Patchwork Challenge 2023

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 Hello? We've been away for a bit but now we are back. Might be back. Do you want us back? #PWC2023



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May round-up 2026

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Hello from the Patchwork Challenge team! We hope you enjoyed taking part in the past month of #PWC2026! If you have yet to sign up and are interested in joining this year's competition, then please do by following this link:    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iZORva8WZXRiaCZcQUE9CNmog3k0EhnhW-GflGqNYoA/edit?usp=sharing May was perhaps not as stupidly good as it could have been, but there was still plenty of birds to be found during the month. Some of the best birds include a full summer plumaged Grey Phalarope in South Yorkshire, Broad-billed Sandpiper in Devon, Spotted Sandpiper in Worcestershire, Great Reed Warblers in Suffolk and Orkney, Iberian Chiffchaff in Kent and Rustic Bunting in Orkney. There were far more superb patch records to be seen so continue reading to see what others have noted on their patches.   June can be difficult month, where nearly everything is on their breeding grounds already apart from a few late straggling Reed Warblers and Spo...
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Hello from the Patchwork Challenge team! We are now accepting submissions for the Best Find of the first half of Patchwork Challenge 2026, although you can still find birds eligible for this competition until the end of June. There are three Pin Badge prizes up for grabs, and here is how to get a hold of one of them.  One of the Pin Badges up for grabs! It doesn't need to be a particularly rare bird in a national sense, just something that made you excited to find. For example it could be how you have thought a hedgerow looks amazing for a Pied Flycatcher, but as you live in say Northamptonshire, it is a shockingly rare bird. Finally however, after years of checking that spot, you eventually come across one. We want to hear that buzz and excitement in your entry.  Firstly, you will need to submit a paragraph or two to describe why that find on your patch was special. Ideally, it would say how you came across the bird on your patch, how many records there have been in your area...
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What is the 'patchwork' challenge?

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The birding fraternity has seen a shift in attitudes recently, with many birders turning their attention from twitching towards rarity finding.   As a result, there also seems to have been an upturn in the profile watching a local patch. The advantages of watching a local patch are obvious. Low fuel costs and travel time aside, great pleasure can be derived from getting to learn a place inside out, observing how the seasons change, and getting value from common species that otherwise wouldn’t get a second glance. Throw in the potential for the odd rare bird or scarcity and to me, you have a really exciting, involving way to enjoy your birding. So what could enhance the patch watchers enjoyment a little? Well, perhaps adding an element of competition would do the trick. We’re a competitive bunch, us birders, both with our peers and ‘internally’ as well. We like a gloat, we like to add things to lists, and we like to know what the numbers are. So why not see if we can add a ...
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