Braving blustery conditions, the College’s Grounds & Gardens team joined forces again with staff and student volunteers for the Big Garden Birdwatch, the RSPB’s annual nationwide citizen science project monitoring garden bird populations across the UK.
Strong winds forced the team to abandon their usual morning survey time (8:30-9:30am) when birds are most active. However, they regrouped in the early afternoon to conduct the one-hour survey in the gardens of 68 and 70 Storey’s Way.
Gardens Team Leader Kath shared, “Despite the blustery conditions and a later timeslot than in previous years, we still managed to spot 15 different bird species over the hour. It was great to be joined by some of our students to listen, observe, and record the variety of birds in our Grounds and Gardens!”
Inspired by the event’s success, Kath and the team are now considering offering regular early morning birdwatching sessions open to all.
Key highlights:
- Unusual sighting: A kestrel made a rare appearance, ranked 57th out of 80 species in last year’s Birdwatch results.
- Top bird spotted: Goldfinches led the count, with 10 sightings – well above the Cambridgeshire average of two.
- Total birds recorded: 47 individual birds, only slightly fewer than previous years despite the weather.
- Wildlife sightings: Observers also spotted three foxes and black squirrels.
The Grounds & Gardens team includes keen birdwatcher Charlie Ison, whose striking photos (see below) showcase the College’s rich birdlife. Events like this highlight Churchill’s commitment to nature and conservation.


