This afternoons after work #patchbirding walk started quietly but came alive at @SingletonLake when 3 Common Sandpipers flew in and landed on the logs and branches by one of the islands (sadly they did not have spots 🤣😢), a year ✅. 2 Whitethroats singing on rural Godinton.

A murky #patchbirding walk early this morning. Now 3 Garden Warbler and 10 Whitethroat territories across rural Godinton & Worten. A few Swallows moved west (10 in total) and there were 2 fledged juvenile Grey Wagtails and 1 fledged Blackbird. 3 Mandarins, 2 Stonechats & the other usual suspects.

A lovely stroll around the full circuit at Stodmarsh & Grove Ferry NNR this morning. Great views of 2 Wood Sandpipers (Marsh Hide), 3 Cuckoos, Bittern, the usual singing warblers, Nightingale, Bearded Tits, but just could not get on the RFF in amongst the Hobby gathering.

Some more excellent seawatching with the highlight being a superb adult Long-tailed Skua east. Other notables being 253 Brent Geese, 13 Velvet Scoter, 38 Little Tern, 10 Black Tern, 43 Little Gull, 25 Arctic Skua, 26 Pom Skua, a Puffin, 9 Black-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver. #kentbirding

Dungeness, Kent: a gathering of the birding family to say a final farewell to Tony Greenland at Littlestone Golf Club. Whilst we were here a close in Long-tailed Skua passed the point - you couldn’t have made it up! The rare ground beetle Hister quadrimaculata was my day’s highlight.

Tony really had the last laugh, we thought we’d miss some Poms, but was not expecting to miss a Long Tailed.

#Patchbirding walk across rural Godinton Park this evening & strange to be watching Gulls following the plough here at this time of the year. Normally I’m counting sheep, but now being followed around by cattle herds. The odd Black-headed & Common Gull amongst the many Herrings & LBBs, Pied Wags too

A look at the other Flood Storage Reservoir in Ashford this evening… at Aldington/Evegate. The GC Grebes have 4 Grebelings, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Pied, Reed Buntings, usual Geese, Grey Heron, Little Egret and 6 Swallows & 1 House Martin. 2 singing Lesser Whitethroats remained unseen.

A pleasant #patchbirding walk this evening with much lighter winds but no change in species seen. Up to 4 Mandarins, pair of Tufted Duck & Teal, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Stonechats, Reed Buntings, Linnet, Yellowhammers & Skylarks. 10 House Martins over the Godinton Park Estate colony

Fantastic weekend at @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social where the record-breaking Little Gull movement was clearly the highlight of some quality seawatching! #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Today: A singing Garden Warbler showed well in Orlestone. Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Reed, Cetti’s & Sedge Warblers across the flatlands of Romney Marshes. 14 Whimbrel on the sward at Scotney GPs. 2 Greenshanks & 2 Common Terns RSPB VC. 2 Hobbies at the Boulderwall Fields.

This mornings seawatch had a reduction in numbers from yesterday but still provided plenty of interest with 179 Whimbrel, 2 Black Tern, over 1000 Common/Commic Tern, 15 Little Gull, 14 Arctic Skua, 4 Pomarine Skua, 6 Great Skua and a Great Northern Diver. #kentbirding

A superb day's seawatching, best a record breaking count of Little Gulls with 1467 east. There was also 2 Velvet Scoter, 244 Whimbrel, 666 Bar-tailed Godwit, 77 Black Tern, 3165 'commic' Tern, 2920 Common Tern, 31 Arctic Skua, 22 Pomarine Skua, 10 Great Skua and 5 Black-throated Diver. #kentbirding

A visit to the Dungeness RSPB reserve today: nice to find a moulting adult Curlew Sandpiper on Burrowes Pit (Makepeace/Shirley Coward Hide), 24 Dunlins, 10 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, 4 LRPs & 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Terns… before moving to ARC Hanson hide where 2 Spotted Redshanks showed.

The #PWC2026 #patchbirding year list moved on to 84 species this evening with 4 Common Swifts feeding over the Great Chart playing fields. There were at least 8 House Martins back over the Godinton Park Estate colony too, with some visiting their usual nesting areas. Lesser & Common Whitethroats too

Another cool #patchbirding walk this evening in the NE winds. 4 Mandarins, 6 Teals, 5 Swallows, 2 Whitethroats & 1 singing Garden Warbler, male Stonechat, 1 Common Snipe, Skylarks, Reed Buntings & Yellowhammers, 2 Kestrels & 1 Common Buzzard.

An evening stroll in the woods on the North Kent Downs but the strong cool NE wind made it a challenge. 2 Firecrests singing, pair of Bullfinch, only a few Chiffs & Blackcaps singing and a brief snatch of Nightingale song. Song & Mistle Thrushes, Goldcrests & Coal Tits also noted.

One of those memorable #patchbirding walks after work today with a ringtail female HEN HARRIER circling the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir at 16:25 before heading towards Hothfield Church & NW. It put the Jackdaws up & got attacked by a local Common Buzzard. Patch tick ✅ & a real thrill to see.

A sunny start in Kentish Woodland on the North Downs this morning, and great to find a singing male Tree Pipit back on territory. Love their display flighting & song. Garden Warbler & Nightingale singing too plus Bullfinch, Coal Tit & GS Woodpecker with Common Buzzards overhead.

At Dungeness today

Dungeness: Light rain early morning dropped lots of Willow Warblers on the peninsula, also Pied Flycatcher, singing Wood Warbler, Redstarts, a Ring Ouzel, Garden Warblers, Blackcaps, Common & Lesser Whitethroats, many melted away as the sun came out. #UKBirding

Another top day at Dungeness with the early morning rain resulting in some grounded migrants. Female Pied Flycatcher & female Redstart in gardens on the estate, a singing male Wood Warbler at the Long Pits, 3 Wheatears, lots of Willow Warblers, Lesser & Common Whitethroats…

2 evenings in row visiting Hothfield Heathlands KWT. This evening: 2 singing Nightingales, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, Chiffs & Blackcaps aplenty, Nuthatch & Treecreeper, 1 Firecrest, 4 Tit species, 4 Linnets, 4 Yellowhammers, Song & Mistle Thrushes & Goldcrest.

Nightingale, Willow Warbler & Firecrest all singing at Hothfield Heathlands KWT this evening. The Nightingale showed well 👍.

#Patchbirding still hard work. Monday’s visit to the Hothfield Waterfall Lake involved dodging the showers… 3 Mandarins, 2 Tufted Ducks, 4 Teal, Little Grebe & Grey Wagtail, 6 Swallows, 1 Whitethroat (on Godinton) with another 14 Swallows & 2 Stonechats at the Flood Gap…

11 mile #Patchbirding dawn walk around the full circuit today. And it was a great way to start with a singing Nightingale along the River Stour by Singleton Lake. 10 Swallows and 5 singing Whitethroats across the patch too.

Today at Dungeness: Black-throated Diver & Arctic Skua E past the seawatching hide this morning. An increase in singing Warblers with Whitethroats & Reed Warblers more in evidence. 1 House Martin at ARC Pit, 4 LRPs & 3 Avocets across the RSPB reserve. Finished with a singing Nightingale (Orlestone).

#Patchbirding is hard work at the moment, not helped by the local Godinton landowners that have destroyed hedgerows, scrub & reedy ditches in February & March. With the summer migrants arriving in the coming weeks, there might not be suitable breeding & feeding habitat for them😢

A pleasant evening stroll around Godmersham Park: 2 Mandarins, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Grey & several Red Legged Partridges, Barn Owl, 3 Hares, 3 singing Firecrests, 2 Yellowhammers and a good dusk chorus. Calling Kingfisher, Gr & GS Woodpeckers & Chiffchaffs.

A sunny day at Dungeness. Lots of Willow & Sedge Warblers singing across the DBO & RSPB areas, 2 LRPs on hayfield 1 by Dengemarsh Hide, 2 Wheatears along the entrance track nr Walkers Outland trail, 3 Blackcaps, & 1 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 1 Avocet & 1 White Wagtail on Cooks/Tanners pools.

An early start at Hothfield Heathlands KWT reserve this morning… serenaded by lots of Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs. The usual woodland species too plus Yellowhammers & Linnets across the heathland. 2 Kestrels & Common Buzzard overhead. Longbeech North was quiet. 1 Redpoll & more Chiffs & Blackcaps.

Well Chough-ed with our start to the day at the White Cliffs of Dover; singing Skylarks & Corn Buntings aplenty… and then the drizzle rolled in. Back inland the woodlands visited were quiet. 3 Mediterranean Gulls at Conningbrook Lakes CP and Swallow, Blackcap pair, Red Kite & Raven at Eastwell Lake.

Despite drizzle & strong winds at Dungeness today a few summer migrants were seen: our first Wheatear (male) & Sandwich Terns of the yr. Adult Yellow-legged Gull from the RSPB visitor centre, the family of 3 Whooper Swans at Dengemarsh & 2 LRPs, 2 Ringed Plovers & 2 Dunlin on the Boulderwall Wetland

Little Ringed Plover this evening at Conningbrook Lakes CP (on the railway pools). 4 Green Sandpipers & 1 Common Snipe on the wetland pools.

Quiet end to #patchbirding in March, not helped by weather, fly-tipping & ongoing habitat destruction on part of the patch (Godinton). 4 pairs of Tufted were a highlight (6 birds on the waterfall lake & 2 at the flood reservoir). 6 singing Blackcaps and a male Reed Bunting (Singleton). Roll on April

A tale of two reservoirs today… sunshine, stunning views but few birds at Bewl Water this morning. Grey & cold at Bough Beech this afternoon but our first Sand Martins & Swallows of 2026, Drake Pintail & Pochards, 4 Gadwall, 10 Mandarins, 2 Kingfishers, Snipe, Red Kites, Raven etc.

A weekend spent in Kentish Woodlands… all 3 species of Woodpeckers, Firecrests, brief Hawfinch, Red Kites, Ravens, Tawny Owls, Siskins & Redpolls, Goshawk & Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and singing Blackcaps.

The first full #patchbirding walk after work today with the slightly lighter evening, covering all 3 water bodies. The #PWC2026 list moves on to 75 species. ✅✅. The first pair of Mandarin Ducks are back along the Stour at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir plus 2 Stonechats.

Always enjoy our circular walk around Heacham South Beach & the Ken Hill Marshes on The Wash coast in Norfolk. Hunting Barn Owl, pair of Grey Partridges, Spoonbill, White-fronted Geese, Pochards, Knots, Bar-tailed Godwits, Red Kites & Marsh Harriers, Avocets, Brown Hares & big skies.

A March visit to the Norfolk Breckland & Thetford Forest always delivers… 9 Stone Curlews, 5 Goshawks, Woodlarks, Brown Hares, Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Red Kites, Sparrowhawk, C Buzzards, Yellowhammers, Redpolls, Siskins, pair of C Crossbills, Little Grebe & singing Firecrest.

Visits to some Norfolk coastal heathlands and bogs were rewarding too with singing Woodlarks, 2 Dartford Warblers, Stonechats, Linnets, Common Crossbills, Siskins, Redpolls, Coal Tits, Shelducks, Kestrels and Chiffchaffs.

The North Norfolk coast always delivers on big skies and plenty of birds including lots of wildfowl & waders. Brent & White-fronted Geese were still in good numbers at several locations, Spoonbills, Little & GW Egrets, Red Kites, flocks of Linnets, 2 Peregrines & Sparrowhawks.

A couple of visits to RSPB Titchwell Marsh during the week. A highlight were the 12 Long-tailed Ducks (3 drakes) close inshore, male Common Scoter, female Scaup, Tawny Owl, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, RB Mergansers, female Merlin west along the dunes and plenty of wildfowl & waders.

Also on the 15th March: a first visit to Horsey Gap where the Glaucous Gull tried to play hide and seek amongst the colony of Grey Seals.

Another fabulous week birding in Norfolk, with the undoubted highlight being the Black-winged Kite at Ludham Bridge on the 15th March, a new species for us. It was great to watch it searching for prey from various tree branches, and not too distant either.

Back from another enjoyable birding trip to Norfolk… out #PatchBirding this afternoon. Signs of Spring; Bluebells in Worten Wood and the sounds of the first male Blackcap singing on rural Godinton Park in 2026… patch year ✅ #PWC2026.

An excellent day of seawatching with highlights being 2708 Brent Geese, 318 Pintail, a Long-tailed Duck, a redhead Smew and a full summer plumaged Black-throated Diver all heading east. On the land there was an obvious arrival of birds with over 20 Chiffchaffs and at least nine Firecrests.

The round-up February of #PWC2026 is now out! Head over to the blog to see the latest updates in the mini-leagues as well as all the best birds that have been seen across the competition! To take a look, click this link: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/febr...

Come and volunteer at Dungeness Bird Observatory this year! We have a couple of positions available to help out with the monitoring of the wildlife on the Dungeness peninsula as well as helping in the running of the Observatory!

Looks worth a watch. www.comedy.co.uk/people/fyi/1...