Aroundtown Magazine Winter 2022 edition

OUT & ABOUT
Blue Tit
Blue tits
Blackbird
The males live up to their name,
but confusingly females are brown
and often have spots or streaks on
their breasts. The bright orangeyellow
beak and eye-ring make adult
male blackbirds one of the most
striking garden birds. Its mellow song
is also a favourite.
Starling
Smaller than blackbirds,
with a short tail, pointed head
and triangular wings, starlings
look black at a distance but
up-close they are very glossy
and shimmer with purple and
green. Their flight is fast and
direct, and they walk and run
confidently on the ground.
They spend much of the
year in flocks. A murmuration
of starlings is an amazing
sight – a swooping mass of
thousands of birds whirling
in the sky above. While still
one of the most common
garden birds, starlings’ decline
elsewhere makes them a Red
List species, meaning they’re
critically endangered.
Streaked with a colourful
mix of blue, yellow, white and
green, blue tits are one of our
most attractive garden visitors.
Blue tits happily take all kinds
of bird food and are a vibrant
addition to gardens across the
country.
Woodpigeon
The largest and most common
pigeon in the UK, the woodpigeon is
largely grey with a white neck patch
and white wing patches, clearly
visible in flight. Although shy in the
countryside, it can be tame and
approachable in towns and cities.
Its cooing call is a familiar sound in
woodlands, as is the clatter of its
wings when it flies away.
Starling
If you’re new to
birdwatching,
the RSPB also has
some simple tips to
get you started:
Start off small:
It can seem daunting with so
many bird species to distinguish
between, but garden birds
are a great way to start your
birdwatching adventure. They are
some of the easiest to identify and
tend to hang around long enough
for you to take a quick snap to
reference later if you need.
Put up feeders:
Not only will that make them stay
for longer but if you feed them
regularly birds learn that your
garden is a great place to keep
coming to. Different feeders and
food will attract a variety of birds
so feel free to experiment and
see who comes to visit. You don’t
necessarily need an all singing all
dancing feeder – even a tray on a
table will make a nice start.
Best time to watch:
Although birds are around at any
time, you’ll also see more birds
first thing in the morning –
as they say, the early bird
catches the worm!
Thankfully, you don’t have to be
an expert to tell a house sparrow
from a goldfinch. The RSPB has a
useful bird identification guide on
hand to help.
Robin
Chaffinch
For your free Big Garden
Birdwatch guide,
which includes a bird identification
chart, top tips for your birdwatch,
RSPB shop voucher, plus advice
on how to help you attract wildlife
to your garden, text BIRD to 70030
or visit www.rspb.org.uk/
birdwatch
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 33