Any keen bird feeders out there?

Ken68

You can hear a woodpecker calling out at the entrance to the local nature reserve.
They are called 'gatekeepers'.

Makes me smile..... "here he comes, after the blackberries again"

laurel7172

With regard to the food, I find some birds appreciate the range of seeds, while others simply dig their way through the lot, spilling it, in search of their favourites, usually the black sunflower seeds.

One way I've found to discourage this is to include a band of just sunflower seeds in the feeder, so the ones who like nothing else have easy access to them and they don't spill the rest of the seed digging them out.

chickaroonee

Over the winter I'm either going to buy or make some fat balls. Do I need a fat ball feeder (that sounds funny written down) for them?

Hintza

I am huge fan of Sparrows and we didn't have any about 5 years ago but once I started feeding they soon came. Just now I reckon we have 60 first thing in the morning but I think many commute from the village along with the doves.

The only problem is the Sparrowhawk is around every few days to keep them all on their toes.

chickaroonee

Hintza wrote: »

I am huge fan of Sparrows and we didn't have any about 5 years ago but once I started feeding they soon came. Just now I reckon we have 60 first thing in the morning but I think many commute from the village along with the doves.

The only problem is the Sparrowhawk is around every few days to keep them all on their toes.

Wow 60 sparrows! How many feeders do you have? What an amazing number.

I used to think they were quite boring, but I love them now. They all stick together and let each other know when there's food available, and I have seen them work so hard feeding their young this year. They're great.

Ken68

I melt lard , 29p from Tesco and add bird seed and when hard just spoon it out daily onto the bird table.

Chris25

SailorSam wrote: »

I boil a handful of basic white rice for the birds, (40p kg in Asda/Tesco) of a morning and again in the afternoon. Soon goes and costs next to nothing.

I would never have thought of rice, thank you, I'll try some!

Always have some porridge, at the very least, for the birds & get dried fruit when on offer.

Was lucky enough to catch a Firecrest in the garden, earlier in the year

chickaroonee

We saw some bats last night in the garden and heard so many owl calls. Heard loads at dusk and then loads again at first light. Any idea which owl it was likely to be? I've heard the classic "twitt" "twooo" ones before, which I think is a tawny owl, but these were much screechier. Any ideas?

Ken68

Don't know Chick....do you live anywhere they do Autumn Watch.
Could be practising to be on t.v. lol

chickaroonee

They were doing their best! So loud!