Egyptian Goose at Gouthwaite Reservoir. Not just a site tick but a life tick #PWC2025 #patchbirding.

Female Garganey at Gouthwaite Reservoir.

Climitasing myself back into the British weather at Gouthwaite Reservoir(its cold 😔). First Garden Warbler and Cuckoo of the year for #Patchworkchallenge2025 #PWC2025

On the last day. With darkness falling and 0 lifers for the day. I set out on a quest, a one last hurrah for a sought after species. At 09.25pm and nearing the end of the route around Guadalhorce it happened. RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR ✅️.

Spent an entire 8 hours at Guadalhorce, managed to squeeze out one life tick, a hunting Collared Pratincole. Seeing 3 juvenile White-headed Ducks was more exciting than seeing an adult days before. And of course some photos of Flamingoes. #malagabirding #birdwatching

So when was someone going to tell me Rollers are an absolute unit of a bird. I was expecting something Blackbird sized not Jackdaw size. Squint really hard and thats a Western Bonelli's Warbler. Also saw Spectacled Warbler also notoriously skulky.
#birdwatching #birdingandalucia

Gull-Billed Tern, heavily cropped phone scope shot. LIFER.

Kentish Plover (Lifer).

Zitting Cisticola.

Marbled Duck.

3 more lifers today at Guadalhorce estuary Audouin's Gull, Gull-Billed Tern and Kentish Plover. Off to the golf course soon for West Bonelli's and West Orphean.

Just north of Torremolinos today in the mountains. A sad lack of Eagles, nevertheless 5 lifers, Woodchat Shrike, Black Wheatear, Lesser Kestrel, Thekla's Lark and Rock Bunting. #birdingMalaga #BirdingAndalucia

Crested Lark.

Serin

Bee Eaters

A few of the birds from this afternoon, Malaga now that the jet lag has passed. Big days start tomorrow.

Thats most of the wish list written down for Guadalhorce, Malaga. #birdwatching

Productice evening at Gouthwaite Reservoir. First Chiffchaff, Sand Martins and a Woodcock (heard only, somewhere close). 4 Whoopers, 5 Snipe and the 2 Ring-necked Ducks (still here). @nybirdnews.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social

Just seen this. Thanks for the clarification.

2 Ring-necked Ducks still at Gouthwaite Reservoir. Plus a Little Gull 2nd winter south Bonus points for inland record. @patchbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

What's the rulings on bonus points for a scarce bird that was found in December 2024 and seen again in January 2025. I'm assuming no bonus points as it was already known about.

Went to Gouthwaite. Added Brambling, Goosander, Red Kite, Jay and Oystercatcher to #PWC2025, got stuck in the car park, got towed out. Think I'll give it a week now 🤣.

Bring it on.

It looks like there may be a resurrection for 2025 thanks to Jacob Spinks. More info to follow!

Pleased someone is ready to continue this. Thanks for the years spent doing this, heres to many more with the help of Jacob and company.

A pretty good year all round at Gouthwaite Reservoir for patchwork challenge 2024. 133 species with a grand total of 159 points. Lots of personal site ticks, too many to name with only 2 years of patching but Scaup and Ring-necked Duck were probably the highlights of the year. Roll on 2025.

Make that two Ring-necked Ducks female also in photo by pure accident.

Ring-necked Duck still at Gouthwaite Reservoir associating with Tufties, nice end to the Patchwork challenge. @nybirdnews @RareBirdAlertUK @PatchBirding #PWC2024 #patchworkchallenge.

Ain't no storm strong enough. Hardcore birding the local patch Gouthwaite Reservoir. #StormDarragh #PWC2024 #Patchworkchallenge