Male and female Grey Partridge. Never really looked closely at GP’s before. They’re quite smart little things.
The male was particularly alert.
Male calling. Maybe they’ll stay? The local Red-legs might not be too impressed.
#patchgold this morning at Pewley. Without the biting wind it felt like a Wheatear or something would pop out … but even better - 2 Grey Partridges! This is a mega Surrey blocker! 🤣
Big surprise on patch today at Pontefract Park. Kittiwake present on the big lake for a brief moment. #patchgold #PWC2026
Had a wander round my patch after a morning shift at RSPB Lakenheath Fen this morning. Good to see a pair of Shelducks back on the patch. Marsh Harriers, Great Crested Grebes and Cettis Warbler displaying, its been a slow start to 2026 but a 1w Caspian Gull was #patchgold #PWC2026 #Birds
That is some superb #PatchGold, John! Top work!
1 of 3 breeding plumage Med Gulls on Riverside NR today. They didn’t stay long tho. Malcolm missed them 15 minutes later.
Med Gulls have to do something special to generate excitement these days. But 3 absolute immaculate bangers did exactly that today on #patchgold. Of course, today I left the camera in the car 🙄. But a camera guy came by & after some cajoling & pointing I got a BoC shot - of 1 of them. 🤨🤣 #riverside
Egyptian Goose at Morton Bagot #Patchgold 1st for the site. Also heard a Water Rail (not annual here) #PWC2026 The Egyptian Goose was my first new bird for the patch since the Cranes in 2024.
A female Mallard with some of her recently hatched brood
My daily trot around Riverside and Slyfield tip finally gave up a Yellow-legged Gull. A near adult. Been hoping for one for ages. With 6 new-in adult LBBG suggesting some spring movement? Gadwall on the Wey & a Mallard with at least 6 ducklings already - #spring #patchgold
White-tailed Eagle wasn’t on the menu today but one heading South high over Riverside with a caravan of 3 ‘tiny’ Buzzards was a bit of a shock. Presumably one of the south coast birds? Looked like a 4/5CY #patchgold #birdsseenin2026 #surreybirds
#PATCHGOLD COOT! What everyone loves to see!
A Coot is feeding in a marshy pool among lots of brownish rushy vegetation.
A Coot is feeding in a marshy pool among lots of brownish rushy vegetation.
A Coot is feeding in a marshy pool among lots of brownish rushy vegetation.
Yeah, Glaucous Gulls are great but the real #patchgold today at Girdle Ness was this Coot on the St Fittick's wetlands. Only my second ever record here and perhaps only the fourth or fifth ever daytime record.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife
Month two down and Feb delivered some expected #WestrayBirding year ticks and a few I might struggle to get in the second winter period including Mistle Thrush (aye, usually only get one or two a year here), (Euro) White-front (didn’t get last year) and Taiga Bean geese, and #patchgold Stock Dove.
After a week away in Scotland, back on patch at Branston Island. 3 Glossy Ibis still, Sand Martin nfy then just found a Green-winged Teal.
#patchgold
#PWC2026
@lincsbirding.bsky.social
Stock Dove in flight showing the upper wing and rump against a blue sky. Westray, Orkney Isles, 23 February 2026
Stock Dove in flight showing the underside and underwing against a blue sky. Westray, Orkney Isles, 23 February 2026
#WestrayBirding #PatchGold (no, not the blue sky) - only the third #Westray record of Stock Dove 🙂 which coincides with birds on Orkney Mainland and at @northronbirdobs.bsky.social in recent weeks (I know it’s not the latter bird cos that one got done by a Hen Harrier). #PWC2026
An unexpected addition to my Cramlington patch list - the wandering White-tailed Eagle heading north after a fly over Holywell and Hartley this morning - picked this up as it drifted in from the east over the A189 and drifting north west over Northburn/E Hartford.
#NEbirding #patchgold
Superb work Matthew, #PatchGold!
24-carat #PatchGold for Pete! Superb inland bird.
Firecrest, Oxford
💥 patch mega 💥
An urban Firecrest in the Lye Valley, Oxford this morning, only the second here in over 7 years!
ebird.org/checklist/S3...
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#patchgold
#ukbirding
Inner city #patchgold this morning, with the first Woodcock since Nov 24 in Boundary Brook woods. My 7th Woodcock record in over 7 years, but the first outside of November/December. Perhaps an elusive wintering bird? 🤯
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social
#ukbirding
Superb find Jack! Really highlights the value of working a patch! Now we just need to work out how many points it's worth...
#patchgold
Cheers, definitely #patchgold!
Superb find that! Maybe even #patchgold?!
Don't forget to join our Patchwork Challenge Bluesky feed, which is where we collate all the posts from ourselves and participants relating to the competition. Just post either #PWC2026, #Patchbirding or #PatchGold and it will get added to the feed. To join, click the link: bsky.app/profile/did:...
116 species for #patchbirding 2025
2 lifers .. shorelark & firecrest ,a record count of 6 gw egrets a #patchgold black redstart are some of my many highlights
2 new butterfly … wall brown and clouded yellow
can’t wait to do it all again tomorrow 💪🏻
Happy new year everyone 🥳
A #patchgold on todays #patchbirding
A female black redstart 😍 only my 3rd ever here
it was joined by a rock pipit and a few meadow pipits and 2 pied wags over the high tide and then disappeared into Garston docks .
#ukbirding
Radde's Warbler, Westray, Orkney Isles, 5 November 2025
Radde's Warbler, Westray, Orkney Isles, 5 November 2025
Radde's Warbler, Westray, Orkney Isles, 5 November 2025
Firecrest, Westray, Orkney Isles, 5 November 2025
5 Nov fireworks 💥 on Westray today! Not one, but two isle firsts! 🙅♂️ First up was Orkney's 11th Radde's Warbler (second this autumn and the latest ever recorded in the county) which was followed minutes later by a Firecrest - in the same bush! Pure #PatchGold! #PWC2025 #WestrayBirding
A male Gadwall is flying against a grey sky, showing the underside of its wings.
A male Gadwall is flying against a grey sky, showing the upperside of its wings.
Proper #patchgold today in St Fittick's Park with this drake Gadwall on the main marsh. It's only my fourth ever record here and the first for five years.
#Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife
Pure #PatchGold!
10 Crossbill @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social this morning!
It is so energising, inspiring and uplifting to fall in love with nature every day!
Every experience feels just as powerful as the first.
I would highly recommend that you fall in love with nature too! 😎
Treecreeper head coming around a tree trunk
Treecreeper in a tree
Treecreeper climbing a tree
This Treecreeper at John O’Groats this morning was #PWC2025 #patchgold Looked a bit frosty in the dull light
#CaithnessBirds
