Fear not patchers. It's been a bit quiet here due to holidays but James is frantically beavering away on the scores and there should be an update next week, covering Feb and March.

First Little Tern back on cue at Sorobaidh Bay #Tiree yesterday despite strong NW winds, also a Rook new at Balemartine this morning Patchwork Challenge BirdGuides

Wallsend Wildlife Patchwork Challenge Low-Carbon Birding NHSN Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club Record shot, my arse Jack Bucknall Mike Carr Albert Ross Alan Curry Gossy early am, Grasshopper Warbler singing but hard to hear above wind (volume ⬆!); #112 on the green patch yearlist. Then a group of Canada Geese flew in, with a Barnacle Goose #113 among them, likely from Big Waters.
Patchwork Challenge Low-Carbon Birding NHSN Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club

Rarer for me than the Caspian Gull it shared a field with, this Hooded Crow was a full fat patch ✅, fields N of Gladhouse this afternoon Birding Lothian Patchwork Challenge

I expected a rather bedraggled pair of Cattle Egrets to be my best finds today, hanging on through 40mph winds on the old saltmarsh at Gibraltar Point. Until a male Serin flew south over me on the beach! A torrid day weather wise but 4 new birds take me to 171/228 Patchwork Challenge

A sneaky 3hrs at Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve this morning added 5 to my Patchwork Challenge 10km year list.
Always a thrill to find your own Garganey, with other additions Reed Warbler, Common Tern, Bearded Tit & Lesser Whitethroat.
Also present 2 Little Gulls, lingering Scaup, Green Sand etc

3 common sandpiper (up from 1) the only sign of migration during a 45 min interdeluge mid-AM #dpwc2024 turbo visit. Still, a trio of adolescent beavers crossed the canal during an ephemeral glimpse of sunshine. Which was nice... Patchwork Challenge Dutch Birding

My first Patchwork Challenge Little Owl since 2019 at Wheldrake Ings this evening #patchgold also a Whimbrel into roost #PWC2024
The Slavonian Grebe gave the best views so far in front of Tower Hide.
Continuing the grebefest, a Black-necked Grebe at Bank Island
LDV NNR York Birding

Shafford Farm, nr St Albans. A big surprise in the garden for my #hertsbirds and Patchwork Challenge year lists, as a Ring Ouzel arrived from nowhere this evening. #patchgold Just time for a quick shot through the window before it was gone.

Kittiwake still present this afternoon, looking settled 14:45. Lincsbirding Lincsbirders.org Patchwork Challenge BTO Lincolnshire Lincs Wildlife Trust LNU

Sedge Warbler
Cromwell Quarry
12/4/2024
A fantastic gem in a large bramble area on my patch today, which has now become an eBird hotspot (Sutton on Trent Farmlands and Holmes).
Great to hear it several times and to get views after.
⁦Patchwork Challenge⁩ #localbigyear ✅ 96

A flurry of new birds for my year list recently with LRP and Jay being seen today at Gibraltar Point taking me to 161 species for the year (and 210 points Patchwork Challenge )

Found this today after togging this Med Gull last night- green CR, no digits visible. Any ideas on scheme?

Second Iceland Gull in a week at Portsoy - a gorgeous adult this time.
Patchwork Challenge

White tailed Eagle over Papay this morning. Expected, given the time of year and southerly winds, but no less impressive. Also three White Wagtail and my first Greenshank of the year Patchwork Challenge #PWC2024

c15 Sand Martins, 4 Swallows and a Raven over the mere. These 3 take #PWC2024 to 💯/111. Patchwork Challenge Lincsbirding Lincsbirders.org BTO Lincolnshire Lincs Wildlife Trust LNU

Reserve absolutely 🔥🔥 at the moment. No room on the screen for Little Stint, Black Tern, Spotted Redshank and Lesser Yellowlegs. Is there one up from a purple patch? Patchwork Challenge #PWC24

A small arrival in the Balephuil #Tiree garden after this morning's rain - 2 male Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Greenfinch Patchwork Challenge

This Woodlark with Liam Andrews a highlight amongst many birds today at Gibraltar Point, with at least 25 Wheatears around site, Arctic and Black tern south offshore, pair Whimbrel south too and a scattering of Lesser Whitethroats.

165sp and 217 points now Patchwork Challenge !!

Brilliant morning at Elton, wasnt expecting an Osprey to be flying over the reservoir at 06:30, seen distantly from the canal so terrible record shots taken (lower right bird in the photos). Also Arctic Tern, Ringed Plover, 3 Med Gulls, 2 Wheatear, 5 Willow Tits. Patchwork Challenge

Swalla this am; dipped Wallsend Wildlife's Xbills & Tony D's Green Sand; instead found 6 Wheatear (New Meadows 5, Curlew Field 1), #110. Then returned pm for Green Sand, relocated by Simon P, #111 on green patch yearlist😃
Patchwork Challenge Low-Carbon Birding NHSN Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club