RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2024

Goodgymmers across the country took an hour out of their weekend to watch their garden for an hour and help the RSPB track bird populations. Well done everyone!

I (Rachel) picked an hour of mostly heavy rain, which probably wasn't in my favour, but meant I got to snuggle in an oodie in the conservatory feeling snug and smug.

Paul - "As I wasn’t expecting to be in the same place for an hour I combined it with a gardening task on Friday. It was a clear sunny day and while some food had been left out, the feathered visitors were not that frequent though. 19 were spotted, mainly pigeons, plus a robin who I have seen there before, along with a few sparrows and a Great Tit who disappeared as soon as the neighbours dog came out."

Gwyn and Tracey from Derby, as last year, visited each others gardens - "Gwyn was able to photograph some birds, whilst I'm only able to take pictures of things that don't move very quickly. We did the RSPB bird watch together twice; at Gwyn's house on Friday, and then at my house on Saturday, so were able to submit two lots of results whilst drinking lots of tea."

Anita - "I logged parakeets, blue tits, a robin, a collared dove and a magpie in a West London garden. I also spotted sanderlings, oyster catchers, gulls, crows and a magpie (and learnt to differentiate waders) in Wales but I don't think the view of a sliver of Swansea Bay really counts as a 'garden'."

Dave - "It was really interesting and made me take much more notice of what different types of bird arrive in the garden.

I was amazed to see a Long Tailed Tit and Siskin (I think) but boringly my garden seems to be most popular with Blackbirds!"

Sarah went for a walk with her son on the transpennine trail getting him engaged in nature.

Naomi - "I was just visited by 2 pigeons, although they flew off before I got a photo! I have cats, so don't encourage birds into our garden, as much as I love them. However I do get to see lots of birds in our neighbour's tree, safely out of the cats' reach!"