The number of species gained or lost as British breeding birds was in low single figures in the 1960s and 1970s; surprising discoveries shaped my early birdwatching.
The arrival of little egrets, great white egrets, and cranes shows how climate change has altered Britain's birdlife, allowing these species to thrive here now.
Birds like Cetti's warbler colonising Southern England sparked excitement; meanwhile, losses like the red-backed shrike made us acutely aware of biodiversity's fragility.
My journey with the Guardian over 1,000 columns highlights the dramatic changes in species and my personal evolution alongside the changing landscapes of British wildlife.
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