February round-up 2026
Hello from the Patchwork Challenge team!
We sincerely hope you have enjoyed taking part in the second 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
February was much the same as January, which is expected with persistent easterly winds in the first half of the month. This meant there were more Eurasian White-fronted Geese arriving off the continent, and gracing patches up and down England and some on the Island mini-leagues too. Amongst the White-fronted Geese were smaller numbers of Tundra Bean and Barnacle Geese recorded. These easterly winds also produced an unprecedented arrival of White-billed Divers, but these were restricted to the northern east coast of England and Scotland. Even so, a few patches managed to get in on the action!
Whilst winter was still taking hold in the first half (or more) of the month, by the end the first hints of spring were being noted. Common Scoters, Avocets, Oystercatchers and Curlews were seen moving, amongst a host of other early movers. The most noteworthy for February however, were some early Sand Martins being recorded on patches.
There were some excellent birds recorded during the month on your patches, with two Hume's Warbler (Suffolk and Warwickshire), a Laughing Gull showed well on a Guernsey patch and the finding of a Lesser Scaup in Northamptonshire was notable during a good month of them nationally. Although these weren't the only superb birds noted, with a few excellent patch records coming in from up and down the competition.
March is when a lot of patch birders would say spring is starting to get a spring in its step, and one of those would be me! Now is the time to be looking for your first Little Ringed Plover, hirundine and Wheatear of the year. There has already been a good arrival of these into Britain, with lesser numbers of Swallows and House Martins so far. If you haven't recorded them already on your patch this year, March is a great month to be looking for the birds that have wintered in Britain and are looking to make their way back eastwards. Species like this include most wildfowl (but particularly Common Scoter that travel over Britain at night and get downed on water bodies during bad weather), Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Oystercatchers, Curlews, Black-tailed Godwits, Redwings, Fieldfares, Bramblings amongst others. There should also be more things coming from the south soon, with an arrival of Garganey surely to occur any day now!
There are certainly some 'goodies' to be found now too, with March being a great month to find things like scarce and rare ducks and gulls (so check those flocks!), Bonaparte's Gull, Black-throated Thrush and more White-billed Divers just to name a few. It's also worth being mindful that southern overshoots could occur with Hoopoe, Alpine Swift, Red-rumped Swallow and Serin all on the cards if the weather patterns align! You never know, even a Great Spotted Cuckoo or White-spotted Bluethroat could grace your patch...
Now is also a great time to be out looking for some of our resident birds as they start to get in the spring mood too, with March the perfect time to go looking for Goshawk and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker amongst others. If you do find any of these rare breeders, do let your county recorder know.
 |
| Eurasian White-fronted and Barnacle Geese taken by Daniel Langston |
Inland North, England:
Mike Leakey is still in the lead of the comparative side of the mini-league, with a 79% score after picking up Pintail in February. Pam Pickersgill at Morley is on 78% in second. Owen Tattersall over at Figham Common finished February in third on 73%, his highlights include continuing the Eurasian White-fronted Goose streak with a flock of 80 as well seeing the return of Short-eared and Barn Owls to the patch after a disappearance last year. Starting a very tight few places in the league is Gavin Orr on 69% at Pontefract Park, he picked up an excellent patch bird in the form of a second ever record of Grey Wagtail which puts him in fourth. Phil Woollen sits in fifth on 67%, having joined the Euro White-front invasion with his first ever on patch and he is shortly followed by Mark Langston at Dearne Valley on 66%. Mark's February highlight being a Slavonian Grebe. Paul Whitehouse at Stanley Ferry Flash and Southern Washlands is joint seventh with Duncan Bye at Wheldrake Ings after both finishing February on 64%. Paul's highlight being a Bittern, just the fourth patch record while Duncan scored on Euro White-front, Common Scoter and Brambling. Nigel Harris is in eighth having picked up 63% at Middletons in County Durham, his highlight being Peregrine. Ciaran Rowett at Martin Mere is in 9th on 59% having picked up Euro White-fronted Geese, Avocet, Knot, Grey Partridge. Pam's other patch of Gildersome sits in tenth on 52%.
Adam Firth at Elvington is still in first place of the overall league with 124 points, after picking up an additional seven points from last month. His month highlights were Common Scoter and Great Crested Grebe, the latter a surprisingly tricky bird for the Lower Derwent Valley. Mark Langston at Dearne Valley is not far away on 120 points while Duncan Bye, at Wheldrake is in third meaning that two Lower Derwent Valley patches are in the top three. Ciaran Rowett is fourth at Martin Mere after scoring 102 points. Mike Leaky at Bishop Middleham is fifth for the overall section of this mini-league having scored 97 points followed by Owen Tattersall in sixth. Paul Newton at Scaling Dam in seventh notched up a good few highlights with two Tundra Bean Geese as well as Slavonian Grebe and Scaup putting him on 69 points. He is shortly followed by Phil Woolen and Paul Whitehouse who both are on 67 points. Harry Coghill at Borrans Park is on 65 points and James Byatt just behind on 64 at York Community Woodland, with his highlight there being Caspian Gull. Gavin Orr in Pontefract is eleventh followed by two patches in twelfth, Muhummed Hussain at Myerscough Quarry & Carr House Green Common as well as Harry Appleyard at Keyingham and Burstwick both finishing on 56 points. Harry's highlights include 60 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, his second patch record of Barnacle Goose and a good local record of Green Woodpecker.
In the 10km section, Adam Firth is first patching from Elvington with 129 points scored. Mark Langston on the Dearne Valley picked up second place and Harry Goghill at Wider Ambleside was in third.
Inland Midlands:
Brian Hedley still on top of the Inland Midlands mini-league at his Marton and Trent Port patch, now on a brilliant 80%. He has a superb (and long!) list of highlights the best of which include Brambling, Barnacle Goose, 82 Eurasian White-fronted Geese and spring wader movement with Oystercatcher and Curlew. Dan Leadley at Dereham is on 74% putting him second. His February additions include Stonechat, Fieldfare as well as Oystercatcher too. Andy Sims at Swanpool and Boultham Mere is on 64% comparative, which leaves him in third but he has tight competition with Tom Shields at Colwick Park on 63%. Joe Parham at Fen Drayton Lakes sits in fifth place having scored 59%. Pete Sofley at Ladywalk Nature Reserve and Richard Harbird at Morton Bagot both in sixth position on 57%. Pete had an amazing month, picking up Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (a classic time of year to find this species so remember to get out listening early doors if you have any suitable habitat!), Mealy Redpoll and best of all, a Hume's Warbler! Amazingly, the Hume's is the second patch record for there! Steve Lister at Swithland Reservoir is in seventh on 51% with a good count of 110 Pochard and passage Stonechat. Steve Atkinson at Middle Tame is in 8th position with 49%, picking up Eurasian White-fronted Geese.
In the 10km league, Dan Webb at Ross on Wye/Sellack with 65%. Then a very close bit of the league, Richard Harbird at Redditch scored 61% which just nips in front of Andy Sims at Swanpool who picked up 60% with a drake Smew. He is then followed by Tom Shields at Nottingham Trent Valley who is on 59%. Steve Lister (whose month highlight was two Goosander over his house) and William Lambourne finish February only a percent apart, with 56% and 55% respectively.
 |
| Smew taken by Andy Sims |
Daniel Langston over at Bardney Pits in Cambridgeshire is absolutely on fire at the moment picking up a superb 116 points so far to put him in the lead of the overall part of this mini-league. His month highlights include a flock of three Glossy Ibis, a mammoth 117 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, six Barnacle Geese, three Cranes and what looked to be a hybrid Cackling Goose. Chris Hubbard (at Stanford Reservoir) and Dominc Garcia-Hall (at Rutland Water) are neck and neck in second place with 106 points scored. Chris's highlight was a patch tick in the form of four Tundra Bean Geese, as well as five Common Scoters. Tyler Atkinson at Clifford Hill Gravel Pits had a fantastic month, finding a drake Lesser Scaup on his patch as well as 25 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, three Common Scoters, drake Smew and more! This puts him in third with 103 points scored. Pete Sofley is just behind by a single point in fourth. Another very close bit in the league with just a few points separating fifth and eighth. Matthew Polock at Kingsbury South is in fifth, for scoring 97 points with his highlight being 20 Euro White-fronts. Joe Parham just a couple of points shy with 95 scored at Fen Drayton Lakes but Brian Hedley is hot on his tail on 94. Meanwhile in eighth is Andy Sims at Swanpool only a single point behind Brian. It really is all to play for this month!
In the 10km league, Tyler Atkinson from Abington is currently leading in first place having picked up 116 points, his monthly highlights being Yellowhammer and Blackcap. Second and fourth are separated by only a couple of points, Dominic patching from Rutland is in second on 103, followed by Richard Harbird at Redditch on 102 and Andy Sims at Swanpool on 101. Matthew Polock at Kingsbury is not far off this race having scored 97 points so far.
 |
| Lesser Scaup taken by Tyler Atkinson |
Inland South, England:
Tom Bedford at Lye Valley is leading the charge in the comparative Inland South England mini-league, scoring 79% with a lead of five percent. He has had two cracking months, with his detailed notes telling him this is his best ever February on patch from seeing 53 species in February. The best new additions to his year list however are Woodcock and Firecrest, the latter only his second patch record. Charlie Joseph at Weald Country Park and Bentley Area is second on 74%, shortly followed by Geoff Wyatt at Day's Lock and Bishop's Court Farm just a single percent behind. Geoff's month highlight being a Short-eared Owl. John Pritchard at Ver Valley and Gareth Blockley at Grimsbury Reservoir are neck and neck in fourth place on 66%. John's best birds this month were Mediterranean Gull and Green Sandpiper. Ian Bennell is currently in fifth with 62% scored at Tring Reservoir, College Lake and Pitstone Quarry. Neil Burt is in sixth at Godinton, Hothfield and Singleton with 58% scored, he had some nice additions this month with White Stork, Ravens and Nuthatch amongst others. Jeff Gooding at RodingValley Meadows is on 54%, putting him seventh and Matthew Dick at RSPB Lakenheath Fen had his first patch record of Mediterranean Gull which left him in eighth on 49%.
Only one participant in the 10km part of the league with Dave Helliar scoring a respectable 65% already from Chard. His month highlight was the first February record of Sand Martin for the patch.
In the overall points scored part of the mini-league, Geoff Wyatt at Day's Lock and Bishop's Court Farm is well in front, being the only participant so far to break the hundred points barrier with 111 points scored. Noah Bailey at Milton Country Park and Ditton Meadows leads a very close battle for second, Noah is currently on 87 points while Dave Helliar at Chard Junction is just a point behind on 86. Dave's highlights being Woodcock and Red Kite. Another close battle with fourth and sixth position is separated by just a couple of points! Rupert Evershed at Stanborough Gravel Pits is in fourth on 83 points with his best bird in February being Grey Partridge, John Pritchard is in fifth with 82 points at Ver Valley and Matthew Dick at Lakenheath Fen is in sixth with 81 points. Gareth Blockley at Grimsbury Reservoir is just a couple of points away off Matthew too with 79 scored thus far. A very exciting top bit of the table and we look forward to seeing how this pans out over March!
Rupert Evershed has the highest points tally so far in the 10km league, having notched up 115 so far. A smart male Pintail isn't a regularly recorded bird on patch so was a handy addition to the year list. Dave Helliar at Chard is the only other to break the hundred points barrier so far. Rob Hill birding in the North Buckinghamshire region is on 89 points in third and Charlie Joseph at Brentwood is on 76 in fourth.
Coastal East, England:
For what can be a slow burner league as winter takes its toll on the east coast there are some cracking highlights for February.
Trevor Girling is leading with a five percent advantage at his Titchwell Marsh patch after scoring 52% so far. His best birds in February were Raven and Red-necked Grebe. Owen Beaumont came in second after having a good month at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR were he got stuck into the Geese invasion from the east, this including Tundra Beans, stacks of Eurasian White-fronteds and a presumed feral Cackling Goose (or possibly a hybrid, so unfortunately no points scored there!) from the continental population. He also noted Short-eared Owl and Lapland, all this puts him on 45%. Duncan Watson at Tynemouth picked up third place having scored 42%. Will Scott on his two patches, Bempton Cliffs and Bempton Village, both picked up fourth place with a score of 38%. John Chapman at the north-eastern side of South Tyneside is in fifth having picked up 31%. James Spencer is in seventh at Barmston having seen 19% of his comparative score, his best bird for February being Little Gull. Finally, Paul French is in seventh at 16%.
There were plenty of goodies seen in the 10km league! James Brown had a fab month but he still can't break away from sharing first place with Paul Newton at Whitby, who also had an excellent February. They both finish the month on 63%. James's highlights at Hopton were a Hume's Warbler, American Wigeon, Tundra Bean Goose and Dartford Warbler while Paul at Whitby picked up Shorelark, a Tundra Bean Goose, some Euro White-fronts and nine Barnacle Geese. Paul French is currently in last having picked up 31% but did get some excellent birds with three Cranes, a Black Brant and Tundra Bean Goose!
 |
| Little Gull taken by James Spencer |
Coastal South, England:
In the comparative Coastal South mini-league, Kevin Rylands leads from his Teignmouth window on 64% after getting a window tick in the form of Egyptian Goose. He also got in on some live hearing nocturnal migration too with Little Grebe and Moorhen. Jacob Wood on his nearby Berry Head to Mansands patch is on a comp score of 53% which puts him in second, he had a Caspian Gull as well as Marsh Harrier and Black Redstart. Kevin Rylands main patch of Dawlish Warren sits in third with 49% scored. He also picked up Caspian Gull as well as Goldeneye and Whimbrel.
In the 10km league, Bob Ford picked up 58% of his comparative score with his February highlights being Red-necked Grebe and a White-tailed Eagle.
 |
| Caspian Gull taken by Jacob Wood |
Coastal West, England:
Just one participant for the time being in the Coastal West England mini-league, that is Sean O'Hara at Hoylake and Meols and currently he is on 40% score.
Inland Wales:
Just one participant so far in the Inland Wales mini-league, with Jonni Price at his 10km Llanrwst patch scoring 50 points.
Coastal Wales:
In the comparative Coastal Wales mini-league, Peter Howlett at Cardiff Bay has snatched first place from Toby Phelps at Manorbier, with them scoring 54% and 50% respectively. In the 10km comp league, Toby at Castlemartin peninsula is still leading with 69% scored while Peter Howlett in Cardiff has bumped his score up by 20% in February and is now on 55%.
In the overall points scored 3km league, Toby is still in first place with 85 points scored.
Inland Scotland:
For the time being the comparative and overall leader board go hand in hand for the Inland Scotland mini-league, with Alex Ash at Kilmacolm scoring 66 points and 70% to put him in first place. His highlights being Greenshank and Green Sandpiper. Lee Hesp at Strathrye is in second place by acquiring 29 points and 48%. Lee's highlight being a Magpie, a less than an annual bird to the patch.
Coastal Scotland:
There can only be a few patches across Britain and Ireland where Brent Goose would be a better patch bird than White-billed Diver! This is the case for Nick Littlewood at his Portsoy patch where he secured first position for February by scoring 63%. Rich Arthurs in second at Gullane and Aberlady Bay just one percent of joining Nick in the top spot, with his months highlights being Snipe and Water Rail. Nina O'Hanlon is third with 52% scored at Nybster while Rob Hughes is hot on her tail at his John O'Groats and Freswick patches, scoring 51% and 50% at these respectively. Andrew Whitehouse is in sixth at Girdle Ness and Torry, having seen Glaucous Gull this month while just one percent below him is Andrew Whewell at North Berwick East on 45%. One of Rob's other patches, Nybster, is in eighth place having picked up 42% so far, with February highlights for there being migrating Mute Swans and 11 Eurasian White-fronted Geese.
In the 10km league, Rich Arthurs is on 68% from Gullane had a great month, with him having picked up Woodlark (an excellent bird for Scotland), White-fronted Goose and White-billed Diver. Nina O'Hanon at Nybster is in second on 59% while Rob Hughes is third with 46%.
 |
| Nick Littlewood's patch tick Brent Goose (Pale-bellied) |
 |
| Glaucous Gull taken by Andrew Whitehouse |
Inland Ireland:
Still just one participant in the Inland Ireland mini-league. RóisÃn Towe has now picked up 53 points from her Tramore Valley Park patch with highlights being two Stock Doves and around 100 Siskins.
Coastal Ireland:
Only the one participant still in this league also with Charlie Lyons at Lough Atalia/Ballyloughane 3km². Unfortunately still no scores from this league.
Islands:
Sean Morris at Kinloch on the Isle of Rum is leading in the comparative section by a single percent, just ahead of Mark Lawlor at Hommet to Rousse on Guernsey. Mark's highlight being Red-breasted Merganser. Sean Morris is also in a battle for third place too with his Kilmory patch, scoring 38% however he is just pipped by Steve Dudley on Westray. Steve's highlights being Jack Snipe and Grey Plover, while Sean noted Short-eared Owl. John Bowler at Balephuil on Tiree is on 35%, his best of the month being a #PatchGold Coot as well as a Todd's Canada Goose.
In the 10km league, Mark on Guernsey is the first to break the 50% barrier, duly helped by twitching a very well showing Laughing Gull that waddled up to him! Sean Morris is second on the Isle of Rum with 46%. Steve Dudley is third on Westray but had a great month across the island, picking up a #PatchGold Stock Dove, which was only the third island record. He also picked up Taiga Bean and Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Grey Plover and Mistle Thrush. Steve finished February having picked up 35%, which puts him just ahead of John on Tiree who is on 33%. John's best bird being a wintering Blue Tit.
 |
| Stock Dove taken by Steve Dudley |
Estuarine:
Jackie Binks at Garston Coastal Reserve and Oglet is currently well ahead in the comparative section of the Estuarine mini-league, with already 85% scored which puts them first nationally, this mostly due to the long-staying Great-tailed Grackle but also this months highlight with a Little Grebe. In second, Ravi Grewal at Cliffe having scored 69% so far. He had a nice list of highlights for the month including good numbers of Scaup, 33 Eurasian White-fronted Geese and a Merlin amongst others. John Conlin-Hulme at Paull is on 58%, which puts him third while Peter Hazelwood at Oldbury Power Station is fourth on 52%. Gordon Hodgson at Frampton, Splatt and Saul Warth is currently in fifth having picked up 42% so far.
 |
| Great-tailed Grackle taken by Jackie Binks |
Bird Observatories:
The two Gibraltar Point patches of Stuart Ainsworth and Nige Lound are almost neck and neck with them scoring 55% and 53% respectively. Jacob Spinks at Dungeness only scored 26% thus far but highlights include Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe, 110 White-fronted Geese and a Spoonbill.
In the 10km league, Nige Lound is running away with first place having seen 55% already while Jacob Spinks is on 29%, and whose highlight was the regular wintering flock of Bewick's Swans.
Bird Observatories:
The two Gibraltar Point patches of Stuart Ainsworth and Nige Lound are almost neck and neck with them scoring 55% and 53% respectively. Jacob Spinks at Dungeness only scored 26% thus far but highlights include Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe, 110 White-fronted Geese and a Spoonbill.
In the 10km league, Nige Lound is running away with first place having seen 55% already while Jacob Spinks is on 29%, and whose highlight was the regular wintering flock of Bewick's Swans.
U25s:
Here is both the comparative and overall scores for the Under 25's scores, which is just 3km² patches only.
Green:
Here are the Top 20 comparative green rankings for both 3km² and 10km patches:
Here are the Top 20 overall green rankings for both 3km² and 10km patches:
Thank you so much for reading and we hope you enjoy the rest of your March Patch Birding! Remember to keep us informed and with pictures using the #PWC2026, #PatchBirding or #PatchGold hashtags on Twitter and Bluesky!
Good luck,
The Patchwork Challenge team!
Comments
Post a Comment