Volunteer leaders from Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers have been visiting local schools to help with the RSPB's Big Schools’ Birdwatch.

• Moorfield Primary School, Hazel Grove
• Cheadle Hulme Junior School (Click here for pictures)
• Rainow Primary School (Click here for pictures)
• Kettleshulme St. James CE Primary School (Click here for pictures)
• Bosley St Marys CE Primary School (Click here for pictures)
• King’s Junior School (Click here for pictures)

The birdwatches produced some fantastic results. Pupils often braved rain showers and biting cold winds to take a closer look at the birds in their school grounds but everyone had lots of fun.

Top spots included a huge mixed flock of Redwings and Fieldfares, six Siskins at one birdfeeder and a gathering of 150 gulls on one playing field.

Birds in school grounds are often quite different to those we are used to seeing visiting our gardens. Pied wagtails, for example, are often seen bobbing across tarmac playgrounds but are seen rarely in our more compact gardens.

Teachers and Leaders organised lots of other activities including wildlife walks, making birdfood and craft activities – everyone learnt lots about identifying and caring for our garden birds.

Volunteer RSPB Wildlife Explorer Leaders were on hand at each school to explain how to use binoculars and 'spotting telescope' safely, and help with bird identification.