September round-up 2026

Hello from the Patchwork Challenge team!

September was another fairly busy autumn month for migration with plenty of goodies found on patches. There was certainly some large, and unexepected surprises found during the month but persistent westerlies for large areas meant some patch birders experienced quieter Septembers than usual. However, October has already thrown up plenty of good birds nationally, including on some #PWC2026 patches so we look forward to writing about that soon!

Superb Rustic Bunting found by Andrew Whitehouse

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 is continuing his long standing run at the top spot of the Inland North England mini-league with a whopping 120% so far. The best bird on his Bishop Middleham patch for September being his first Pectoral Sandpiper there in fifteen years, as well as a Whinchat. In second place is Owen Tattersall at Figham Common who is on 106%, a Great White Egret the most notable bird there this last month. Nick Morgan at Ainderby Steeple is third, and the last to be in three figures comparatively with 100% scored. Both Duncan Bye and Pam Pickersgill are close to being on the podium with 99% and 98% scored on their respective patches of Wheldrake Ings and Morley and Churwell. Mark Langston at Dearne Valley is in sixth having picked up 96% so far followed by Gavin Orr at Pontefract Park in seventh on 94%. Gavin picked up a patch tick in the form of a Garden Warbler on the 9th. Paul Whitehouse at Stanley Ferry Flash and Southern Washlands is just one percent behind on 93%.

In the 10km league, Nigel Harris at Middletons is the only participant but he has just passed 100% with a Yellow-browed Warbler, a new bird for the patch.

Pectoral Sandpiper taken by Mike Leakey

Duncan Bye at Wheldrake Ings is in the top spot of the overall points scored part of the league having accumulated 176 points so far. In second place is Mark Langston on 173 then Mike Leakey on 148. Paul Newton at Scaling Dam Reservoirs is just trailing Mike by three points while in joint fifth is Ciaran Rowett at WWT Martin Mere and Adam Firth at Elvington, both having picked up 143 points. Owen Tattersall is in sixth on 131 points followed by nearby Darren Best at Swinemoor on 122. Harry Coghill at Borrans Park is in eighth on 118 points.

In the 10km league, Mark Langston is leading at Dearne Valley on 162 points while Muhummed Hussain in Preston is on 159. Muhummed had a good month having found a Pectoral Sandpiper alongside Red-crested Pochard and Whinchat. Adam Firth at Elvington is on 148 points.

Inland Midlands, England:

Lucas Burfield at Cambridge Research Park and Waterbeach Barracks retains his top spot to the end of September having got up to 110%. His third, fourth and fifth Black Redstarts on patch being the most notable birds. Dan Leadley at Dereham is still in second but he is now joined by Brian Hedley at Marton and Trent Port, they are both on 106% scored. Brian's best birds were Hobby and Cetti's Warbler. Pete Sofley at Ladywalk Nature Reserve had a fantastic month with a Spotted Crake and just the third reserve record of Nightjar! Other goodies included Spotted Redshank, Spotted Flycatcher and Little Owl. He is now at 103% and the last in this league to break the hundred percent barrier. Andy Sims is in fourth at his Swanpool and Boultham Mere patch, he is now on 97% and also picked up Spotted Flycatcher but also four Pintail, a long awaited Mistle Thrush and the first Tawny Owl for two years. Tom Shields at Colwick Park is on 90% to put him in fifth, but his lead in front of Richard Harbird at Morton Bagot has narrowed to just one percent. Richard's best birds for the month were all crammed into one day of migration, with a Tree Pipit most notable amongst five Spotted Flycatcher and several of each Redstarts and Whinchats. Joe Parham at Fen Drayton Lakes is on 84% followed quickly by Steve Lister at Swithland Reservoir is on 83%. Steve's highlight being his 198th patch tick in the form of a Grey Plover. He also notched up Osprey, two Ruff and a Spotted Flycatcher.

In the 10km league, Andy Sims is up top on 99% having seen Little Stint at his Swanpool patch. Richard Harbird at Redditch is on 94% in second place having added Tree Pipit, Golden Plover, Rock Pipit and Ruff to the year list. Tom Shields at Nottingham Trent Valley is on 91% in third, with Ringed Plover the only addition in a difficult month birding there. Dan Webb at Ross on Wye and Sellack is at 89% having seen the first Woodlark for the patch. Steve Lister is on 86%, the Grey Plover being a first for his 10km patch too, putting this list on 225 species. He also picked up Black Tern, Golden Plover and Yellow Wagtail.

Spotted Flycatcher taken by Andy Sims

In the overall part of the league, Chris Hubbard at Stanford Reservoir is leading the charge still even after being unable to add a new species to his year list. Daniel Langston reignited his patch birding at Bardney Pits after recently becoming a dad (Congratulations!). Dan is in second place on 208 points and his best birds being Tree Pipit and Lesser Whitethroat. The aforementioned brilliant month that Peter Sofley had at Ladywalk has bumped him up to third. Tyler Atkinson at Clifford Hill Gravel Pits has been knocked to fourth on 184 points. Tim Sexey at Butterley Reservoir is in fifth on a solid 183 points. Matthew Pollock at Kingsbury South just leads in front of Andy Sims at Swanpool and Boultham Mere. Joe Parham is neck and neck with Lucas Burfield on 136 points followed by Noah Bailey at Milton Country Park and Ditton Meadows on 133 points. Noah's best birds for the month were both a Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher and a Great White Egret. Alfie Seastron at Carlton Riverside is just behind on 132 points.

In the 10km league, Tyler Atkinson is leading by a huge 37 points having picked up 207 so far from Abington. Matthew Pollock at Kingsbury is second on 170 followed by Andy Sims at Swanpool on 165.

Inland South, England:

In the comparative part of the mini-league, Tom Bedford has rocketed back into first place with 115% scored at his Lye Valley patch. The highlights for him there included the second patch record of Osprey, third of Golden Plover and fourth for Egyptian Goose, amongst others. All this brings him up to his equal highest ever patch year list record. Ian Bennell at Tring Reservoirs, College Lake and Pitstone Quarry is second on 113%. Ducks featured heavily there with the first patch Ferruginous Duck since 2016, while a Garganey was also notable. Matt Slaymaker at West Sedgemoor is in third on 110% followed by Jeff Gooding at Roding Valley Meadows who is on 103%. Geoff Wyatt at Day's Lock and Bishop's Court Farm had a good month in the form of finding a patch tick Wryneck, this of course becoming a six pointer. He also had Ruff for September. Matthew Dick at RSPB Lakenheath is at 99% in sixth. Next is Neil Burt at Godinton, Hothfield and Singleton who is on 95% after adding plenty to the year list with the first Marsh Harrier in years the most notable as well as Peregrine and Barn Owl also being new birds for 2026. Gareth Blockley at Grimsbury Reservoir and East Banbury is neck and neck with Charlie Joseph at Weald Country Park and Bentley area, both on 94%. John Pritchard at Ver Valley is on 89%, with Redstart the highlight for September.

The sole competitor for the 10km league, Dave Helliar at Chard is on 92%.

Screenshot from Geoff Wyatt's Bluesky with a still of his superb Wryneck find

Matthew Dick at RSPB Lakenheath is leading the overall part of the mini-league with 165 points scored so far. Geoff Wyatt is second on 154 points and Thomas Miller at Port Meadow is third on 137 points. Matt Slaymaker at West Sedgemoor is in fourth on 134 points followed by Dave Helliar at Chard Junction on 121.

Coastal East, England:

Nige Lound is top of the comparative mini-league with 106% scored from his Gibraltar Point patch. Mark Andrews is second from his Kilnsea patch having picked up 103%, with the best bird of course being the Eyebrowed Thrush which was trapped and ringed by Spurn Bird Observatory. Trevor Girling at RSPB Titchwell Marsh is in third on 99%. Owen Beaumont had a good month at Saltfleetby and Theddlethorpe Dunes with Dartford Warbler the highlight from two Leach's Petrels, a Sooty Shearwater and a Black Tern. Duncan Watson had one of the best patch finds from the month in the shape of a Grey Partridge, the first on the Tynemouth patch for an estimated 40 years! This alongside Osprey, Caspian Gull and masses of Little Gulls put him on 90%. Stuart Ainsworth at Gibraltar Point is in sixth on 88% scored. James Spencer at Barmston is at 75%. He also had a good month with the scoring of patch tick Jay as well as Crane, Ruff, Raven and an early Hooded Crow amongst other goodies. Will Scott's Bempton Village patch has snuck ahead of his Cliffs patch with 72% and 66% scored respectively. He ringed a brilliant rarity in the form of Poppy Rummery during September, and we would like to congratulate him on his marriage! John Chapman at NE South Tyneside is in tenth on 62%, putting him just ahead of Paul French patching Easington who is on 60%. Paul's highlights from September were local rarities Green Woodpecker and Black-necked Grebe, supported by a cast of Yellow-browed Warblers, Firecrest, Grey Phalarope and Pectoral Sandpiper.

In the 10km league, Nige Lound is first at Gibraltar Point on 107% followed by Paul Newton at Whitby on 107%. Paul had a good list of nice birds recorded including Long-tailed Skua, Short-eared Owl and five Yellow-browed Warblers but one of the best birds for his patch being a less than annual Tufted Duck. James Brown at Hopton saw a Red-footed Falcon to put him on 102% while Paul French is in fourth on 70%. Paul saw the Kilnsea Eyebrowed Thrush in his 10km patch, which was undoubtedly his best bird of the month.

Grey Partridge taken by Duncan Watson

In the overall part of the league, Mark Andrews is leading having scored 309 from Kilnsea but he is only one ahead of Nige Lound at Gibraltar Point. In third is Trevor Girling at RSPB Titchwell Marsh on 288 points and fourth is Owen Beaumont at Saltfleetby and Theddlethorpe Dunes on 269.

In the 10km league, Nige Lound is leading on 312 points followed by James Brown at Hopton on 234. Paul French is third on 207 points from his Easington patch.

Eyebrowed Thrush taken by Harry Appleyard

Red-backed Shrike taken by Owen Beaumont

Coastal South, England:

Kevin Rylands at Teignmouth is leading on 89% followed by his Dawlish Warren patch on 84%. Jacob Spinks is in third from Dungeness Bird Observatory having scored 78% with Brown Booby a first for the Observatory, the clear highlight, found by fellow Patchwork Challenge participant Neil Burt. Otherwise a Western Bonelli's Warbler was clearly second best. Jacob Wood at Berry Head to Mansands is on 57% in fourth.

In the 10km league, Bob Ford is flying ahead with 93% scored so far from his Weymouth on foot patch, a Glossy Ibis the best bird there. Jacob Spinks is second on 75%.

In the overall points scored part of the league, Jacob Spinks at Dungeness BIrd Observatory is leading on 256 followed by Jonathan Bull at Sandwich Bay Estate and RSPB Worth Marshes on 204. Kevin Rylands patch of Dawlish Warren is far off third on 197 points scored. Jonathan Singlewood-Dodds is in fourth with his King George VI Park patch. The most notable birds recorded there were the first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn arriving with eight Firecrest as well as a Hobby in-off.

In the 10km part of the overall league, Jacob Spinks is up front on 281 points while Jonathan Bull is in second on 256. Bob Ford is third from his Weymouth on foot patch having scored 205 points.

Yellow-browed Warbler taken by Jonathan Singlewood-Dodds

Coastal West, England:

Sean O'Hara is in first of both the comparative and overall part of the mini-league from his Hoylake and Meols patch having scored 96% from 161. He had a fantastic month having found both Baird's Sandpiper and Leach's Petrel, plus seeing Sabine's Gull. In second is Liam Langley at St Ive's who has scored 133 points.

Inland Wales:

Jonni Price still the only competitor is on 95 points from his Llanrwst patch.

Coastal Wales:

Toby Phelps is now running away with both the comparative and overall 3km² league with 105% scored from 178 points on his Manorbier patch. Peter Howlett at Cardiff Bay is on 67%.

Inland Scotland:

In the comparative Inland Scotland mini-league, Lee Hesp is leading on 103% scored at Strathyre while Alex Ash is in second on 90% at Kilmacolm.

In the overall part of the league, Alex is up front on 85 points while Lee is on 63 points.

Coastal Scotland:

Rob Hughes is just about keeping his lead in the comparative mini-league at his John O'Groats patch with 103% scored there. Andrew Whewell is not far behind with 101% scored at North Berwick East, the highlights there were patch ticks in the form of Osprey and Lapland Bunting as well as Sooty Shearwater, Sabine's and Little Gull. Andrew Whitehouse is in third on 100%, joint with Rob Hughes on his Freswick patch. Andrew had a superb month which ended well when he found a stunning Rustic Bunting, the same day a Syke's Warbler graced his patch. Nick Littlewood at Portsoy is in fourth on 98% followed by Nina O'Hanlon at Nybster on 92%. Rich Arthurs at Gullane and Aberlady Bay is sixth with 88% scored and Rob Hughes' last patch, Nybster, is on 75%. Highlights there being Sabine's Gull and Balearic Shearwater.

In the 10km league, Rich Arthurs is in front on 98% scored from Gullane while Nina O'Hanlon isn't far behind on 96% scored at Nybster. Rob Hughes also at Nybster, is on 80%.

Yellow-browed Warbler taken by Andrew Whitehouse

Andrew Whitehouse is leading in the overall points scored part of the league with 206 points scored so far. Paul Higson at St Comb's and Rob Hughes at Nybster are neck and neck is second on 169 points. Andrew Whewell at North Berwick East isn't too far behind second with 165 points.

Paul Higson is still leading the 10km mini-league having scored 214 points from St Combs, while Rob Hughes at Nybster has now broken two hundred points to get into second.

Inland Ireland:

Róisín Towe at Tramore Valley Park notched up 75 points from 62 species while her 10km patch of Douglas is on 99 points.

Estuarine:

Jackie Binks is still leading at her Garston Coastal Reserve and Oglet patch with 102% scored, although her lead is reducing with John Conlin-Hulme at Paull now on 100%. Peter Hazelwood at Oldbury Power Station is on 92% after having a site record count of three Spoonbills as well as a Firecrest. Ravi Grewal at Cliffe is on 90% with 145 points scored and Gordon Hodgson at Frampton, Splatt and Saul Warth is in fifth with 82% scored, his highlights being Guillemot and Curlew Sandpiper.

Peter Hazelwood is leading in the overall points scored part of the league after having picked up 172 points at Oldbury Power Station. Gordon Hodgson is second with 150 points at Frampton, Splatt and Saul Warth. In third is Ravi at Cliff with 145.

Islands:

Sean Morris at Kinlock, Isle of Rum is on 92% to lead the comparative Islands mini-league. John Bowler at Balephuil, Tiree is second with 89% scored from 294 points. His long list of superb highlights include Ring-necked Duck, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Glossy Ibises, Barred Warbler and best of all a long-awaited find of American Golden Plover on patch. In third is Sean Morris at his other patch, Kilmory, which is on 86% and had a good month with Storm Petrel, Long-eared Owl and Lapland Bunting. Steve Dudley on Westray notched up his score to 83%, his three patch year ticks were a Manx Shearwater, a Lesser Whitethroat and several Yellow-browed Warblers. Mark Lawlor on Guernsey between Hommet and Rousse is on 81% to leave him in fifth. David Roche is sixth at Papa Westray on 68% and David Parnaby is seventh on Fair Isle with 45%.

In the 10km league, Sean Morris is leading from the Isle of Rum with 92% scored. In second is Steve Dudley on Westray with additions from his core patch being a Red-backed Shrike and the island's second record of Semipalmated Sandpiper. John Bowler at Balephuil is on 86% to put him third, his best birds were Baird's Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, the third American Golden Plover of the year and a Sabine's Gull. Mark Lawlor on Guernsey is on 84%.

Baird's Sandpiper taken by John Bowler. Part of a brilliant influx of them nationally.

In overall points scored, John Bowler at Balephuil on Tiree is leading with a huge 294 points scored. Next is David Roche on Papa Westray with 220 followed by nearby Steve Dudley on Westray.

In the 10km overall league, the only participant not in the comparative league is the leader, Hugh Harrop on South Shetland. He is on 341 points scored which includes one monumental and stunning addition in the form of Britain's first twitchable EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR! He also notched up Citrine Wagtail, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Red-breasted Flycatcher amongst others. John Bowler on Tiree isn't miles behind with a 17 point gap.