One of the sounds of my childhood summers was the soft twittering of House Martins in their nests outside my bedroom window. Even now, just thinking about it evokes powerful feelings. I loved these little birds, so neatly tailored, such athletes in the air, that came year after year all the way from Africa to raise their chicks next to me. The photo is one I took last year when I went to visit my parents. I think we can safely say it is not the same bird as in my childhood, but I like to think it might be a great great great great grandchild.
There are no House Martins on my current house - there just aren't the open flight paths they need up to the eaves past the mature trees. But if you are lucky enough to have them, then we need you taking part in our summer version of the massive Big Garden Birdwatch. And even if like me you don't have House Martins, then we need you just as much!
It is called Make Your Nature Count, and it works just the same. You choose an hour, you sit and watch, you count the maximum number of each species that actually visit your garden during that hour, and then submit the results online. Easy! There are just three main differences:
1) you've got a whole week in which to choose your hour (any time between 5 and 13 June).
2) we want you keeping a special look out for House Martins and Swifts overhead too, and baby Blackbirds, Robins and Song Thrushes
and 3) we want you to tell us which mammals visit your garden too.
62,000 people took part last year when we tried it for the first time. And that gives us loads of fascinating data to help us monitor the health of the nation's gardens in summer.
I'm thinking of doing a good long morning burst of gardening in the weekend sunshine we're due, and then settling down for a spot of lunchtime recording with maybe an iced drink or two. I hope you'll be joining me, figuratively speaking!
And here's all you need to know to take part. Good luck, folks - I look forward to seeing the results.