Egyptian Goose at Gouthwaite Reservoir. Not just a site tick but a life tick #PWC2025 #patchbirding.

Female Garganey at Gouthwaite Reservoir.

Climitasing myself back into the British weather at Gouthwaite Reservoir(its cold 😔). First Garden Warbler and Cuckoo of the year for #Patchworkchallenge2025 #PWC2025

On the last day. With darkness falling and 0 lifers for the day. I set out on a quest, a one last hurrah for a sought after species. At 09.25pm and nearing the end of the route around Guadalhorce it happened. RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR ✅️.

Spent an entire 8 hours at Guadalhorce, managed to squeeze out one life tick, a hunting Collared Pratincole. Seeing 3 juvenile White-headed Ducks was more exciting than seeing an adult days before. And of course some photos of Flamingoes. #malagabirding #birdwatching

So when was someone going to tell me Rollers are an absolute unit of a bird. I was expecting something Blackbird sized not Jackdaw size. Squint really hard and thats a Western Bonelli's Warbler. Also saw Spectacled Warbler also notoriously skulky.
#birdwatching #birdingandalucia

3 more lifers today at Guadalhorce estuary Audouin's Gull, Gull-Billed Tern and Kentish Plover. Off to the golf course soon for West Bonelli's and West Orphean.

Just north of Torremolinos today in the mountains. A sad lack of Eagles, nevertheless 5 lifers, Woodchat Shrike, Black Wheatear, Lesser Kestrel, Thekla's Lark and Rock Bunting. #birdingMalaga #BirdingAndalucia

A few of the birds from this afternoon, Malaga now that the jet lag has passed. Big days start tomorrow.

Thats most of the wish list written down for Guadalhorce, Malaga. #birdwatching

Productice evening at Gouthwaite Reservoir. First Chiffchaff, Sand Martins and a Woodcock (heard only, somewhere close). 4 Whoopers, 5 Snipe and the 2 Ring-necked Ducks (still here). @nybirdnews.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social

2 Ring-necked Ducks still at Gouthwaite Reservoir. Plus a Little Gull 2nd winter south Bonus points for inland record. @patchbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Went to Gouthwaite. Added Brambling, Goosander, Red Kite, Jay and Oystercatcher to #PWC2025, got stuck in the car park, got towed out. Think I'll give it a week now 🤣.

Bring it on.

It looks like there may be a resurrection for 2025 thanks to Jacob Spinks. More info to follow!

A pretty good year all round at Gouthwaite Reservoir for patchwork challenge 2024. 133 species with a grand total of 159 points. Lots of personal site ticks, too many to name with only 2 years of patching but Scaup and Ring-necked Duck were probably the highlights of the year. Roll on 2025.

Ring-necked Duck still at Gouthwaite Reservoir associating with Tufties, nice end to the Patchwork challenge. @nybirdnews @RareBirdAlertUK @PatchBirding #PWC2024 #patchworkchallenge.

Ain't no storm strong enough. Hardcore birding the local patch Gouthwaite Reservoir. #StormDarragh #PWC2024 #Patchworkchallenge