January round-up 2026

Hello from the Patchwork Challenge team!

We sincerely hope you have enjoyed taking part in the first 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

There has been a brilliant arrival of winter wildfowl with stacks of Eurasian White-fronted Geese arriving into Britain and onto many patches! There has also been a good spread of other winter species recorded on patches with Barnacle and Tundra Bean Geese, Smews and Scaups, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, plus many other goodies, maybe best of all being a Great-tailed Grackle found in the Estuarine mini-league! 

February can produce some exciting birding with the first inklings of spring coming, the first north-bound groups of Pink-footed Geese, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks can be seen going through northern Britain patches, re-orientating Tundra Bean and European White-fronted Geese could possibly be seen going back eastwards in decent groups - potentially even Bewick's Swans. On the south coast of England, flocks of eastbound wildfowl like Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Pintail and Shoveler. 

Potential things to find on your patch during the last bit of February? There seems to have been somewhat of an arrival of American Wigeons and it can also be a good month to find Green-winged Teals. There has also been a massive arrival of White-billed Divers onto the Northern East coast of Britain, there is a potential for these to move up or down the coast and appear on other patches. Later in the month, the first proper spring migrants might start popping through, potential for an early Wheatear or Sand Martin, depending on the wind direction. The end of February all depends on which way the wind is blowing and more importantly, what the temperature is like! 

Glaucous Gull taken by Jonathan Singlewood-Dodds

Now lets take a look at how the first month of Patchwork Challenge 2026 played out, and see what was seen across the patches. 

TOP 20 COMPARATIVE SCORES 3KM² 

TOP 20 COMPARATIVE SCORES 10KM

TOP 20 OVERALL SCORES 3KM² 

TOP 20 OVERALL SCORES 10KM 

Inland North, England:

Mike Leakey, at Bishop Middleham, started the year in pole position of the comparative mini-league, having picked up 67% of his previous score already, the highlight of his January being an American Wigeon. Owen Tattersall in second at Figham Common, just a couple of percentage behind on 65%, after finding a Tundra Bean Goose as part of the national influx of both this species and Eurasian White-fronted Geese. Gavin Orr in at third on 63%, having his first Teal since 2024 but the highlight goes to a couple of Jack Snipe on the 8th, this being a patch lifer. To complete a close top four to start this year off, Nigel Harris at Middletons is on 62% picking up Marsh Harrier. 

In overall points scored, Adam Firth at Elvington comes in first having picked up a good variety of winter species giving him an excellent 117 points scored. His months best include Tundra Bean Geese and Smew. In second place is nearby Wheldrake Ings with patch birder Duncan Bye, who picked up Mediterranean and Caspian Gull amongst others to give him 101 points. Mark Langston in the Dearne Valley finished January in third with 96 points, closely followed by Ciaran Rowett at Martin Mere who is just one point shy. Ciaran had some great birds this month in the form of long-staying Ring-necked Duck plus Glossy Ibis and Spoonbill. Fifth and sixth a very close battle at the end of January between Mike Leakey and Owen Tattersall, just two points seperating them. The middle part of the table also very close, nine points seperating those five places so it is certainly all to play for. In eighth, Muhummed Hussain noted an American Wigeon at his Myerscough Quarry & Carr House Green Common patch. Paul Newton noted some goodies on his Scaling Dam patch with Long-tailed Duck, four White-fronted Geese and Willow Tit. 

In the 10km league, Adam Firth has picked up 120 points from Elvington, including a wild White-tailed Eagle that hung around the Valley for quite a while. Mark Langston at Dearne Valley is second on 96 points followed by Muhummed Hussain from Preston who is on 66 points, noting two American Wigeons on his 10km patch this January. Gary Pickles is fourth on 37 points. 

Jack Snipe taken by Gavin Orr

Tundra Bean Goose surrounded by Pink-footed Geese taken by Owen Tattersall

Inland Midlands, England: 

Brian Hedley at Marton and Trent Port ended the first month of the year leading the comparative mini-league, picking up 63% so far. He has a long, respectable list of highlights including early Blackcaps as well as Woodcock and Pink-footed Goose. Next up, we have a three way split for second place! The first of these being Joe Parham at Fen Drayton Lakes on 56%, picking up a Red-breasted Merganser and Smew. The former being an excellent local record, the first on their patch in 17 years - nice find Joe! Next is Andy Sims at Swanpool and Boultham Mere, who also picked up a good array of highlights including White-fronted Goose, Jack Snipe and Great White Egret. Tom Shields, also in second place, had a superb patch tick at Colwick Park in the form of a Shelduck. 

In the 10km comparative mini-league, Dan Webb at Ross on Wye/Sellack is leading the pack with 63%, picking up the on-theme birds of the month with Jack Snipe and Woodock. Only four percent seperate the next four participants and leading these is Tom Shields at Nottingham Trent Valley. He noted Smew, Scaup and White-fronted Goose. 

In the overall points scored mini-league, Dominic Garcia-Hall leads with 106 points scored picking up plenty of interesting species like four Tundra Bean Geese, 18 Russian White-fronted Geese, Scaup, Smew and Water Pipit. Daniel Langston had a good month on his Bardney Pits patch in Cambridgeshire, picking up two parties of Tundra Bean Geese and three European White-fronted Geese leaving him on 101 points. He is very closely followed by Chris Hubbard at Stanford Reservoir on 100 points, Chris picked up Mediterranean Gull, Glossy Ibis and also got in on the goose fest with Pink-footed and European White-fronted. Matthew Pollock at Kingsbury South finished the month on 93 points, with a couple of excellent inland birds with Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-breasted Merganser. Joe just a few points behind at Fen Drayton Lakes also had Red-breasted Merganser. Pete Sofley at Ladywalk Nature Reserve also noted typical winter species as well as Siberian Chiffchaff and Mandarin Duck. Lucas Bradfield came in eighth at Cambridge Research Park and Waterbeach Barracks and notched up a patch tick by getting in the European White-fronted Geese invasion, follwed by Tyler Atkinson at Clifford Hill Gravel Pits who followed suit in getting some Euro White-fronts on his patch as well as Whooper Swan, Smew and even though it warrants no points, a smart Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid. Brian Hedley finished the month in 10th overall (but first in comparative, a reminder for everyone to submit previous scores if you have one as this year's mini-league prizes will only go to comparative winners). Steve Atkinson at Middle Tame picked up a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, an increasingly hard bird to pick up on anyone's patch these days. Other highlights include a long-staying Lesser Scaup at Swithland Reservoir for Steve Lister and singing Grey Partridge at Hope Farm for Duerden Cormack. 

In the 10km league, Dominic Garcia-Hall leads with 103 species, with most highlighted species being in his 3km patch but an additional Firecrest. Tyler Atkinson only nine points behind with 94 scored at Abington, Northampton notched up some decent species Woodcock, Jack Snipe and Lapwing amongst other bits. Matthew Pollock just a single point behind at Kingsbury. Dan Webb in fourth picked up Jack Snipe and Woodcock to put him on 88 points. 

Red-breasted Merganser taken by Joe Parham

Eurasian White-fronted Goose taken by Andy Sims

Inland South, England: 

Tom Bedford at Lye Valley leads the comparative mini-league after having his best January ever and already notching up 74% of last years total which is an amazing feat. Notable birds over the month for Tom include third record of Teal, fourth ever Lapwing, sixth ever Snipe and 9th record of Peregrine. Excellently kept notes by Tom, showing the importance of submitting records through eBird or Birdtrack. Charlie Joseph patching Weald CP and Bentley is in second place in the comparative of the Inland South at 69% followed by Geoff Wytt at Day's Lock and Bishop's Court Farm in third with 66%. His highlights include Merlin, Marsh Harrier and White-fronted Geese amongst others. Ian Bennell at Tring Reservoir, College Lake and Pitstone Quarry and John Pritchard at Ver Valley both finished the first month of the year in fouth with 62%. Ian picked up a flock of five Tundra Bean Geese yet, the first patch record for 20 years, John Pritchard picked up a Marsh Harrier - making this battle neck and neck. 

Geoff Wyatt leads the Inland South overall points mini-league so far at Day's Lock and Bishop's Court Farm with 101 points followed by Noah Bailey at Milton Country Park and Ditton Meadows who is on 86 points, after picking up a Ferruginous Duck, Scaup and Firecrest! He is closely followed by Dave Helliar at Chard Junction who saw a long list of highlights including Pintail, Goshawk, Jack Snipe, Dipper and Firecrest - making it a close battle for second place. John Pritchard at Ver Valley is on 77 points leaving him in fourth position followed by Ryan Irvine at St Buryan on 74 points. 

Other notable highlights in the league include Neil Burt at Godinton, Hothfield & Singleton picking up a Green Sandpiper and three Tufted Ducks, as well as Alick Simmons at Westonmoor in Somerset joining in the massive Euro White-fronted Geese invasion with 17 on 3rd January. 

In the 10km part of the league, Dave Helliar leads both the comparative and overall points, with 97 points giving him a total of 62%. His month highlights at Chard include Goldeneye, Golden Plover, Mediterranean Gull and Cirl Bunting. Rob Hill in the North Bucks region isn't far behind on 89 points, followed by Charlie Joesph at Brentwood on 69 points, their month's highlight being Great White Egret. 

Coastal East England: 

Trevor Girling at Titchwell Marsh finished the first month of the year leading the comparative Coastal East England mini-league with 47%. A very good list of highlights include Scaup, European White-fronted Geese, Firecrest and Siberian Chifchaff. Owen Beaumont at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR comes second with 41%, after also getting a good list of birds for January with Shorelarks and Lapland Buntings, both species being thin on the ground this winter, but also Black Brant, Long-tailed Duck and flocks of Eurasian White-fronted Geese. Both of Will Scott's patches, Bempton Cliff and Bempton Village finished on 38%. Duncan Watson at Tynemouth only 35% picking up Glaucous Gull, another scarce species this winter, and also Black Redstart. John Chapman on just the other side of the river at South Tyneside only a few percentage behind on 31%. 

In the 10km part of the league, Paul Newton at Whitby and James Brown at Hopton are neck and neck at the end of January with 55%. Paul picked up Jack Snipe, Black Redstart, European White-fronted Goose, 11 Twite and a Water Rail while James saw Shorelark, Snow Bunting, Cattle Egret, Purple Sandpiper, Nuthatch and Water Pipit. 

The top two in the East Coast England overall points scored mini-league are the same as the comparative, with Trevor Girling at Titchwell Marsh leading after scoring 136 points in the first month of the year followed by Owen Beaumont at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR on 116 points. James Brown has come in third with 89 points, picking up Nuthatch, Purple Sandpiper and Firecrest. Then a tight battle for fourth with Will Scott at Bempton Cliffs scoring 76 points picking up Hen Harrier. Martin Kerby at Cullercoats and Tynemouth notched up 75 points with Black Redstart and Little Gull followed by Duncan Watson at Tynemouth picking up 70 points with Black Redstart and Glaucous Gull. Matt Bournat at Seasalter is in a close battle for seventh with John Chapman at South Tyneside with them on 52 and 51 points respectively - Matt's highlight being Bearded Tit. 

In the 10km part of the league, James Brown at Hopton leads with 126 points followed by Paul Newton at Whitby on 105 points. John Chapman at South Tyneside had a great month, joining the Goose invasion with European White-fronted and Tundra Bean as well as Glaucous and Little Gull. 

Coastal South, England: 

A quiet start to the comparative Coastal South England mini-league, Keith Rylands at Teignmouth window patch leads with 57% after picking up a window tick Little Gull alongside Great Northern Diver, Mediterranean Gull and Dunlin. In the 10km part of this league, Bob Ford birding in and around Weymouth on foot has already broken 50% with 52% scored so far. His highlights being Bittern and Long-tailed Duck. 

In the overall points scored part of the 3km² mini-league, Ryan Irvine leads the charge at St Buryan having scored 114 points from 93 species in January, quickly followed by Jevin Rylands at his Dawlish Warren patch on 109 points. Already a fairly tight battle there! Jonathan Singlewood-Dodds at King George VI Park in Kent had a good month putting him third, he found a lifer Glaucous Gull offshore (a hard to come by species in Kent these days!) as well as six Velvet Scoters moving offshore while the cold weather got him a party of six European White-fronts in-off the sea. 

In the 10km section, Ryan Irvine at St Buryan picked up 170 points putting him first. 

Coastal West, England: 

The only participant so far in the Coastal West England comparative league is Sean O'Hara at Hoylake and Meols, scoring 29% so far from 48 points. Remember, if you have previous years scores from the patch you are working to submit them! To do this by right clicking on your 'Prev Score' box and then adding a comment with your previous score, we will then update this for you. This goes for all leagues - thank you! 

Liam Langley at St Ives, Cornwall is currently leading by eight points with 56 scores. His January highlights include Red-necked Grebe, Great Skua, Purple Sandpiper and Chough. Sean O'Hara at Hoylake and Meols is second with 48 points. 

Red-necked Grebe taken by Liam Langley

Inland Wales: 

Only one participant so far in the Inland Wales mini-league, with Jonni Price at his 10km Llanrwst patch scoring 45 points. Hopefully we will get some more participants in this league soon!

Coastal Wales: 

For the time being the comparative and overall leader board go hand in hand for the Coastal Wales mini-league. Toby Phelps leading both the 3km² league, at Manorbier with 85 points giving him a 50% comparative, and the 10km league at Castlemartin Peninusla with 119 points and a comparative of 69%. Peter Howlett comes second in both too, scoring 51 points and 35% at his 3km² Cardiff Bay patch, while in his Greater Cardiff 10km patch he is also scoring 51 points, giving him a comparative score of 32%. 

Inland Scotland: 

Lee Hesp at Strathyre finished the month scoring 26 points, the exact January score as last year and 43% of his previous annual total. His highlight for the month being Goosander. 

Coastal Scotland: 

This league is always an exciting one and this year looks to be no different! Currently Nick Littlewood at Portsoy leads the Coastal Scotland comparative league but by a mere one percent after scoring 53% from 81 points. His January highlights include a patch tick in the form of Golden Plover, to which a thousand of them descended onto his patch! He also spotted a Mediterranean Gull. Rich Arthurs patching Gullane and Aberlady Bay comes in very close second having scored 52% from 80 points, bolstered by the sighting of a Green-winged Teal. An important note that both Nick and Rich finished on the same points tally last year so a close battle this year I am sure. 

Rob Hughes at John O'Groats is currently third, on 48% having seen both Tundra and Taiga Bean Geese during the opening month. He is then quickly followed by Andrew Whewell at North Berwick East who has scored 45% so far with Andrew Whitehouse at Girdle Ness and Torry only a few perecentage behind that on 41%. Rob Hughes at Freswick notched up 39% and an Iceland Gull, with himself and Nina O'Hanlon both seeing multiple Iceland Gulls and a White-tailed Eagle on their Nybster patch however Nina comes out in the lead for the time being with 38% scored. 

In the 10km part of the league, Rich Arthurs at Gullane leads with 58% frm 97 points, having picked up Barn Owl and Snow Buntings this January. Nina O'Hanlon just five percent behind at Nybster with 53% scores, White-tailed Eagle and Iceland Gulls again the highlight of both Nina and Rob, the latter finishing January on 40% in third. 

There isn't too much difference in the rankings, with the overall scores Coastal Scotland mini-league however newcomer John Ingham currently leads with 89 points at Nairn, putting Andrew Whitehouse at Girdle Ness and Torry in second. It then gets very tight in the battle for third with Nick Littlewood at Portsoy and Paul Higson at St Combs coming in joint third for the time being, having both scores 81 points while Rich Arthurs at Gullane and Aberlady Bay sits just one point behind. In the 10km league, Paul Higson is currently leading at St Combs having scored 109 points so far, the next three places are then very close with Nina O'Hanlon and Rob Hughes at Nybster seperated by a single point with 102 and 101 scored respectively. Rich Arthurs at Gullane is just another four points behind on 97. 

Inland Ireland: 

Róisín Towe is currently the sole participant of this league but hopefully that will change soon. She has so far totalled 47 points from her 44 species on her Tramore Valley Park 3km² patch. While on her 10km patch in Douglas, she has scored 71 points from 67 species. A fine feat for Inland Ireland in January!

Coastal Ireland: 

Only Charlie Lyons has entered so far for the Coastal Ireland mini-league at Lough Atalia/Ballyloughane although has yet to enter a score. Looking forward to seeing what turns up there, Charlie! 

Islands: 

In the comparitive Islands mini-league, Sean Morris currently leads the way with both his Isle of Rum patches, Kinlock and Kilmory with them scoring 48% and 30% respectively. John Bowler has been away on holiday to Costa Rica, notching up 450 species although none of those counted to his patch year list so he his currently only on 25% from 83 species, the best of which being a Green-winged Teal. Sean Morrus also leads in the 10km section with 41%. 

In the overall points scored part of the mini-league, John Bowler is currently up top having scored 83 ponts, followed by Sean Morris' Kinloch patch picking up 49 points and his Kilmory patch getting 43 points. In the 10km, John is on 83 points and Sean scored 65 points. 

Estuarine: 

In the Estuarine comparative mini-league, Jackie Binks at Garston and Oglet is firing on all cyclinders in first place having found a potential third for Britain (all be it in Catergory E) in form of a singing male Great-tailed Grackle. A public vote was put forward to determine how many points should be awarded to such a bird and with a large majority, four points to the species was given but with finder's bonuses, Jackie has been awarded 12 points for it. This giving them an 83% comparative score. Other highlights for them include Whooper Swans, Wigeon, Pintail and the long-staying Firecrest. Ravi Grewal had an excellent month at Cliffe, finishing January on 60% picking up a long list of highlights including 37 European White-fronted Geese, 82 Barnacle Geese, Spotted Redshank and what is a very rare bird nowadays in the form of a Ruddy Duck. Peter Hazelwood is on 49% at Oldbury Power Station after also getting in on the Euro White-front invasion with a 30 birds recorded as well as a wintering Common Sand. Gordon Hodgon at Frampton, Splatt and Saul Warth isn't far behind in fourth on 42% scored.  

The overall scores league is very similar to that of the comparative for this mini-league in terms of its rankings. Jonni Price at RSPB Conwy is currently in fifth after picking up 76 points during January.

Great-tailed Grackle taken by Jackie Binks

Bird Observatories: 

The comparative and overall scores are so far the same for the maiden voyage of the Bird Observatories mini-league with just Gibraltar Point having entered scores. Fingers crossed more Observatories will take part over the spring and give a good competition! 

Nige Loud currently leads with 141 points scored and a comparative total of 48%, the same comparative total as Stuart Ainsworth who is on 104 points. Stuart found a Tundra Bean Goose on New Years day which must have felt bit like déjà vu as this is the second time in three years this has occured. 

In the 10km league, Nige Lound also leads having scored 146 points so far, giving a comparative of exactly half - 50%!

Under 25s: 

Green: 

Here are the comparative green rankings which includes the Top 20 for the 3km² patches. 

Here are the overall green rankings which includes the Top 20 for the 3km² patches. 

We hope you have enjoyed reading this round-up of January 2026! 

Good luck and happy birding, 

Patchwork Challenge team!