Out to Farmoor this evening where this splendid adult Turnstone dropped in for all of 10 minutes before heading off again; if it hadn't called, just once, as it arrived, we'd have missed it. How many waders come through a site like this over the course of the day and are never seen?

Stanford Reservoir - brief Tree Sparrow on the Northants side was a handy addition to #PWC2026. Also, 3 Green & 4 Common Sand, Ferruginous Duck & 3 Yellow Wagtail. BN Grebe last night. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - a couple more short visits to the patch yielded a female Ferruginous Duck & this smart juvenile Mediterranean Gull which looked a bit of a brute. Both grebes still present at 18.30. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - 2 more Black-necked Grebes this AM - 3 records for the site so far this year totalling 5 birds. Ruddy Shelduck still, 5 Yellow Wagtails & 3 Common Sandpiper. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - after a very slow June, July has delivered so far. Ferruginous Duck on Saturday (but not since) & Green Sandpiper today were the 5th & 6th new #PWC2026 species for the month so far. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - nice to get in on the recent local Black-necked Grebe action with this stunner this AM. My first for #PWC2026. Also, Ruddy Shelduck and 3 Common Sandpiper. Now at 139 species for 2026. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Golden Plover - very handsome birds (Chick photo through windscreen so no photo awards incoming 😁). #Highlandbirds #Waders

Stanford Reservoir - Shoveler with young first picked up on June 24th and then again yesterday. The first confirmed successful breeding record for the site. Scarce breeder in L&R with less than a handful of records in each of the last 5 years. Distant record shot. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - a hot early evening visit to the dam was rewarded with my first Marsh Harrier of the year - #PWC2026. Also, 30+ Pied & 2 Yellow Wagtail on the dam (along with 2 Common Sand). @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - decent run of Little Ringed Plover in the last 4 weeks - local breeder perhaps. This confiding bird from this AM. Also, 5 Common Sandpiper. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - a Cattle Egret added to #PWC2026 yesterday. 2 Common Sand and LRP today. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - struggling to add to the #PWC2026 total in June but Common Sand this week & this LRP tonite give me some hope to add to the wader list before the month end. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Sea Palling, Norfolk - the Black-winged Kite gave great scope views early AM today but not much chance of any decent digiscoping due to the heat haze. Best efforts here.

Caernarfon Harbour - the Western Reef Heron showing well in the harbour early AM. Digiscoped using the Kowa TSN-55 Prominar scope.

Stanford Reservoir - 2 late May additions to #PWC2026 on Saturday with Spot Fly & House Sparrow (rare here). Also, a Curlew spent most of the day on the dam. Total at end of May 134 species, 183 points. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - surprise addition to #PWC2026 with this Avocet on the dam. Last recorded in 2017 and only in 5 of the last 26 yrs (including today’s). Only my second for the patch. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - 2 more additions to #PWC2026 this AM with a Drake Garganey & Mandarin (a species I didn’t have in 2025). Also, a late Goldeneye added to the duck fest. Species total now at 131 and 179 points. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

A little bit of not-too-shaky video I managed to get of it!

Stanford Reservoir - patch tick this AM - Nightingale caught by the ringing group on the Northants side. Only the second ever to be ringed, the last one in 1994. Thanks to SRG.

Stanford Reservoir - Quail is never easy on the patch but pleased to find this one last night (and still present today). I have found one in 4 of the last 5 years. #PWC2026 - video from early AM and late PM today.

We have now published the April #PWC2026 review on our blog! Click this link to head over and see where you ended up in the league tables, as well as all the interesting patch birds over the month: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/05/apri... Thanks to everyone who has taken part so far!

Only the third record of Black-winged Stilt for the Severnside patch, this pair gave great views for an hour on the Pilning wetland before departing high to the notth east. Made the early start worthwhile. Pic: @severnsidebirds.bsky.social #ukbirding #avonbirding

Stanford Reservoir - having missed the Black Tern movement a couple of weeks ago, pleased to pick this one up early AM. Ring-necked Duck still present, 2 Common Sand & 2 Yellow Wag. A good 3 days on the patch. @lrosbirds.bsky.social #PWWC2026

Stanford Reservoir - RN Duck showing well. Picked this Kittiwake up seconds after one was seen at Thornton Res, a bird I didn’t get on the patch last year. Thanks to B Silverman for use of the Kittiwake image. Also, 3 Dunlin through. #PWC2026 @lrosbirds.bsky.social

#vc55birds #ukbirding #birds @stanfordbirder.bsky.social cracking county tick today. Thanks to Chris. #ringneckedduck

Stanford Reservoir - unexpected #patchgold with this smart drake Ring-necked Duck. Patch tick and only the 2nd record for the site, the first in 1978. Whimbrel yesterday keeps the #PWC2026 total ticking along nicely. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - having blanked yesterday good to find these 2 corking Little Gulls this PM, prob the best ‘on water’ views I have had. Also, Hobby & Garden Warbler new for #PWC2026 now at 121 species, 157 pts. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - 3 Bar-tailed Godwits were a bit of #patchgold this AM, my first since a group of 6 flew through in 2020. A lovely looking wader in my opinion and great to have on the patch, albeit briefly. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - showy reeling Grasshopper Warbler, first Cuckoo of the year, 3 Common Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtail. #PWC2026 115 species, 148 pts.