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More unusual sightings
There are always some fantastic sightings when you start looking into the top 50 Big Garden Birdwatch results and Kent is no exception . Especially striking birds include the nuthatch , a plump mainly woodland bird with a beak like a woodpecker , a grey / blue upper body and chestnut underside . Last year they ranked at number 24 in Kent and were seen in 1 in 20 gardens .
You may also see a jay ( seen in 1 in 25 Kent gardens ) and can often spot these by catching the flash of their blue wings as they soar through the air . They are shy , woodland birds and despite their colourful appearance are actually members of the crow family . If you hear their call this becomes more apparent , with that cackling caw we expect from crows !
If you have a large pine tree in your garden , you could be lucky enough to spot Britain ’ s smallest bird – the wonderful goldcrest . Weighing less than a pound coin , the goldcrest , as its name suggests , has a vivid golden stripe on its head and an otherwise fairly dull greyish-green body . They use their thin beaks to pick insects from between pine needles and were seen in less than 1 in a 100 Kent gardens last year , ranking at number 44 .
The Big Garden Birdwatch ’ s big weekend takes place over 28 - 30 January . Follow RSPB England on Twitter and Facebook and see what others are spotting in their patches .
www . rspb . org . uk / birdwatch
RSPBEngland
KENT ’ S TOP 20 SPOTTED BIRDS 2021 :
1 . House Sparrow 2 . Starling 3 . Blue Tit 4 . Woodpigeon 5 . Blackbird 6 . Collared Dove 7 . Magpie 8 . Robin 9 . Great Tit 10 . Goldfinch 11 . Feral Pigeon 12 . Chaffinch 13 . Long Tailed Tit 14 . Dunnock 15 . Carrion Crow 16 . Jackdaw 17 . Coal Tit 18 . Wren 19 . Greenfinch 20 . Song Thrush
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