This year, the RSPB has given schools from 5th January to 13th February to do their Big Schools’ Birdwatch surveys. We have taken part in this national survey for the last seven years. This year, each class completed one survey with all children having the opportunity to take part. The surveys lasted one hour during which time we counted the maximum number of each species seen together (i.e. not individual visits).

Brambling

This year we counted nearly 200 birds over 3 surveys and recorded 26 different species. We were excited to record our first ever sighting of a Brambling which was seen feeding under the Alder trees with other finches and also on the feeders in front of the bird hide. The Brambling is similar in size and shape to the Chaffinch and can be mistaken for one. It is a winter visitor to the UK, breeding in Scandinavia and Western Siberia during the summer months.

Although the ground was covered in snow on the 23rd January, the leaf litter under the Alder trees was fairly clear of snow. We counted a massive 25 Bullfinches feeding on Alder seeds on this day.