On 29 January I took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch in my garden – it was also the day that the iris reticulata flower opened in my garden. Last year my first daffodil had opened, but this year there are no signs of any daffodil flowers as yet. The birdwatch is the world’s biggest garden wildlife survey and the records provide a vital snapshot of the UK’s birds each winter so the RSPB can monitor trends and find out how our garden birds are going. The 2022 birdwatch took place over the weekend of 28 and 29 January where you spend an hour counting the birds that you see. This year I choose an hour over lunchtime, previously I had always carried out the count at breakfast time. This year I counted the following birds:
| Blackbird 7 | Black Cap 1 | Blue Tit 12 | Chaffinch 4 |
| Coal Tit 1 | Collared Dove 2 | Dunnock 2 | Goldfinch 4 |
| Great Tit 15 | Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 | Jackdaw 2 | Long-Tailed Tit 8 |
| Magpie 2 | Nuthatch 2 | Robin 4 | Siskin 2 |
| Stock Dove 2 | Wood Pigeon 4 |
I also saw one male pheasant who is a daily visitor and has become part of the family. He is one of the two male pheasants that I counted in last year’s birdwatch. So far this winter I haven’t seen any female pheasants which is extremely unusual.
