Any keen bird feeders out there?

Gers

That's a fantastic photo, so charming. Thanks for sharing it.

Here is ( I think) my adventurous thrush. Don't think it had much success. Photo taken through a window and by phone.

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Have also got one blackbird visiting and, like the collared doves, eating the droppings on the ground.

rceebear

I think that is a European Starling:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/starling/
Good to see as although many dislike them for mobbing bird feeders, they are in decline. We get a lot at this time of year cleaning up spilt feed (the nuthatch is fussy so makes a mess to get to the bits he likes) and sitting in the large Ash tree in the garden. They are also quite noisy and good mimics so often sound like other birds and even car alarms.

Gers

rceebear wrote: »

I think that is a European Starling:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/starling/
Good to see as although many dislike them for mobbing bird feeders, they are in decline. We get a lot at this time of year cleaning up spilt feed (the nuthatch is fussy so makes a mess to get to the bits he likes) and sitting in the large Ash tree in the garden. They are also quite noisy and good mimics so often sound like other birds and even car alarms.

Goodness, I had no idea that starlings where so big so thanks for the info. I think this is the bird which brought it's chicks around to try to feed in spring. There were about five chicks and the big one all sitting on the top part of the feeder looking at the food and trying to work out how to get at it.

Once again, thanks.

Fay

We now have goldfinches visiting and I've finally seen our elusive wood pecker this morning. They are currently all acting like crack addicts for sunflower hearts! We typically have 20+ tits in the pear tree, a couple of nuthatches, sparrows and goldfinches all waiting for the sunflower heart feeder. The ribin watches them from his little dish and I think feels quite smug he has no competition. They're gradually going to the new feeders I boyghtbut the attraction of a donut shaped feeder full of their fave sunflower hearts isn't yet attracting them!

Dustykitten

Hi all can I join in please.

I have a seed feeder with sunflower hearts in, squirrel proof so only really used by the great tits, blue tits, coal tits and nuthatch, sparrow and robin occassionally try. What is the best way to include them and the blackbirds? Having cats I try to avoid floor feeding. Thanks.

Ken68

Welcome Dusty.. Some birds are ground feeders only and thought robins amongst them, but live and learn.
My neighbours older cat just looks at the birds these days.

rceebear

We have cats too so don't ground feed apart from in harsh winters. Although there is always a certain amount of spillage that the chickens usually clear, as well as starlings and sometimes wood pigeon. In the snowy winters we had flocks of goldfinch and siskin ground feed but I guess they were desperate and the cats stayed in a lot.

I've read that birds learn to keep a look out when there are cats in the neighbourhood. We have five cats and rarely have adult birds killed in our garden. Sadly it is always the young in spring but not many. We have two loud bells on each cat and have tried keeping them as indoor cats but it resulted in health (some wouldn't toilet inside so got urinary tract infections) and behavioural issues (others toileted everywhere inc the beds in protest).

We have a high bird table which did have a roof and guard to keep the cats off. I think the roof (& guard as it was attached) failed and wasn't replaced. The wood peckers and jay like to feed off it without the roof though and the guard was too fine to allow them to use it. We have a one legged jay and a one eye magpie that use it and they know the cats are around so won't use it is they are in the garden. If you could use a tall table put it somewhere in the open where the cats can't ambush it.

For blackbirds and others we try to grow food for them, such as, ivy (for the berries) on the trees and also up the bird table (it is on a large wooden stake). Also, pyracantha
(http://www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/wildlifegarden/atoz/f/firethorn.aspx ) black & red currant, blueberry, raspberry, again for the berries but also look good and if you get in fast the currants taste good too. We have planted a plum tree a few years back that the robins liked this year. We had loads of fruit too but left some for the birds. The chickens would also pick their own by jumping and flapping under it!

Dustykitten wrote: »

Hi all can I join in please.

I have a seed feeder with sunflower hearts in, squirrel proof so only really used by the great tits, blue tits, coal tits and nuthatch, sparrow and robin occassionally try. What is the best way to include them and the blackbirds? Having cats I try to avoid floor feeding. Thanks.

UnluckyT

i second pyracantha for the berries, ive 2 small bushes at the moment of this. ive incorporated it into a holly hedge to try and help the wildlife. the hedge ive only just started, but fingers crossed in a few years it will have filled out.

REEN

Our rowan has been very popular with blackbirds and starlings for some weeks now. It's the yellow berried one, seems to be less popular at first than neighbour's red berried one but extends the season.

KxMx

Wow my birds are really hungry at the moment, will have to start buying some cheap bread soon, running through my scraps and bird seed/nuts quite fast.

Within about 10 mins of putting food out yesterday for the ground feeders had blackbird, collared doves, wood pigeons, starlings, a crow and a few sparrows.

The chaffinches of both sexes have been coming back too.