looking forward to the May one!

We have now published the April #PWC2026 review on our blog! Click this link to head over and see where you ended up in the league tables, as well as all the interesting patch birds over the month: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/05/april-… Thanks to everyone who has taken part so far!

Free delivery on #PWC merch until midnight! Money raised will go to the end of #PWC2026 prizes. Check out our shop: patchwork-challenge.teemill.com

Well we are now in May, the rarity month of the spring! We wish all patch birders a fun and rarity filled month. Also, please remember to update your April #PWC2026 scores on the spreadsheet, ready for the monthly review. Thanks!

More fantastic passage at Branston Island today, with Grey Plover and Common Sand new for #PWC2026. 141/190. Totals: Grey Plover, 7 Wood Sand, 2 Barwit, 2 Blackwit, Whimbrel, 11 Ruff, Greenshank, 6 RP, 2 LRP, 3 Ibis, WF Goose. #PatchBirding @Lincsbirding

Finally had a Reed Warbler @PatchBirding this morning at Trent Port/Marton which brings up my 💯 species for #PWC2026. Also, Yellow Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Bullfinch, 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Green Woodpecker and 1st young coots @LincsWildlife @Lincsbirding

Get in! Found a 2cy Bonaparte's Gull on patch at Branston Island this morning, still present now as I'm leaving. View only through bushes from the Witham cycle track. #PatchBirding @Lincsbirding

Patch gold here tonight in my part of rural Cheshire. Only my 2nd ever record of Whimbrel. Previous record of a bird calling in flight. Flock of 15 + 2 Curlew in field opposite house this evening. 1st patch year record of L Whitethroat & Sandmartin today as well #pwc2026

@c4hub @rg_stanford @LandRbirds They are gorgeous birds, Chris. Hopefully more of the classic late April to May stuff to come yet.

Stanford Reservoir - having blanked on Thursday good to find these 2 corking Little Gulls yesterday - prob the best ‘on water’ views I have had. Also, Hobby & Garden Warbler new for #PWC2026 now at 121 species, 157 pts. @rg_stanford @LandRbirds

@wildlifegeekpix Lovely bird that, Darren. Hopefully a few more good waders to come over the next few weeks.

#swinemoor 5 Wood Sand currently (video shows one bird) as well as 3 Greenshank, 3 LRP. #patchbirding #PWC2026 #Eastyorksbirding

@SeanOHa19117792 @Eddiewilliams09 Superb stuff, Sean! What good spring days are all about.

If Carlsberg made afternoons ….. a great afternoon started with Wryneck at Burton followed by a late late winner by Van Dyke. Then to cap it all a male Pied Flycatcher found by @Eddiewilliams09 at the lighthouse. #PWC2026.

Patch gold ✅ Nightingale singing from dense scrub on the old tip. #PWC2026 96/105. 10km radius 104/118. @Lincsbirding @PatchBirding @BTO_Lincs @LincsWildlife

The March #PWC2026 round-up is now live on the blog! Head over to see where you and other competitors have finished the first quarter of the year! To take a look, click this link: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/04/march-… We hope you enjoy reading it!

A patch tick Lesser Scaup was the highlight of a few hours this morning along with just my 3rd patch Curlew. Also the first few summer migrants with 2 LRP, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Swallow and House Martin. @PatchBirding #patchgold

@daveliverbirder Super stuff, Dave! Can't be often you get patch ticks these days.

A VERY long overdue #patchbirding lifer!!!! A breeding plumage Black Necked Grebe on the Mersey E of the Lighthouse!! 😎 Video will probably be trashed on here though….not that it’s that good 🙄

Stanford Reservoir - been checking this small area of ploughed field for the past 10 days in the hope of a spring Wheatear. Today was the day - scarcer in the spring in recent years so a useful addition to #PWC2026 @rg_stanford

If you haven't managed to get your first Willow Warblers for #PWC2026 yet, then this has surely got to be the week to hear that beautiful song once again! Good luck

The end of March is nearly here! So please remember to get your #PWC2026 March scores and highlights in by the evening of 7th April by putting them onto the main scores spreadsheet here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d… Best of luck with your April #patchbirding!

The link to the scoresheet template: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d… The link to the sign up and main scores sheet for #PWC2026: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…

If you still need a hand signing up for #PWC2026, then you can watch the following video on the process of doing that: youtube.com/watch?v=2x9tHv…

We have made a video to help explain the process of figuring out your scores for #PWC2026. It shows the process of making a copy of the sheet, figuring out your patch year list and then what to do next! To see it, follow this link: youtube.com/watch?v=puzLEI…