THESE fantastic pictures of common garden birds - and some of their lesser known friends - have been sent in by the Worcester News Camera Club members to help readers who want to try out bird spotting.

As people spend more time at home in a bid to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, they may have more chance to watch feathered friends in the garden.

These pictures include robins, sparrows, blue tits and many more common birds we are challenging you to spot.

And our challenge comes as the latest results from the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch have revealed smaller birds such as long-tailed tits, wrens and coal tits were seen in greater numbers than in 2019, thanks to the milder winter.

Now in its 41st year, the Big Garden Birdwatch encourages people of all ages to count the number of birds that visit their garden helping the RSPB build up a picture of how they are doing. This year, almost half a million people across the country including 6,088 in Worcestershire took part counting nearly 8 million birds.

The event held over the last weekend in January revealed the house sparrow was in the number one spot in Worcestershire, whilst there was an increase in garden sightings of long-tailed tits, wrens, and coal tits, three of the smallest species to visit our gardens. The milder weather we experienced at the start of the year appears to have helped populations of these species as small birds are more susceptible to spells of cold weather.

The house sparrow was at the top of the Worcestershire Big Garden Birdwatch rankings at the most commonly seen garden birds in the county. Blue tit was in the second spot, with the starling completing the top three.

Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s Chief Executive, said: “We know that for many people, garden birds provide an important connection to the wider world and bring enormous joy. These are difficult and unsettling times for all of us, but we hope that nature can provide a welcome respite in whichever form and wherever you may encounter it."

For a full round-up of all the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch results and to see which birds were visiting gardens where you live, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.

And, if you want to take up the challenge and spot birds in your garden, let us know by emailing ak@worcesternews.co.uk