Pete Sofley
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lastotw.bsky.social
Pete Sofley
@lastotw.bsky.social
Woods,Wetlands and Wilding …
Dusk yesterday #LadywalkNR water levels up after the lowest/longest low levels ever!
Waterfowl/waders back in and
2 Woodcock flushed off paths.
Water rails back in reedbeds.
A way to go to filling up,hopefully after today’s downpour should be full again tomorrow! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Proof lightning does strike twice. @beidaihebirder.bsky.social found the second Dusky Warbler at Aylestone Meadows, 100m from the site of the Christmas Eve 2021 bird. Proved patchworking works. #vc55birds #ukbirding
November 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
We have added two new pages to our website: habitat management principles for butterflies (and other pollinators) and causes of decline. Check them out here www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
Habitat Management for Butterflies
Habitat Management for Butterflies
www.bc-europe.eu
November 3, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Brambling dropped into Woods between woodyard and Hide A feeders late am. @ladywalknr.bsky.social #LadywalkNR
Red Kite over > S
200+ Starling through >S in small groups 20-30 birds late am.
Set up some small mammal footprint traps with kids.
In the week 2-3 Crossbill over woodyard+ 100c Redpoll.
November 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
De-silting vs Dredging.
They're not the same thing!

Isolating a section of river to remove excesss fine silt and restore natural channel dimensions and habitat. #river #restoration #ChalkStream #conservation
November 1, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Lapwing eggs only rarely taken by badgers, new data shows

Badgers are often blamed when wader nests fail on British farmland, but new evidence suggests their role may be far smaller than assumed and is largely driven by prolonged cold weather. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/B...
Badger Predation on Lapwing Nests Is Rare, six-year study finds
Badgers are often blamed when wader nests fail on British farmland, but new evidence suggests their role may be far smaller than assumed
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Survey in North/West Lincs
6 Whooper out of low cloud after heavy rain heading 106 Pink-feet 200+ Golden plover >N
1 GWE >N
2 Marsh harrier (f/imm)
457 Linnet ( one partial albino) and a Meadow pipit with only one eye!
@lincsbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
October 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Hello, we have been working hard all year to keep this challenge running and would love to hear your feedback!

Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a think ready for PWC 2026.

#pwc2025#patchbirding
Patchwork Challenge Feedback
Hello, we have been working hard all year to keep this challenge running and would love to hear your feedback. Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a...
docs.google.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Wow! It was looking like a poor year for Yellow-browed Warbler but that has changed in the last week with reports well above average for the time of year. Still some way to go beat the all time record week in Oct 2016, when it appeared on 8.5% of all complete lists

Photo: Moss Taylor/BTO
#ukbirding
October 21, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Yellow-browed Warbler in scrubby Willows between public footpath that runs along #LadywalkNR footpath.
YBW only once over 3 hours on footpath + half day on site checking tit flocks.
Green sand on B
5 GWE on Main +18 Wigeon
Passage of Skylark (30+) again up till midday @patchbirding.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Murky morning surveying on Lincs wolds
2 flighty but vocal Ring Ouzel
53 Fieldfare,10 Redwing,3 Song Thrush
652 Starling,90 Skylark,47 M Pipit,18 Siskin,22 Greenfinch,34 Linnet,21 Yellowhammer,4 Reed bunting.
536 Pink-feet >SE
1995 Common gull+ 2 Med gull
(Ad/1st W) @lincsbirding.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
The September #PWC2025 review is now out on the blog!

There has been plenty to write about! So take a look at where you finished by the end of September, plus what others saw and found on their patches: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com #patchbirding
Patchwork Challenge
patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Is this two different stages of Honey fungus on old Birch stump?
Woodyard at #LadywalkNR #fungus
@westmidsfungi.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Juv/female Scaup still at Shustoke res opposite sailing club. Nice addition to #PWC2025 also 2+ Rock pipit on West shore #Warksbirds
October 16, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
I can't find a title for this glorious painting of autumn Aspen, but it's by Oregon based (Ukrainian born) artist, Anton Pavlenko, and I love it 💛

#trees #art #TreeArt #Aspen #Autumn
October 15, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Patch mega. With a long overdue site first for me Curlew Sandpiper on B pools #LadywalkNR . It’s been poor for waders here this year with some work needed and drought conditions. So chuffed to get this for #PWC2025. Good find by the Finchams
#Warksbirds
October 14, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
A Ladywalk mega Curlew Sandpiper coincided with my Webs count today. Possibly the first in my lifetime! Seemed settled in front of Bittern Hide but disappeared mid afternoon. Jack Snipe also briefly close by. #ladywalknr #warksbirds
October 14, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Early morning fog yesterday Lincs near Trent/Humber a single grounded Fieldfare+ Redwing and Brambling overhead @lincsbirding.bsky.social
Later back in midlands and 100+ Redwing and 18 Fieldfare over Meriden inc a calling Marsh tit near Stonebridge #Warksbirds
Redwing through the night over Leics
October 14, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Autumn reminds us to slow down, take a step back and enjoy the changing seasons - this includes in the garden 🧡🍂

The Secret Gardener shares their gardening jobs for October 👉 https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/the-secret-gardener-jobs-to-do-in-your-garden-in-october

📷: Paul Henson
October 12, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Record-breaking morning on Cannock Chase!
➡️ 208 Redpoll ringed yesterday
➡️ 258 total including our test hour the previous day.
Unbelievable numbers for the season, a real Redpoll influx! 🔴 #BirdRinging #Migration #Redpoll
October 11, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Bairds Sandpiper at Rutland today #ukbirding
October 11, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Good bit of scrub and viewpoint near Heath & Reach #Bedsbirds
9 Redwing,6 Bullfinch and 12 Crossbill ->South.
Highlight though was flock over 200+ Redpoll out of roost in Birches. Never seen a flock this size! In flight the whirling of wings was louder than there calls! #UKBirding
October 10, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard on southern end of main pool at #LadywalkNR plus an unexpected Marsh tit calling at Hide A feeding station today.
Puts total for the 3k to 140 sp for #PWC2025 #Warksbirds
October 7, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Sure this is the same Juv Black Tern that is still LINGERING into October! …….
Also Ruff lingering … that missed for #PWC2025 last month. #Warksbirds
October 3, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Another enjoyable survey in NW Lincs @lincsbirding.bsky.social
Lot of low lying mist around Trent/Humber but good #Vismig when clearing and good grounded migrants.
2 Ring Ouzel,3 Crossbill,
2 Wheatear,1 Stonechat,63 Redpoll,
51 Meadow pipit,65 Skylark,223 Linnet
244 Pink-feet #UKBirding
September 29, 2025 at 7:12 PM