MORE than half a million people are expected to take part in the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, happening this weekend.

The wildlife charity is calling for people to spend an hour counting the number of birds that visit their garden to help build a picture of how UK birds are doing.

Last year, over 12,000 people in Greater Manchester took part in the survey that saw the sparrow become the most popular in the UK with other familiar species like the robin, blackbird and starling in the top ten.

Daniel Hayhow, RSPB conservation scientist, said: “This year could be a bumper weekend of sightings. Conditions during the breeding season were much better compared to recent years and our resident birds are likely to have been helped by relatively kind autumn and winter weather. So, keep your eyes peeled for the greenfinches, chaffinches and various tit species.”

Submit results to: rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.