Patchwork Challenge

Everyone who is taking part in the Patchwork Challenge should give themselves a pat on the back. The list of birds that the PWC competition is gradually accruing over the course of 2013, will, thanks to the kindness of those good people at Meopta and Forest Optic , be turned into a donation to the BTO's Out of Africa appeal. This work has seen the tracking of cuckoos and nightingales on their journeys from Britain to their African wintering grounds and back, using geolocators, the fascinating results of which can be found here  for previous years work. The BTO have been kind enough to name one of their cuckoos for this year 'Patch' which is both tremendously exciting and a massive honour for us here in PWC Towers. You can follow Patch's progress southward (and then very hopefully, northward again, by checking this page . Attaching geolocators and GPS tags is increasing our knowledge of bird movements hugely. Unfortunately, the hardware for this kind of study does...

Yet another fantastic Patch annual report, this time from Jane Turner at Red Rocks. These are real labours of love, and fascinating to read! I've been inspired to put my own report together for girdle ness...anyone else taking the plunge? Read the Red Rocks Bird Report here 

It's turning into a bit of a one horse race down on the south coast points league, with Any Johnson a full 44 points ahead of the competition. Roles reversed at the top of the comparative league though, with Liam Curson swapping 2nd for 1st. South Coast - Points Position Name Patch Species Points % 1 Andy Johnson Sandy Point 152 210 81.5534 2 Liam Curson Cuckmere Haven and Splash Point 131 166 104.4025 3 Ian Roberts Samphire Hoe 126 159 78.32512 4 Adam Faiers Sandwich Bay 111 129 N/A 5 Cameron Bespolka St.Catherines hill, winchester 111 120 N/A 6 Joost Brandsma Hythe 101 116 N/A 7 Chris Powell Chartham 95 104 75.36232 8 Mark Lawlor Pulias Headland 74 87 66.92308 9 Andy Appleton Haysden 0 0 N/A 10 Ashley Howe Needs Ore NR 0 0 N/A 11 Barry H Foreness point 0 0 N/A 12 Craig Sammels Pegwell Bay 0 0 N/A 13 Dave Boddington Sheepcote valley to Brighton marina 0 0 N/A 14 Jacob Everitt Arlington Reservoir 0 0 N/A 15 Jim waterman Hamble Point 0 0 N/A 16 Michael Booker ...