Big Garden Birdwatch

This weekend, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th January 2012, the RSPB is hosting its annual Big Garden Birdwatch.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

Please do tell us if you're taking part and give us some info about the birds you've seen. And have a look at Kate's new blog about helping garden birds to stay healthy.

Emma.

gardenersworld.com team

Hi Emma, I'm taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, I have done it for the last few years and really love it. Through sitting for an hour and watching the birds I've seen birds that I didn't realise came into my garden like a Dunnock and a Greenfinch. Watching the birds gives me so much pleasure, and I've got a Robin that comes in, and we are getting to know each other quite well.

Hi Emma, Im going to the Big Garden Birdwatch too. I was working from home the other day and was most entertained watching my bird table... I have lots of blue tits and coal tits plus the usual hedge sparrows about 4 robins and blackbirds,and a mob of yobs (starlings). I have also had gold finches, a bullfinch and a nuthatch recently.

I put out mealworms and special bird mix most mornings and now am being told off by the robin in the front garden if his worms arn't out by 8 am!! 

They are really so much fun to watch.

Just spent a lovely hour this afternoon doing the the Big Garden Bird Watch. It is always a joy to do. Didn't see any unsual birds but it was still lovely to watch them trying to beat each other to fat balls and the peanuts. Brilliant!!  

Can't do the bird watch as we are not in England but I'll bet we have the rarest bird in our garden.  Pekin Robins! Yes really.  Apparently they are escapees from aviaries or perhaps deliberately released and there are now about a thousand of them living in France and we get to feed about 20 of them every day.......wonderful.

Hello bird counters,

My Big Garden Birdwatch was not very impressive:

Two robins - not fighting, therefore I think they are male and female

One blackbird - often I see a part albino blackbird but he was absent, and an all black one was there instead.

One pigeon - I won't encourage him - don't want my cabbages eaten

One wren - chased away by one of the robins, which confirms my theory as the robin clearly was feeling fiesty!

Thanks to all those who have told us about the birds they saw, and look out for Richard's forthcoming blog about this on Wednesday.

Emma.

gardenersworld.com team

Hello I work for a place called Hipswell Habitat a wildlife area in Catterick Garrison.  We set up the Big Garden Birdwatch for the first time using our hide at the bird feeding station, never mind the hide I think all the birds went into hiding, a few blue tits and a nuthatch that was about it! Maybe next year.

Debbie

They know when it's BGBW day, I swear!