THE BLUE tit has claimed top spot on the Isle of Wight in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch for 2002.

It is the first time the figures for the Island have been given separately from Hampshire, although in 2001 for both counties the blue tit was also the most regularly-seen bird in gardens.

The rest of the top ten on the Island, in order of number of times spotted, were; house sparrow, starling, blackbird, chaffinch, wood pigeon, greenfinch, collared dove, great tit, and robin.

Altogether, 800 people on the Island took part in the survey of gardens, school grounds and parks for the RSPB.

Adrian Thomas, south east co-ordinator for the survey, said they were delighted with the response on the Island.

Nationally, the starling topped the list, with the house sparrow second and blue tit third.