That's all folks!

#BWKM0 ND&B garden challenge
49th and final day 

Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who took a hold of the baton and ran with this challenge. It was started in response to the Italian ornithologists who created the #BWKM0 hashtag as a way of coping with their lockdown (by organising a coming together of birds, birders, gardens, balconies and windows.) And this is exactly what our challenge has also been about - a 'virtual' meeting of the birding fraternity during troubling times. As much as there are observers who will have recorded higher percentage scores than others, such competitiveness has been but a sideshow to the genuine spirit behind the challenge, one of camaraderie wrapped up in a celebration of our shared passion. So, to use a well-worn cliche, there are no losers here, only winners.

As for the highest percentage scores - there was a flaw in my method of trying to 'equal out' the gardens - because birders who posted a low baseline score were able to do so by not having birdied much in their garden beforehand - this enabled those scores to be surpassed with ease. Apologies if this was not the case with you, but I'm sure you'll understand my thinking. Because of this, I have used 50 species as a 'starting baseline minimum'. These are the gardens that appear as the 'highest scores' on the graphic. I have worked out everyone's percentage scores and they appear on the table below. As previously stated, this was all a bit of fun and not to be taken seriously!

The hope is that we have found some solace in this 'coming together', made new friends and enjoyed the birding. On a personal note, I have been touched by the number of positive messages received from a large number of you. It has been a privilege to organise and collate all of your observations into these daily posts. Stay safe and thanks for sharing your experiences!

A last bit of tidying up from today's observations. Richard P (Charmouth, Dorset) added Arctic Skua to our overall list. Garden firsts came from Stewart S (Howick, Northumberland) - Coot; Wes A (Capel, Surrey) - Spotted Flycatcher; Arjun D (Wallington, London) - Ringed Plover; Jono L (Wanstead, London) - Little Grebe; David S (West Raynham, Norfolk) - Lesser Whitethroat; Mike P (Malling, Kent) - Sand Martin; Josephine S (Leatherhead, Surrey) - Moorhen and Pheasant. All of these have been added to the final graphic.

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The final numbers
Alphabetical order by first name. The first figure is the garden score as on March 20th. The second is the total between then and today (May 7th).

Alastair F (West Mainland, Orkney) 100/66 (66%); Arjun D (Wallington, Surrey) 74/70 (94%); 

Benne A (Tirana, Albania) xx/40; Benno W (Goodnestone, Kent) xx/43; 

Bernard B (Ruckinge, Kent) 107/67 (62%); Bob S (Worcester Park, Surrey) 86/37 (43%); 

Callum M (Hemel Hempstead, Herts) 64/61 (95%); Cheech A (Langley Vale, Surrey) 31/39 (125%); 

Chris P (Claygate, Surrey) 43/42 (97%); Daniel W (NW London) xx/xx; 

Dave B (Chatham Islands, Pacific Ocean) 30/29 (96%); Dave P (Shoreham, W Sussex) 55/46 (83%); 

David S (West Raynham, Norfolk) 87/64 (73%); Debbie S (Portland, Dorset) 155/53 (34%); 

Dylan W (Thanet, Kent) 111/61 (54%); Ed S (Farncombe, Surrey) 79/83 (105%);  

Gavin H (Bridport, Dorset) xx/53;  Geoff B (Chessington, Surrey) 69/30 (43%); 

Gill H (Tenterden, Kent) 60/36 (60%); Gordon H (Redhill, Surrey) 80/46 (57%); 

Ian K (Leigh, Surrey) 62/42 (67%);  Ian S (Sidcup, Kent) 113/52 (46%); 

Ian W (Merton Park, London) 86/52 (60%); Isaiah R (New Malden, London) 76/59 (77%); 

John P (Banstead, Surrey) xx/xx; Jono L (Wanstead, London) 83/71 (85%); 

Josephine S (Leatherhead, Surrey) 40/44 (110%); Justin T (Charmouth, Dorset) 59/32 (54%); 

Mark D (Dorking, Surrey) 61/61 (100%); Mark H (Littlestone, Kent) 131/82 (62%): 

Mark N (Stutton, Suffolk)  77/62 (80%); Martin C (Lydd, Kent) 140/92 (65%); 

Mathew B (Wrotham, Kent) 33/53 (160%); Matt P (Pulborough, West Sussex) 126/113 (89%); 

Michael D (Craster, Northumberland) 106/64 (60%); Mike P (Malling, Kent) 70/66 (94%); 

Mike R (Battle, East Sussex) 97/55 (56%); Oscar D (Chiswick, London) 68/72 (105%); 

Paul D (London) 84/44 (52%); Pete B (Shadoxhurst, Kent) 101/54 (53%); 

Phil B (Ramsgate, Kent) 54/30 (55%); Rebecca G (Balham, London) xx/15; 

Reuben B (Tufnell Park, London) 45/45 (100%); Richard F (Pinner, London) 63/35 (55%); 

Richard P (Charmouth, Dorset) 101/87 (86%);  Robin S (Cranleigh, Surrey) 101/57 (56%); 

Sam B (Enniskeane, Cork) 67/69 (102%); Seamus E (Thornton Cleveleys, Lancs) 67/48 (71%); 

Sean M (Pinner, London) 50/43 (86%); Seth G (Uig, Skye) 64/58 (90%); 

Stephen R (Harrogate, Yorks) 66/47 (71%); Steve C (Guildford, Surrey) 66/39 (59%); 

Steve G (Banstead, Surrey) 92/70 (76%); Steve T (Ewell, Surrey) 59/51 (86%); 

Steve W (Hawes, N Yorks) 91/64 (70%); Stewart S (Howick, Northumberland) 131/79 (60%); 

Stuart C (Walkern, Herts) xx/63; Sye W (Aston Clinton, Bucks) xx/45; 

Tony B (Woodford, London) 69/55 (79%); Wes A (Capel, Surrey) 96/91 (94%)

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If you fancy a further challenge, then why not join in 'Curlew Feathers' garden bird race on 16th May. Click here for details.