General Chat

LL I dont have a garden but make my kids aware of all our indigenous birds Caz x

My blue tits like the nuts and the fat balls best, the robin loves it when I put out cake crumbs and the blackbirds like a nice bit of fruitbread or cake. Rosexx

Angela, I live in west yorkshire. Is that east of where you live? We have blooming loads here. lol LL

Rose, Do you know if any birds will it dried fruit, such as raisins sultanas, and that moist pre packed stuff with apricots or peaches etc in? Reason I am asking is that I was doing cupboards out today and found some that went out of date last month, so thought I would put some out. Haven't noticed if owt been on yet. LL

LL You're well North!! We had flocks of starlings till about a month ago. forming beautiful patterns in the sky when they flew. They disappeared overnight. Angela I've put dried sultanas and apricots out today - blackbirds are supposed to go for them.

Angela, Just a thought *tongue in cheek* if birds fly 'south' for winter, maybe they fly 'North' in summer? could be I have now got all your starlings lol. LL

Hi LL, Yes I have put out dried fruit in the past, sultanas and raisins mostly. I don't know if it is necessary but I usually soak it first so it absorbs some of the water, I do the same with bread so that it doesn't expand in the birds stomach when they drink after eating it (read it somewhere)......it all got eaten! Rosexx

Thanks Rose, Just thought it would make a nice change for them. LL

LL Quite likely. :-))) Angela

Birds are a passion of mine cor

Saba, Hope you mean the feathered kind lol. Thanks for PM. Have you checked on the tits then? Or did you mean the Red breasts? x LL

You Should,nt Streak in the Cold Weather. Hal.:o))))>

went shopping today, called at a big pet store (pets4you??). Managed to get some Nyjer from there, and also some dried mealworm that someone suggested on my first thread. So, will try it and see if I can attract even more different types of birds. Wish me luck.xx LL

I also have bluetits in my garden, and great tits....I find they like eating small green invertebrates! Rosexx

Hi Marion, I was told that the mealworms would attract Robins, and the Nyjra would attract Finches? I think someone said. A few yrs ago when we lived in previos house, a sparrowhawk landed in our garden ( we were in middle of a large housing estate then). We didn't see any birds in our garden for ages after that.xx LL

I have seen some small birds with dark heads, think they may be coal tits, in the garden recently and in previous years they have visited and gone again, but never used our bird box on the garage wall, however, o.h. told me yesterday he thinks there are babies in the box as he can hear cheeping noises coming from it. Do hope the babies will thrive and grow up strong and healthy.

PP Thats lovely, I have a pair of blackbirds nesting, they did last year also, part of the edging to my roof is missing and the sparrows nest in there every year.I don't have the heart to get it mended now! it is lovely to watch them popping in and out and then watch the babies perched in a line on the guttering waiting to be fed. Rosexx

Hello PP, Out of the birds that I have seen around here the blue tits have def been the most colourful. Thats why I have ben trying to attract them into my garden. The two tits that I saw the other day, I don't know if they were a pair, or mother and young. As I said at the time, they looked to be kissing, rather than one feding the other. If I can get more 'colourful' birds in such as finches etc that will be an added bonus. Good luck with your young Blue tits, let me know how many if you get chance to peek.xx LL

Hello Rose, I have seen a few blackbirds around here, just sitting on the hedge. They havent been to my table to feed as yet, just seem to sit and watch the other birds feed. Again, in the other house, we had blackbirds that would nest year after year in our conifers, and every year, despite our efforts, the Magpies would get to the young. Heartbreaking, but I suppose thats nature.xx LL

We always have at least one pair of blackbirds nesting nearby and loads of starlings in the roof edges etc. Will keep you posted on the blue/coal tits if there are really some there. Liz