#patchbirding walk this evening. Increase in Hirundines between the Hothfield Waterfall Lake & Flood Storage Reservoir. Lots of Swallows, House Martins & 1+ Sand Martin, all attracting the attention of a hungry Hobby. No other migrants though. Little Owl & Kingfisher also notable on Godinton Park.

A quiet start to Aug-26 with regards to #patchbirding. Kingfishers & Grey Wagtails still vocal but hard to spot. Lots of House Martins overhead, a few Swallows and the odd Swift. Best bird, a Hobby successfully hunting dragonflies over rural Godinton Park at dusk.

Come stay at Dungeness Bird Observatory this autumn! There is plenty of availability, and hopefully lots to look at too! #kentbirding

Longrock SSSI 24 Black Tern feeding with Other Terns and Gull inc 2 Little gull behind Tidal pools @kentishplover.bsky.social

Watching Nightjars in a Kentish Woodland… always a magical moment. Calling Tawny Owls too. Fantastic !!!

Dungeness RSPB today. Juvenile Black Tern still on Burrowes Pit with Common Terns, viewed from Firth Lookout. Also up to 3 Common Sandpipers, R & LR Plovers, 1 Bl T Godwit, Wood Sandpiper & Greenshank (Dennis’s Hide & Picnic Tables), Sand Martins, 6 Avocets & 1 Mediterranean Gull

A walk along the RM Canal between Warehorne & Kenardington this evening… Hobby, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk & C Buzzard, Kingfisher, Cetti’s & Reed Warbler, Green Sandpiper heard only, Jay, Linnets, Yellowhammers, Green & GS Woodpeckers, 2 Little Egrets.

KWT Oare Marshes NR this evening. White-rumped Sandpiper still on what is left of the east flood, 3 C Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, LRPs, 3 Water Rails, Bearded Tits, Little & Cattle Egrets, Yellow & Pied Wagtails, Med Gull & Buzzard. On route home, a fantastic Nightjar flight calling in the woods.

#patchbirding Ahead of tomorrow’s @SingletonLake Community Day, an evening stroll was interesting. The pair of GC Grebes were back, also 1 Grey Wagtail, GS Woodpecker, Nuthatch with the Tit flock & 1 Raven flying over. Swallows, House Martins & Swifts catching insects overhead.

Yesterday evening’s #patchbirding walk was far more rewarding… Juvenile Willow Warbler & a Sedge Warbler at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir (patch year ✅s #94 & 95) and 3 Sand Martins… a bit of visible migration at long last !!!

Hothfield Heathlands KWT this evening… one of my favourite spots in the county to watch the sun set… a nice moon rise as a bonus too. Swallows & House Martins overhead, Yellowhammers & Linnets, Gr & GS Woodpeckers. The highlight was watching at least 3 Hummingbird Hawk Moths by the “old car park”.

Another quiet #patchbirding walk this morning. Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, a couple of Bullfinch territories, Greenfinch, Stonechat, Swifts, Swallows & House Martins before the best bird of the morning… a Hobby over the garden 1 minute after I got home… always the way.🤣😁😎

A rare foray into East Sussex this morning to visit Pett Level and the Pannel Valley NR. 6 LR Plovers, 4 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Avocets, 2 Teal, 4 Tufted Ducks, 2 Ravens & 4 Cattle Egrets. Scrapes drying out rapidly. Marsh Harrier at Pett Pools #SussexBirding

3 evening #patchbirding walks this week: now 5 fields of Cattle & the 8 maize fields are in full growth. Yellowhammers, Linnets, Skylarks & Woodpeckers all still present. Buzzards & Kestrels, Hirundines & Swifts overhead rural Godinton Park.

Eastwell Lake & Westwell this evening: Little Grebe pair with 4 noisy Grebelings, several GC Grebes, Swallows, 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Mandarins & 3 Egyptian Geese, 1 GS Woodpecker. Fledged Common Buzzard near Westwell.

Reports from Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex suggest a good breeding season for Hawfinches. A trailcam in the Arundel area 1-23 July detected them daily, with up to nine in photos and up to five juveniles. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

We're delighted to announce the 2026 Dorset Live Hobby cam is back and the first chick hatched just this morning, happy viewing! More info here www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetbirdtours.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social y.social @raptoraidjimmi.bsky.social

The discovery of Britain's third Long-tailed Shrike on the Gloucestershire-Oxfordshire border in mid-July has caused huge excitement and sparked a massive twitch:

British birders in shock as another Long-tailed Shrike discovered

A Long-tailed Shrike found on the Gloucestershire-Oxfordshire border in mid-July is the second individual be seen in Britain in 2026, following a popular bird in Fife.

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Back from our usual long weekend in the Cotswold Water Park. Of course the RIAT airshow at Fairford was cancelled, but what a bonus when news broke that this fabulous LONG-TAILED SHRIKE was present just 14 miles from our accommodation !!! A superb, friendly & well organised Sunday afternoon twitch.

2x Jersey Tiger Moths in the garden shade this afternoon.

Just a couple more days to cast your vote. Please head over to the blog to do so! #PWC2026

Patchwork Challenge@patchbirding.bsky.social · 4w ago

We have now compiled the best find submissions for January to June #PWC2026, so please do head over to the blog to check them out and to cast your vote! There are three Patchwork Challenge pin badges up for grabs! patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/best...

The KOS is organising a Family Bird Day at Dungeness RSPB on 16 August. Free for members and non-members. Several activities planned - see flyer. Please sign up via admin@kentos.org.uk. And do share with friends who might be interested. Thanks.

Another pre-match #patchbirding walk. Wheat Harvest in full swing. 3 Common Sandpipers at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir + the usual suspects. Fledged Linnets & Goldfinches on rural @Godinton Park. Swifts, Swallows & House Martins overhead.

I was year-ticking the Bonaparte's Gull when @swalebirder.bsky.social phoned to say he had just found an American Golden Plover. The last shot is both birds together! Never close, but a stunning bird. Thanks Geoff.

Just published the June round-up of #PWC2026 on the blog. Head over now and take a look! patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/june...

June round-up 2026

Hello from the Patchwork Challenge team! June was about average, and was probably the quietest month of the year so far for #PWC2026 but th...

patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

Not long to go until our first podcast episode drops! Keep an eye on our socials to be the first to hear episode one of The BirdGuides Podcast.

2 visits to Oare Marshes KWT reserve in the last 4 days with the adult Bonaparte’s Gull finally showing well on the east flood at high tide this morning. Also Turnstone, 2 Dunlin, Knot, 4 Greenshanks, 6 Whimbrels, Corn Bunting, Turtle Dove, Peregrine, Common & Little Terns.

Conningbrook Lakes CP this afternoon: 6 Common Sandpipers around the main lake margins and on dead branches, viewed from the picnic tables & shelter. Sadly none had spots. Kingfisher from the Eco Lake Hide. 2 Teal on the wetland by the pump station. Swifts, Swallows & House Martins overhead.

Delighted that Murray Orchard of @kentishplover.bsky.social will be a speaker at this year's Kent Wildlife Conference. He's talking on 'Kent’s Nightingales - mining the data, tracking the birds, and strategies for their recovery'. Go to tinyurl.com/WildConf2026 for details & booking. #kentbirding

We have now compiled the best find submissions for January to June #PWC2026, so please do head over to the blog to check them out and to cast your vote! There are three Patchwork Challenge pin badges up for grabs! patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/best...