Any keen bird feeders out there?

chickaroonee

jenie wrote: »

I must be sad too then chickaroonee because I always count the goldfiches although up to now we have only ever had 5 at once, but they are coming to the feeders every day now and I love to see them. I've just been watching a robin and a ring necked dove eating some mixed seed that I put out yesterday. Blue tits and great tits are coming more regularly now also.

Not sad at all, if I had 5 goldfinches I'd be videoing it and putting it on youtube! We've only had a pair here before, but not seen any since the winter. They're my favourite birds by far, they're so funny how they sit eating without a care in the world.

cyclonebri1

chickaroonee wrote: »

Not sad at all, if I had 5 goldfinches I'd be videoing it and putting it on youtube! We've only had a pair here before, but not seen any since the winter. They're my favourite birds by far, they're so funny how they sit eating without a care in the world.

I'm amazed at the density of goldfinches today.
I am 60 now, when we were kids we went birds nesting, (no we didn't collect eggs, we just spent all our summers in the fields). Of all the species we wanted to find it was the goldfinch, but back then they were a rarity.
I find it fantastic that they are just about the most common bird let alone finch, that I see in the garden and on the roadside at the front.
They are without doubt the most gorgeous of our native british birds. (Only just pipping the kingfisher into 2nd place).

If you want to see more, let a few thistles go to seed in the garden, out neighbours house was empty for 18 months a while ago, a few got hold. It wasn't uncommon to see 6 or 8 clinging to the stems picking out the seed heads, beautiful.

chickaroonee

Completely agree cyclone, they are stunning birds. I read somewhere else that a group of them is called a "charm" which seems very appropriate!

Our garden is a complete jungle (long term project!) with lots of thistles in, so I do hope that will attract them. I've had two before eating sunflower hearts and occasionally niger seed, although haven't got any of that out just now.

I do imagine we have a lot more birds in our garden than I see, my eyesight isn't fab and I don't use binoculars because of my glasses, so just tend to see the birds round the feeder. The garden is also big and has quite a few trees at the bottom and in neighbouring gardens too, I hear a lot of birds in there but can't see them.

Heard the tawny owl again the other night, just one saying "kwoo" over and over. Quite spooky.

jenie_2

I've got to agree, they are really stunning birds and are my favourites too. We've had visits from them today for sunflower hearts, I was surprised to see them as its very blustery and raining here today.

diluvsdiscounts

On Saturday afternoon we sat out in the garden ( Saturday being a much nicer day than Sunday!!) and I spotted a few long tailed tits I'd say about five of them on the suet block and fat balls. They flew from tree to tree when I realised that there must be more than the five I originally thought. Hubby agreed but as it got a bit cooler he gave up counting and went indoors but amazed by how many there were I stuck it out. Eventually one by one they flew into next doors garden and I counted 21, yes 21 I couldn't believe it of course he didn't believe me and said it will have been the same two going round and around, he thinks he's funny, but I could see them in next doors tree,not all 21 but they are so small they just seem to make any tree come alive. We have lived in this house for 13 years and they are regular visitors but the most I have ever seen before is 7.

Chris25

Tip on the telly last night re nuts for birds - sprinkle chilli powder on them; the birds don't mind it but the squirrels don't like it at all.

diluvsdiscounts, coincidentally, I counted 21 long tailed tits on Saturday in my garden too - but I'm nowhere near you

Bought some of these mugs from sainsburys to give, filled, as presents (£7.50 for 4) they are really lovely. Would like to keep the robin one for myself but it's destined to become a Christmas pressie.

cyclonebri1

Chris25 wrote: »

Got me going now with the kingfisher mug.

It is often shown on angling programmes. The kingfisher sat on the rod tip.
Well it did once happen to me, and I value it as high as the capture of any fish during the pursuit of my lifelong hobby.

To sit unseen under a tree and have green woodpeckers ratatat for hours over your head is another experience to be savoured.

Again, sat fishing I watched a dragonfly larvae emerge from the water and start to dry itself out ready to fly under the sun.
It settled just to the side of me, next to the maggots I was flicking out to the wagtails and blackbirds, thrushes. It was there for a couple of hours, then, just as I happened to look down, a !!!! blackbird dashed out from under my seat and snaffled the would be dragonfly. :eek::eek:
Well that's nature, and gives credence to the old adage that, "there's more to fishing than catching fish".

Sorry for the straying off topic

diluvsdiscounts

Chris25 I thought you were my neighbor then haha!! Maybe they fly in multiples of 7 who knows?
I have to have those mugs, we have every supermarket there is here apart from Sainsburies typical.
Cyclonebri1 I love to hear stories like that. Events like that are to me what life is all about unfortunately I am surrounded by people (not hubby and DD) that just don't get it they don't understand how I would rather have a walk in the countryside than go on a shopping spree. They also don't understand why the only tv I watch is countryfile,gardeners world and spring/autumnwatch.
It won't surprise you that I didn't mention seeing 21 long tailed tits whilst at work today.
Also very envious of the woodpeckers, up until about 6 months ago I had never seen a green woodpecker and they make the strangest sounds.
On holiday a few weeks ago we were stood next to a pond and I was admiring a huge dragonfly when it flew straight at me and got stuck in my hair I nearly died of fright!! So did the dragon fly I'm sure.

davenport151

diluvsdiscounts wrote: »

Cyclonebri1 I love to hear stories like that. Events like that are to me what life is all about unfortunately I am surrounded by people (not hubby and DD) that just don't get it they don't understand how I would rather have a walk in the countryside than go on a shopping spree. They also don't understand why the only tv I watch is countryfile,gardeners world and spring/autumnwatch.

Exactly my thoughts! I get such a kick from a few hours in the country or my nearby patch. Knowing its free as well. Great moneysaving.
Keep your eyes open this time of year (actually I think that goes for anytime) as you never know what you will see.

jenie_2

Lovely story cyclonebri, I know exactly what you are talking about. I have been all over fishing with my hubby and son (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em ) We used to have a caravan permanently at the side of a fishing lake, and as you say its not just about the fishing, its about the nature and wildlife you encounter whilst sitting there hoping for the big one. We regularly used to get robins on our rod tips, and they would happily take maggots thrown near our feet, they were quite tame. At a fishing lake in Devon there was a duck that would take bread and maggots from our hands and he would sit near us all day. We've watched heron taking small fish from ponds and water vole swimming just about under our feet, badgers and foxes on deserted country roads when we've been on our way for a days fishing. Happy days
Back to the birds, I put some niger seeds out today, and had to laugh at one of the goldfinches, it just sat there for ages, as if to say keep off these are mine !