What to do with the children outside in April

What to do with the children outside April ………………..Go bird watching!

Now the clocks have gone forward there’s no excuse not to get outside with the children after school. And as the RSPB has recently announced the results of this year’s Big Garden Bird Watch we think it’s think it’s the perfect time to do your own bird watch survey in your garden or the street where you live.

This is the 30^th year that the RSPB has conducted a UK wide garden survey.  It is the world's biggest bird survey and provides a vital snapshot of the UK's birds each year.

So grab yourself a guide book to birds and see if you can see any of the top 10 results in your garden.

1. House Sparrow – a cheeky, friendly little chap that loves seeds and scraps

2. Starling – noisy characters usually seen in large flocks

3. Blackbird – a popular garden sight although the females are brown

4. Blue tit – an attractive little bird with its colourful mix of blue, black, white and green feathers

5. Chaffinch - A favourite in everyone’s garden

6. Woodpigeon – loud clattering wings and a well-known cooing noise make this one of the easiest birds to identify

7. Collared dove - originally came from southern Asia and spread from there to Europe

8. Great tit - The largest UK tit is green and yellow with a striking glossy black head and a distinctive two-syllable song

9. Robin – with its red breast there is no mistaking this friendly little bird that is the only UK bird to sing throughout the winter

10. Long-tailed tit – first appearance in the UK top ten and is recognisable from its long tail bigger than its body and undulating flight

 A total of 73 birds were recorded over the bird watching weekend, including magpies, greenfinches, wrens, great spotted woodpeckers and nuthatches.  See if you can spot any of these less common birds in your gardens too. Little Terra has a bird field guide to help you.

There are lots of things you can do to encourage more birds in to your garden.  Why not put up a bird table or bird boxes or a birdie bistro.

You can also help feed them by making your own seed cakes or have a go at making a bird feeder out of old squash bottles.

And don’t forget your first pair of binoculars, or ‘bins’ as many birdwatchers call them. Nothing else is so important for good bird watching. You’ll see wildlife much closer, in more detail and you won’t scare it away.   Check out Little Terra’s range of binoculars.