New podcast out today! August is here and it's an epic time to get out on your local patch! In this episode, David, Josh and Ian chat all things patch birding in the month of August, from waders and Whinchats to skywatching and seabirds. Listen for free:

Episode 005 of The BirdGuides Podcast is out!

August is here and it's an epic time to get out on your local patch! In the latest episode of The BirdGuides Podcast, David, Josh and Ian chat all things patch birding in the month of August, from waders and Whinchats to skywatching and seabirding.

f.mtr.cool

Excellent morning seawatch from St Ives Island 05.38-10.45 with JM: Wilson’s Petrel (7+), Euro (40+), Cory’s (33), Great (4), Manx (30,000+), Arctic Skua (1), Whimbrel (14), Dunlin (2), Swift (1). An excellent morning with some amazing close views of Wilson’s! #UKBirding @patchbirding.bsky.social

We have received a brilliant guest blog post from @tombedford.bsky.social on his Lye Valley #patchbirding escapades, deep into Oxford. Why not head over to the blog now and have a read? patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/tom-...

Tom Bedford's local patch - Lye Valley, Oxford

This guest blog post is written by diligent patch birder Tom Bedford about his Lye Valley patch. A huge thank you to him for writing this ex...

patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

We hope everyone has had a brilliant July! Can participants of #PWC2026 please get there scores and highlights (for July only!) in by the evening of 7th. Have a brilliant and bird filled August!

It’s nice to have local long staying redstarts at Clifford hill GP and have them showing well along the hedges in the mornings. I believe one of them is a new male and 1 of the original juveniles has left. #northantsbirds #ukbirding #wildlife #birdphotography #redstart #PWC2026

Great to the patchwork challenge pin badge has arrived 😁 Wood warbler for the 🥉 vote win #PWC2026 #ukbirding

We have received a brilliant guest blog post from @tombedford.bsky.social on his Lye Valley #patchbirding escapades, deep into Oxford. Why not head over to the blog now and have a read? patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/tom-...

Tom Bedford's local patch - Lye Valley, Oxford

This guest blog post is written by diligent patch birder Tom Bedford about his Lye Valley patch. A huge thank you to him for writing this ex...

patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

Unexpected patch gold this morning when a dispersing juv Green Woodpecker circled the island as I was heading home from my seawatch - July is clearly the time for tricky residents here! Great Tit next? Also notable were 6 Whimbrel W and 2+ Harbour Porpoise. #UKBirding @patchbirding.bsky.social

A Redstart and two Whinchats (all adults) were new at Morton Bagot this morning. #patchbirding

A very fresh juvenile Common Rosefinch around the school this morning #BirdingOrkney #PWC2026

The winners are in for the #PWC2026 Spring Best Find Competition! Head over to the blog to see which were the top three voted submissions and who are the winners of a Patchwork Challenge Champion pin badge: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

Patchwork Challenge

patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

Another long-overdue Portsoy ✔️. This was in a little-visited section of the patch, so could easily be a breeder here rather than early dispersal. #PWC2026 #birdingscotland

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...

Roosting around Hundland this evening #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUk

What an astonishing looking bird that is! And it is an amazing five pointer for #PWC2026, David! Just shows what can be turning up, even in the height of summer!

David Roche@papaybirder.bsky.social · 3w ago

Orkneys first Blue cheeked Bee eater, first found by Paul and Jakey around Clestrain whilst out on the quadbike. A nervous wait, but relieved to find it again around around Hundland where still present this evening #BirdingOrkney #RareBirdsUK

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

The definition of #PatchGold the Warren's first Coot since 2020, and only the second in a decade #PWC2026 #DevonBirding More at dawlishwarren.blogspot.com/2026/07/satu...

Saturday 11th July

Minimum totals from the estuary included  111 Mediterranean Gull ,  75 Sandwich Tern ,  70 Redshank ,  including at least five juveniles , a...

dawlishwarren.blogspot.com

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...

What a day at work! 🤯 After disappearing for a few days, the Western Reef Heron showed up at RSPB Conwy on the high tide. An unbeatable patch tick! Fantastic to see so many people enjoying the reserve, and good to catch up with the locals as always too. #ukbirding #birdingwales #ukrarebirds #PWC26

Second Honey Buzzard of the year just gone North through the island. Last watched heading out to sea, bound for @northronbirdobs.bsky.social (or maybe to be poached by @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social) #BirdingScotland

Our first returning flocks of Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits were dropping in on the rainy Barra machair today. A few Dunlin flocks and some extra Redshanks on the beaches too. It's starting to feel a bit like autumn... #birdingscotland

Still fins galore on Portsoy patch this weekend (2+ Minkes and a gang of Bottlenose Dolphins). Quiet birdwise, but a Bonxie showed nicely as it snacked on a young gull. And I liked this Corn Bunting pic - makes a change from sitting on a wire. #PWC2026 #BirdingScotland #seamammal #cetacean

Autumn at Titchfield Haven! Spotted Redshank kindly lingered for ages until I got round to visiting, plus Green & 4 Common Sandpipers & 2 Little Ringed Plovers. #LowCarbonBirding #PWC2026

🚨BEST FIND COMPETITION!🚨 There is just 24hrs left to get your Best Find of spring #PWC2026 submitted! If you have yet to submit it and want too, then now is the time to do it! For more information, follow this link: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/06/best...

Best Find Patchwork Challenge 2026 - January to June edition

Hello from the Patchwork Challenge team! We are now accepting submissions for the Best Find of the first half of Patchwork Challenge 2026, a...

patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

Only 48hrs left to submit your best find for the first half of #PWC2026! Be in it for a chance to win a Patchwork Challenge badge. It doesn't need to be a nationally rare bird - just something that made you excited to find! For more info, see here: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/06/best...

Best Find Patchwork Challenge 2026 - January to June edition

Hello from the Patchwork Challenge team! We are now accepting submissions for the Best Find of the first half of Patchwork Challenge 2026, a...

patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

#patchgold common scoter on #patchbirding

Jack@birderjack.bsky.social · last mo.

Awful photos but could this be a common scoter ? Heavily cropped and un cropped pic. It was distant at Oglet and I only have bins 🙄 #ukbirding

Spent the morning #birdingbybike around my 10km #PWC2026 patch Highlights: Kingsbury Range - 2x singing Quail, brief flight views of one bird Hurley - 2x Yellow Wag, 3x Y'hammer, Green Woodpecker Bodymoor Heath GP - 6x LRP, 12x Oyc, 12x Pied Wag, 60+ Lapwing, 50+ BHG #warksbirds #lowcarbonbirding 🪶

As we are now into July, just a reminder to update your #PWC2026 June scores and highlights into the spreadsheet, ready for the download on the 7th. Many thanks! There is certainly an autumn feel now, with passage waders turning up as well as Sand Martins and Swifts moving through. Happy birding!

Jun-26 #patchbirding has been challenging not least because of last week’s heat (no walks). But a bit of #Patchgold on Sunday morning (28th) when a HONEY BUZZARD glided in & circled over our Ashford garden at 09:35. A garden & patch tick ✅. Thanks to the local Herring & LBB Gulls for alerting me!!!

Today was the last day to find a bird which can be entered for the #PWC2026 January to June Best Find competition, although entries are accepted until the night of 7th July. Please get your entries in so they can be uploaded to the website for the public vote! Many thanks.