Stuart Ogilvy, Assistant Curator of Natural Science at the Yorkshire Museum and resident ornithological expert, discusses the RSPB Great Garden Birdwatch taking place in the Museum Gardens on 24 January.

If it is January it must be time for the Great Garden Birdwatch. It is run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

The yearly survey gives us valuable information about garden birds and current trends in their populations. It is something that everyone can join in.

The Museum Gardens are an ideal place for people to help with the survey. Join the museum staff to see what birds are in the gardens.

The gardens have lots of resident species and several visiting species. The yew trees in particular are good places to look for birds.

 

There are always Blue and Great Tits there and often Long-tailed tits as well. You might be lucky enough to spot a Coal Tit as well.

 

 

They are also the best place to see Britain’s smallest bird a Goldcrest.

These are very active but elusive birds. Any area of low shrubbery will have Wrens and Dunnocks in them. Various finches can be seen in the gardens.

Small flocks of Goldfinches pass through, Chaffinches are common and there are always Greenfinches.

Less frequent visitors to the gardens are Treecreepers, Nuthatch and Collared Dove.

There is a female Sparrowhawk that hunts in the gardens and often disturbs the pigeons.

At this time of the year there are winter migrants on the move so the yews might have both Mistle Thrushes and Redwings.

Recently a Great-Spotted woodpecker has been seen in the gardens!

Stuart will be hosting a number of garden tours as part of the RSPB Great Garden Birdwatch on Saturday 24 Jan at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm.

Click here to find out more.