Hannah McCormack

A feather in the cap for all the eagle-eyed observers who took part in this community mission, logging their observations for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. As well as a wide geographical wingspan (eleven different GoodGym regions including herring gull, oops, sorry, Haringey), we covered a broad age range; first in the pecking order was Suzanne’s newly-hatched 18-month-old daughter who helped her out on the mission. Hannah’s children also helped her to take part.

The birds were tweeted to a feast of delights including sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, nyjer seeds, suet, unsuspecting worms nestling by the compost bin, and buggy nibbles (no Veganuary in birdland). Tessa’s home-made apple bird-feeder was commandeered by an acrobatic squirrel.

Some of the more exotic birds on our lists included a great spotted woodpecker in Georgeta’s garden, a female blackcap in Sheila’s, a red kite in Jen’s and a buzzard in Ben’s. Jacqui and Sally travelled to Hampstead Heath for their session, where the parakeets were out in force! They ran beforehand and enjoyed drinks afterwards, though not a flight of sherry.

It was great to hear that so many of you were already keen birders. Interestingly, a few of us shared the frustrating experience that several of our “regulars” were mysteriously absent for the hour we were participating in the birdwatch, but here’s hoping that they will be back with us soon. (Shame there wasn’t some sort of get-out claws allowing them to be recorded.) Gwyn and I had just returned from volunteering at junior parkrun at an RSPB reserve before taking part in this community mission – perhaps we should have done our bird-spotting there, beakause there were few takers in his usually-popular garden.

Congratulations to Suzanne who was taking part in her very first GoodGym session today. Welcome to the flock.

If there are any stragglers who've not yet submitted photos, it's not too late for me to add them; just email them to tracey@traceycool.plus.com