Patchwork Challenge

Introducing my 2016 patch…Argal and College Reservoirs (Cornwall) I thought I would write a short blog post to introduce this year's birding patch, on which I'll be taking part in this year's national  patchwork challenge . Since I have been living on Bardsey Island for the last eight years, my annual birding patch has pretty much remained unchanged during that time, as I spent much of the year within the perimeter of the small coastal wind-swept island that I call home. I guess this has spoilt me somewhat in relation to the patchwork challenge (which I signed up to in its infant year of 2013): In 2014 I was lucky enough to have a run of decent self-finds in the form of two Citrine Wagtails, a Blyth's Reed Warbler in my garden, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Golden Oriole, Marsh Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and more. This year, however, I will be spending a fair decent chunk here in not-so-sunny Falmouth, where I am studying a degree in conservation and ecology...

Following a superb competition in 2015, Bresser and Forest Optics   have once again kindly agreed to sponsor the Best Find Competition this year. Whilst many of the rare birds appear on coastlines and islands, the last two years have seen winners from the estuarine Meare Heath and inland Pugney's Country Park, proving that the bird of the year can appear almost anywhere. A couple of the PWC admin team have predicted a UK first to be found on a patch this year, which if it happens I am sure will be a front-runner for PWC's most prestigious competition. Could it be you? With such a prestigious competition comes an excellent prize. Last year Bresser and Forest Optics    donated a pair of Bresser Montana 8.5 x 45 binoculars worth a grand total of £665! This years prize is still tbc but will again be a pair of binoculars. An incredibly generous prize I am sure you will agree and we really appreciate their continuing support. Have a look at their web...

James Brown at North Lowestoft has made an excellent start to the year, nailing 120 species which is 11 higher than last year. It has enabled him to take an early lead in the comparative league, with Thorpeness just a whisker behind. Craig Fulcher's Southwold patch took the prize last year with a superb 130.8%, so he has set himself quite a task this year but has started well by also hitting 100 species in month one. Newcomer to the comparative league, Nige Lound's monster score at Gibraltar Point last year has set him quite a challenge this year, emphasized by a points total in January of 117 making only 34.5% of last years total. James Brown lead at the end of January last year with a score of 129. This year  he has hit top spot again, his score of 147 including a raft of two pointers. He ticked off a number of winter scarcities including Glaucous and Caspian Gulls, Hen Harrier, Water Pipit and Velvet Scoter. He also scored with Great Northern Diver, James Spe...

As ever, the Coastal South leagues are are eagerly awaited, and the array of species seen in January have not disappointed. Highlights included (but were not limited to!) Penduline Tit, Bonaparte's Gull, Firecrest, and Black Brant. Amy Robjohns tops the comparative leader board this month at the ever awesome Titchfield Haven with a respectable 63%, giving her a 6% lead over Mark Lawlor at Guernsey: Hommet to Rousse. Both have set quite a lead over the other patches who are currently lingering well below the 50% mark (although, it is only January, after all!). #patchgold Barn Owl at Titchfield Haven (Credit: Amy Robjohns) Moving on to the Coastal South Points Minileague, Joe Stockwell sets the standard at Ferrybridge to Weymouth with 98 species and 121 points. He added two species which didn't feature on his patch last year: Bittern and Little Gull. In second place is Amy Robjohns at Titchfield Haven where she connected with Penduline Tit, Iceland Gull and Barn O...

A new year and a new start for the Inland Scotland leagues, however, no new name at the top of the Comparative Minileague for January. Chris Pendlebury was the person to beat last year and it would seem he would like to remain at the top for another year running. His Kinneil patch tops the board with 63%. Chris's Blairdrummond patch also nabs second place with 55%, while his Dunblane area patch also claims third position with 54%. However, Graeme Garner isn't far behind in fourth at 53% so perhaps he can shake up the Top 3 next month. A few new patches and new faces added to the competition this year brings the Inland Scotland Points league to a total of 16 challengers. Yet again, Chris leads the table with his Kinneil patch adding a #patchgold Mute Swan and Med Gull and Red-throated Diver to give him a total of 72 points for January. Elsewhere, Chris added  a first patch record for both his Stirling (Barn Owl) and Dunblaine area (Shag) patches. Not far behind in s...

Jumping straight in with a hefty 76.47%, Joost Brandsma plants Dibden Bay & Hythe firmly at the top of the Estuarine Comparative Minileague for January. Managing a delightful Hawfinch and adding patch ticks of Stonechat and Marsh tit gave the Dibden Bay & Hythe patch just short of a 8% lead over Paul Freestone in second position. It's exceedingly close between second and third place with as little as 0.467% difference. Paul Freestone at Hayle Estuary added a cracking assortment of birds (Firecrest, Yellow-browed Warbler, Water Pipit and Red-necked Grebe) to just pip Martin Elcote at Topsham to second on the leader board. However, Martin's collection of highlights weren't exactly shabby with Cattle Egret, American Wigeon, Black Brant and Jack Snipe to name a few! With a start like this, the 2016 Estuarine Comparative Minileague looks set to be quite exciting! American Wigeon, Topsham (Credit: Dave Helliar) On to the Points Minileague, Dave Craven at Ha...

Steve Chapman has one of the less heralded patches in PWC and Sparham Pools can sometimes get lost amongst the higher scorers but over the last couple of years Steve has patched away and it is great to see him at the top of the comparative tree on 67.5%. At Thorpe St Andrew, Adam Nicholls has also managed to connect with plenty of species on a low scoring patch with a score of 63.6%. His January Shoveler was his highlight and hopefully he pushes on past the 100% mark when the spring migrants come in. Nick Robinson is in third place. Last year Nick led the comparative minileague from the get go only to be pipped at the post. It looks like he will be in the mix again but can he improve on his final position? His January highlight was a Brent Goose which in Norwich is a very decent bird. There are plenty of familiar names near the top of the points minileague and none more familiar than Ben Lewis. He leads on 108% and so far has managed Siberian Chiffchaff and Water Pipit amongst tha...

Chris Rodger is top of the comparative minileague for Coastal Scotland with 67% and a lead of 0.5% thanks to a Surf Scoter and a brace of patch ticks in the form of Green Woodpecker and Black Guillemot. After a flying start to the year at Donmouth, Andrew Whitehouse is in second position. His Thayer's type gull is the highlight. Stephen Welch in third has managed to top the ton and with a comparative score of 165 he is well on course for a new best score. This months highlights for him included a raft of seabirds such as Great Northern Diver, Great Skua and Black Guillemot but his highlight was Chiffchaff. In fourth position is Chris Hill at Burntisland who is also over the 60% mark ad only 4% back on the lead and his highlight was a Peregrine chasing Little Auks. The leader in January for the points minileague is also Chris Rodger. Second place goes to Geoff Morgan at Barns Ness thanks to a plethora of geese including a Tundra Bean. At Aberlady Bay, Mike Hodgkin has bagge...

Andrew Chick tops the comparative league with 69.7% after a productive first month on patch at Fulbeck. Phil Hyde is 4% back at East Keal in second place. January highlights for him included his first Lesser Redpolls for patch and a wintering Peregrine. Andy Sims is in third place after his second Smew on patch in 33 years. 83 species is also his highest ever score species tally for January so he is on for a decent year. Rutland Water's entrance to the competition was always going to be revelatory and so it proved as Rod Baker opened up a 7 point lead over John Hopper at Hoveringham. John managed a quintet of decent gulls with Iceland, Glaucous, Caspian, Little and Med all gracing his patch. Steve Nuttall is in third place at Belvide Reservoir after finding a Green-winged Teal. Shag at Whisby - Ben Ward There was plenty of interest uncovered around the patches with a Great White Egret shared by John Belsey, Mike Wakeman and Andy Ambrose at Upton Warren. Marston STW held ...

Another year in the principality and an ever increasing minileague. Hopefully in the not too distant future we can split this into coastal and inland as we have with the Irish minileagues but for now we will keep all the patches together. Top of the comparative league is Chris Jones with his Llysfaen patch which hit 60%. Alastair Flannagan is in second place at Swansea Vale to Fendrod Lake with 56%. Alastair also managed 46 complete lists and 1002 records on Birdtrack. Tony Swann at Brynna Woods is in third place just 0.3% back. Ceri Jones is the leader in the Welsh points league with 102 and a healthy 1.21 PPB indicative of a productive month. His highlights include finding the Cosmeston Lesser Scaup on its visit this year with some fly past Brents also worthy of mention. Richard Dobbins and Wendy James both watch Teifi and are in second and third place respectively. Richard's highlight was the first Great Northern Diver for the estuary since 1985 and Wendy managed to conn...