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Post by Mb2t on Jan 30, 2021 0:09:56 GMT
Yup, noticed Blue Tits prospecting our nest boxes during the week too. Anyone else doing the RSPB birdwatch over the weekend? My wife will probably join in. We have quite a lot of birds in the garden. |
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Post by davidwilson on Jan 30, 2021 7:13:05 GMT
Yup, noticed Blue Tits prospecting our nest boxes during the week too. Anyone else doing the RSPB birdwatch over the weekend? I spent an hour doing it yesterday but most of the birds hadn't got the memo. I had 9 species. |
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Post by shcm on Jan 30, 2021 9:20:35 GMT
Anyone else doing the RSPB birdwatch over the weekend? Does the pope have a career in religion?  I spent an hour doing it yesterday but most of the birds hadn't got the memo. I had 9 species. Doesn't sound too bad to me that, David.  ....and remember it's not a competition A "null" result in a survey is as much useful data as anything else. (It was suggested to me to watch for most of the weekend and take the "best" 60 minutes)  Well, the below will be exceedingly common across gardens, so perhaps not that special. These pair (almost certainly male and female, unless we have gay robins - almost impossible to tell male and female apart, despite various claims) will sit on the fence by the kitchen door, waiting to be fed. Until I get the main camera out, that is! (Below was taken with phone camera). One is very trusting of us now and will let me get very close and take food off me. We've been feeding them all winter and observing behaviour. There's the usual strong defence of territory. It would appear the boundary is the opposite garden fence, because a third robin is tolerated on there, but any closer and it's told to get lost in no uncertain terms. I saw the one with nesting material in its beak for the first time yesterday, so I expect we'll be feeding six soon. |
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Post by Mb2t on Jan 30, 2021 12:02:26 GMT
We have a resident pair of Robins, and in the beging the were lime guard dogs. They mellowed a bit now. We have not tried to feed them by hand, but they do come very close. Also interesting is that the Robin will not eat from the feeders, only frim the table or the floor. Our main attraction is a flock of Gold Finches, about 20 of them that eat from the feeders, but they are very messy and for each grain eaten there are 5 on the ground... which is consumed by mostly pigeons and the squirrel. .. like a small eco system.
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Post by davidwilson on Jan 30, 2021 12:15:44 GMT
I saw 3 robins in my watch yesterday - there is usually one singing from before dawn each day. I am trying to encourage a Song Thrush to visit daily at the moment and I also like seeing the Jackdaws that regularly visit.
I also saw 2 nuthatch together yesterday!
That's a really good photo Andy.
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Post by davrav on Jan 30, 2021 17:57:55 GMT
Robins can't/don't like to cling. They are primarily ground feeders so are much happier on a flat surface. A simple wooden frame on short legs with a mesh base makes a good feeding tray for Robins, Blackbirds and the like |
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Post by charliefarlie on Jan 30, 2021 18:27:19 GMT
We have a resident pair of Robins, and in the beging the were lime guard dogs. They mellowed a bit now. We have not tried to feed them by hand, but they do come very close. Also interesting is that the Robin will not eat from the feeders, only frim the table or the floor. Our main attraction is a flock of Gold Finches, about 20 of them that eat from the feeders, but they are very messy and for each grain eaten there are 5 on the ground... which is consumed by mostly pigeons and the squirrel. .. like a small eco system. There was a nature programme on recently where it was explained that some species can identify which seeds are full of the things they need.... They avoid the others. After much trying of different seed mixes we no buy Supavets which seems mega popular and much less is thrown off the table or feeders. 20KG bags are 12 quid at our local farmers outlet.... |
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Post by davidwilson on Jan 30, 2021 22:03:18 GMT
We have a resident pair of Robins, and in the beging the were lime guard dogs. They mellowed a bit now. We have not tried to feed them by hand, but they do come very close. Also interesting is that the Robin will not eat from the feeders, only frim the table or the floor. Our main attraction is a flock of Gold Finches, about 20 of them that eat from the feeders, but they are very messy and for each grain eaten there are 5 on the ground... which is consumed by mostly pigeons and the squirrel. .. like a small eco system. There was a nature programme on recently where it was explained that some species can identify which seeds are full of the things they need.... They avoid the others. After much trying of different seed mixes we no buy Supavets which seems mega popular and much less is thrown off the table or feeders. 20KG bags are 12 quid at our local farmers outlet.... I haven't heard of that mix and can't find on the internet. |
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Post by charliefarlie on Jan 31, 2021 10:34:26 GMT
There was a nature programme on recently where it was explained that some species can identify which seeds are full of the things they need.... They avoid the others. After much trying of different seed mixes we no buy Supavets which seems mega popular and much less is thrown off the table or feeders. 20KG bags are 12 quid at our local farmers outlet.... I haven't heard of that mix and can't find on the internet. There’s a fruit and veg shop that sell it and the farmers supply shop both in Tenbury usually have if. The quality is exceptional and is why I buy 3 bags at a time in case supplies run low which to be fair happens at both places 👍 |
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Post by philip42h on Jan 31, 2021 11:22:23 GMT
Is it "Supavetz Superior wild bird food" (with a 'z') perhaps?
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Post by shcm on Jan 31, 2021 14:40:38 GMT
Anyone else doing the RSPB birdwatch over the weekend? It would seem the RSPB website is creaking under the strain. There's usually a good long window to submit results in, so if anybody is having problems submitting, might be worth leaving it a day or two.
EDIT: 19th Feb Deadline.
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Post by davrav on Jan 31, 2021 14:44:39 GMT
Anyone else doing the RSPB birdwatch over the weekend? It would seem the RSPB website is creaking under the strain. There's usually a good long window to submit results in, so if anybody is having problems submitting, might be worth leaving it a day or two.
EDIT: 19th Feb Deadline.
Beat me to it with that edit |
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Post by charliefarlie on Jan 31, 2021 18:01:09 GMT
Is it "Supavetz Superior wild bird food" (with a 'z') perhaps? I’m not sure but will do my best to remember to have a look tomorrow 👍👍 |
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Post by davidwilson on Jan 31, 2021 19:36:11 GMT
Very pleased to see a Jay in the garden today for the first time this year.
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Post by davrav on Jan 31, 2021 19:49:17 GMT
Got twelve species in the hour before dusk today, two of which, namely Fieldfare and Great spotted woodpecker, are not being counted apparently. Goldfinches ruled the roost with 14 counted at one time in the appointed hour though there were 20+ when we were eating lunch earlier.
Was also surprised to see both a Little egret and a Cormorant fly over.....until I popped out and realised that the Thames hereabouts has well and truly overtopped its banks and flooded the water meadows and flood plain for quite some distance.
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