A 10 min spell of migration activity this AM provided both #dwpc2026 #100 whimbrel and a long desired Eurasian Cuckoo as patch #156! @patchbirding.bsky.social 101/120

A delightful wood warbler was NOT what I was expecting from a late start in light northerlies! A very welcome patch tick (#155) nevertheless. The 'easiest' phyllo remaining on the patch wishlist now probably dusky warbler... @patchbirding.bsky.social #pwc2026 #dpwc2026 98/120

On patch, spring is progressing very slowly but a swift on April 8th was my earliest ever for the Netherlands by some margin @patchbirding.bsky.social #dpwc2026 96/120

Nice early spring patch round with reed bunting still, FOY oystercatcher, first on the deck barnie, and serin out of nowhere for the 3rd winter in a row after an 11 month absence #pwc2026 74/120

Late AM stroll, in the first 20m I looked straight into the light and saw a lump in front of a negligible patch of reeds, which I jokingly told myself resembled a bittern. Cue bins... :) #patchlist #153 @patchbirding.bsky.social

3rd morning of @patchbirding.bsky.social in the snow yielded a patch first Water Pipit (#152) this AM! Pics just about convincing (brown rump and whitish underparts), refound by another birder that had much better views and recorded some calls. PWC2026 56/120

2025 patch birding (2km2 islet in the Meuse w/in Rotterdam city beneath a highway) yet again brilliant with 117 species. 7 new for the patch list (now on 151) including merlin, hen harrier, 2 Monty's on consecutive days. Bring it! #dutchpatchworkchallenge @patchbirding.bsky.social

A snowy morning visit yielding coal tit, snipe and a lovely 7 woodlark dropping in for a short visit. The latter a great species to get o/t deck on an urban patch! @patchbirding.bsky.social #DPWC2026 44/120. Patch list now @ 151 w/ Cetti's warbler (nov 25 & since) at long last the latest addition.

Bit of a fall post-shower on patch this AM producing spotted and FOY pied fly in a large flock, FOY whinchat in Buddleja and a wet reed warbler in Himalayan balsam... Gotta love urban birding <3 #dpwc2025 111/1200 @patchbirding.bsky.social

Apparently they largely depend on non-native plant species so largely confined to parks/gardens ie. cities & towns. Also still spreading north.

After a first national record in 2015 SSW has rapidly colonized the Netherlands where it is now the most common white or even butterfly species in many gardens including our Rotterdam garden.

An unringed red-crested pochard (after a ringed pair earlier this year) a landmark patch species #150 this AM! Amazing number for an inland urban patch in slightly over 5 years. A purple hairstreak also new for patch #dpwc2025 @patchbirding.bsky.social

Marmereend - Marmaronetta angustirostris 1 ter plaatse 2025-05-04 Alde Feanen - Lytsemar (FR)

The Dutch Marbled Duck proved to be ringed in the end: waarneming.nl/photos/11642...

Another early visit, another BoP lifer this AM when a smart but always distant merlin (patch #149) popped up in a random scan! Foy common snipe and yellow wagtail ssp. Local beaver ushered away from breeding mom canada goose by dad. #dpwc2025 99/120 @patchbirding.bsky.social

Adult male Montagu's harrier!

After yesterday's star 2cy Montagu's, safe to say I was *not* expecting a gorgeous adult male on patch this late AM! A proper rare bird locally, well chuffed to get 2 in 2 days! #dpwc2025 @patchbirding.bsky.social

Hen harrier

Montagu's harrier!

Montagu's harrier!

Common swift

Bit of harrier madness on patch, hen harrier an expected patch lifer #147 some 2 weeks ago, Montagu's #148 a bit of a rarity locally, picked up this early AM just in time while trying to finishing convo with a local weird guy. FoY swift always a treat! #dpwc2025 96/120 @patchbirding.bsky.social

+2 (71/120) for #dpwc2025 on a work day with (finally) gw egret this AM followed by a twitched (ty Alex!) 50% of 2 Jack Snipe digibinned in just enough light with the rising tide still low enough #dutchpatchworkchallenge @patchbirding.bsky.social

3 adult beavers at point-blank range, first of year med-gull and linnet on patch this AM #Dpwc2025 69/120 #DutchPatchBirding @patchbirding.bsky.social

5 whooper swan (patch #146) the cream of the crop this very mild AM: a none-yearly species in the area so a proper bird! First of year white wagtail and water rail bringing #dpwc2025 to 67/120. #DutchPatchworkChallenge @patchbirding.bsky.social

Out of nowhere, a Serin was singing in the allotments on patch again this AM. First since Oct '24. Only a handful winter in western NL so completely baffling why they keep turning up here! Foy Oystercatcher, 2cy casp #dpwc2025 62/120 #dutch_patchwork_challenge @patchbirding.bsky.social

3 stock dove checking nesting locations on patch a good count. Just before leaving I noticed 1 of 2 geese flying over looked decidedly smaller than thr other: a pink-footed goose! 3rd patch record and foy for #dwpc2025 (53/120) @patchbirding.bsky.social @waarneming.nl ##DutchPatchworkChallenge

Off-patch but would have been very rude not to ... What an exquisite bird <3 #spectacledeider

Jawel! #DutchPatchworkChallenge 2025 is in de lucht. Lees alle ins en outs over hoe je mee moet doen #dpwc2025
www.dutchbirding.nl/dpwc/1997/du...
@vogelbeschermingnl.bsky.social @waarneming.nl @sovonvogels.bsky.social

Blue skies after a frosty night brought 3 duck additions to the #dpwc2025 list (49/120). Pochard only the 2nd patch record on the deck, teal a frost-only species on patch. RR parakeet enjoying the weather. #dutchpatchworkchallenge @patchbirding.bsky.social

Southern small is the most common Pieris in our Rotterdam (NL) garden already!

First sun in weeks provided a long longed for patch #145 with a handsome hawfinch this AM! #dpwc2025 now on 42/120. #DutchPatchworkChallenge #pwc2025 @patchbirding.bsky.social @waarneming.nl

Kicked #dpwc2025 off with a midday stroll in strong winds. 27 species, including a decent 4 caspian gulls (1 ad, 3 2cy). Stuff like st treecreeper, gs woodpecker, collared dove & moorhen still up for grabs :) @patchbirding.bsky.social @waarneming.nl #DutchPatchworkChallenge

2024 patch lifers on Brien (Eiland van Brienenoord, Rotterdam, Netherlands)

2024 patch birding (2km2 islet in the Meuse w/in Rotterdam city beneath a highway) was yet again brilliant with 124 species incl. jack snipe, kittiwake, red kite, HB, rf falcon, crane, YBW & 3 serin! Patch list now on 144 (since 2020). Bring it! #dutchpatchworkchallenge @patchbirding.bsky.social

Het enige integrale, gegarandeerd Bocjesvrije overzicht van álle Brien-hoogtepunten van #dpwc2024 is nu terug te vinden op tinyurl.com/Brien2024!
@waarneming.nl @patchbirding.bsky.social @vincentstork.bsky.social #DutchPatchworkChallenge