Big Garden Birdwatch

Here in the UK, each January, the RSPB run their Big Garden Birdwatch. This is a massive survey of garden birds over the whole of the UK. Supporters are asked to identify and count the birds they see during a one hour period this weekend. The results are submitted online and provide a picture of bird numbers in each region. It is also a lot of fun.

I did my Garden Birdwatch early on Sunday morning and here are the results:

• Blackbirds - 2
• Blue Tits - 2
• Carrion Crows - 5
• Chaffinch - 1
• Coal Tit - 1
• Dunnock - 1
• Great Tits - 2
• Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
• Jays - 2
• Long-tailed Tits - 6
• Magpie - 1
• Marsh Tits - 2
• Mistle Thrush - 1
• Nuthatches - 2
• Red Kite - 1
• Robins - 2
• Wood Pigeons - 8

That is 17 different species in the period of an hour - and some of the regulars did not turn up during that time!

You can read more about the Big Garden Birdwatch at http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/.