Hobbies and Crafts

Wel done BC, perseverance paid off.

Sorry that was me deleting...got so excited I hit the button twice:-)

Yipee!! Blue and Great Tits and a Blackbird! They finally arrived! (And two dozen pigeons but let's not mention them). Am so pleased, all I need is the Robin coming back. They are mighty hungry, am running out of birdfood! BC XX

Sad end to the small piece of the fat ball I made that was left. The starlings were all squabbling over it when down came a crow and took the whole piece off!!!

Ann
Glos

Me again:o)

We had to go out few times today. By the time we had got back l noticed somebirds scavenging about for any remaining bits of seeds, so l quickly put more seed and mixed dry fruit out, as l walked to the back door the robin was there on the seed. When l got indoors there were a couple of backbirds and the robin.

Earlier l tried to watch to see who was eating the spuds! a starling got onto b/table but was eating the seed or fruit.....withing an hr or so the spud had gone, skin and all!!

Still no suet, hope we get some tomorrow!!

Its blinky cold here tonight:o(((
Of course l'll keep it a secret....lol
jude :o)

Ann i bet they are in next doors garden 1 week and yours the next lol

I find it strange that the long tailed tits will visit in a gang, then we don't see them for about a week, then they come back again, then disappear for another week. Do you think they have a rota of feeding places to visit?

Hi Amanda - I've read somewhere that if you get one bird in your garden, another bird sees it and comes to have a look. Whereupon, other birds see them there, and wonder what's there ......... you get my drift? lol

So don't lose heart, as you've found out. They're watching us, though we can't always see them! Crafty beggars, lol.
x

I've been getting most despondent reading about all the birds in your gardens as I haven't seen a single bird in my garden for days...........but today the " gang" of Long Tailed Tits put in an appearance , along with a few Blue tits in tow ............so I feel must happier now : ))

Hi everyone, thought it'd be nice to nudge this thread up.

Lorraine, I had to laugh at what you described, as I did reading Ann's.

Like Ann, I was surprised to see the birds eating my first lot of suet cakes and leaving the shop-bought one. I felt quite chuffed, too!

Thanks Jude, yes it's behaving itself now (don't tell anyone, but I think it was something I did incorrectly; keep it a secret, won't you).

Bless 'em, they finished off the last of Tuesday's cottage pie today. We had our second helping of it yesterday, but there was still loads left over, so we invited the birds to dine on it.
Cap'n Jack and his family were out in force today, although those yobs the starlings scoffed most of the food on the tray.
x
Who's next? .............

Hi Jude, they are still ignoring the shop fat balls while eating the one I made. Very strange. Not so many birds around this morning. Robin just had a bath in the water feature though, never seen that before it is usually the blackbirds and sparrows in that one.

We have a pair of wood pigeons that visit, I haven't a clue how to tell male from female. Maybe there is somebody more knowledgeable on here. The fog has come down which is maybe why the birds are missing.

Ann xx

Morning........loads of birds were in garden this morning waiting for Vic & dog (dog always assists unless its too wet...lol) to feed them. 4 male blackbirds and a female, various tits (c.b.g.) 2 robins, 4 jackdaws, couple of sparrows and 3 or 4 woodpigeons. How do you tell the difference between male & female W/pigeons?
Jacket spuds in the oven, we tried a couple of shops for suet on wednesday,sold out!! will try againtoday
Ann........Did it make any difference taking in the fat balls?? we have'nt put any out yet, keepforgetting to get any.

We have what a l think is a female blackbird with a slighty speckly chest, she's a rich brown on chest and the usual brown on back.....perhaps its a youngster.

Did you see Breakfast TV this morning about the Cuckoo, amazing birds.Never seen one:o(

jude:o)

I was holding my breath earlier, there were two wood pigeons hanging onto the seed feeder, sitting in the saucer that is screwed underneath it! I thought it would break as it was swinging madly from side to side, but it seems to have survived.

ann
glos

Just about to take a cooked spud out and fresh water, l have'nt seen them drink from this container though, as you say they take a while to get used to some things. The bird bath is frozen solid, l made it so l don't want to smash it just yet!!

Yes Ann l've noticed the different feeding habits. l don't think the robin has fed from nut feeder. The wood pigeons are out there now, they just dive in anywhere...lol they get abit stroppy with the collared doves though.

Ok off to take spuds out:o)

jude :o) x

I've noticed the same feeding behaviour with the blue tits.
The robin hasn't mastered hanging onto the mouth of the feeder. He/she takes from it on the wing, flying in from the nearest branch.
The sparrows often fight for the pecking order to feed & spill half of it on the ground when feeding. Looks wasteful but the ground feeders such as the balckbirds don't complain.

Have you noticed the different ways the birds feed? e.g. The Greenfinches sit on the feeder and continuously eat the seeds. The Blue tits take a seed and fly into a tree and eat that one seed then come back for another one.
Made the fat ball mixture yesterday, just put it out and waiting to see if the birds will eat it, they don't like anything different at first do they?
Ann
Glos

l hope he can't see you Ann, how insensative to laugh at him!! lol

Well our garden is quite busy this morning, we have 4 male blackbirds and a couple of females. The males are so bossy, no one is allowed in each territory!
The sparrows and chaffinch's just busy themselves with the job in hand. The robin is busy in his little corner under the nuts and smallbird table.
One jackdaw has ventured onto the little wall but is so jumpy. Water is frozen will sort it in a mo,need to sort me out first:o)) lol

jude :o) xx

PS .... morning Glenys, your post is quite relivant and good to see your pc ok now:o)
x

Just had a chuckle. We have a water feature that is a jug pouring water into a wide bowl, I may have said before that the blackbirds and sparrow bath in it and drink from it. Well the water in the bowl is frozen this morning but not the rest in the system. We have turned the pump on to help melt the water in the bowl so water is coming out of the jug. blackbird walks on the ice to drink the water from the jug and literally 'skates' across the surface, he looked so funny.

*sneaks back while no-one's looking*

Jude, you mentioning a pheasant reminds me that, late Sunday afternoon, we were making our way along dark country roads, to see some friends, when on the other side of the road we noticed a bird flapping its wings on the ground. We stopped and went back to it; it was a pheasant, that had been hit by a car and its little neck was broken. The poor thing was beyond help, so hubby did what he had to do.

This posting is of absolutely no consequence lol, but it just reminded me.

Hope all "our" birds are OK this morning.
x

Jude - I don't have a thermometer outside, just had a couple of bevies in the pub. B****y cold on way there & back. Just checked ceefax, London -5, Ipswcih -7. As I'm half way between the two I reckon -6.
I've seen a sparrow hawk twice in the garden. The 2nd time was this summer (think it was a sparrowhawk). So quick, I was in the garden when it arrowed passed me, brownish with swept back wings. Across the garden & through the top of the brambles, next door. Moments later a blue tit in just about the very same position scolded out its dissaproval (I fear it took its mate).
But the 1st & most memorable time was in summer 2007. I was looking out from the bathroom, when I saw it perched on the fence. It did flew into the bay tree opposite missing its target.
Sparrows flew out in a frenzy to escape. But at least one returned, too afraid to venture across open ground. The sparrow hawk returned to its perch on the fence, visibly targeting something in the bush. It attacked again. This time taking one of the sparrows, landing with it on the earth next door & made its kill.
I was both horrified for the sparrow & amazed at the spectacle of nature. I was then further amazed for it to look up to me, as if it knew I'd been watching all the time before flying away.

Vic was right it is Venus & it'll be there tomorrow night (clear skies allowing) from 5pm. Look to south east, can't miss it.

Steve.