With lockdown now over as we knew it for the months from March 2020 onwards, and the ceasing of those shielding from 1st August, this thread has come to it natural end and will be closed from 8th August, allowing those who wish to add conclusions, comments and round-ups the chance to do so. It will remain where it is though, for prosperity in years to come and perhaps for us to reflect on what was an unusual time of our lives but, as from 1st August, please add any garden sightings to the established garden sightings pages (county and out of county) and not on here.
I would like to thank everyone for their enthusiasm on this thread which I hope had something of the desired objective of helping us all, no matter how small, through this period. Let’s hope we don’t ever have to re-open it again!!
With the recently imposed lockdown due to COVID-19, for those more responsible birders amongst us, travelling to anything other than closely walkable birding sites has become inadvisable and frankly, irresponsible.
Of course, birding remains for many, more than just a hobby. It keeps us sane, relaxes us (most of the time anyway!), keeps us active (mentally as much as physically) and permits us just sheer enjoyment without which our lives would be far, far duller. So, I have added this blog type forum for those of us for whom garden birding will, for the next few weeks at least, become our mainstay and indeed for many, our only, chance of birding.
USERS SHOULD START THEIR OWN NEW TOPIC WITH THEIR NAME, LOCATION (just a rough location will suffice) AND 'COVID GARDEN LOCKDOWN' IN BRACKETS BUT ONLY START A THREAD IN THE 'COVID-19 GARDEN LOCKDOWN BLOGS' SUB-FORUM ON THE COUNTY SIGHTINGS THREAD (don't just add a thread on the county sighings forum). This will become your own dedicated garden thread which you can treat as you see fit where you can keep replying in your own thread to add further sightings of discussion. Feel free to add as many posts as you like, ramble on about anything you like so long as its about birds and/or yourself and add images of your garden and/or its birds and wildlife. Remember, it is intended for you to treat as you wish (within reason) and hopefully, to keep you in touch with others, active and sane! * please make your first post a brief description (or as detailed as you like, include photos if you like) of your garden to give readers a feel for your sightings and their relevance to where you live etc. Out of county garden blogs are welcome too.
Please note though, that this forum will only remain open so long as the lockdown exists and once things return to normal it will be closed (but probably not deleted) and normal service will resume on the existing garden threads as normal. Do feel free to add certain sightings to the usual garden threads as you see fit though.
