More inspirational patchwork

This time from Andy Johnson at Start Point, check it out HERE

These are fantastic and fascinating. Please, keep the coming!

The PWC Bird Race - 10th May - 20th May 2013

I'm sure that many of us have taken part in some sort of 24 hour bird race before, whether entering the official national one, or having a fun local challenge with friends, or in my case in a mini van with 10+ other students charging around the countryside of Aberdeenshire. I loved taking part and Aberdeenshire was great, mountains, woodlands, east coast so we racked up 130+ species most years.

But since I moved away from Aberdeen I haven't taken part in one, not being able to drive is probably a big issue as is not knowing the counties I've lived in since very well. So what better way to get back into some crazy 24 hour birding than a Patchwork Challenge Bird Race! Who can see the most species in a 24 hour period on their patch, no need for driving (for most of us) and we should all know our patches pretty well by now.

The rules are simple, see/hear as many species as you can on your patch 00:00h and 23:59h on any day between the 10th May and 20th May. Over this period it gives everyone a chance to participate hopefully. Now all we have to do is pick a date and wait to hear tawny owl calling at 00:01h.........

Hopefully one of these turns up at Hemsby mid-May.......

or/and one of these!

London - comparative leaders

The London mini-league is an active league, 17 out of the 19 patches have now posted a score and 11 out of the 12 comarative scores are in. Paul leads the points table with the first 100+ score for London, with Marek not too far behind. Just below the leaders its really close with 8 points seperating the next 6 patches!

Graham H is way out in front of the comparative scores and is the overall leader in the whole of teh country with 112%, but Jason and Paul have also posted impressive score, both breaking the 80% barrier already.

London area
Position	Name	Patch	Species	Points	%
1	Paul Whiteman	Leyton Marsh-Walthamstow Res.	97	109	80.14706
2	Marek Walford	Dinton Pastures CP	89	97	75.1938
3=	Roger Hicks	Henlow Grange	81	84	N/A
3=	Jono Lethbridge	Wanstead	79	84	65.625
5	Fraser Cottington	Dinton Pastures CP	77	81	50.9434
6	Michael Terry	Hosehill Lake LNR, Reading	71	78	70.90909
7	Adam Bassett	Little Marlow GP	73	77	54.60993
8	Jason R	East Hyde	73	76	84.44444
9	Dave Bookless	Minet Country Park and Southall	65	69	N/A
10	Paul Hawkins	Barking Bay	61	64	53.78151
11	Graham Howie	Walthamstow/Leyton/Hackney	61	63	112.5
12	Kevin M	Walthamstow	51	53	N/A
13	Tom Stevenson	Ewelme Watercress Beds	49	50	75.75758
14	Colin Conroy	Minet Country Park and Southall	45	46	N/A
15	Oliver S	Hampstead Heath	45	45	52.32558
16	Stephanie Brown	Twyford	43	44	N/A
17	Paul Bamford	Camberley/Wishmoor Bottom	35	37	N/A
18	Harry Harrison	East End	0	0	N/A
19	John Slee	South Sawbridgeworth	0	0	0
London area
Position	Name	Patch	Species	Points	%
1	Graham Howie	Walthamstow/Leyton/Hackney	61	63	112.5
2	Jason R	East Hyde	73	76	84.44444
3	Paul Whiteman	Leyton Marsh-Walthamstow Res.	97	109	80.14706
4	Tom Stevenson	Ewelme Watercress Beds	49	50	75.75758
5	Marek Walford	Dinton Pastures CP	89	97	75.1938
6	Michael Terry	Hosehill Lake LNR, Reading	71	78	70.90909
7	Jono Lethbridge	Wanstead	79	84	65.625
8	Adam Bassett	Little Marlow GP	73	77	54.60993
9	Paul Hawkins	Barking Bay	61	64	53.78151
10	Oliver S	Hampstead Heath	45	45	52.32558
11	Fraser Cottington	Dinton Pastures CP	77	81	50.9434
12	John Slee	South Sawbridgeworth	0	0	0

Ireland - HELP!!!

I must admit Ireland has got me confused a wee bit, several scores were posted but I think the most thorough look at what is happening across the burn can be found here http://patchbirdingireland.blogspot.ie/.

I will try and get some complete tables up for Ireland next month but for now I've managed to completely confuse myself!

The Midlands - creeping towards 100

The midlands league may not have the high scores of some of the other coastal sites but Nick and Dave are approaching (and probably passed) 100 points, a great effort considering the conditions in March!

Alan heads up the comparative table with and impressive 84% but with all four patches over 65% it looks like it could be a close league come Decemeber. I'm looking forward to see how spring has treated the midlands come the end of April.

Midlands
Position	Name	Patch	Species	Points	%
1	Nick Crouch	Collingham and Besthorpe	88	93	N/A
2	Dave Roberts	Marston sewage t w	84	91	78.44828
3	Richard Harbird	Morton Bagot	79	81	69.23077
4	Matt Griffiths	Earlswood	74	75	N/A
5	Nick Self	Morgan's Hill, North Wessex Downs	60	62	N/A
6	Mark Skevington	Soar Valley South, Enderby	53	54	65.06024
7	Alan Kydd	Froggat and Calver	46	48	84.21053
8	Jonathan Hutchins	Silverdale CP	39	39	N/A
9	Jean Ashcroft	Old Glossop to Padfield Reservoirs	37	37	N/A
10	Jonny Gilder	Wotton Under Edge	34	34	N/A
11	A Pallas-Bentley	Tittesworth Res	0	0	N/A
12	Dave N	Wyver Lane NR	0	0	N/A
13	Gareth M	Marlbrook	0	0	N/A
14	Gert Corfield	Finstall Park	0	0	N/A
15	John Matkin	Callow & Carsington Water	0	0	N/A
16	Rob Hoare	Clifton Grove/Barton-in-Fabis	0	0	N/A
Midlands
Position	Name	Patch	Species	Points	%
1	Alan Kydd	Froggat and Calver	46	48	84.21053
2	Dave Roberts	Marston sewage t w	84	91	78.44828
3	Richard Harbird	Morton Bagot	79	81	69.23077
4	Mark Skevington	Soar Valley South, Enderby	53	54	65.06024

The SW - high scores and high %'s

Kev at Dawlish still leads the way in the SW and is also a contender in the whole of the UK points totals but keen patchers Gavin and Marcus aren't too far off the early pace setting. The comparative league has one man taking up two of the top 3 spots, Dan C down in Cornwall. Roger M has managed to split Dans patches in the top 3, well done guys, some mighty impressive points totals and %'s!

South West
Position	Name	Patch	Species	Points	%
1	Kev Rylands	Dawlish Warren	117	151	62.78586
2	Gavin Haig	Seaton	116	139	N/A
3	Marcus Lawson	Swineham GPs	110	131
4	Shaun Robson	Lytchett Bay	104	121
5	Paul Bowerman	Severn Beach	99	116	52.25225
6	Dan Chaney	Falmouth	92	112	87.5
7	Paul Bowyer	Sand point	96	111
8=	Peter Hazelwood	Oldbury Power Station	91	99	62.65823
8=	Dick Best	Steart	84	99
10	Roger Musgrove	Wall Common	82	90	81.81818
11	Dan Chaney	College and Argal	75	79	75.59809
12=	Derek Julian	Upper Camel Estuary	72	74	N/A
12=	Rich Billington	Wembury	59	66	52.38095
14	Paul Freestone	Hayle Estuary	49	51	N/A
15	Paul Freestone	Gwithian and Godrevy	38	43	N/A
16	Josh Marshall	Sharkham Point	0	0	N/A
17	Mike P	Thurlestone Bay	0	0	N/A
18	Samuel Perfect	Falmouth	0	0	N/A
19	Chris Parnell	Longham lakes	55		N/A
South West
Position	Name	Patch	Species	Points	%
1	Dan Chaney	Falmouth	92	112	87.5
2	Roger Musgrove	Wall Common	82	90	81.81818
3	Dan Chaney	College and Argal	75	79	75.59809
4	Kev Rylands	Dawlish Warren	117	151	62.78586
5	Peter Hazelwood	Oldbury Power Station	91	99	62.65823
6	Rich Billington	Wembury	59	66	52.38095
7	Paul Bowerman	Severn Beach	99	116	52.25225