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Patchwork Challenge

@patchbirding.bsky.social

630 followers 130 following 150 posts

A #patchbirding challenge across the UK and Ireland, + Dutch and Belgium mini-league, where the aim is to see and find as many birds as possible on your patch. For more info, go to our pinned post. Join our Bluesky buzz by tagging us in your posts #PWC2025

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Jan 1

Hopefully birders have been out today on their patches, starting up for a big #PWC2025! Here is the sign up and score sheet. Please follow the instructions, and then add your patch to the sign up sheet. Any questions, please get in touch! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

WIP Master PWC 2025 Scoresheet.xls

docs.google.com

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · 8d

And best of luck for October, fingers crossed for some productive winds and birding! If the sprinkling of Yank and Siberian megas the last couple of days is anything to go by, could be in for an exciting month!

Remember to keep posting pictures too and they may get featured on the blog!

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · 8d

It's the end of September so please get your scores up to date ready for the month's review! We will download it on the evening of the 7th.

We look forward to seeing your highlights. Did you find a Yellow-browed Warbler or perhaps something rarer this September? #PWC2025

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stanfordbirder.bsky.social @stanfordbirder.bsky.social · 15d

Stanford Reservoir - more #patchgold when I found this moulting eclipse drake Lesser Scaup, first for the site & for Northants. Also, 3 Glossy Ibis, Bittern, 2 Pintail, Common Tern, Common Sand & Great Egret. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · 22d

August's round-up of #PWC2025 is now live on the blog! We hope you enjoy reading it and good luck with your patch birding this September! patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

Patchwork Challenge

An awesome month, with autumn migration now in full swing with no stopping in sight! Some patch birders succeeded with finding some mega rare birds on their patches yielding them fifteen well earned points! This just showing that working a patch, birders will one day be justly rewarded, let that be either a national mega bird or a locally good bird that you have always wanted to grace your patch.

patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · 23d

East coast migration of Meadow Pipits really kicked off this weekend, and with the first Pink-footed Geese on the move too creating some exciting vismig sessions! #patchbirding

Duncan Watson @tynemouthbirds.bsky.social · 24d

Another great morning of vis-mig at Tynemouth with birds heading south in a light SW wind. Totals by 11.30 included:
4 marsh harriers (!)
3 buzzards
1,925 mipits
225 house martin
125 swallow
150 pink footed geese
80+ siskins
20+ redpolls
23 skylarks
7 swifts
5 grey wags
1 wheatear
1 reed bunting

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · 28d

Amazing!

Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Sep 5

Great find Steve! 🥳

Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Sep 5

With so many Grey Phalaropes all over the country, it's worth checking any water bodies on your patch.

Dave struck gold with his first record on his inland patch in Dorset:

Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · Sep 4

#PatchGold on Sunday evening, I found a 1st w Grey Phalarope on my inland Dorset patch, the first record here. Amazingly it stayed 4 days & departed last night (private area with no public access) @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social #PWC2025

1st winter Grey Phalarope swimming on siltpond lake.

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Sep 4

Fantastic!

Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Sep 2

A reminder to everyone for their #PWC2025 August scores to be inputted into the spreadsheet or be sent to us ready for the evening of the 7th September, so the August round-up can begin to be written.

You can start to input all your September scores after - thank you and happy birding!

Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Aug 31

There is FREE delivery on all orders on the Patchwork Challenge shop until midnight tonight!

So it's a perfect time to check out some of our merchandise, and the money raised will be used to fund the #PWC2025 prizes!

To browse and order, use this link: patchwork-challenge.teemill.com

Home

patchwork-challenge.teemill.com

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Sean Morris @seanofrum.bsky.social · Aug 28

Little stint at Kilmory ia a patch tick for me #PWC2025 #BirdingScotland #Birds

Small wading bird on seaweedy shore. Little Stint

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Aug 28

Proper #patchgold! Superb find John and lovely pictures too.

John Bowler @tireebirder.bsky.social · Aug 27

Boom! Melodious Warbler on the fence-line at Balephuil, Tiree this evening - performing nicely in the sunshine. Only the 2nd for the island and a self-find tick #BirdingScotland
@birdguides.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social

Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Aug 27

Some ace #patchbirding there and what an awesome setting to find a Greenish Warbler hopping about in!

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 26

My first Papay tick of 2025 in the form of a White-rumped Sandpiper, briefly in the North Wick this morning. No sign this afternoon, but made up for by finding this Greenish Warbler in the far geo at Fowl Craig! #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025 Also a Great Shearwater offshore whilst watching it

Feeding in the bottom of the geo, less than 10 metres below me

Far North end of Fowl Craig. I have always walked past this geo and thought it deserved something good... Not sure I have ever seen a single migrant passerine in it until today!

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · Aug 20

Fea’s type Petrel flew north past Nybster at 17:50, just three days after a Barolo’s type Shearwater went through, with @ninaohanlon.bsky.social #CaithnessBirds #PWC2025

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Aug 18

The July round-up for #PWC2025 is now up to date on the blog! Take a look by following the link: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

Patchwork Challenge

patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

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Amy @amythebirder.bsky.social · Aug 9

8 of 17 Cattle Egrets at Titchfield Haven, and a small flock of Crossbill west over the meadow were highlights today #PWC2025 #LowCarbonBirding

Cattle Egrets (white, small / dumpy egrets) in a tree

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Aug 10

Excellent few bonus points for Duncan at Wheldrake Ings this morning with a smart Pectoral Sandpiper! #patchbirding

Duncan Bye @duncbye.bsky.social · Aug 10

A Pectoral Sandpiper on the pool at Wheldrake Ings this morning, only my second ever here @patchbirding.bsky.social #PWC2025
@yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Aug 4

Please remember to get your July scores in by the evening of the 7th, so we can begin writing the months review! Looking forward to seeing where everyone is in the leader boards and what has been seen over the month! #PWC2025

Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Jul 31

The first half of the year review is now out with Birdguides! Go take a look and see what the highlights have been so far this #PWC2025

BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · Jul 31

Patchwork Challenge 2025 update

Jacob Spinks provides a detailed summary of the happenings in this year's Patchwork Challenge across Britain:

Patchwork Challenge 2025 update

Jacob Spinks provides a detailed summary of the happenings in the 2025 Patchwork Challenge, a friendly competition for British and Irish patch birders.

bit.ly

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Amy @amythebirder.bsky.social · Jul 29

Adult Roseate and Arctic Terns joined the Commons today at Titchfield Haven. Roseate flew in mid-morning 🙂 Also Ringed Plover and 2+ Common Sandpipers 'new' on the scrapes, plus Turnstones reappearing in the harbour.

Finally saw Wheatear on 27/7! #PWC2025 #LowCarbonBirding

Terns on wooden posts. Most are Common but one is a Roseate - much paler, almost white plumage, with black cap, dark bill and orange legs.

Terns on wooden posts. Most are Common but one is Roseate and sleeping. It has moved and now the tail and primaries are visible, slowing the thin black tailing edge contrasting with rest of primaries white are pale.

Arctic Tern on an island with Black-headed Gull and Common Terns. It is similar to the Common Terns but differs by shorter and dark red bill, noticeably shorter legs, greyer under parts, and slightly different shape/jizz.

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Jul 26

After a long delay, the #PWC2025 June review is finally out on the blog! To read about all the scores, highlights and competition, follow this link! patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Jul 26

After a long delay, the #PWC2025 June review is finally out on the blog! To read about all the scores, highlights and competition, follow this link! patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

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Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Jul 24

Mega!

Patchwork Challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social · Jul 21

Difficult to judge scores for some species that are regular in some places, but are bloody rare in others but will have a look at the scores per each species ready for #PWC2026.

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