Hobbies and Crafts

They were joined by blackbird, coal tit, greenfinches, collard dove, wood pigeons

Yes our feeder's been busy too. Saw a greater spotted woodpecker there in beween all the smaller birds.

13 days without a post, no birds in your garden?

We have had quite a few in the past week or so including blue, coal and great tits, robin, black cap, starlings, sparrows, greenfinches, goldfinches, chaffinches, wren, collard doves, wood pigeons, magpie, crow, blackbirds.

Anyone seen Jude lately?

Me again, where is everyone. Hope you haven't all got flu.

I was watching out the window this morning. OH has made a sparrow house which sits on the fence, needless to say the sparrows prefer to roost in the pyracanthus bush. However I watched a little blue tit pop into the sparrow house through one of the holes. Wonder if he/she was sizing it up for spring?

I have been looking for this thread ,thought it had gone lol
I put some Fat Balls out this afternoon as there have been hoards of birds all looking hungry today.One ball had 2 magpies feeding off ,and underneath were 2 Moorhens,picking up the bits that fell off.
We have also had a Buzzard flying very low today.I had to melt the water in the bird bath as it was solid ice.

They do love the fat balls don't they, we mainly get sparrows and starlings on ours but occasionally a blue tit will have a go too. Not had magpies on them though, and certainly don't have moorhens. I wouldn't have found the thread except I had book marked it.

Hi Everyone,
Garden full of hungry birds - just regular visitors - hoards of sparrows, chaffinches, greenfinches, blue tits, great tits, solitary starling, blackbirds, curiously the doves that reside here have disappeared. Jackdaws of course, and a red kite is around daily.

Ann - your thread is almost a year old, and I should like to thank you for it. Always interesting, and gives pleasure to many people with a common interest - I always look forward to reading the contributions.

I hope everyone here has a happy and peaceful Christmas, may your feeders be full to overflowing.............

Best wishes to all - from Tec, and Ianto.

Hello Tec (and Ianto), not seen you on here for a while, hope all is OK with you.

Our feeders have been working overtime the past few days. We actually had a thrush in the garden according to my OH this morning but it was chased off by a blackbird. Must have considered he was on his pitch. We have had quite a few goldfinches today and also chaffinches plus all the usual, yesterday we had a pied wagtail as well

Still no sign of Jude.

If I don't speak to you again Tec, have a great Christmas.

Our birds are eating us out of house and home, we have topped up our feeders but they will probably need doing again tomorrow before we go, we have one feeder with black seed two with peanuts, one with suet bits, one with nyger seed two with mixed seed and three with fat balls, plus three bird tables and a ground feeder!!!

Today we have had besides the usual blackbirds and starlings and sparrows, two doves, one wood pigeon, 4 goldfinches, one black cap, several chaffinches, blue tits, Great Tits and Greenfinches.

I was looking for this thread a couple of days ago so I'm pleased you have bumped it back up Ann .

We have hardly had any birds about in the garden for ages , until this cold snap with all the snow . I put out fresh fat balls and started putting bread out again and to be honest I wish I hadn't.

I had the shock of my big fat white and ginger cat bringing in what I think was a Snipe ( biggish wading bird with a long beak ) luckily I think I got to it in time and after an hour of the poor thing being in a box in the spare room it looked lively enough to let it go....it flew away , I just hope it has survived...........two days later the rotton little black cat of mine caught and killed a Robin : (

Amanda, Oh dear, just doing what comes naturally though, poor puss, don't be cross with him. Poor Robin though. Have you got a bird table you can feed them on where the cat can't get to them?

I have Ann....it's on top of the washing line post !
They don't usually get birds , my guess is that the poor birds are more desperate for food and so not as alert as usual ?

I can't put bells on my lot as the " hoard " of cats next door wear bells and are at war with my ones ( who get most alarmed at the sound of little bells ringing ) .

I'd only spotted the poor Robin ealier this week and was so pleased to see it bobbing about in the Rowen tree : (

I have hung Fat balls on the trees at the bottom of the garden ,and on my whirley washing line and on a branch of a tree just outside the patio window.The Robin and I think Blue tit like those ,but the ones at the bottom the Magpies have had them away.They break the net bag and the fatballs just disappear lol
Where is Jude? I have a photo of the robin and fatball.
Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy and Healthy 2010 xxx

Hi Everyone,
I hope you all had a happy and safe Christmas.
The birds have enjoyed all manner of treats over the last few days, but it has been a full time job keeping the feeders topped up. Every day a squirrel turns up, sits under the feeders munching away quite happily, and surrounded by birds. They seem quite oblivious to each other. Strange how they know the squirrel won't harm them.

More harsh weather on the way I believe, so off to the seed merchant tomorrow to get stocked up.

Would like to wish everyone a Happy Healthy New Year

Best wishes,

Tec & Ianto

Jane, Jude is still around, if you have sent photos before just send them, I expect she has been busy with christmas.

We have been away and note that the feeders will need re-filling tomorrow, they lasted pretty well for three days though as we filled so many.

A Happy New year you to you too.Not too many birds around at the moment,other than little Robbie .My fat balls are still there !!!!!!.
OH did see a Hawk take out a pidgeon next door the other day.I'm glad I didn't see it.
I have a nice photo of the Robin with the Fatball.

I am sure we would all like to see that Jane.

I am sure that one goldfinch spends all day from daylight to dusk sitting on the nyger seed feeder eating. We have about five regular visitors but one we call Billy no mates seems to be a single one. He is already there stuffing himself (or herself).

Hello Jane:o)

Yes please....send the photo, of course we would all love to see it:o)
Not been far away, just been busy, apart from Christmas then we were in Dorset.

Birds here have been feeding like crazy, loads of w/pigeons and c/doves plus the usual black birds, some are extremely bossy. 3 or 4 robins, chaffinches, couple of dunnocks and of course the jackdaws and crows. Plus 2 squirrels.
We now buy a sack of bird seed and another of nuts, plus the atora and fruit. l put a juicy pear out the other day...Madoc had followed me and picked it up to eat himself, cheeky monkey:o)) lol

Madoc spent the holidays with the dog sitter, she took him home with her and her parents:o)), when we got back yesterday there was a present for us.......a calendar with a different photo for each month. Its gorgeous:o)

Take care
jude :o)

Afternoon Jude,and all.I hope everyone has enjoyed their Christmas.
I will send my pic of the Robin.I did have to take it through the window so it could be clearer.I will do that know.