To start our 2012 Big Garden Birdwatch event our Junior Leaders gave a super introduction
highlighting the TOP 10 garden birds seen in Cheshire last year,
and some of the birds we might see on our walk around Pikelow Farm.
Leaders were astounded by the excellent birding knowledge shown by some of the younger explorers
- they correctly identified birds like Brambling and Tree sparrow from their pictures.

 

On our walk, despite bitter cold conditions, we used binoculars and telescopes to identify
a range of small birds at the various feeding stations dotted around the farm.

 

 

We also counted the large numbers of birds on and around the trout pools.

Towards the end of our walk, we lifted one of the corrugated iron sheets that David Taylor places around
for small mammals to shelter under, and we all got good views of a tiny shrew scurrying for shelter.

 
After the walk, there were lots of sheets featuring different birds to colour.

 

As we are promoting The RSPB campaign, Save Birds of Prey we made a huge collage of a Red Kite.
By using birdseed we were able to replicate the stunning plumage of this amazing bird.

By this time we were ready for some refreshments.
Hot cross buns, cakes, biscuits and warm drinks helped keep the cold at bay.