I had already registered to take part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch, and prepared my garden accordingly. Fat balls, home made pine cone fat and seed feeders, apples studded with seeds, apples cored and hung on string, cheerio feeders, water...

I had prepared identification sheets to share with interested neighbours as they passed by, and placed decoy birds in my 'Christmas tree' feeding station.

And then I sat and watched, and waited, and waited some more. For the whole of the hour, not a single bird alighted in my garden...I am on the corner of s main road, and there is always a lot of footfall...and lots and lots of dogs, so I was6really surprised but I was a little disappointed.

However, the dogs and I went out for a walk along the canal, where we saw lots and lots of birds; ducks, coots, moorhens, geese, swans..and even a Heron...but we were nor in one spot for an hour, so I didn't submit those figures.

Later on, we did spend an hour in a local park, and this time I did make a note of the birds. It was quite chilly and there wasn't much happening, and it was late on in the afternoon...but we saw and counted a variety of garden birds. The most exciting part of the survey was right before we were leaving. A family had spotted a parakeet in one of the trees near us. We watched, and we waited, and there they were...three beautiful, bright green parakeets flew into the tree above our heads. If you look very closely, you can just about make out three dark blobs...that's them! 😁 Much more beautiful in real life...and they say the camera never lies 🤔

Amazing