Hello from the Patchwork Challenge team!
We sincerely hope you have enjoyed taking part in the fourth 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
April proved to be a fantastic month for many, with a large passage of spring Waders, Terns and Little Gulls amongst others occurring in the inland England mini-leagues while south coast patches also got their fair share. A large arrival of Wood Sandpipers across Britain was definitely noted on patches up and down the leagues. There was plenty of rarer birds to be found during March with 12 pointers flying about in every direction with the discoveries of Bonaparte's Gull in Lincolnshire, Ross's Gull and Great Reed Warbler in Norfolk, Pallid Harrier in Caithness and Western Subalpine Warbler in Argyll amongst a whole host of other goodies during the month! There were far more superb patch records to be seen so continue reading to see what others have noted on their patches.
May is the rarity month, particularly the second half of it when just about anything feels possible. There is still a lot of potential for birds to be passing through inland water bodies, with now a good time to be on the lookout for a rarer Tern like White-winged Black or Whiskered. It is also the time to get in tune with the bird song, from mid-May to the middle of next month the time to be listening for a scarce warbler like Marsh or Icterine (or even rarer with Great Reed, Savi's or a near continuous list of other potentials!), but also Golden Oriole amongst a bucket load of other bits. An easterly airflow and precipitation could see a dumping of Red-backed Shrike, Bluethroat, Icterine Warbler and Rosefinch onto the east coast like May 2024...
There is a still that same overshooting potential that was in April, with a good chance of an overshooting migrant or two but with a greater chance of things like Bee-eater, Golden Oriole and Red-footed Falcon but with added hope for things like Collared Pratincole or a rare crake even?! Now is the time to be finding a major spring rarity too, with last year's May turning up Savannah Sparrow, Hudsonian Godwit, Oriental Turtle Dove and Eastern Bonelli's Warblers.
 |
| Little Gulls taken by Chris Hubbard |
TOP 20 COMPARATIVE SCORES 3KM²
TOP 20 OVERALL SCORES 3KM²
TOP 20 COMPARATIVE SCORES 10KM
TOP 20 OVERALL SCORES 10KM
Inland North, England:
Mike Leakey has already broken the 100% barrier, from having picked up 123 points so far at his Bishop Middleham patch. A good list of highlights for April include many passage waders like Spotted Redshank and Wood Sandpiper, but also Marsh Harrier and Whooper Swan. Pam Pickersgill at Morley and Churwell is on 98% in second. Duncan Bye at Wheldrake Ings is in third having found Green-winged Teal in April alongside Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper and Crane to put him on a very good 92%. Although he is by no means safely on the podium yet, Mark Langston at Dearne Valley is lagging behind by only two percent with Wood Sandpiper and Black Tern, and he is quickly followed by Gavin Orr at Pontefract. Gavin on 89%, is just three percent from third having seen Cetti's Warbler (first in four years) and second ever patch record of Lesser Whitethroat. Owen Tattersall at Figham Common is also in the race for third, even though he is currently sat in sixth (showing just how tight the league is) with him picking up 88%. A couple of nice birds recorded for Owen included the first patch record of Wheatear as well as a Redstart. Nigel Harris at Middletons is on 83% with Lesser Whitethroat being the bird of the month. Pam at Gildersome and Paul Whitehouse at Stanley Ferry Flash and Southern Washland are both at 80% in eighth. Ciaran Rowett at Martin Mere is in ninth on 75%, best birds recorded there include a nice spread of Warblers including Grasshopper, but also a few passage waders. Phil Woolen at Mollington is on a very respectable 71% for tenth place at Mollington.
In the overall points scored part of the league, we have a very close top of the table with Duncan Bye at Wheldrake just pipping Mark Langston at Dearne Valley by a single point, they finish April on 163 and 162 respectively. Adam Firth at Elvington is in third on 143 points, having seen Osprey, Redstart and Mandarin Duck during April. Ciaran Rowett at Martin Mere is on 129 points to put him in fourth while Mike Leakey is in fifth at Bishop Middleham on 123 points. Darren Best at Swinemoor is on 117 points after having a good month with Spotted Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit as well as good numbers of Yellow Wagtail. Owen at nearby Figham Common is just behind on 109 points to put him in seventh. Paul Newton at Scaling Dam is incredibly close to breaking 100 points with 99 scored thus far. Paul Whitehouse at Stanley Ferry Flash and Southern Washlands is on 83 points, putting him just ahead of James Byatt at York Community Woodland who is on 80. Muhummed Hussain at Myerscough Quarry & Carr House Green Common had a brilliant month with Bonaparte's Gull gracing the patch, as well as Common Scoter, this putting them on 79 points, just one ahead of Gavin.
In the 10km part of the league, Mark Langston currently leads on 162 points from Dearne Valley followed by Adam Firth at Elvington on 148 points. Adam picked up highlights of Mandarin Duck, Osprey and Redstart. Muhummed Hussain at Preston had a brilliant list of highlights for April with Black-winged Stilt, Bonaparte's Gull, Slavonian and Black-necked Grebes to put him on 122 points. Harry Coghill at Ambleside is in fourth on 73 points and Gary Pickles at Burley in Wharfedale is in fifth on 52 points.
 |
| Black Terns taken by Mark Langston |
Inland Midlands, England:
Dan Leadley at Dereham is on 97% to put him in pole position. His highlights for April include patch tick Marsh Harrier, but also Cetti's Warbler which evaded last year's list. Brian Hedley at Martin and Tren Port is trailing by just two percent in second place. His best birds include Garden Warbler, Yellow Wagtails and Common Sandpipers amongst others. Pete Sofley is in third on 85% at Ladywalk Nature Reserve, he has a super list of highlights for April including Pied Flycatcher, Kittiwake, Little Gull, Arctic Tern, Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper. Pete starts off a very close battle for third, with three competitors all within four percent of catching up. Starting with Joe Parham at Fen Drayton Lakes in fourth on 84%, he notched up Sanderling and Crane as patch ticks during April. Tom Shields at Colwick Park gained 15% during April, with the best being Yellow-legged Gull to put him in fifth. Richard Harbird at Morton Bagot is on 81% in sixth, having seen the first record of Marsh Harrier for the patch since 2021 as well as the earliest ever Cuckoo for there. Andy Sims at Swanpool and Boultham Mere is on 77%, but picked up a slice of patch gold in the form of a Nightingale. Other goodies there include Little Ringed Plover and Cuckoo. Steve Atkinson at Middle Tame is just trailing on 74%, the best bird there for April being Osprey. Steve Lister at Swithland Reservoir is in ninth, having seen 66% so far this year and the best for April being Cetti's Warbler.
In the 10km league, Richard Harbird at Redditch is currently in the lead with 80% scored from 132 points. The highlight there for April being his highest personal count of Arctic Terns for the patch with nine. Andy Sims at Swanpool is on76%, but as well as the Nightingale saw Mediterranean Gulls and Black Terns. Dan Webb at Sellack/Ross on Wye is just one percent behind from second place with 75%. William Lambourne at Ledbury notched up 74%, with the highlights being first ever local Redshank, as well as Oystercatcher and Little Ringed Plover passage and spring migrants back on territory. Tom Shields at Nottingham Trent Valley ends April on 72%, a mixed bag included Black Tern, Black-tailed Godwit and Marsh Harrier. Steve Lister is in sixth, having seen 63% from 103 points, best being some early Swifts from the garden on 20th.
In the overall points scored part of the league, Dan Langston at Bardney Pits is leading the charge by a country mile at the moment, he is 32 points ahead with the finding of a first-winter Bonaparte's Gull playing hugely into that. As well as the Bony's, other good patch birds included Garganey, Spoonbill, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpipers and Arctic Terns. A proper April mix of birds! Chris Hubbard at Stanford Reservoir is in second, he also picked up an excellent list of mid-spring highlights including the first Bar-tailed Godwits since 2020, Little Gull, Arctic Tern, reeling Grasshopper Warbler and a booming Bittern. This all leaves Chris on 158 points by the end of April. Tyle Atkinson is in third at Clifford Hill Gravel Pits, just two points behind Chris on 156. His highlights include Sandwich Tern, Cattle Egret, Spoonbill, Avocet, Wood Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Blue-headed Wagtail, Wood Warbler and Firecrest amongst a whole host of other goodies. Pete Sofley is in fourth, trailing by just a point at Ladywalk Nature Reserve. He also picked up a lovely variety with Pied Flycatcher, Kittiwake, Little Gull, Arctic Tern, Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper as well as unseasonable Jack Snipe. Joe Parham is in fifth at Fen Drayton Lakes with 136 points, just ahead of Steve Atkinson at Middle Tame on 134. Dominic Garcia-Hall is yet to work out his points tally, but has seen at least 131 species in his Rutland Water patch boundaries putting him at least seventh. Goodies recorded by Dominic include Crane, Nightingale and Caspian Gull being most notable amongst a nice selection. Noah Bailey at Milton Country Park and Ditton Meadows is in eighth on 122 points, Ring Ouzel and Curlew being April's most noteworthy birds. Lucas Burfield at Cambridge Research Park and Waterbeach Barracks finished April just a point behind Noah. Lucas picked up a couple of Bitterns, which were the first patch records since 2023 as well as the second record of Greenshank with three. Matthew Pollock at Kingsbury South is in tenth on 119 points, best being Redstart and Wheatear.
 |
| Bonaparte's Gull (most left hand Gull) taken by Daniel Langston |
In the 10km league, Tyler Atkinson from Abington in Northampton is currently leading with 176 points, best birds being Osprey, Grasshopper Warbler and Nightingale. Dominic Garcia-Hall from Rutland has seen 153 species, best of which being Grey Plover, Little Tern, Black Tern and 23 Little Gull. Matthew Pollock from Kingsbury finished April on 143 points to put him in third, a female Hooded Merganser graced the patch as well as Garganey and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.
 |
Arctic Tern taken by Chris Hubbard
|
Inland South, England: Tom Bedford continues to lead in the comparative mini-league at Lye Valley with already a massive 104% scored. Highlights for this little snippet of green in an urban environment include a singing male Redstart which was just the fourth patch record as well as Sedge and Reed Warbler (third and sixth patch records respectively). Ian Bennell isn't trailing far behind however with 99% scored at Tring Reservoirs, College Lake and Pitstone Quarry. His highlights for April include a county tick Lesser Scaup as well as patch tick Tawny Owl and third record of Curlew. Geoff Wyatt at Day's Lock and Bishop's Court Farm in Oxon is in third with a superb 93%, best bird there for April being Whinchat. Charlie Joseph at Weald Country Park and Bentley area is in fourth with a good 90%, Yellowhammer being bird of the month there. Gareth Blockley at Grimsbury Reservoir and East Banbury is in fifth on 85%, followed by two participants in sixth on 81%. These being John Pritchard at Ver Valley and Jeff Gooding at Roding Valley Meadows. John's April best birds were Grey Partridge and what we can only assume to be patch gold Collared Dove! Neil Burt is seventh with 75% scored but he has an excellent patch gold moment involving a ringtail Hen Harrier as it graced his local patch of Godinton, Hothfield and Singleton. Matthew Dick is eighth on 73% at Lakenheath. Meanwhile in the 10km league, Dave Helliar at Chard is still the only comparative participant and he scored this month in the form of a Hoopoe!
Geoff Wyatt is leading with 143 points at Day's Lock and Bishop's Court Farm, but Thomas Miller is within catching distance of him with 137 points at Port Meadow. Thomas had patch tick Nightingale as well as a nice selection of birds with Wood Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel and Little Gull amongst others! Matthew Dick at Lakenheath is third with 122 points and Dave Helliar is fourth on 107 points at Chard Junction. Dave's best birds of the month include Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank and Wheatear plus others! Ian Bennell is just a few points behind on 105 and Gareth Blockley is again close with 102. John Pritchard at Ver Valley is just a point away from Gareth's total with 101 scored so far. Rupert Evershed at Stanborough Gravel Pits is just short of the 100 points barrier with 96 scored so far. Other notables further down the league include Tom Misselbrook picking up patch tick Sedge Warbler at his Shobrooke Park patch in mid-Devon.
In the 10km league, Dave Helliar leads by just four points on 126 while Rupert Evershed at St Albans is in second on 122 points. Charlie Joseph is third with 90 points from Brentwood followed hot on their tail by Rob Hill, who has picked up 89 points in North Buckinghamshire.
Trevor Girling has retaken first place with his Titchwell Marsh patch, boosted by finding Norfolk's third ever Ross's Gull! A cracking first-winter that spent a short while on the Freshmarsh before departing, and was later refound in a ploughed field near Thornham. Terrific work, Trevor! Not settled with one load of bonus points, he also went and found another '12 pointer' with a Great Reed Warbler! There were other birds to see also, this included White-tailed Eagle, Wood Warbler and patch tick Nightingale! All this leaving him on 84% by the end of April, putting a five percent between second place, where Stuart Ainsworth at Gibraltar Point currently resides on 79%. Best birds there being Brambling and Wheatear. Nige Lound is just a single percent behind, also at Gibraltar Point on 78%. In joint fourth with 64% is Will Scott at Bempton Village who picked up Merlin as well as Owen Beaumont at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR. Owen's best birds include four Wood Sandpipers, Glossy Ibis and Purple Heron. Mark Andrews is on 60% from Kilnsea, picking up bonus points in the form of a garden Serin, while catching up with Water Pipit, a local rarity in the form of a Stone Curlew but best of all a in the hand Great Reed Warbler. Duncan Watson is in sixth, just a percent behind Mark, with Greenshank, Hooded Crow and Whinchat best. Will Scott at Bempton Cliffs is on 57%, Caspian Gull being the highlight for April. John Chapman at NE South Tyneside is on 49% in eighth. Paul French in Easington is on 23% and James Spencer birding Barmston is on 19%.
In the 10km league, James Brown takes pole position by six percent at Hopton. Highlights of Shorelark, Spoonbill and Black Redstart put him on 85%. Nige Lound is on 79% in second at Gibraltar Point while Paul Newton at Whitby is on 78%. A nice list of highlights include Grasshopper Warbler and Ring Ouzel.
 |
| A good day on the patch! A grab from Duncan's Bluesky |
In the overall points scored part of the league, Trevor Girling has gained a massive 80 points (24 points just from two finds!) to put him in first place with 245 scored at Titchwell Marsh. Nige Lound at Gibraltar Point is second on 228 points, the last two breaking the two hundred points barrier by the end of April. In third is Owen Beaumont at Saltfleetby to Theddlethorpe Dunes with 182 scored. Hot on his heels is Mark Andrews, over the river in Kilnsea on 179 points. Stuart Ainsworth at Gibraltar Point just pips in front of James Brown at Lowestoft, with them scoring 170 and 168 respectively. Martin Kerby at Cullercoats and Tynemouth picked up Dark-bellied Brent Goose and Rook meaning he finished April in seventh, just ahead of the pair in joint eighth which included local rival Duncan Watson who is also at Tynemouth. Matt Bournat at Seasalter is the other to currently be in eighth and he noted Eider, Crane and Spoonbill during April.
In the 10km league, Nige Lound is streaks ahead with 229 points scored while James Brown is on 195 in second. John Chapman at South Tyneside is on 160 points, and picked up a respectable list of highlights including a lovely Marsh Sandpiper!
Coastal South, England:
Kevin Rylands is currently leading the charge, taking first and second place with his Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren patches respectively. At Teignmouth, he is currently on 75% and has picked up highlights of Manx Shearwater, Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit. At his second place patch, Dawlish Warren, he has seen 64% with Gadwall, Black-throated Diver, Purple Sandpiper and Grasshopper Warbler being notables. Jacob Wood sits in third at Berry Head to Mansands on 57%, while Jacob Spinks is fourth at Dungeness Bird Observatory on 53%. The best at the latter being over a hundred Pomarine Skuas during the month as well as a record day count of 1467 Little Gulls east on 25th. Meanwhile in the 10km league, Bob Ford at Weymouth is streaks ahead of Jacob Spinks with 81% scored already. Highlights include Garganey, Little Gull and amazingly, two Bonaparte's Gulls!
In the overall points scored part of the league, it is reserved with Jacob Spinks at Dungeness Bird Observatory leading on 175 points. He is followed by Kent's other Bird Observatory, Sandwich Bay and RSPB Worth Marshes, patched by Jonathan Bull who has picked up 167 points so far. Highlights for the month there include Red-footed Falcon and Whooper Swan. Kevin Rylands at Dawlish Warren currently sits in third on 150 points followed by Ryan Irvine at St Buryan on 114 points. Jonathan Singlewood-Doods isn't far off that fourth position with 109 points scored. Highlights include a decent spread of waders on the seawatch but best of all, a well showing Goosander just offshore. Richard Watkins is just one point away from breaking into the hundred points barrier at Dungeness RSPB Reserve.
In the 10km league, Jonathan Bull is the only participant to go beyond two hundred points with 205 scored. It was then very tight with Jacob Spinks on 184, Bob Ford on 180 and Ryan Irvine at St Buryan on 170 points.
 |
| Goosander taken by Jonathan Singlewood-Dodds |
Coastal West, England:
Just Sean O'Hara to have filled in previous comparative scores for the Coastal West league, but he is at a respectable 65% so far for Hoylake and Meols. Remember, if you see (or hear) birds that are just off patch but from your patch boundaries, they are countable!
Liam Langley is currently leading on overall points scored from St Ives with 133 points so far. A brilliant month saw both Pallas's and Yellow browed Warblers dueting one another on the patch! As well as other highlights including early Arctic Tern, Grey Plover and Hooded Crow amongst others.
Inland Wales:
Jonni Price is the only participant in this league, and from his Llanrwst 10km patch he has picked up 59 points.
Coastal Wales:
Peter Howlett retains the top spot with 97 points and 67% scored on his Cardiff Bay patch meanwhile Toby Phelps stays in second on 85 points and 50% at Manorbier. Tables are turned however in the 10km league with Toby at Castlemartin taking first place with 119 points and 69%, while Peter is on 110 points and 68% from Cardiff.
Inland Scotland:
Lee Hesp at Strathyre currently leads comparatively with 75% scored, with Osprey the first two pointer of the year. Alex Ash at Kilmacolm is on 70% in second.
Alex is in the lead for overall points scored on 66 while Lee is in second on 46. Rich Arthurs at Gullane and Aberlady Bay retains his pole position with 84% scored so far. Best birds in April included Whimbrel and Brent Goose. Nick Littlewood at Portsoy is still in second with 80%, highlights there include Iceland and Little Gull, Little Grebe and as many as 12 White-billed Divers! Nina O'Hanlon has jumped up into third place with 80% from Nybster, with the finding of a gorgeous adult male Pallid Harrier boosting the scores. Andrew Whitehouse at Girdle Ness and Torry is on 66% and had a good month, picking up White-tailed Eagle, Green Sandpiper and Blue-headed Wagtail. Rob Hughes at John O'Groats is on 62% in fifth, a Magpie and Ring Ouzel the best there. He also claims sixth place for Nybster too, and had an excellent month there with Pallid Harrier, Purple Heron, Hawfinch and Marsh Harrier. Andrew Whewell is seventh on 55% at North Berwick East, followed by Rob Hughes again at Freswick on 50%. In the 10km league, Rich Arthurs leads at Gullane with a superb 92% where Raven and Shoveler were the best birds of the month. Nina O'Hanlon takes second with 79% and Rob Hughes at Nybster in third at 60%.
 |
| Pallid Harrier taken by Rob Hughes |
In the overall points scored part of the league, Andrew Whitehouse at Girdle Ness and Torry hit the top spot with 135, but only just as Nina at Nybster is trailing by just a single point. Rob on his Nybster patch isn't far behind on 132 followed by Rich Arthurs at Gullane and Aberlady Bay on 129. Nick Littlewood at Portsoy is in fifth on 124 points, then it is Paul Higson at St Combs on 111 points. John Ingham at Nairn is on 107 points in seventh. The 10km league for overall points scored has the same league positioning as the comparative, but it is very tight between the four participants with just 10 points separating them.
 |
| White-billed Diver taken by Nick Littlewood |
Inland Ireland:
RóisÃn Towe is still the only participant with updated score. She has scored 63 points so from here 3km patch of Tramore Valley and 85 points from Douglas, as her 10km patch.
Islands:
Sean Morris has now managed to grab a hold of the top two places in this league! His Kinloch patch scored 79%, the best being Tree Sparrow followed his Kilmory patch on 65%! John Bowler at Balephuil on Tiree found a Western Subalpine Warbler as well as Wood Sandpiper and Blue-headed Wagtail to put him in third on 55%. Both Steve Dudley on Westray and Mark Lawlor on Guernsey are neck and neck on 48% to put them in joint fourth. Steve's April highlights include Black Redstart and Hawfinch from a light sprinkling of spring migrants. David Roche on Papa Westray is in fifth with 46%, best birds from the month being the 3rd, 4th and 5th records of Stock Dove for the island!! As well as Black-throated Diver, Buzzard and Yellowhammer. David Parnaby the first third of the year on 45% from Fair Isle.
In the 10km part of the league, Sean Morris holds his lead here also with 73% from the Isle of Rum. His nearest competitor in distance and percentage points is John Bowler on Tiree with John scoring 52%. Mark Lawlor on Guernsey is on 51% and finally Steve Dudley is on 43% from Westray, Common Scoter being the undoubted highlight as it evaded last year's list and it was an island record count with 68.
John Bowler is currently leading in overall points scored with 180 by the end of April. David Roche is then second on Papa Westray with 149 and David Parnaby is third on Fair Isle with 143. Jodie Henderson at Portland Bird Observatory is on 132 in fourth followed by Steve Dudley on Westray on 111. Estuarine:
Jackie Binks at Garston and Oglet is still leading with a ten percent gap between her and second place, with 98% score so far. #PatchGold appeared in the shape of three Gadwall while other goodies occurred in the form of Redstart and Grasshopper Warbler amongst a good selection of spring migrants. Ravi remains in second place at Cliffe, adding 11% over the month to reach 88% scored so far. John Conlin-Hume at Paull is on 73% in third, belated patch-first with a Cattle Egret in March. Peter Hazelwood at Oldbury Power Station is in fourth on 59%, just a point ahead of local rival Gordon Hodgson at Frampton, Splatt and Saul Warth.
 |
| Little Gulls departing east up the Severn taken by Gordon Hodgson |
 |
| Whinchat taken by Jonni Price |
Under 25's: Here is both the comparative and overall scores for the Under 25's scores, which is just 3km² patches only.
Here is the comparative leaderboard for the top 20 Green 3km² patches, and also the only comparative scores for the 10km Radius patches.
Here are the Top 20 overall green rankings for the 3km² patches and all 10km Radius patches:
Thank you so much for reading and we hope you enjoy the rest of your May Patch Birding! Remember to keep us informed and is possible pictures using the #PWC2026, #PatchBirding or #PatchGold hashtags on Twitter and Bluesky! We try to use as many pictures as possible on our blog.
We wish you the best of luck!
The Patchwork Challenge team!
Comments
Post a Comment