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Post by nightowl on Dec 12, 2007 9:03:29 GMT
No matter how much you hate rats (I don't, but then I haven't got, or ever had, wild rat problems), you can't help but admire their intelligence and ingenuity.  |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 12, 2007 10:10:16 GMT
HURRAH!!!! There's birdlife in the garden today!!! ;D There was a little row of sparrows on the gutter this morning, and they were watching two great tits, two wrens and a robin. The robin did visit the feeder but the other birds were more interested in molesting my plants!  In the front garden we had MORE sparrows on the feeder by the window - I get an excellent view  Really pleased they have at last found you P, my collection come every morning and throughout the day. They line up on the guttering, trellis and fencing and if they can't see food they go a way and come back later. I do try and make sure I put stuff out every day. Sparrows are currently tucking into mashed tats atm ;D Even the Misstle Thrush has been down the path this morning for a nosey, ran out of berries on the trees |
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Post by Plocket on Dec 12, 2007 10:34:32 GMT
No matter how much you hate rats (I don't, but then I haven't got, or ever had, wild rat problems), you can't help but admire their intelligence and ingenuity. Well I don't admire their intelligence and ingenuity - I try and ignore it completely |
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Post by Plocket on Dec 12, 2007 10:38:01 GMT
HURRAH!!!! There's birdlife in the garden today!!! ;D There was a little row of sparrows on the gutter this morning, and they were watching two great tits, two wrens and a robin. The robin did visit the feeder but the other birds were more interested in molesting my plants! In the front garden we had MORE sparrows on the feeder by the window - I get an excellent view Really pleased they have at last found you P, my collection come every morning and throughout the day. They line up on the guttering, trellis and fencing and if they can't see food they go a way and come back later. I do try and make sure I put stuff out every day. Sparrows are currently tucking into mashed tats atm ;D Even the Misstle Thrush has been down the path this morning for a nosey, ran out of berries on the trees Oh thrushes are so lovely! I'm pleased that our robins have learned to use the feeders but at the moment there's lots in the garden for the birds that's grown rather than what I've provided. We have a lovely conifer just beyond our garden wall and so many birds seem to be nesting in it - I'm convinced the robin has a nest in there, and some tits, and the wrens are pretty close by too. I don't encourage them to nest in our garden though because of the cat. I'm getting more bold with my encouraging now that she's blind though. We have a feeder right by our front window too which has always been frequented by sparrows that nest in our conifer hedge, but there was a robin on it this morning. The problem is that any movement within the house seems to scare him away  I hope the birds keep coming, and it's nice to know that they do know where to come on a cold day |
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Post by Ruthie on Dec 13, 2007 20:16:19 GMT
They say that House Sparrows are in decline. We have a large healthy population in our garden. They roost in the Clematis montana on our front wall and they make quite a noise in the evening before they settle down.
The problem is that there are so many we are getting showers of, erm, guano falling on our windowsill and front door step (which then gets walked into the house). The clematis is very old anyway with loads of dead growth so it's a bit of a dilemma.
It really needs cutting down, and I'm fairly confident that it will grow again. But, can I bear the guilt of depriving the Sparrows of their, presumably warmer than the hedge, roosting spot? Problems problems!
Just to show this is not off topic we get loads os Sparrows on the bird feeder!
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Post by Plocket on Dec 14, 2007 8:18:56 GMT
Yes we've got a healty population of sparrows here too and I can't help questioning their decline. Not around here anyway! I wouldn't cut the montana at the moment Suparuthie - it's providing protection for the birds through winter, and food from the seedheads if there are any left. If you can bear it, let the montana flower next summer and prune it fairly hard after that.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2007 9:42:52 GMT
Collared Dove  Sara |
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Post by Weeterrier on Dec 14, 2007 10:30:51 GMT
Very bonny |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 14, 2007 11:28:10 GMT
Seen on my bird table earlier this week, I'm sorry to say!!!  No the feeling, this happened at our last but one house.  Oh and we are getting a few more birds as well as Plocket. Had two robins (wonder if they were the ones that nested in our ivy this year) flitting about in our big Sorbus tree yesterday. My batteries had gone dead in my camera  so never got a photo. Maybe they will be back, now my batteries have been charged! Oh Wee Fairy, treecreepers, not seen one since I was a kid. Still miss that house, we had so many species visit us. I remember doing a sponsored birdwatch one year and noted 114 different species of bird within a mile of our house! Oh those were the days! Like someone told me on a wildlife forum, appreciate the birds I DO get! But I would love to see a jay or green woodpecker or nuthatch or that treecreeper again in my garden! Sorry getting depressed again!  Keith |
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Post by Weeterrier on Dec 14, 2007 12:40:08 GMT
Yes Keith, I always feel awful when I get excited about a new visitor, and take for granted the dozens of bluetits and chaffinches that swarm around the garden every day. I have seen bullfinches only once, and goldfinches twice, in seven years. The treecreeper is infrequent, as is a little wren which circles the rocks round the pond. It's human nature to be excited about something different I suppose. Though I'll let you have the rats Poor you. |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 14, 2007 13:14:07 GMT
Yes Keith, I always feel awful when I get excited about a new visitor, and take for granted the dozens of bluetits and chaffinches that swarm around the garden every day. I have seen bullfinches only once, and goldfinches twice, in seven years. The treecreeper is infrequent, as is a little wren which circles the rocks round the pond. It's human nature to be excited about something different I suppose. Though I'll let you have the rats Poor you. You shouldn't feel awful, at all. I still remember the day I saw my first green woodpecker in our garden as a kid. I went mad for the rest of the day, told all my friends and most said, calm down Keith, it's just a bird!!  We've had goldfinches here, once. Well I suppose they could have been more than once and I've not been there to see them. I've seen a wren a few times, but I am sure more will come, the more the garden gets done, to our liking. Sparrows, Starlings, Robin and Blackbirds are the main stay of our garden, which I suppose isn't bad, but I would love to see some Tits in the garden. Other than my wife's obviously!!! ;D They wouldn't go amiss, though!! I'm contemplating moving the feeding station, or put another one in the main garden. Mine is in front of the kitchen window, with a seed feeder on the big hornbeam, which gets used quite a bit, but we only see what comes to it, if we are in the dining room or outside at the time. I have recently put a peanut feeder on the Sorbus in the main garden, after seeing a Great Tit on the back fence about a week ago. Must check to see if it is being used, not seen anything on it yet! I'm still convinced, a neighbour is putting a banquet out for the birds, which is why I don't get the variety here!! I can't afford to do that! Keith |
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Post by Weeterrier on Dec 14, 2007 18:11:53 GMT
It is expensive to feed the birds, I sometimes ask for a big bag of seed as a Christmas present. I've never seen a Green woodpecker, but we have the Spotted one. As you say, they could sneak in when we are not watching. In fact, I can't see my bird feeder at all, because I have cats, and the feeder is in a part of the garden which is the safest. Pheasants come close to the house, they frighten the cats. But all birds are a joy, aren't they? I wouldn't like to choose a favourite. |
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Post by nightowl on Dec 14, 2007 21:04:38 GMT
I said earlier on in the thread that I didn't see Jays much where I live, and I thought it was because we have too many Magpies . But this morning I looked out of the window and there was a pair of beautiful Jays in the Cherry tree! I'm sooo pleased  (though couldn't get a photo  ) Strangely, not a single Magpie at the time. Now don't know if the Jays scared them off, or only came cos the Mags were not there  |
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Post by Weeterrier on Dec 14, 2007 22:57:48 GMT
I have NEVER seen a jay. Glad you did though ;D
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Post by Plocket on Dec 15, 2007 9:23:27 GMT
I haven't seen a jay for years.
The robin's been visiting this morning - I love seeing him flitting about. He likes sitting on the garden wall too because he gets a view across the gardens and across the road to the "common ground" where there are lots of trees. He's a nosey little whatsit!!!
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Post by Weeterrier on Dec 15, 2007 9:38:09 GMT
And robins are such little posers, aren't they? Always hoping that they are going to be photoed for a cute Christmas Card Love them ;D |
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Post by Shrubrose on Dec 15, 2007 9:41:45 GMT
Speaking of robins. There's one here who through the summer every year flits from post to post along the fence at the back of the house. He stops for a minute or so and has a good look around then on to the next one. It's like it's a ritual before he turns in for the night. ;D
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Post by Weeterrier on Dec 15, 2007 13:08:51 GMT
A Robin with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? What is the world coming to? ;D
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Post by carolann on Dec 16, 2007 10:16:10 GMT
I have just been sat here eating my Oats with warm milk and watching all the visitors to the garden. Up to yet we have had 6 Hedge Sparrows, 2 Robins, 1 Wren, 4/5 Blue tits and 2 Great tits and that was in the space of 30 mins. Late yesterday afternoon the Long Tailed Tits where chasing everything from the fat balls and nut feeders. They come in a big gang, I lost count after 15. I'm glad they have found the feeders again but what bullies they are. 1 of the Robins had a thin white stripe over each eye, I cant find it in any of my books so it must be genetic. Don't think its a rare bird. Last year we had a Blackbird with a white bib on its chest we have not seen it yet. Love all the pics keep them coming. The seal on the living room window has gone so its too misted up for taking any pics through and its too cold to sit in the garden I would be frozen to the step.
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Post by Weeterrier on Dec 16, 2007 11:24:25 GMT
Well, it was showdown at the birdtable today, worthy of any gunfight movie. 5 pheasants v 5 magpies. Pheasants won. Sadly, no pic, the door is too noisy. |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 16, 2007 12:54:19 GMT
Yippee, saw two blue tits flitting about in the Sorbus this morning! I also think I saw a wren in the garden, by my passion flower, but can't be sure. I did see one here last year, on the fence and it was definately smaller than a sparrow, but I only saw it for a moment. Also saw a pied wagtail on a nearby roof, so things are looking up. Still think I need a second feeding station, as only starlings and sparrows are using the one in front of the kitchen window in the side garden. I put a nut feeder on the sorbus, a few days ago and sparrows have started using it today. Things could be looking up. Keith Edit. Don't believe this, two minutes after I hit the send key, a great tit landed on that nut feeder on the tree and fed for a few minutes. I am over the moon now, don't care if Liverpool don't beat Man Utd today!! No I am lying there!! |
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Post by Weeterrier on Dec 16, 2007 13:56:46 GMT
Great Stuff Keith. May simple things like this be all you ever need to raise your spirits. And good luck with the footie ;D |
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Post by Rosefriend on Dec 16, 2007 14:37:11 GMT
We had a visitor a couple of days ago - a Sparrow Hawk came for a look at the bird table and he obviously liked the look of one of my other visitors - a blue tit. He grabbed it and was off into next doors apple tree - they don't mess about do they.
I am a bit surprised that they are hunting in the gardens already - mostly it tends to happen when we have snow and permanent frost.
RF
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Post by Plocket on Dec 16, 2007 18:27:35 GMT
Maybe Rosefriend but I think Sparrowhawks know where to find an easy meal - what's the point in hovering over a field when you know there's easy pickings nearby? I'm delighted that our robin seems to be a regular visitor now, but not so pleased that he seems to be eating all the buds off my Witch Hazel!!! |
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Post by nightowl on Dec 21, 2007 13:26:00 GMT
No bird table in my garden cos of lack of space plus cats, but I have this magnificent Oak tree which fills the view from my garden and under which I put all my birdy scraps...  So far this morning I've seen 2 Chaffinches, lots of Blue and Great Tits, a gang of Long-tailed Tits, a Blackbird, a Robin, 2 Crows, several Magpies, Wood Pigeons....and a Spotted Woodpecker which made me laugh ;D. It sat on a branch and kept pecking at a fairly small twig, which twanged about when he pecked it, and he had to try and pin it down again for another peck... It kept him (and me!) amused for about 5 minutes |
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Post by Plocket on Dec 23, 2007 13:02:42 GMT
Oh I'm so excited I've GOT to tell you all..... We had long-tailed tits in the garden today!!! One sat on my clematis and preened, but as soon as I got the camera set up it flew away And there were a couple more in one of the nearby trees. We also had a couple of male blackbirds quarreling, a robin, a pair of wrens, great tits and blue tits - ALL flitting about our dinky little garden. I was that thrilled to see the long-tailed tits though |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 23, 2007 13:35:10 GMT
It's great when they all come in the garden and feed, I just love watching them all Gets my goat though when they come close to the window and even if I have the camera to hand they still sense it and buggar off I've just been sat watching a little Blue Tit climb up and down the trellis poking in the nooks and crannies. Also the Sparrows having a bath in the drinker despite it being 1c Brrrrrr then preening itself. Wished I could share the sight, one of these days I'll get a photo ;D Have been up the garden and got some of one of the Robins and a mummy Blackbird, will sort and post on Wildlife thread |
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Post by Weeterrier on Jan 3, 2008 11:24:00 GMT
When I'm upstairs in my little toilet, the window looks out on to the uppermost branches of my old cherry tree. I glanced out this morning to see FOUR goldfinches. I know this may be commonplace to some of you, but I am almost delirious with excitement. Had I not looked out at that moment I would never have known. They are so beautiful. |
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 3, 2008 11:37:20 GMT
When I'm upstairs in my little toilet, the window looks out on to the uppermost branches of my old cherry tree. I glanced out this morning to see FOUR goldfinches. I know this may be commonplace to some of you, but I am almost delirious with excitement. Had I not looked out at that moment I would never have known. They are so beautiful. Fab sight Wee, it's great to see them. More time being spent looking out the upsatir loo window now then I get excited seeing all the birds that come in the garden, well maybe not so much the Starlings. They are beautifully coloured though but they just seem to bluster in and squarck, pinch all the food and bluster out like scavengers |
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Post by Barbara on Jan 3, 2008 12:09:47 GMT
my OH calls the starlings the mob. he says they are like the mafia, i dont know how he knows  |
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so never got a photo. Maybe they will be back, now my batteries have been charged! 
We've had goldfinches here, once. Well I suppose they could have been more than once and I've not been there to see them. I've seen a wren a few times, but I am sure more will come, the more the garden gets done, to our liking. Sparrows, Starlings, Robin and Blackbirds are the main stay of our garden, which I suppose isn't bad, but I would love to see some Tits in the garden. Other than my wife's obviously!!! ;D They wouldn't go amiss, though!!
(though couldn't get a photo 
)
