Patchwork Challenge

So the big question that remains is what are the prizes for Patchwork Challenge 2015. Here we can reveal most of them. Firstly Bresser and Forest Optics continue to support the competition and will be renewing their sponsorship for 2015. This means they will providing a prize for the best find which at present is tbc and also sponsoring the Bubo combined species list which this year will be supporting the BTO 's Long-eared Owl project with details to follow. Over the last two years we have supported the Cuckoo tracking and House Martin Tracking projects and have enjoyed following these especially the dearly departed Patch's migration to Africa and almost back. The BTO have also got a goodie bag and a nest monitoring field guide for the winner of the Birdtrack Birdrace . Birdguides are our second major sponsor and they continue to support the competition with regular articles and updates on their website and also Bird News Extra subscriptions for the leading Co...

Bresser and Forest Optics very generously donated a pair of Bresser Montana 8.5x45 binoculars as the prize for the best bird found by a patchworker during   2014, as voted for by all Patchwork Challenge participants.  A total of 12 birds were in the ballot, in alphabetical order they were: ·         American Coot ·         Blyth's Pipit ·         Blyth's Reed Warbler ·         Broad-billed Sandpiper ·         Brunnich's Guillemot ·         Collared Flycatcher ·         Eastern Bonelli's Warbler ·         Franklin's Gull ·         Kentish Plover ·         Myrtle Warbler ...

2015 sees the return of the Next Generation Birders minileague, a hotly contended league for those participants under the age of 25. It is great to see so many young birders experiencing the joys of patch birding and this year has already seen a 25% increase in patchers on 2014, with this set to increase further in February.   With last years winner (and overall PWC winner) Tim Jones no longer patching Spurn, 2nd place Joe Stockwell moving away from Portland Bird Obs, and 3rd place Ben Porter on Bardsey being out of country for the first couple of months of the year, this minileague is now wide open as we enter 2015. Joe may have left PBO, but his new patch around Ferrybridge is certainly living up to Portland standards and it places him firmly at the top of the table. PWC newcomer Anthony Bentley is sitting in second place with his Frampton/Frieston patch, living and working on patch certainly has it's advantages and Anthony has made the most of this opportunity by ...

Great to see some new patches joining the ranks in the Ireland Comparative Score Minileague after having taken part for the first time during 2014.  Leading the charge is Niall Keogh's local suburban parks patch in South Dublin which sits in first place with 72.05% after he clocked up 46 species in January comparing favourably to a final 2014 total of 64 species. But for how long can he hold on to the top spot? Comparative league stalwart Eamonn O'Donnell makes a fine entrance, straight into third place with 61.74% at Ninch/Laytown. Tufted Duck & Merlin both good species for him there during January. It's also very encouraging to see lots of new names and patches gracing the Ireland Points Minileague table in January 2015 where it looks like some 'friendly' patch neighbour rivalry might be kindling...most interesting! Niall Keogh's Kilcoole patch heads the table (for now) and the first to break the 100 points barrier with 88 species including ...

The inland Scotland league was a runaway victory last year for Alastair Forsyth at Old Nisthouse but his impressive score last year might be a tough one to beat with Andy Cage at Kilmany and Chris Pendlebury at Blairdrummond pushing him into third after the first month of the year. 60% is a very impressive comparative this early and with the top 3 over 50% it bodes well for the year ahead. It was however Old Nisthouse that  turned out a real pair of teals - with Green and Blue-Winged Teals putting in appearances within an hour of each other. Most patchers would be ecstatic with either of these American visitors so both on the same patch same day is quite something. Add to that a dark phase Gyr and if Alastair is going to beat his score then he has started the right way. Other patchers also turned in some good local birds including a Pochard at Lochmaben which was something of a local rarity for Pete Antrobus. A Smew was also a nice seasonal find at Blairdrummond. ...

The coastal Scotland league sees a reduction in the number of competitors in PWC2015 as the islands depart for their own island league to compete alongside the likes of Bardsey. So there are five patchers that feature in the comparative league, with two already seeing their way past the 50% mark. Chris Hill tops the bill with an impressive 59% with Stephen Welch just behind on 53%. There is a long way to go yet! The best bird on patch in January was unquestionably the Harlequin Duck which is becoming quite a celebrity on the River Don and found itself on Andrew Whitehouse's patch. Quite a start to the year! Chris Hill at Burntisland found summer coming early with a Sandwich Tern, alongside his other highlight of Little Auk a rather odd and unseasonal match! Little Auk's also put in appearances at Gosford Bay and Girdle Ness. Perhaps indicative of the quirks of birding coastal Scotland were highlights including Collared Dove and Blue Tit - everyone's #patchgold is diffe...

Tom Stevenson has also got off to a great start but it can be an attritional collection of points at Battle Farm so getting off the blocks quickly is essential. Roger Hicks is in second place on 65% with Tom also in third with his Ewelme patch. Marek Walford has taken an early lead at Dinton Pastures on 85 points with Nigel Milbourne at Blagdon only a point back. Mareks new second patch at Sonning Eye is in third on 80 points. Tom Stevenson and Andy Stocker have both got off to a great birdtracking start with 13 and 9 complete lists respectively. Andy Stocker's Great Grey Shrike at Woolmer Forest is probably the bird of the month securing 6 points while a Yellow-browed Warbler for Dan Chaney at College and Argal was well received. Other notable birds included a Sibe Chiffchaffs for  Gareth Blockley and Adam Bassett (which does get 2 bonus points Adam!), Scaup at Tring for Ian Benell, Med Gull, Jack Snipe and Great White Egret. All superb birds to brighten up a winter d...

This year it was decided to create a new minileague for the islands. It was felt that their performance in their respective leagues would make a very good showdown in itself. It reads like a birding destinations wishlist - and should make for a very exciting league this year. That said, by comparison to some areas it has been a modest start with no site hitting the magic 100 species in January. The comparative scores too are probably harder to attain than in other leagues, as the big scores are still to come in migration season. Perhaps that makes the 61% comparative at the end of January for Paul Higson at Quoyangry all the more impressive. Others are in his wake for now but there is a long way to go. The competition will take higher turn too when the Bardsey duo and North Ronaldsay weigh in with their scores at the end of February. January is always an exciting month in the challenge as everything is new and the slate is clean for a new start. It was John Bowler on Tiree who thre...

Welcome to the new estuarine league. Created in PWC2015 to cater for those patches on an estuary or river who are technically inland as they have no sea border, but have more chance of seabirds than a truly inland site. It is a loose definition, but it is a league that hosts a range of birding patches that are capable of turning out some exciting birds in the year to come. Scouring of Gull roosts has paid off for some with Caspian Gull at RSPB Rainham and a couple of patches picking up Med Gull and Yellow-Legged Gulls. Other typical January fare has included Water Pipit for Anthony Bentley, Slavonian Grebe at Maldon for Russell Neave, Black-Necked Grebes at both patches for Mark Nowers whilst last years Surf Scoter at Stutton held on into January. Perhaps less typical was Siberian Chiffchaff at RSPB Rainham in what has been a good winter for this sub-species, and showing that quality and quantity can be combined, 4 Firecrests at Hayle has already quadrupled the site count for last ye...

With Bardsey and Skomer emigrating to the Islands minileague this should be a more open competition throughout this minileague. Henry Cook has started quickly at both his patches and they take the top two places on the comparative league with Conwy top on 65.5% and Little Orme 10% back. Adam Tilt takes third place at Cefn Drum on 55%. The points league is headed up by Paul Roberts at Orgmore Estuary on 96 points with Henry Cook's effort at Conwy is only a point behind in second. Laurie Allnatt at Llanelli WWT is in third place with 93 points. It really is very close all the way down. The best bits this month included the first Bean Geese for Conwy which is the first to trigger the non-bonus point county first bonus points! If you find a county first which doesnt itself deserve bonus points then you get 5 extra points. The long-staying Great White Egret was at Llanelli along with a couple of Firecrests. There was a Glaucous Gull at Sker while Martin Bell recorded just the se...

Sam Pitt Miller leads in the Midlands by 0.2% over Boultham Mere stalwart Andy Sims in second. Dave Roberts and his wintering Reed Warbler take third spot in the first Midlands Comparative table of 2015 with 60%. The pack is headed by Tom Shields at Holme Pierrepoint on 56%. Lound leads the way again with a fantastic start for last years points winner, Ian Cowgill on 113 points. John Hopper who also finished second last year currently holds the same position. Andy Mackay rounds off a very familiar looking top three. There were no 6-pointers picked up in January but as mentioned before Dave Roberts found an overwintering Reed Warbler at Marston and Ian Cowgill found a Siberian Chiffchaff at Lound. Other decent padders included Bewick's Swan, Smew, Iceland, Glaucous and Caspian Gull, Great Northern Diver and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Good luck to all involved - it looks like being a long haul and a close fought thing!

Fourteen patches are returners so far in the Inland East Anglia Minileague and they have got off to a collective rollicking start with nine of them at 50% or better. Nick Robinson is leading the way with 69% with Jonny Rankin in second and Ben Rackshaw third. Jonny seems to have Nick Moran in his sites judging by the flagrant bating on twitter while Ben is looking to challenge on both fronts.   Ben Lewis normally scores well and his start to 2015 shows he means business as his rival, Jamie Wells has 28 points to catch up already. Nick Moran's early season form will probably spur his rivals, Alison Allen and Jonny Rankin on to more and in Jonny's case crazier efforts. Ben Rackshaw backs up his third place in the comparative league with third place in the points league. Highest placed newcomer is Ashley McElwee at Felmingham on 76 points in 8th place. Gulls were a theme amongst the highlights as Nick Moran managed 4 Caspian Gulls at BTO HQ despite there being a sum t...

So here we go again... So far there are 38 entrants that fall into the Inland North category and it's perhaps no surprise that after a couple of 'test' years some of the big guns are giving it a go. This year we have the joy of welcoming well known sites such as (in no particular order) Nosterfield, North Duffield, Old Moor, Swinemoor, Wheldrake Ings, Tophill Low and Marton Mere all top sites with a good track record of inland rares. So, for us established PWC birders, it will come as a relief that the comparative tables will in this year take precedence over the points table, and with 18 repeat offenders this should prove to be an interesting year. Keith Dickinson heads the table already amassing a massive 78%, his modest highlights being Golden Plover and Little Grebe. Steven Ward lies in second with a Black Grouse, a new patch bird his surprise highlight. The usual mid-table rabble of Aspin, Reeder,Bunting and Holliday have been joined by Darren Starke...

In an attempt to treat everyone the same we have changed the South Coast, London and South West minileagues into something equivalent to the rest of the competition (although Ireland and Wales are still single minileagues). Instead we have the Coastal South and Inland South so everywhere from Kent to the Severn Bridge is present here. The minileague may be new but many of the competitors are not - Dan Chaney ably assisted by an immature drake King Eider at Falmouth is top of the pops by 0.01% from Peter Hazlewood at Oldbury. Paul Freestone is in third at Gwithian less than 0.4% back. The closest top 3 for sure. Joe Stockwell has left his assistant wardens post and retreated to Ferrybridge where he is still racking up the big scores and 118 points in January is certainly a mighty haul although only a single point clear of Kev Rylands who is definitely not going to be challenging this year (we believe you Kev ;-) ). Sean Foote at North Portland sits in third. Check out his video...

Stewart Sexton starts 2015 with a bang after a quieter 2014. 52% comparative sees him a mighty 0.4% over PWC's own James Spencer who has had his best start at Barmston (soon to tail off rapidly no doubt). Ash Baines who went tooth and nail with James in the points league last year holds third place a further 1.3% back. Inevitably some of the bigger points scorers are further back at this stage but plaudits must go to Martin Garner for his rocket start. Nick Addey has decided to Chris Bradshaw how Scarborough should be patched and holds a 13 point lead over his rival whilst Martin G is in second a narrow three points ahead of Mick Turton (who Tim Jones suggested would have finished in first last year had he entered). All very interesting! Jonathan Farooqi was one of the first to secure bonus points in 2015 with a Green-winged Teal on his Druridge Bay patch which also benefited Iain Robson. Seamus Eaves managed a Caspian Gull at Fleetwood which is a great record for the north-...

With seven patches scoring over 200 points in the past big comparative scores after just one month were always unlikely but only Richard Moores at Happisburgh is below 20%, a situation I am sure will be rectified over the course of 2015. Craig Fulcher at Southwold has got off to a flyer 91 species and 106 points giving him a comparative score of just under 50%. James Brown and Toby Collett are in second and third respectively.  James Brown is top of the tree in Coastal East Anglia with a whopping 129 points already! His 289 target must be under threat this year. Highest place newcomer is Robert Smith with 121 points at Holme Dunes while stalwart Tim Hodge lies in third place. Tim also managed 35 Birdtrack complete lists this month. There were no bonus points dished out this month with a pair of Serins on Max Helicar's Southend to Shoeburyness patch the highest scorers. Aside from this there were a scattering of Bean and White-fronted Geese, a Rough-legged Buzzard for Tommy C...

My patch is the area around my home village of Ainderby Steeple in North Yorkshire. It’s a typical intensively farmed area and with an all time parish list of 138 species I wouldn’t suggest dropping your plans to visit Cape May or Eilat. I do have an almost Gilbert Whiteian attachment to the place though and living ‘on patch’ allows for pretty good coverage (when work and family allows).   Most of the area is high grade (i.e. low bird) farmland but there are areas of pasture and rough grazing, a couple of more traditional farms with good hedgerows and a nice stretch of the river Swale. Flooding occurs periodically although recent drainage  has reduced its prevalence. One of the most productive areas on the patch is a neighbour’s superb garden including a large reed-fringed pond (the only area of standing water on the patch) and a small area of damp woodland. 2014 was my first year of Patchwork Challenge and so I thought other patchers might like a brief look at ...

It was going to take some serious luck and determination in 2014 to beat my  2013 patch birding efforts at Kilcoole. A new patch year list record of 152 species was set in 2013 thanks to extra effort facilitated by living on site for three months in a caravan as a tern warden resulting in a decent showing of patch scarce and rare. I figured 2014 would fall well short on account of working offshore or abroad for extended periods during the year. By some miracle I ended up with an equal species list and a points total just shy of the previous year plus three #fullfatpatchticks (patch life list now on 205) and lots of #patchgold . The thought of matching this in 2015 is looking rather daunting now ! Here’s a synopsis of how it all went… JANUARY The year got off to a flier with a sneaky twitch on 2 nd for a Crane  present on the coastal fields at Newcastle. This bird was a patch tick when it first showed up in Nov 2013 (found by local birders Cian and Tommy Cardiff)...