Last weekend in January sees the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. We have contributed to this for a number of years now - well over 10 - and have seen many changes in the bird population of the Lane over that time. Sadly these have not been for the better.

Overall a lower number of species seen this year compared with last. The decline of the starling continues and this is the first year in which there were no greenfinch - another declining species. No goldfinch, either. On the plus side the jay paid a visit and a song thrush was seen bathing in the pond. Both are firsts for our reporting but not new to the lane

Comparing the results:

2016 2015 2014 2013
starling 0 8 1 7
house sparrow 4 6 6 6
blackbird 2 4 3 3
long tailed tit 0 3 0 0
wood pigeon 2 2 3 2
magpie 2 2 2 1
carrion crow 2 2 1 4
chaffinch 2 2 0 0
goldfinch 0 1 6 4
greenfinch 0 1 5 5
great tit 2 1 2 3
robin 2 1 1 1
blue tit 1 1 1 1
dunnock 2 1 1 3
wren 1 1 1 0
pied wagtail 0 1 0 0
gt sp woodpecker 0 1 0 0
redwing 0 1 0 0
coal tit 0 1 0 0
LBB gull 4 0 4 0
jay 1 0 0 0
song thrush 1 0 0 0