The chances of spotting a fieldfare or redwing in 2026 have risen, thanks to cold and unsettled weather in Europe, prompting a bumper year in birds migrating to the UK.
The RSPB highlighted the trend on the eve of the Big Garden Birdwatch, an annual event that constitutes the world’s largest garden wildlife survey, which will take place between 23 and 25 January.
Such migratory birds tend to inhabit the continent for a large part of the year before spending winter in the UK to avoid the extreme cold in places as far as Poland and Scandinavia. Other reasons that prompt the journey include scarcer availability of food for the birds.
Beccy Speight, chief executive of the RSPB, said: “When compared with places such as Norway and Sweden, the UK has relatively warm winters, and we get large numbers of migratory birds from all over Europe, which travel here seeking shelter, food and water.
“But numbers change every year depending on what the weather is like there and here – with the recent cold spell you may see some surprise migratory visitors outside your window”
Last year, almost 600,000 people took part, with birdwatchers catching sight of more than 9 million birds belonging to over 80 different species. About 3,000 of those were fieldfares and redwings.
In 2025, the average count of woodpigeons rose to become the UK’s third most recorded spot for the first time, behind the house sparrow – which has stayed in top place for the 22nd year in a row – and the blue tit.
“Even on the greyest winter day, our local birds bring a welcome dose of wildness and nature into our everyday lives,” Speight said.
The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which was launched in 1979, asks people to spend an hour watching and keeping count of birds in their gardens or local parks, and then send news of their finds to the RSPB.
A parallel event that encourages schools to take part in the survey will also be held during the first week of the spring term in February.
The top 10 birds seen in last year’s birdwatch
1 House sparrow
2 Blue tit
3 Woodpigeon
4 Starling
5 Blackbird
6 Robin
7 Great tit
8 Goldfinch
9 Magpie
10 Long-tailed tit
