Today I eagerly awoke to the sun streaming through the bedroom window. It felt like a good day to be alive.

One of my aims for the day was to take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. My task…to sit and watch the birds in the garden for one whole hour. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure I could hack an hour of sitting still.

However, as I sat there – camera in hand (I couldn’t find the binoculars), notepad on my knee and Radio 2 in my ears I embraced the moment and thoroughly enjoyed it. Through what was quite a simple activity I already feel more connected with my garden and the birds who inhabit it.

I had quite a slow start to my count – normally the garden is teeming with birds. First on the feeders (filled with peanuts, fat balls and seeds) were two blue tits. With this bird watch you count the total of any one variety in the space at one time rather than a tally over the full hour.

Fifteen minutes in and my tally still stood at two blue tits. As I settled into my viewing spot I’m convinced the birds settled in to me being there too and soon after I saw great tits (after initially thinking they were blue tits), sparrows and a robin.

I began to think that was it but when I glanced back at the feeders they were swarming with seven of the same variety. At first I wasn’t sure what breed of bird it was but after a bit of research I found they were long tailed tits. They are such a beautiful bird with such subtle colouring.

Watching one area was fascinating, normally my experience of birds in the garden takes place when I am moving about. Every day I generally see buzzards (there are three nearby), magpies, kestrels, wood pigeons, woodpeckers, crows and pheasants.

At the end of the hour my tally stood at:

I’d be interested in hearing what you spotted if you took part, do let me know…