Here comes the biggie...

You all will be aware of the big dates on the calendar, I'm sure. And we've had some huge ones lately, as I'm sure you are aware.

Last week, of course, it was the international Winnie the Pooh Day, for which I ceremonially ate some honey. Ten days ago, I know you will all have been active participants in National Dress Up Your Pet Day. I jest not.

But I like to think that they all pale into insignificance compared to the RSPB Big Garden BirdWatch this weekend.

Last year, half a million people took part. I think back to my day at the Olympics in 2012, which I think was the greatest number of people I had ever been amongst. Google tells me that the capacity of the park was 200,000 people but it seemed the whole world was there - well, two and a half times that number will be counting their garden birds this weekend. It's strange - I will be counting alone, but I will feel part of a very large community.

At the moment, I've got a flock of Greenfinches visiting daily. The peak count lately has been 19, which is so encouraging given the problems they have had with this trichomonosis disease.

And once the Greenfinches are in, they seem to give courage to the other birds, and down come the Chaffinches and Goldfinches, Blue Tits and Great Tits.

Forcing yourself to sit and watch the birds for an hour I think makes you enjoy the small pleasures of life. Think of female Blackbirds, perhaps the plainest bird to visit the garden. But here is 'my' female in my cherry tree - she has so much character. Now, in the depths of a soggy winter, it's the little things that can bring so much joy.

So get counting, have a great hour, and let us know how our garden birds our faring at the same time as demonstrating to the nation how much we all care about our garden wildlife.