Think it's cold? It's even colder on the continent which was great news for this year's RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, as flocks of exotic birds have been heading our way.

With over half a million people grabbing their binoculars and heading outdoors for a spot of organised twitching, the 33rd Big Garden Birdwatch was a huge success when it took place this weekend. The brief was simple. Head outdoors and note down what's hanging out on your birdfeeder. Submit your results to the RSPB website and feel good that you have done your bit for wildlife in the UK.

But this year, amateur twitchers were told to expect the unexpected as spectacular flocks of rarely seen birds were known to be showing their faces across the country. A harsh winter and subsequent shortage of berries in Russia and Scandinavia has been driving birds like the bohemian waxwing over to the UK in droves as they hunt out milder climbs and welcome food supplies.

True citizen science in action, it is hoped this weekend's RSPB survey will not only help to document the state of Britain's native birdlife but will also chart how many of these unusual species have made it to our shores.

Experts have speculated that this year was the best year for sighting waxwings in over a century, but there's only one way to know for sure. The results should be out in a couple of months, however in the meantime, if you fancy finding out for yourself just step outside. You might be in luck...