Feeding the Birds

conradmum

Can anyone identify a new bird in my garden for me? It's about the size of a blackbird, maybe a little bigger. It has a greyish head and a big grey patch on its back just above the tail. It also seems to have a pale russet-orange breast. Sound familiar to anyone?

It's very aggressively defending the cheese on toast crusts I put out this morning! None of the other birds can get near.

Barneysmom

If you look on the RSPB site you might be able to i.d it?

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/form.asp

I'm loving this thread and everyone is so caring.....the country ain't so bad is it :cool:
I will be planting sunflowers next year just for the birds, loads of them, maybe the neighbours will think I'm mad and start calling me the bird lady :rotfl:

floyd

conradmum wrote: »

Can anyone identify a new bird in my garden for me? It's about the size of a blackbird, maybe a little bigger. It has a greyish head and a big grey patch on its back just above the tail. It also seems to have a pale russet-orange breast. Sound familiar to anyone?

It's very aggressively defending the cheese on toast crusts I put out this morning! None of the other birds can get near.

Sounds like a Jay (not a bluejay) http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/j/jay/index.aspx

ragz_2

Well that failed miserably. Within an hour of me putting out food and water yesterday it was covered with snow...

No where to put it where that won't happen!

floyd

floyd wrote: »

Sounds like a Jay (not a bluejay) http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/j/jay/index.aspx

Just had another thought after looking in my own garden, could it be a redwing? I have lots of them at the moment looking for grubs and fruits. Think I will put out some apples and mealworms later

Frugal_Mouse

Great thread! Many thanks for the all of the ideas you have posted.

I normally feed the birds but just about run out of the bought stuff and pennies a bit tight this week so this has been really helpful. Have just chopped some old apples in the food processor along with some corn I popped and mixed that up with last of my bird seed and some bacon bits, seems to be very popular.

I know that I get a huge amount of pleasure from watching the birds in my garden and it is always so exciting when I get a 'new' visitor.

I agree with Barneysmum, it is good to see that people care.

Happy bird watching everyone x

Alisonpennypincher

I would think the new bird could be a redwing, i have had lots appear in my garden the last couple of weeks, when i have never seen them here before.

*zippy*

We have a pair of fieldfares this morning, they are only interested in an old apple my husband had spiked on the tree. They aren't letting anyone else near the other food though. Could it be what you have too conradsmum

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/f/fieldfare/index.aspx

BilberryCharlotte

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

I think someone said earlier not salted nuts

hth

Hi C-P she has actually brought them a little bag of chopped nuts such as you would use in baking or for topping cakes, so not salted. :-)

BilberryCharlotte

valk_scot wrote: »

Some birds eat other birds you know. Tthey're not all dainty little vegetarians and seed nibblers!

Yes valk, I know I am just being a wuss :-)

Being vegans we don`t eat chicken. I do cook it for the dogs though so they could spare a little chicken skin for the birds if things were desperate. It would just be a last resort measure for me.