Chickendoodle Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 We feed the wild birds in our garden and normally just gets lots of pigeons, starlings and the occasional blue tit or blackbird Since the snow started we have seen lots of unusual birds (well, unusual for us anyway). Yesterday a pair of stunning redwings came and stripped our holly bush of berries - it did have a lovely crop and looked beautiful but I am glad the berries came in useful! Also there have been songthrushes, robins, dunnocks and I am sure lots of others which have been too quick for us to identify. It is costing us a fortune in food - we thought that raisins or sultanas might make a good substitute for berries as they must be getting scarce - is this right? We have an open table, a covered one, a ground feeder and lots of fat balls/hanging fat blocks. I have put out the odd chopped apple too. Is there anything else that is good to put out as this is the first year we have seriously fed the birds and not sure what else to do. We had a peanut feeder but it is a dead loss and the nuts just end up going mouldy and we throw them away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I've noticed an increase in both numbers and species of birds in the garden too. We have four seed feeders, three peanut feeders and two fat block feeders, plus a lot of berry-bearing trees. Haven't had redwings, but there are a good variety of other little birds that visit. They are really relying on the feeders in this weather, so I'm keeping them topped up. We are getting through 20kg of seed in about 2-3 weeks at the moment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Interesting, I have a feeder station (several different feeders on different arms) in the garden just outside my office window and the last few days there have been almost no birds on it whereas ususally it has several especially robins, starlings and various tits. I wonder why they aren't coming now it's especially cold and the ground is covered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 We are getting loads of birds which is lovely to see especially with the snowy backdrop. We have seen some FieldFare which don't usually come to the garden. I do have to go out and give the feeders a knock from time to time though to stop them freezing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 We spent a fortune on new feeders etc but aren't getting loads of different species - just starlings, occasional bluetits, sparrows and our usual robin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I've got to re think the wild bird feeding, our local foxes were pinching it!!! they must be very hungry right now, my girls are securely loced up but I still worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryegg Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Our feeder would make a good birdbook cover picture. one Jay, two blackbids, fighting of course, two long tail tits, an assortment of other tits and sparrows, a couple of black and white wagtails, two jackdaws, a crow or rook and in the front garden a woodpecker, not green and a squirrel. Like everyone else I am spending a lot on food but it's worth it. Not so nice, I've got a rat helping itself to layers pellets. the chickens just watch. Will hopefully get rid of the rat when we unfreeze up here. happy birdwatching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 We do not usually get any birds in the garden (not sure why ) but at the moment we have a beautiful bird that has decided to nest in the hedge and each evening hops about on the pergola. I'm off to the pet shop today to buy her (it looks like a her!) something nice. No idea what kind of bird though - not up on these things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 We had more when it was just frozen, but the bluetits, greatits etc seem to have disappeared in the snow. We have had a group of redwings and some sparrows and our resident robin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 We have had a jay, thrushes and woodpeckers that we don't normally see very often. The jay was beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 paper said tesco selling more bird food than usual. nice how many look after the wildlife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 We are getting loads of birds which is lovely to see especially with the snowy backdrop. We have seen some FieldFare which don't usually come to the garden. I do have to go out and give the feeders a knock from time to time though to stop them freezing up. we're getting field fares too - they're lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I have fieldfares today as well, three of them! This is the very first time I have seen them in the garden, and I didn't know what they were at first (I thought they were Redwings!). I also have seven blackbirds, the usual dunnocks and blue tits and a robin today. Oh, yes, and a squirrel! I've been putting out currants for them (found an out of date packet in the back of the cupboard), as well as an apple and pear I forgot about in the fruit bowl, some leftover blueberries and multigrain bread. They are eating everything, even snow as all water is frozen, and my chickens are all sitting on a perch overlooking the garden with their little faces pressed against the corrugated plastic of the WIR, watching them eat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Our fieldfares have been and gone about a month or so ago - they feasted on the last of the apples on the trees and were loads of them - we feed the birds all year round so always have loads but to-day we have a family of long tail tits which we rarely see up here - we have blue tits, coal tits, great tits and long tail tits today so its lovely to see them along with our resident robins and blackbirds and different finches - we sometimes get a woodpecker too and its lovely to see - I love to feed them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 We feed the birds all year and get a good variety. At the moment there are lots of squabbling blackbirds, something we see only in the winter. We have sparrows, dunnocks, blue long-tailed and great tits, wrens, robins, rooks, jackdaws, starlings, magpies, chaffinch, bullfinch, greenfinch, goldfinch and spotted woodpecker.... I'm sure I've forgotten some. Today was special though. Across the lane at sunset, six feet from where I was standing there was a barn owl on the fence. It turned and looked at me then was away in a whisper. The first wild one I have ever seen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 We feed the birds all year and get a good variety. At the moment there are lots of squabbling blackbirds, something we see only in the winter. We have sparrows, dunnocks, blue long-tailed and great tits, wrens, robins, rooks, jackdaws, starlings, magpies, chaffinch, bullfinch, greenfinch, goldfinch and spotted woodpecker.... I'm sure I've forgotten some.Today was special though. Across the lane at sunset, six feet from where I was standing there was a barn owl on the fence. It turned and looked at me then was away in a whisper. The first wild one I have ever seen Wow I collect owls and love them so much - I love to see them close up and we often get them in to the vets injured and then release them - I like that bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 I have a robin who comes daily and 4 -6 blackbirds who conme together. cats are showing more interest in great outdoors so keep them in to give birds a chance. Long tailed tits too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 We've had two thrushes - not sure if they are Song or Mistle thrushes, but I've never seen them in our garden before. Probably eating the red berries off the pyracanthus. I did read somewhere years ago that if you start feeding birds, especially in the cold, then you need to keep it up as they get used to where the food is and come to rely on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 We feed all year round and get lots of birds but I saw something today not seen before 2 Jackdaws one actualy hung on a peanut feeder like a tit and the other one stood o a rig and pecked randomly needless to say it was entertaining Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 We had 3 bullfinches at the feeders today . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 hey We have so many birds that come into the garden (some i can't identify) about half of England's population of starlings quite a few black birds loads of sparrows a beautiful pair of doves the fattiest robin i think i've ever seen and a black and white bird that i've no idea of its breed. It's about the same size as a sparrow with a long tail and these really lovely black and white markings that look almost like he has got Egyptian eye makeup on. He's a real stunner my instinct says some sort of tit but i'm not sure. We also have a magpie who visits with a longstanding vendetta with Prof he taunts her from the top of our veg patch fences and she gets so angry she will literally throw herself at the fence and scream. We always have food on the bird table and in the summer have real swarms of starlings if you don't fill it up at the specific time it normally gets filled at you go out and they are all lined up on fences all around the garden it looks like something from a Hitchcock film really creepy Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 hey and a black and white bird that i've no idea of its breed. It's about the same size as a sparrow with a long tail and these really lovely black and white markings that look almost like he has got Egyptian eye makeup on. He's a real stunner my instinct says some sort of tit but i'm not sure. Beth Try looking up long tail tit as they are small and fluffy with stripes down their wings and have a long tail - they are really cute. We had the woodpecker but he is so wary I have not been able to take a good photo of him - he senses that you are there at the door hiding! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 hey and a black and white bird that i've no idea of its breed. It's about the same size as a sparrow with a long tail and these really lovely black and white markings that look almost like he has got Egyptian eye makeup on. He's a real stunner my instinct says some sort of tit but i'm not sure. Beth Try looking up long tail tit as they are small and fluffy with stripes down their wings and have a long tail - they are really cute. Hes quite similar to that but has much more black with black lines across his eyes so goodness knows what he is but thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 These are stripping the flower buds off my flowering plum Look, the little monkey has a beak full Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Sultanas and currants etc the blackbirds, thrushes fieldfares will love, cake crumbs, biscuit crumbs, robins like these, bits of stale cheese, if it's very hard you can grate or chop it up or maybe put a chunk on the bird table for them to peck at. Pastry, raw or cooked. even s"Ooops, word censored!"s of meat chopped up small, apples and pears that are past there best. Fatty stuff like suet. I have given up feeding peanuts as nothing seems to eat them anymore. The tits seem to prefer sunflower kernels, so I put them in a seed feeder, they are expensive but well worth it. This lovely Fieldfare was just round the corner from my house yesterday. Gorging itself on rotten apples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
