The Potting Shed

carolinej · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject: They're back!

It's been really quiet on my bird table for ages. I have had to clean up the stale bread that hasnt been eaten. At last, the birds are coming back. I have a young robin. No sign of the old one that was there last year.

I have 2 young blackbirds who are driving me mad. They sniff around the bird table, then wander over to the flower bed and throw all the earth over the path.

A squirrel was on there yesterday, but not for long. We dont get many of them, so it was a real treat, unlike some areas where they are a nuisance.

Looks like I will have to pick up extra wholemeal rolls on cheap night at Asda again, now that the cold weather is here again. The birds love it.

cj Very Happy

Becki · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject:

Take some pics Very Happy

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Bovey Belle · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:50 am Post subject:

We have two nut nets hanging from one of the apple trees in the garden. These used to hang down at mum's but we moved them before she died as the wretched Sparrowhawk was swooping in from the trees over the stream, and taking quite a few birds, which I hated to see. I know they have to live and all that, but I'd rather he didn't nab them as I was feeding mum. We have Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Sparrows, Nuthatches and the occasional Woodpecker visiting our nut nets. They are absolutely heaving in weather like this (e.g. cold and frosty).
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Jellycat · 4 Star Club Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 1732

OOh BB - can I persuade you to change your nets for proper nut feeders? Smaller birds can get their feet tangled in the netting and I've see at least two die like that....

Our bird table is getting busier again too - I could spend hours gawping out of the window at them all! Between the bird table and the fish tank in the sitting room, we've almost made the TV redundant Laughing

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carolinej · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:05 pm Post subject:

The RSPB peanuts I bought said to only use them with a feeder, as small birds can choke on the whole ones. I didnt realise this, and had been putting them straight on the bird table.

cj Very Happy

kaz · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 3:47 pm Post subject:

We have noticed an increase of numbers to our birdtable. We feed all year round but take the whole peanut feeder away at nesting time. In the winter we feed whole nuts, nuts in a feeder, black sunflowers, mixed corn, fat balls and cheapo weetabix.

This is a visitor that we don't get very often Very Happy

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Jellycat · 4 Star Club Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 1732

The woodpeckers are fab aren't they? We usually get a pair visiting in the spring/summer and they bring their offspring to feed too - I have no idea whether it's the same pair every year, but there's certainly been a pair there for the last 4 or 5 years.

I love their swooping flight when they leave Very Happy

Lovely pictures Kaz - you certainly do look after them well, and that iron stand is beautiful Very Happy

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You can't have everything - where would you put it?

Cabbagepatch · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:25 pm Post subject:

Lovely photos.

Since getting the cats, I've not bothered feeding the birds much. After Odin the Terrible dumped several baby blackbirds on the kitchen floor and Leo took to sitting on top of the bird table, it seemed a bit pointless really.

"Here you are birdies, lots of nice food to help you through the cold. oops, you've just been pounced on" Confused