The results from the RSPB's big garden bird watch were published this week so of course I take a look.

My results were disappointing and dominated by the corvids with 4 magpies, 3 jackdaws and a carrion crow.
3 woodpigeons
One each of blackbird, robin, blue tit and dunnock as the only passerines.
Oh and a great spotted woodpecker. That was good to see.

Nationally, the most counted birds were:
house sparrow,
starling
blue tit,
woodpigeon
blackbird
goldfinch
great tit
robin.

The birds seen in the most gardens were blackbird (85%), robin (83%), blue tit (80%) and wood pigeon (76%). So the birds seen in most gardens were also seen here. The data for totals of each species seen is skewed by flocking birds - thus starlings were seen in relatively few gardens but if they were seen then they saw a few of them.

RSPB are also kind enough to provide the raw data by county and that makes interesting reading too.
1. The 'top ten' is broadly similar, but the magpie does make it at number 10 so our results reflect others locally. Lancashire's top ten: house sparrow,
starling
blue tit
blackbird
wood pigeon
goldfinch
great tit
robin
magpie.

2. Some people are lucky enough to spot relatively rare birds in the garden, or at least birds rarely seen there. These include the lucky ones to see a marsh tit, a willow tit, a goldcrest, a stock dove or a linnet. Being winter a few recorded fieldfare or redwing

3. There are a number which are not thought of as typical garden birds. I would include the common gull, herring gull and great black backed gull here but also the raven, buzzard and mute swan. As the count is meant to be birds seen in the garden, as opposed to flyovers, either some people have been extremely lucky or have very big gardens

4. The greenfinch ranked no 14 in Lancs. Good to see numbers recovering.