May round-up 2026

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 Spotted Flycatchers. It can also be the month for ridiculous rarities, as proven by last year when Bridled Tern, Scop's Owl, Eyebrowed Thrush, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Western Orphean Warbler, Pallas's Reed Bunting, Song Sparrows (one Yorkshire and one Donegal) and White-throated Sparrow. It is also a fantastic month to be finding scarce species like Greenish, Marsh and Blyth's Reed Warbler as well as Rosefinch and Rose-coloured Starling. Then by the end of the month, the first signs of autumn may just be about visible with dispersals from breeding colonies of things like Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls, waders like Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and Green Sandpiper will all be on the move by the end of the month while vismig Sand Martins and Swifts should be flowing at the end of the month, particularly down the east coast of Britain. Good luck and we hope you can find something that will give you 15 points this month!

Great Reed Warbler taken by Steve Dudley

 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 retains his first place into June with 107% scored so far at Bishop Middleham, the best bird there for May being a Hobby. Pam Pickersgill is in second with 98% at Morley and Churwell. Owen Tattersall has leaped into third place at Figham Common with 95%, where he leads a tight race with Duncan Bye at Wheldrake Ings is on 94% and Mark Langston at Dearne Valley is on 93%. There were a few nice birds recorded amongst those patches with Ruddy Shelduck for Owen, Glossy Ibis for Duncan but best of all, a stunning summer plumaged Grey (or Red!) Phalarope for Mark. Gavin Orr at Pontefract Park is the last in this mini-league to break 90%, as he reached 91% with a patch lifer Grasshopper Warbler the best. Paul Whitehouse is on 86% at Stanley Ferry Flash and Southern Washlands. In the 10km league, Nigel Harris at Middletons saw Garden Warbler, Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler and Stonechat, all of which were first records of the patch for him, this putting him on 92%. 

Over in the overall points scored part of the league, Mark Langston at Dearne Valley is still leading on 169 but by just three points to Duncan Bye at Wheldrake Ings. Adam Firth at nearby Elvington is on 143. Ciaran Rowett at WWT Martin Mere who is on 135 points followed by Mike Leakey at Bishop Middleham is on 131 points at Bishop Middleham. Darren Best at Swinmoor had a good month with a probable Yorkshire record count of 18 Wood Sandpipers amongst a nice passage of waders, other goodies include Spotted Redshank and Garganey. This all putting him on 122 points scored while just down the road at his nearest competition, Owen Tattersall at Figham Common is on 118 points. Paul Newton is hot on Owen's tail with 117 points scored at Scaling Dam Reservoir, he had a fabulous month with Turnstone and Knot, his first and second patch records respectively as well as Grey-headed Wagtail, Osprey, Whimbrel and Little Stint. Harry Appleyard at Keyingham and Burstwick had a fairly quiet month but he saw unseasonal birds of Pink-footed Goose and Redpoll to put him on 96 points. 

In the 10km league, Mark Langston leads again with 162 points from Dearne Valley followed by 148 for Adam Firth in Elvington. Muhummed Hussain is in third having picked up 130 points from Preston with a couple of nice birds in the form of Lesser Yellowlegs and Nightjar.

Inland Midlands, England: 

Dan Leadley at Dereham has had his pole position snatched from him after being stuck on 97%, with two other participants in joint first place on 99%. These are Brian Headley at Marton and Trent Port, and Lucas Burfield at Cambridge Research Park and Waterbeach Barracks. Brian's highlights include Osprey, Hobby and Peregrine amongst others while Lucas picked up Turtle Dove and second patch record of Tree Pipit although the highlight being a patch tick Nightingale that has hung about for weeks! Pete Sofley at Ladywalk Nature Reserve is in third with 89% scored, the month's best birds being the first Grey Plover in over a decade and a Mediterranean Gull. Joe Parham at Fen Drayton Lakes is on 84% in fourth. In joint fifth, Tom Shields is at Colwick Park and Richard Harbird at Marton Bagot both on 83%. Tom picked up Yellow Wagtail, the only addition in a month of regular visits. Richard noted Hobby, Greenshank and Spotted Flycatcher. Andy Sims is in sixth at Swanpool and Boultham Mere on 80%, followed by Steve Lister at Swithland Reservoir on 69%. 

In the 10km league, Richard Harbird is currently on top at Redditch having picked up 87%. His highlight being a stunning Spotted Sandpiper as well as Turnstone and Sanderling being patch ticks. Andy Sims is in second on 83% at Swanpool, goodies include Nightjar and Whimbrel. Dan Webb at Ross on Wye/Sellack is only trailing by two percent, his best bird being Corn Bunting, a less than annual bird in the county. Tom Shields at Nottingham Trent Valley is on 77% after having an unfortunate month of missing a few bits, he did manage to twitch a Temminck's Stint though! William Lambourne at Ledbury is on 74% and Steve Lister not far off the pace at Loughborough is in sixth on 70%. 

Spotted Sandpiper taken by Richard Harbird

In the overall points scored part of the league, Daniel Langston has gained 13 points at Bardney Pits to retain his lead. He picked up a nice list of birds including Glossy Ibis, Temminck's Stint, Sanderling and Spotted Redshank. Chris Hubbard at Stanford Reservoir keeps his second place, having picked up 25 points in May. He had some excellent records, the best being a self-found Ring-necked Duck, which was the first site record since 1978, as well as the first Nightingale since 1994 and Avocet since 2017. The first two species took his overall site species tally to 210. Tyler Atkinson at Clifford Hill Gravel Pits stayed in third, gaining seven points, best birds include two Sanderlings and two Turnstones. Pete Sofley at Ladywalk Nature Reserve only three points behind in fourth. 

Temminck's Stint taken by Daniel Langston

In the 10km league, Tyler Atkinson at Abington, Northampton is ahead by 35 points. The best bird being an amazing record of a Savi's Warbler, just down the road from Northampton Town FC Stadium! As well as Garganey and Ruff. Matthew Pollock at Kingsbury is second on 155 points, a nice selection with Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Grey Plover.  

Inland South, England: 

Tom Bedford is having a fantastic year at his Lye Valley patch, he is now on 105% scored with the second-ever spring record of Spotted Flycatcher the highlight. Ian Bennell isn't far behind, with 99% scored at Tring Reservoirs, College Lake and Pitstone Quarry. Geoff Wyatt and Matthew Dick are neck and neck in third place at their respective patches of Day's Lock/Bishop's Court Farm and RSPB Lakenheath Fen with 93% scored. Matthew's monthly highlights include Purple Heron and Great Reed Warbler. Charlie Joseph at Weald Country Park and Bentley area is just a single percent off from being another third placer on 92%. Gareth Blockley at Grimsbury Reservoir and East Banbury picked up Cuckoo to put him on 88% while John Pritchard at Ver Valley noted his second ever patch record of Firecrest in 30 years! This leaves him finishing May on 86%. Neil Burt noted a Turtle Dove feeding amongst the pigeons on his Godinton, Hothfield and Singleton patch. Here he also saw a decent variety of other passage bits including four Common Sandpipers, Hobby, Red Kite and Wheatear. This puts him on 83%, just one ahead of Jeff Gooding at Roding Valley Meadows.
In the 10km part of the league, Dave Helliar at Chard is on 83% having seen Nightjar during May.

In the overall points scored part of the league, Matthew Dick has jumped from third to first at his Lakenheath patch with 155 points. Geoff Wyatt at Day's Lock and Bishop's Court Farm is now in second after gaining six points over the course of May. Thomas Miller is in third place at Port Meadow. 

In the 10km part of the league, Dave Helliar at Chard is on 129 points, just ahead of Rob Hill from North Buckinghamshire who is on 126 after seeing Black and Arctic Tern, Little Gull and Bittern during May. Rupert Evershed isn't many off the fight for first at St Alban's having picked up 122 points from 109 species. Charlie Joseph is in fourth having picked up 92 points at Brentwood.

Coastal East, England: 

Trevor Girling at Titchwell Marsh is still leading with 91% scored so far, his best find of May being a Glossy Ibis. Nige Loud and Stuart Ainsworth at Gibraltar Point are both on 84% in second, Stuart's best bird being Golden Oriole. Duncan Watson at Tynemouth is in third on 74% after having a brilliant month with Crane, Hobby and Hooded Crow amongst others being the highlights. Mark Andrews in Kilnsea is joint fourth with Will Scott at Bempton Village on 72%. Owen Beaumont is in fifth at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR on 70%, a good month there with Hoopoe, Temminck's Stint, Crane and Spotted Redshank. 

In the 10km league, Paul Newton at Whitby had a nice month picking up Osprey, a couple of Hobby's, Sedge Warbler and Quail to put him in first place after gaining nine percent. James Brown at Hopton is now in second at 86% followed quickly by Nige Loud at Gibraltar Point on 85% in third. Paul French in Easington is on 42%.

Golden Oriole taken by Stuart Ainsworth

In the overall points part of the league, Trevor is leading that as well on 266 points. Nige Lound is in second on 244 followed by Mark Andrews in Kilnsea on 216. Owen Beaumont is in fourth at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR on 199 points and Stuart Ainsworth is in fifth on 181 points at Gibraltar Point. Harry Appleyard at Spurn is in sixth having seen a nice variety including Golden Oriole, Temminck's Stint, American Golden Plover, Nightjar and Turtle Dove to put him on 175 points. James Brown in Lowestoft is just behind on 170 points. Duncan Watson in Tynemouth is in eighth on 149 while fellow Tynemouth (and Cullercoats) patch birder Martin Kerby is in ninth on 138 points with Hobby a patch tick. Will Scott at Bempton Cliffs is on 131 points followed by Matt Bournat at Seasalter on 121 points, Crane the best bird there in May. 

Coastal South, England: 

Kevin Rylands is the one to beat at the moment with his two patches claiming the top two spots currently. His Teignmouth window patch has scored 77% but the Dawlish Warren patch in second place on 71% has picked up all the goodies with Broad-billed Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. Jacob Spinks in third has had a better month, the best being the finding of Iberian Chiffchaff and Greenish Warbler, the latter the first Dungeness Observatory record for three decades. As well as a few Bee-eaters and a Honey Buzzard to put him up to 62%. Jacob Wood at Berry Head to Mansands in fourth with 57% scored. 

Bob Ford patching from Weymouth leads the 10km part of the league with an excellent 82% scored. His May highlights include Arctic Skua, Garganey and Hobby. 

In the overall points scored part of the league, Jacob Spinks is leading on 206 at Dungeness Bird Observatory followed by both Kevin Rylands and Jonathan Bull on their respective Dawlish Warren and Sandwich Bay and Worth Marshes patches. Jonathan Singlewood-Dodds is in fourth on 117 points and Ryan Irvine is just trailing behind on 114 at St Buryan. 

Coastal West, England: 

Sean O'Hara still the only competitor in the comparative Coastal West mini-league. He is on 67% at Hoylake and Meols. 

In the overall points scored part of the league, Liam Langley at St Ives is up top on 133 points followed by Sean on 112 points. 

Inland Wales: 

Jonni Price is the only competitor for Inland Wales. He is on 68 points from his LLanrwst 10km patch. 

Coastal Wales: 

In both the comparative and overall points scored part of the league, Peter Howlett is leading from Cardiff Bay with 97 points giving him 67% comparative. Toby Phelps is in second at Manorbier on 85 points and 50% comparative. This is reversed in the 10km league, with Toby at Castlemartin Peninsula leading on 119 points and 69% while Peter from Cardiff is on 110 points, and just one percent shy on 68%.

Inland Scotland: 

Lee Hesp at Strathrye is leading on a brilliant 95% scored so far, Wood Warbler the undoubted highlight amongst Snipe and Pheasant. Alex Ash at Kilmacolm is on 70% to put him in second. 

Alex is in the lead with overall points scored, as he has so far scored 66 points, putting him eight ahead of Lee. 

Coastal Scotland: 

Rob Hughes has already picked up 100% comparative at his Freswick patch, having picked up last year's total of 112 points. He is also in second place as well with John O'Groats on 93%, having seen White-billed Diver and Red-backed Shrike there. Rich Arthurs is third at Gullane and Aberlady Bay on 88%, the best birds there being Curlew Sandpiper and Lesser Whitethroat. Nick Littlewood is in fourth at Portsoy, but is just a single percent off third on 87%. He had a couple of patch ticks during May including Grasshopper Warbler and Gadwall, while Merlin was a good record for there too. Nina O'Hanlon is in fifth at Nybster, having seen 83% so far followed by Andrew Whewell at North Berwick East on 72%. Andrew Whitehouse is in seventh at his Girdle Ness and Torry patch, with 69% scored so far. Lastly, Rob Hughes at Nybster is on 61% but with a month highlight of Quail. 

In the 10km league, Rich Arthurs is on 98% from Gullane, having seen Shoveler and Fulmar during the month. Nina O'Hanlon is on 84% from Nybster followed by Rob Hughes also there on 65%. 

White-billed Diver taken by Rob Hughes

In the overall points scored part of the league, Paul Higson is leading on 169 points from St Combs while Andrew Whitehouse at Girdle Ness and Torry is in second on 142 points. Nina O'Hanlon is in third at Nybster with 139 points. In the 10km part of the league, Paul Higson also leads from St Combs with 214 points. 

Ireland: 

Róisín Towe is still the only participant in Ireland. She has gained four points during May to put her on 67, with the best species being the first returning Swifts from her Tramore Valley patch. 

Islands: 

Sean Morris is still in pole position after gaining seven percent during May at his Kinloch, Isle of Rum patch. Steve Dudley is joint second with Sean Morris, with their Westray and Kilmory patches respectively as both sit on 74%. Steve had a brilliant spell, finding Golden Oriole and Great Reed Warbler. Mark Lawlor on his Hommet to Rousse, Guernsey patch found a Woodlark, the first patch record to put him just one percent shy of joining those in second. John Bowler is fourth on Balephuil, Tiree having picked up 67%. His highlights include American Wigeon, Garganey, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint. David Roche and David Parnaby are extremely close, with just one percent between them on 46 and 45 respectively. 

In the 10km league, Sean Morris for the Isle of Rum is on 82% but Mark Lawlor isn't far behind on 75% from Guernsey, his best bird for the month being Nightjar. Steve Dudley on Westray had a wader dominated 10km month with the best being Pectoral and Wood Sandpipers, Little Stint and Spotted Redshank to put him third on 68%. John Bowler, having scored up 62% on Tiree with his best bird being Pomarine Skua is in fourth.

Woodlark taken by Mark Lawlor

John Bowler leads in overall points scored at Balephuil with 220 so far. Steve Dudley is in second on Westray having picked up 172 and in third place is Jodie Henderson at Portland Bird Observatory on 158 points. Jodie had some brilliant birds including Western Subalpine and Melodious Warbler alongside her first island records of Quail and Tree Sparrow. In the 10km league, Hugh Harrop is leading having had the usual Shetland level of quality to put him on 272 points! Some of his best birds include Ring-necked Duck, Red-throated Pipit, Poms and Long-tailed Skuas, Pec Sand, Bluethroat, Red-backed Shrike (inc. a female in our garden), Icterine Warbler, Red-necked Phalarope, Nightjar, Turtle Dove, Honey Buzzard, Hobby just down the road from our house and a Little Stint. John Bowler is in second on 234 points and Steve Dudley is in third on 208. 

Rustic Bunting taken by David Roche

Estuarine: 

Jackie Binks continues to lead with 102% scored so far. Her best birds for May include a couple of Sandwich Terns and Curlew Sandpipers, but also Spotted Flycatcher and Cuckoo. In second is Ravi Grewal at Cliffe, Black-winged Stilt the undoubted May highlight which guided him to 90% scored so far. In third is John Conlin-Hulme at Paull on 88%, his first patch record of Osprey the best of the month. Gordon Hodgson at Frampton, Splatt and Saul Warth is on 77%. Late to enter, but he had a fantastic April with 70 Little Gulls, 22 Black Terns and a Nightingale. 

Curlew Sandpipers taken by Jackie Binks

In the overall points scored part of the league, Ravi is leading on 145 followed quickly by Gordon on 140. Jackie is in third having scored 132 points then it is Jonni Price at RSPB Conwy on 122. 

Under 25's: 

Here is both the comparative and overall scores for the Under 25's scores, which is just 3km² patches only.

Green: 

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:

Huge thank you for reading, as well as for taking part! Also a huge thank you to those who have posted pictures that we have used. We hope you enjoy the rest of your June 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!