Little Ringed Plover & one of three Common Sandpiper on Dorset patch today

Two Egyptian Geese on Dorset patch on 11th April

Wheatear near Chard, Somerset today (1 of 3)

Wheatear in fields near Chard, Somerset today (the 2nd of 3)

#Localpatchbirding LRP & 3 Common Sandpiper today on Dorset patch; 2 Egyptian Geese there on 11th; 3 Wheatear on fields nr Chard & 6 Common Sandpiper at #ChardRes today. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social #PWC2026

Mannetje ijsvogel op een tak.

Haagse Bosuil in z'n holle boomstam.

Vuurgoudhaan in een hulststengel.

Vandaag liep ik weer een rondje #localpatchbirding, nu samen met @duuj.bsky.social. We zagen een ijsvogel! En een bosuil! En een vuurgoudhaan! Kortom, het was een geslaagde middag.
#ijsvogel #kingfisher #bosuil #tawnyowl #vuurgoudhaan #firecrest #vogels #birds

Uitzicht over een besneeuwd weiland met een spiegelgladde sloot op de voorgrond en een laagstaande zon boven een bomenrij in de verte.

Laagstaande zon boven een besneeuwd weiland en een sloot met wat ijs erin.

Een rode eekhoorn die druk bezig is esdoornvruchten in z'n wangen te proppen.

Watersnip in de sneeuw.

Het was de hoogste tijd voor een rondje #localpatchbirding en ik zag naast mijn eerste watersnip aldaar ook nog een eekhoorn. Dat was lang geleden! Verder was het gewoon heerlijk buiten, joepie.

The Dorset patch, well flooded after months of rain!

A rewarding day of #LocalPatchBirding visiting several sites all within 5 miles of home gave 2 Jack Snipe & 12 Common Snipe; 2 female Blackcap; a Firecrest & a total of 15+ Chiffchaff at two WWTW. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social

No sign of Scaup this am. Didn't realise the significance of my find yesterday...this is the first record at #ChardRes for 24 years & the largest group since the 1950's! #PWC2025Mega @patchbirding.bsky.social #LocalPatchBirding

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover on muddy shoreline, with an immature Moorhen walking behind.

Another juvenile LRP at #ChardRes today, also the GWE reported again. Single Common Sandpiper & 3 Swift this evening. @somersetbirds.bsky.social #PWC2025 #LocalPatchBirding

Greenshank almost belly deep in water.

Three almost fledged Little Ringed Plover. One remaining Adult was nearby.

Two of the four Green Sandpiper present on the siltbed.

View of siltbed showing the lowest water level I've ever seen at the site.

Yesterdays' drizzle & murk dropped in a Greenshank, 4 Green Sandpiper & a Common Sandpiper on the Dorset patch. Pleased to report that LRP bred & raised 3 young. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #PWC2025 #LocalPatchBirding

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Three Teal all in a row!

Three counties birding today, very quiet on the Dorset patch with just a Green Sandpiper. A visit to BHM, Seaton, Devon for the gorgeous Wood Sandpiper & the first returning Teal (3) at #ChardRes , Somerset this evening! #LocalPatchBirding

Adult Little Grebe with 3 newly hatched, downy, young swimming on lake, with Greater Reedmace in the foreground.

First Little Grebe brood on the Dorset patch this am. They seem late this year, by almost a month! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #LocalPatchBirding

1st winter drake Goldeneye, brown head with white patch beside bill & white/brown flanks.

Similar photo to previous one.

Two Little Gulls (of the 7 present) inflight over choppy water, showing black underwings.

Record shot of a very low Red Kite inflight over my house.

1st w drake Goldeneye at #ChardRes this evening. 7 Little Gull yesterday & Red Kite low over my house in Chard this am. #PWC2025 #LocalPatchBirding #SomersetBirding

Juvenile plumaged Goshawk inflight in a clear blue sky!

#PatchGold with a Goshawk over my Dorset patch this morning (a first spring bird - thx Steve @axebirder.bsky.social )
First record here. #PWC2025 #LocalPatchBirding

Rubbish photos in failing light of 2nd winter Little Gull

Rubbish photo in failing light of 2nd winter Little Gull

Little Gull (2nd winter) was an unexpected find at #ChardRes this evening (first for 7 years here) The joys of #LocalPatchBirding #PWC2025 #SomersetBirding @birdguides.bsky.social

Green Woodpecker perched on branch.

Shame the light was dismal today, I see or hear Green Woodpecker regularly on the Dorset patch, but they rarely perch long enough for a photo! #LocalPatchBirding #DorsetBirds

The first Barn Owl I've seen hunting in the middle of the day on the Dorset Patch, I guess it couldn't hunt in last nights persistent snow! Also Water Rail NFY. #DorsetBirds #LocalPatchBirding #PWC2025

A few of the c.600 Linnet perched in tree in sunlight.

Worst photo you'll ever see of a female Brambling, perched above a male Chaffinch!

Nice day of #LocalPatchBirding finding 3 Jack Snipe with 41 Snipe at the Dorset patch. Single Brambling with c.100 Chaffinch near Chard, with c.600 Linnet, 3 Stonechat & 20 Yellowhammer feeding in set-a-side field. On the 3rd: 6 Golden Plover inflight, 60 Skylark & Peregrine in same area
#UKbirding

Green Sandpiper on siltbed on a gloomy, foggy, but vey mild Christmas morning!

A foggy Christmas morning at the Dorset patch, single Green Sandpiper dropped in, my first since 2 on 19th Oct. Also 8 Snipe, 3 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Chiffchaff, pair Marsh Tit. Yesterday a Firecrest. #LocalPatchBirding #DorsetBirds

Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank

My first new species on the inland Dorset patch for 2 years, this gorgeous Spotted Redshank, brings the wader total to 22 species. #PatchGold @patchbirding.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #LocalPatchBirding #UKbirding #Dorsetbirds

What #LocalPatchBirding is all about...finding 5 Cattle Egret feeding on the siltbed this am! Only the second record here since 3 in Aug 2022. Whinchat still present & the first Shoveler of the autumn. #Dorsetbirds #UKbirding @patchbirding.bsky.social

Whinchat on Ragwort seedhead

Whinchat on Thistle seedhead

Nice to find a Whinchat on the Dorset patch this am, my first here for two years. Otherwise quiet, with Chiffchaff (some singing), 6 Teal, 1 Common Sandpiper & Grey Wagtail, plus a few Swallows over. #Dorsetbirds #UKbirding #LocalPatchBirding

Grey, leaden skies over Chard Reservoir, Somerset this evening

This photo of #ChardRes, Somerset this afternoon sums up the truly miserable weather over the last two days of nonstop rain. Both my local patches were visited but failed to produce anything, not even a tern! #LocalPatchBirding #SomersetBirds #DorsetBirds #UKbirding

Whinchat on Dock seedheads

Stonechat on Dock seedheads

Clouded Yellow butterfly

Always a thrill to find your first local Whinchat of the autumn! One with 4 Stonechat on the outskirts of Chard this morning, along with my first Clouded Yellow of the year. (CY photo taken in 2020) #LocalPatchBirding #UKbirding #UKwildlife

early morning swim - including little bittern calling. #localpatchbirding #lowcarbonbirding 🪶

Nice surprise on the Dorset patch, with 13 Black-tailed Godwit on the silt-bed!! Also the second bred female Mandarin with 5 ducklings. #LocalPatchBirding #UKbirding @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

One of two Wheatear seen today on Snowdon Hill, near Chard

Newly sown Wheat field where the two Wheatear were feeding

Two Wheatear on Snowdon Hill, nr Chard, Somerset this pm.
Also my first Reed Warbler back on the Dorset patch today
#LocalPatchBirding #UKbirding

#localpatchbirding - getting up early is rewarding