Bird feeder/tables

[Louisa]

I've read something similar, blackbirds do too, apparently this is why you find these types foraging in dim light such as early morning and late evening.

[Chuckles]

That makes sense to me. Add Hedge Sparrow/Dunnock to the list as they are always my first visitor of the day. There are 3 of them that come scurrying down the path by the back door picking at bits between the pots, I do scatter a small amount of seeds for them. They are cute little things

[Louisa]

The linnets have, at last, found the seed feeders in the back garden ;D ;D ;D
They were able to stay and have a good long feed - in peace

Now, with luck, the word will spread ;D

[Barbara]

Blackbirds are my first visitors, the two of them circle each other, fly at each other, and then one nips in and picks something up and flies off with it, while the other one stays and feeds, and then stays on guard for a while seeing off anything that comes, the sparrowws and robin hide behind the shed and pounce while he's not looking, David Attenborough would love it here..

The tits feed off the feeder, and don't get involved.

[Louisa]

And this is why we love them so much ;D
And spend so much money on them ;D
And are such lovely time-wasters i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/grin.gif

[Louisa]

I learned yesterday that there is a large difference in quality in the various brands of fatballs.
Apparently, the cheapest ones are padded out with flour and sand and contain little in the way of fat or nutrient.
It seems the drier and more crumbly ones are the culprits and the more moist ones where you can actually see the contents are the better ones.

Who knew there could be so much to feeding birds !

[Chuckles]

Thats interesting Louisa, I'd noticed a big difference in some brands. Yes some were crumbly and others definately felt more fatty. I stopped buying them, the crumbly ones were not being eaten as readily as the fattier ones I think the same can be said for some of the seed mixes too.

Just sat watching the 30 plus sparrows that appear every morning to have a good feed

[carolann]

Got some Sunflower hearts off the market last week and they where 80p think there was a 1lb in the bag I have been sharing them with the garden birds and the chickens who also like them. I remember as a kid my Gran used to put out bones from the butchers for the birds and the Magpies where always the first to get there. I have a favorite Robin which visits the garden and I call her a she as she is so delicate and has white on the edge of her wings so I can spot her first, I have tried looking at each Robin to see if I can tell them apart but it is very hard the only differance I have seen is the amount of Red on their chests and how far it spreads around the sides of their heads, there was one on the northern news the other night where the man drove up in his car and whistled and the Robin landed on his wing mirror where he fed it bless the little birdy.

[Louisa]

Carolann, go into business with those hearts, they will make you a fortune.

80p for 1Ib or 500g is an absolutely fantastic price and the best i've ever, ever, seen.
I might well ask you to get me a couple of sackfuls from the market guy.

[Missredhead]

Dec 8, 2010 8:55:34 GMT carolann said:

Got some Sunflower hearts off the market last week and they where 80p think there was a 1lb in the bag I have been sharing them with the garden birds and the chickens who also like them. I remember as a kid my Gran used to put out bones from the butchers for the birds and the Magpies where always the first to get there. I have a favorite Robin which visits the garden and I call her a she as she is so delicate and has white on the edge of her wings so I can spot her first, I have tried looking at each Robin to see if I can tell them apart but it is very hard the only differance I have seen is the amount of Red on their chests and how far it spreads around the sides of their heads, there was one on the northern news the other night where the man drove up in his car and whistled and the Robin landed on his wing mirror where he fed it bless the little birdy.

I saw that on some programme too Carolann...he took pics of it

[Jasmine]

Woody Woodpecker was on the suet block this morning, he was on one side and a little blue tit was on the other.

[Ladygardener]

Wow that sounds fab Jasmine. It's great to see so many birds visiting. I can't keep enough suet pellets in my peanut feeder. They're costing me a fortune. Very easy for them you see.

[Jasmine]

I should expect the woodpecker has made a bit of a dent in the suet block ;D

[Ladygardener]

Easy peasy for him that would have been.

[Jasmine]

;D Yes it would.
I'm going to get some more blocks for when we go away. At least they should last a while.

[Ladygardener]

I put out a new one today, it's made by the same people who make the suet pellets that the birds are lovling. The starlings love it but mind you they're big eaters.

[Jasmine]

I'm going to look for some of the pellets as well LG.

[Ladygardener]

I think the RSPB do them Jasmine.

[Jasmine]

I've got a feeling the GC up the road might have them...will check in the next few days.

[Ladygardener]

Even better, no P&P

[JennyWrenn]

I had the same problem last year

My garden is awash with birdie titbits

Suet balls hanging in the trees, fat balls and numerous trays full of birdy seeds

So how many birds visit my garden

ONE OR TWO if I am lucky and today didnt see any at all

I even thaw out the water bowls

What am I doing wrong

I have a robin that I see now and then but today not a peep

[Ladygardener]

Maybe they're in the wrong places JW. Try moving them around the garden. I did that and still have to when I put out something new, the birds only go to where they want to go. Keep at it JW maybe they're coming when you're not looking.

[JennyWrenn]

I checked and the Suet balls havent been touched - I did move them last year and nothing seemed to work - they dont like them - maybe they are made of cheap and nasty stuff - or, maybe its all the cats we have - there are so many

[Ladygardener]

Could well be the cats JW.

[JennyWrenn]

Or, could it be that they have died

I havent seen my robin for couple days - he always visited the bird table but never the suet block

[Geranium]

Obviously has gourmet tastes, Jenny!

[Jasmine]

I've bought some feeders for the front garden. I got another peanut feeder and another suet block feeder.

[Ladygardener]

Added to what you already have they'll be happy enough Jasmine, won't they.

[Jasmine]

I hope so. Next door feed the birds too so they will have to go there for a few weeks if the suet blocks run out..

[Ladygardener]

None of my neighbours feed the birds regularly which I think is a pity. One lady several doors from me sometimes puts out peanuts in a holder but not very often. During the heavy snow some folk did throw out some bread which was soon eaten by the pigeons.