RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

The annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch runs from 28th to 30th January 2022.

2022 marks the 43rd RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch which sees birdwatchers across the UK join the largest garden-based wildlife citizen science project by spending 1 hour recording the birds they see in their gardens, from their balconies or in their local green space.

Last year was the biggest RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch ever with over 1 million people taking part and counting more than 17 million birds.

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is a vital opportunity for the RSPB to keep tabs on the population of UK birds. In the past 50 years, the UK has lost more than 38 million birds. The RSPB continue to rely on the help of people across the country to help record the birds they see in order to provide a vital snapshot of which species are thriving, which are struggling and perhaps provide clues as to why and how they can be protected.

I live in a flat and do not have a garden unless you count the extremely small patch of grass to the rear of the block. I hadn’t previously realised that you could participate in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch by recording birds from your window or balcony.

Therefore this year I did just that!

The sun rose at 7:40 a.m. ….

…. and I recorded for the hour from 7:40 a.m. starting with a Carrion Crow ….

Photo: Carrion Crow

For the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, you are asked to only record birds that you see land in the area that you are watching and this is what I saw ….

Blue Tit = 5

Great Tit = 2

Blackbird = 2

Starling = 2

Great Spotted Woodpecker = 1

Collared Dove = 2

Woodpigeon = 4

Carrion Crow = 4

Magpie = 4

In addition, I recorded the following which could not be submitted to the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch ….

Cormorant = 1 flying over

Herring Gull = at least 6 flying over

Green Woodpecker = 1 heard calling

Song Thrush = 1 heard singing

Robin = 1 heard singing

Dunnock = 1 heard singing

Therefore I had a total species count of 15 during the hour with 9 submitted to the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.

My total species count from my flat since I moved in is 36.

Here are a few other photos from this morning ....

Photo: Starling

Photo: Collared Dove

Photo: Woodpigeon

This morning’s event reminded me of when I was recording birds on a  daily basis from my flat during the first Covid 19 lockdown during 2020. I started on 4th April 2020 (see here) and stopped on 24th June 2020 (see here) since travel restrictions had ceased. However, I have continued to post notable records in this blog as they arise.

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch has prompted me to reconsider watching from my window, possibly once a week, especially with spring approaching and with summer migrants arriving or passing through. Maybe this year, I will record a passage Osprey!

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Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature