Hobbies and Crafts

Ann
No LOL.
Funnily enough I missed an opportunity a couple of weeks ago when same two birds were canoodling to take a photo. It looked as if they were kissing each other.
When I went to get camera they flew off probably didn't like being watched!!
Von

Lol, a bashful magpie that I have to see.

Ann
I'll keep the camera ready.
I loved your pictures of the goldfinches on Judes blog.
Von

We have 2 Magpies in our garden too.I think they may be the culprits that nick the fatballs lol

Those goldfinches and a couple more (well I assume they are the same ones) are here every day all day, they hardly ever stop feeding.
The Fieldfare has been back several times and spent at least an hour feeding on apple in the garden this morning.

Hi
We have had some goldfinches in the garden but not recently.
There isn't much going on in the garden at the moment although three Magpies were having an autication this morning and the Crows were sussing out the Magpies nest.
Stand by for turf wars.
OH has hung out some fat balls on our tree but no takers so far.
Take care
Von

They take a while to adjust to new feeding stations. Be careful if the fat balls are in netting as the small birds can catch their claws so keep an eye on them.

This morning I ventured out dead early.... we have some Montana coming over from next door, and I know there is at least one wren in there... so out I ventured, in pj's, wellies, hubby's thick coat and hair all sticky uppy... and I put a dish on top of the hanging basket nestling in amongst the montana.. put some fat ball and some of the seed, and a small dish with some fresh water... and the wren has had a good feed... it was chased off by the robin in the end... I had put his food up near the ivy... the cats won't walk over the ivy draped over the fence...

I used some of those S hooks you hang kitchen things on... made a couple of holes in an old sandwich thing, and it hangs sort of sideways, like a little mini bus shelter, from the ivy tendrils lol... I have put a bit of catfood, some seed and a fat ball in there as well... the dish of water was too heavy. I have seen lots of pretty birds feeding there, and all from the comfort of the conservatory... magical!! They were all squabbling at one stage!!

The jays have been again, on the shed roof... that is at the side of the house... Ann, where you were sitting when you were here, I am thinking of hanging food from the basket brackets there... do you think the birds would come that close to the house? It was on that low fence, on the other side of the gate, that the thrush was landing. That is what made me think of it.

Love

Daff xxxx

Daff there has been lots of squabbling going on this morning .At one point 3 Robins were having right brawl!!

Daff they will come close to the house when they have got used to it but you have to be patient normally.

I have blackbirds that now wait for their food first thing in
the morning, Thrushes and pigeons. plus the occasional squirrel.
I put out bread, aples and bits of cheese. Seed from the pet shop.
I have a bird feeder on a stand at the bottom of the garden but the little birds never feed from it
I have home made fat balls hanging as well and still no feeding. Any ideas so that I can attract the blue tits etc.
Sue x

I have a bad bird phobia, (Onophobia) but I have been putting Christmas cake out for them. A lovely friend of mine made us a huge cake but we don't like fruit cake so the old birds have been doing well in our garden...maybe watching them through the lounge window will help my phobia...they come pretty close!!

Best regards

Pam. ☺

The blue and great and coal tits like black sunflower seed Susan, and they will also eat from fat balls. They don't mind being nearer the house but prefer it if they have a tree or shrub very close. For example our seed feeders and fat balls that the tits and greenfinches feed from are in our apple tree so they have branches to eat their seed on. The Tits like to take a piece of seed and fly to a nearby branch to eat it.

That must be unpleasant Pam. Maybe getting a bird book and seeing what birds you have, identifying them etc will help you to overcome it if you get interested in their habits. Does that mean you have bad problems visiting places that have pigeons and seagulls etc flying around? Have you tried councilling and help for the problem.

*All excited* they are there, Ann.... I cut up some empty milk cartons.... threaded some string through holes... and put seed in one, fat balls in another, apples and banana in another... and in the fourth some water....... I can't see the apple and banana cos it is on the far side of the garage door... but... the bits all around the kitchen have had a couple of tentative birdies, lolol....... mind you, theyare keeping a very close eye on the cats, lol...... chaffinch types... they look quite big!! And the water has been very popular... they have all gone back to it a couple of times.

I am soooooo pleased... I suppose they must be so desperate that they are chancing their arm.... erm, I mean wings, lolol. One of them was washing!! Brrrrrr in this weather!

It doesn't look very pretty, but if it is successful, I shall maybe look at a way of getting something prettier in place.

I have been so pleased with my handiwork, that I have gone around all the metal arbours at the back, (where the decking is, Ann) which is where I notice they were looking for food earlier.... and I have a stunning selection of the bottoms of plastic pop bottles and empty cartons, all strung up and dangling, lol... let's see what happens, lol... and if they are safe from the cats...... great stuff, I shall carry on all year around!

Love

Daff xxxx

Hi Ann, it's quite a common phobia apparantly. I'm fine with large birds ie. pidgeons, ducks, (we used to keep ducks) peacoks, you get the general picture! But it's the legs, sounds comical I know, so it's birds that have really long thin legs. i think it's how the legs and claws go with blackbirds, thrushes, even the little robins!!

It doesn't hamper me too much though.

Pam. ☺

PS We're near to the coast , about 4 miles so we have sea gulls about, but I'm ok with them as they don't have the spindly legs!!!

Daff well done, surprising what a bit of ingenuity can do isn't it?

Pam, glad it doesn't inhibit you too much, I know some people don't like birds flying around them, but at least you are feeding them so well done.

Hi all


Loads more names on here,thats great:o))

Ann.....the latest photo you sent is on the blog along with a link:o)

Daff....who's a clever girl then that sounds great.....photo's please??

jude :o) x

I love all the new photos Jude.

Hi All....Been well and truly entertained over the Christmas and New year period, but then ratty decided to appear !. He loves the sunflower seeds dropped by the goldfinches, and the bread. So..moved the bread on the top of the shed and took down the sunflower feeders. But of course, no goldfinches for days. Bought a humane rat trap, but all I caught were nosy blackbirds eating the food. No matter what I put in it the rat just would not go in. Of course I could let the blackbirds free in a matter of minutes.
So today, after missing the goldfinches, I put the sunflower feeder back up, and along came...Ratty, again !. But he has been so funny, jumping up and down through the snow trying to get the food, that my heart melted. Please God he doesn't multiply in numbers. I am such a softee...lol

Maggie