Birdwatching Archives - Kitchen Garden Magazine

Five fantastic garden reads for your bank holiday weekend!

7th April 2020 Steve Ott News, Reviews

With Easter bank holiday upon us and more sunny weather to come, there’s no better time to get out to our gardens. However, some of us may need a little something extra to sit back, relax and read. Whether that’s a book for avid birdwatchers or a how-to guide on making the most of gardens and plots. Check out this…

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch results

2nd April 2020 Steve Ott News

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch results show milder winter helps small garden birds The latest results from the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch have revealed smaller birds such as long-tailed tits, wrens and coal tits were seen in greater numbers in gardens across the country than in 2019 thanks to the milder winter. Now in its 41st year, the Big Garden Birdwatch…

RSPB’s Breakfast Birdwatch

26th March 2020 Steve Ott News

Something to get your day started….the kids might enjoy it too The RSPB has begun a daily Breakfast Birdwatch, taking place between 8-9am weekdays, at a time when many of us would have been commuting to work, doing the school run, or otherwise unable to enjoy the splendour of nature, from the safety of our homes. Using #BreakfastBirdwatch on social…

Big Garden Birdwatch 2020

30th December 2019 Steve Ott News

Watch the birdie! Count the birds that land in your garden or local park and you could help the RSPB’s annual survey. The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is scheduled for January 25-27, 2020, with up to half a million people expected to watch and count their garden birds. To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2020 all you need…

Get set for the count!

21st January 2019 Steve Ott News

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is nearly upon us. All you need is an hour of your spare time to join in There’s an extra incentive to sign up for this year’s 40th anniversary RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch: register to take part and you can claim 20% off an order from the RSPB shop, plus free delivery. There’s an extensive…

Garden amphibians drying up

18th July 2018 Steve Ott News

Results from the RSPB’s 2018 wildlife survey reveal that garden amphibians are becoming rarer The results from the RSPB’s 2018 wildlife survey, conducted as part of the Big Garden Birdwatch, reveal that sightings of garden amphibians are becoming rarer. Frogs were reported in over three-quarters of gardens across the UK – but despite being the most common non-bird garden visitor,…

Going very slightly bananas…

12th April 2018 Steve Ott News

In our first Subs Club for April, for KG subscribers only, we catch up with news and views… from plots as far away as Uzbekistan! Read on. Grow more veg or pay more tax Pictured above: banana peppers, hot in Uzbekistan The government of Uzbekistan has told its citizens to use their gardens ‘efficiently’ or face a triple land tax, according…

Help the RSPB track our feathered friends

18th January 2018 Steve Ott News

Read more on this topic and other garden news updates, just for Kitchen Garden subscribers Countdown to Birdwatch This year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place over the weekend of January 27 to 29. More than 497,000 people took part in last year’s Birdwatch, so sights are set on breaking the half-million mark. The Birdwatch is now a three-day event,…

Don’t cause bird fat-alities this Christmas

20th December 2017 Steve Ott News

Cater for our feathered friends but make sure you don’t feed them a bad diet, says the RSPB Serving up a feast in your garden can provide a vital lifeline for birds this winter. The RSPB is urging you to share your Christmas cheer and treat your garden birds to a feast this winter, but to avoid serving up dangerous…

Cold winds set to ruffle feathers

29th November 2017 Steve Ott News

As birds struggle to survive the cold snap, your garden can become a haven this winter. Check out these tips from the RSPB. A blackbird takes advantage of a well-stocked bird table. Images: Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com) With the Met Office forecasting low temperatures to sweep across the UK, the RSPB is appealing to people to help our garden birds survive…

Go wild in June!

3rd May 2017 Steve Ott News

The Wildlife Trusts is challenging people to do something wild every day throughout June: that’s 30 Random Acts of Wildness. Sign up now to get your free 30 Days Wild pack, which contains stickers, a wallchart and wildflower seeds, plus ideas from your local Wildlife Trust to inspire you to go wild through June and beyond. A Random Act of…

Birdwatch records a ‘waxwing winter’

6th April 2017 Steve Ott News

Waxwings were among the stars of this year’s Birdwatch. Over 497,000 people took part in the 38th RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch over the last weekend in January, counting more than eight million birds. The results show an explosion in sightings of waxwings. These attractive birds flock to UK gardens once every seven or eight winters – an event known as…

Get set for the count

6th January 2017 Steve Ott News

This year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from January 28 to 30 – and everyone who registers to take part before January 30 will get £5 off their next order from the RSPB shop, plus free delivery. You’ll also get a free participant’s pack full of bird facts, tips and advice. The survey was started in 1979 as a…

Wildlife figures out – and down

1st July 2016 Steve Ott News

The number of people who never see a hedgehog in their garden now stands at 25%, up 11% since 2014. New data reveals that only 25% of people are seeing hedgehogs in their gardens at least once a month, 13% fewer than in 2014. The number of people who never see a hedgehog in their garden now stands at 25%,…