|
20 residents of the 4Bs contributed to the 2026 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and shared their observations in the Nature Group. These were collated to create this summary report. The RSPB Survey methodology reports the maximum number of birds of any species that lands on the patch being observed over a 1 hour period. 36 species of bird were reported by the 20 contributors to the survey (Table 1). 10 additional species compared to the 2025 count including: kingfisher, siskin, grey wagtail, redwing, goldcrest, sparrow hawk and several species of waterfowl. The three species with the largest aggregate counts in the 4Bs survey are 1 = Blue Tit (69), 2 = Wood Pigeon (45) and Sparrow (40). The same three birds topped our local chart in 2025. Long Tailed Tits, Robins, Crows and Magpies were also widely reported. 9 species had only one sighting. Some species that were observed in 2025 were not reported in 2026 – jay, marsh tit, pied wagtail, black cap and garden warbler. Early counts across the UK have highlighted high numbers of Goldfinch, Blue Tits, and Wood Pigeons but we will have to wait for the full results to be published. Table 1 Species reported in the 4Bs Big Garden Birdwatch Survey (20 contributors). The number column is not the number of birds counted in one hour but the aggregate of the maximum number of birds that land in a patch during a one hour period. New species reported this year are shown in red font. 
0 Comments
For much of the year the River Mole is a quiet, sluggish, muddy, shallow waterway meandering through lush green fields or fields shady woods near Betchworth. But a few times a year it changes its form.
Rivers like the River Mole have always flooded. Long before roads, houses, and flood defenses, winter rain spread across the valley floor, eroding the land and creating the fertile soils of the Mole Valley. When a river floods, it can look dramatic — even alarming — to us. Fields disappear, paths and even roads may vanish, and familiar landscapes seem suddenly out of control. And, it can be very damaging if it spills into properties. In January 2026, after several days of heavy rain, the River Mole flooded onto the fields and woodlands near Betchworth and Brockham. It seemed like a disaster for the wildlife but many of the plants and animals that live here have evolved with this natural cycle — and some animals depend on it. Fish are often the first to respond. As water spills out of the main channel, it creates temporary side pools and flooded meadows. These calm, shallow waters are rich in food and safer from predators. Fish move into them to feed, rest, and sometimes to spawn. Amphibians — frogs, toads, and newts — thrive at this moment. Floodwater connects ponds, ditches, and streams that are usually separate. This gives amphibians new routes to move, breed, and spread their populations across the landscape. Invertebrates respond in their thousands. Worms, insects, and larvae are lifted from soils and leaf litter and carried into new places. When the water recedes, they leave behind a rich food source — especially important for birds. Birdlife changes quickly during floods. Waders and water birds arrive to probe the soft mud for invertebrates. Ducks and swans feed on flooded grasses. Kingfishers and herons take advantage of fish in shrinking pools. Mammals adjust too. Water voles retreat to higher ground but return quickly once levels drop. Foxes and deer follow the water’s edge, feeding where floodwaters uncover fresh vegetation. Even bats benefit, as floods trigger bursts of insect life once waters begin to fall. When a field floods, the most important changes happen out of sight, beneath the surface. As water fills the soil, it pushes out the air held in tiny spaces between soil particles. Oxygen quickly disappears, and the soil becomes waterlogged. This sounds dramatic, but it is a condition soils have experienced for millennia. Soil life does not stop — it adapts. Microbes that need oxygen slow down, while others take over, quietly breaking down organic matter in different ways. Nutrients such as nitrogen, iron, and phosphorus are released and reshuffled, changing the soil’s chemistry for a time. Most soil animals sense flooding early. Earthworms, insects, and larvae move upward, sideways, or into temporary shelter. They are not wiped out — they wait. When the water drains away, oxygen returns, microbes surge back into activity, and plants respond with fresh growth. Flooded soils are not damaged soils. They are soils resetting — part of a living system that knows how to recover. As water spreads and slows, it drops fine sediments — natural fertiliser — across meadows and floodplains. This is why river valleys are often so rich in wildflowers, grasses, and insects. To us, floods can feel like nature misbehaving. But ecologically, they are moments of renewal. They reconnect habitats, redistribute life, and reset the system. .So when the river rises, it is a wonderful manifestation of the Earth interacting with itself shaping the landscape and rejuvenating life along the river corridor. The RSPB draws our attention to our wild birds in January through its annual Big Garden Birdwatch UK-wide survey. Its a a good time to spot our birds, as the lack of leaves on the trees can make them easier to see. It's also much easier to attract them to our bird feeders as natural food sources are scarce. Here are some birds to watch out for. Treecreepers with their speckly brown colouring are well camouflaged as they hop up the side of a tree looking for invertebrates to eat. It’s the movement that is likely to catch your eye as these are very active birds. They start near the bottom of a tree spiralling round as they go up, using their curved bills to find their food.  The Great Spotted Woodpecker is flashier woodland character to look out for is. At this time of year, listen out for a distinctive ‘drrrrrr’ as the birds drum on the bark of trees. Both males and females drum as a way of communicating to each other and to mark out their territories. It’s not, as you might expect, to drill a nest hole or to winkle out grubs to eat. Great Spotted Woodpeckers favour hard, dead trees as these ring with a sound that carries furthest. They’ve also been known to drum on telegraph poles and even drainpipes.  Robins are one of only a few birds in the UK that sing throughout the year. Take a walk in the countryside, head to your local park or into your garden and see if you can hear one. Fluffed up against the cold and singing its heart out, a Robin can raise a smile on even the darkest of winter days. But don’t be fooled by their cute and fluffy exterior. Robins are fiercely territorial and theirs is a song to warn other Robins away.  Redwings are a type of thrush that flock to the UK in winter from Iceland, Russia and Scandinavia. They come in search of berries to eat and to seek shelter in our relatively milder climate. They can be mistaken for Song Thrushes or Mistle Thrushes and will frequently form flocks with other thrushes as they roam through the countryside looking for food. But keep an eye out for the orangey-red tinge under their wings – it’s this that gives Redwings their name. This red colouring is visible both when the birds fly and when they perch.  Fieldfares – is another winter thrush to look for. This is the largest thrush seen in the UK and is distinguished from others by its grey head and yellow bill. Like Redwings, these birds are also seeking food and shelter in a warmer climate, flying in from Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and Eastern Europe to spend the winter here. They have a fast-paced ‘chack, chack, chack’ call which is likened to chuckling. Should cold weather persist and berries dwindle, Fieldfares may be tempted into gardens with pieces of apple and other fruit.  Article adapted from RSPB Blog
Winter is a tough season for our insects. Food is scarce, temperatures are low, and most creatures that flutter through our gardens in summer are now quietly tucked away, waiting for spring. Beneath piles of fallen leaves lie hundreds of tiny lives. Some caterpillars and pupae hide deep in the leaf litter, sheltered from frost and hungry predators. All these hidden lives mean that what looks like a dull heap of leaves or a lifeless twig may actually be the next generation of butterflies and moths that bring colour and joy to summer. The good news? Giving our insects a helping hand is wonderfully simple — it mostly involves doing less, than more. A perfectly tidy garden is often a poor home for wildlife. These are some things we can do to help sustain our insects through the winter. Go easy with hedge pruning - Trim hedges, but leave some sections untouched for a year or two on a rotation. This keeps the hedge tidy while protecting the insects living within it. Leave the leaves - Clear them off the lawn but pile them in quiet corners or spread them over beds. They suppress weeds, enrich the soil, shelter caterpillars, and provide cosy foraging for birds and hedgehogs. Create habitat piles - A simple heap of twigs, branches and leaves becomes a winter refuge for insects that don’t travel far from their food plants. Let some areas go wild - Choose small corners — under trees, behind sheds, along boundaries — to leave untouched. January is also tough for our birds with short days, long cold nights and very little natural food. A few simple actions can provide them with a winter lifeline. Feed for energy – Offer fat balls (no nets), suet, sunflower hearts and peanuts. Top up little and often to keep food fresh. Keep water ice-free – Break ice each morning or add a splash of warm water so birds can drink and preen. Provide shelter – Evergreens, dense hedges or even a small twig pile provide vital cover. Nest boxes double as night-time roosts. Keep feeders clean – Wash feeders and bird baths weekly to prevent disease. Most importantly, be consistent, keep supplies coming, and you’ll help birds get through the harshest month of the year — while bringing life, movement, sound and colour to your winter garden. January is the month for stunning sunrises and sunsets.  |
4Bs Nature Group BlogThis blog is maintained by the 4Bs Biodiversity Initiative Team. Its purpose is to provide brief updates of activities and encourage the sharing of experiences and learning. We welcome guests and contributions from members of the 4Bs WhatsApp Nature Group and wider community. To contribute a post please email the editor at biodiversityinititiative1 @gmail.com PagesArchives
January 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed