Garden Watch 2015

Next weekend in the UK marks one of the most amazing examples of 'citizen science' when, at the behest of the Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds(RSPB), many of us will sit at our windows for an hour armed with a score sheet. We will record all the details of the birds and any other animals that visit during this time. We will submit this online or by post along with a few details of the area that we viewed.

The RSPB uses this information to monitor the trends in garden birds and other wildlife. Through this they have shown significant declines in common birds like starlings and recoveries in others. It is a great example of where ordinary people can help conservation and half a million took part last year: details HERE and a summary of previous results HERE.

Regular readers will know that a small starling flock visits my small back garden and the pleasure I take in watching them raise their broods. Now we are in the midst of winter; the harshest time of year for all wild creatures. Their numbers are reduced - the flock may have spread out - but they are still visiting and at this time of year their dark oily plumage is peppered with stunning white spotting.

Here are a few images of the starlings and some other birds here in mid-winter.

The two young magpies that grew up in the garden over the summer are still around.

And this pied wagtail has taken up residence - only seen in the garden in the winter.