Garden Birds - What do get coming to feed at the moment ?

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What's everybody getting on or under their feeders just now and what are you feeding ?

At the moment we've got out Peanuts, Nijer Seeds, Fat balls, bird seed, mealworm cake and old apples. Over this weekend I've made a note of what I've managed to photograph - albeit some quite poorly.

Robins
Long Tailed Tits
Blue Tits
Great Tits
Coal Tits
Goldfinches
Chaffinches
Bullfinches
Greenfinches
Siskins
Sparrows
Fieldfares
Starlings
Pheasants
Collared Doves
Wrens

I'm not sure whether the above is a really good turn-out over 2 days or if it's par for the course but I'm really pleased as we only started to encourage the birds this year since my two 'hunting' cats died.
 
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That's a good turnout. Long-tailed tits are something I've never managed to get a good shot of. They work their way up the row of gardens and are through and gone in a couple of minutes.

Peanuts are good for getting jays if you put them on a ground feeder tray well away from the house, and the blackbirds go wild for dry catfood kibble.
 
I am feeding beef fat (getting fat from butcher and rendering it down to mix with seed and peanuts), sunflower hearts, peanuts, small parakeet mix (sadly lost my lovebirds when a neighbour had a toxic bonfire), bacon rind, sliced apples, crushed oats, mixed corn and wheat plus any scraps the chickens and dogs don't get.

This weekend have seen
Long Tailed Tits (two)
Blue Tits (lots)
Great Tits (lots)
Coat Tits (quite a few)
Marsh/Willow Tits (quite a few)
Robin
Pair of blackbirds
Pied Wagtails (one grey and one black)
Nuthatches
Chaffinches
Yellowhammer - very rare visitor and excited to see it
Robin
Dunnocks
Wren
Mouse
Pair of Collared Doves
Pair of Woodpigeons
G. Spotted Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
another Mouse
Crows
Magpies
Pair of Jays
Sparrowhawk -1 blue tit
+ Treecreeper but have not actually seen that on the feeders, just on close by trees
Squirrel


I have opened up the aviary so there is an area with food available out of the snow, and put a bowl of assorted stuff and a couple of fat/seed/peanut filled flower pots and have had many birds go in there. To start with they panic a little as they can't find their way out but they quickly learn where the half height doors are and go in and out quite confidentaly. Another plus is that the sparrowhawk is unlikely to get them while they are feeding in there.

I had not realised just how many different birds we have till I wrote it down but have been feeling rough and spent a lot of time just sitting watching them.
 
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I bought some fat balls a couple of weeks ago from wilkos and absolutely nothing has touched them !

I put four up in various locations and nothing , I thought it might be the fact we have a cat put she's been in most of the time , we also have chickens but can't imagine these bother other birds
 
I've had fatballs out for a while but nothing seams to like them. The half cocoanut of fat they quite like but its a bit cold and hard at the moment i think. My seeds go down very quick in summer, not moved for a while now. I've got some fat pellets which the Starlings love. Have 5 or 6 sat on my fence most days currently.

I took my peanut feeder down last week as they had started to grow mould. I've boiled the feeder, just not got around to putting it back up.

This weekend only seen the odd tit, a few starlings and the odd Pigeon.

I'll keep an eye on this thread for an idea of how to attract more birds to my little garden!

J
 
In the summer it's pigeons, sparrows and magpies. With all this snow and frost I've only seen a couple of blackbirds, one robin and a few pigeons. I've got nuts, mixed seed, coconut, fatballs and water out too.:(
 
Alastair said:
That's a good turnout. Long-tailed tits are something I've never managed to get a good shot of. They work their way up the row of gardens and are through and gone in a couple of minutes.

Peanuts are good for getting jays if you put them on a ground feeder tray well away from the house, and the blackbirds go wild for dry catfood kibble.
Click to expand...

I've not managed a decent Long Tailed Tit shot either. Not being an expert it's good to hear how they move as that makes sense - I'll have 6 or 7 feeding but as soon as I spot them - they all move off elsewhere.

Catfood 'kibble' is something I've not tried but I may try that.

Kerioak said:
I am feeding beef fat (getting fat from butcher and rendering it down to mix with seed and peanuts), sunflower hearts, peanuts, small parakeet mix (sadly lost my lovebirds when a neighbour had a toxic bonfire), bacon rind, sliced apples, crushed oats, mixed corn and wheat plus any scraps the chickens and dogs don't get.

This weekend have seen
Long Tailed Tits (two)
Blue Tits (lots)
Great Tits (lots)
Coat Tits (quite a few)
Marsh/Willow Tits (quite a few)
Robin
Pair of blackbirds
Pied Wagtails (one grey and one black)
Nuthatches
Chaffinches
Yellowhammer - very rare visitor and excited to see it
Robin
Dunnocks
Wren
Mouse
Pair of Collared Doves
Pair of Woodpigeons
G. Spotted Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
another Mouse
Crows
Magpies
Pair of Jays
Sparrowhawk -1 blue tit
+ Treecreeper but have not actually seen that on the feeders, just on close by trees
Squirrel


I have opened up the aviary so there is an area with food available out of the snow, and put a bowl of assorted stuff and a couple of fat/seed/peanut filled flower pots and have had many birds go in there. To start with they panic a little as they can't find their way out but they quickly learn where the half height doors are and go in and out quite confidentaly. Another plus is that the sparrowhawk is unlikely to get them while they are feeding in there.

I had not realised just how many different birds we have till I wrote it down but have been feeling rough and spent a lot of time just sitting watching them.
Click to expand...

Wow - quite a gathering and thanks for the ideas - I'm often too busy to get the camera out but like you I still like to just observe and see what's about.

Ploddles said:
Pigeons, pigeons and more bleeding pigeons.
Click to expand...

I'm getting pigeons too :thumbs:

Kerioak said:
Bleeding - are you shooting them and missing ?
Click to expand...

I used to get paid for 'shooting' them :thinking:

mrgas said:
I bought some fat balls a couple of weeks ago from wilkos and absolutely nothing has touched them !

I put four up in various locations and nothing , I thought it might be the fact we have a cat put she's been in most of the time , we also have chickens but can't imagine these bother other birds
Click to expand...

Give it time - My two remaining cats soon learn what is and isn't possible. As long as your putting them out of reach it's worth keeping at it.

Jay12329 said:
I've had fatballs out for a while but nothing seams to like them. The half cocoanut of fat they quite like but its a bit cold and hard at the moment i think. My seeds go down very quick in summer, not moved for a while now. I've got some fat pellets which the Starlings love. Have 5 or 6 sat on my fence most days currently.

I took my peanut feeder down last week as they had started to grow mould. I've boiled the feeder, just not got around to putting it back up.

This weekend only seen the odd tit, a few starlings and the odd Pigeon.

I'll keep an eye on this thread for an idea of how to attract more birds to my little garden!

J
Click to expand...

That was my idea with this thread - to try and work out what sort of methods bring what birds......

Doog said:
In the summer it's pigeons, sparrows and magpies. With all this snow and frost I've only seen a couple of blackbirds, one robin and a few pigeons. I've got nuts, mixed seed, coconut, fatballs and water out too.:(
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're being kind enough :thinking:
 
Mixed seed in one and peanuts in another.

So far i`ve had :-

Robin
Blue tit
Small green tit sized thing
Blackbird
Parakeet
Squirrel
 
The cold weather really brings in the unusual visitors. So far this month we've had:

Sparrowhawk
Barn Owl
Kestrel
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Water Rail
Moorhen
Snipe
Grey Heron
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Pheasant

We have hanging feeders with sunflower seeds, fat pellets and peanuts. A fatball feeder (make sure you remove the plastic netting). And we chuck some high-energy ground food out. We're doing around 5 kg a week.
 
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We just feed with a wild bird feed mix and get mainly sparrows with a few others from time to time. Dunnocks, robins, blackbirds, collared doves and flying rats (pigeons) of the wood variety. there are a few coal tits sometimes and the occasional blue some days. Currently ground feeding since cat doesn't like going out in the snow, so they're reasonably safe from her.
 
As above post, mixed seed in one and peanuts in another.

Yesterday the mixed seed was emptied in an hour! Though there was a fair bit on the floor but it doesn't go to waste as some prefer to feed there.

Come Christmas Day though and they will be treated to this big beauty!


Visitors so far:

Sparrow (lots)
Dunnock (lots)
Blue tit (lots)
Great tit (quite a few)
Robin (same one I think)
Thrush (couple)
Blackbird (couple)
Woodpigeon
Magpie
Wren

and Mr Squirrel day before the snow came..... first visit I've seen for about 3 years so good to see him. Stayed around long enough for me to get some shots on #1 camera. This was with the P+S though... he was too nippy for it!
 
Here in an east London back garden we get

Great tit
Blue tit
House sparrow
Starling (if there is fat or meal worms)
Wood pigeon
Robin
Magpie
Crow
Jay


The cold weather has brought in a Greater spotted woodpecker and
goldfinches, usually about 5 - 10, but we had close to 20 at one time over the weekend

Although we have at least one sparrowhawk nearby by and have seen it in the garden once, we have not seen it at all during the cold weather, even the there are lots of smaller birds.

Dave
 
Over the past few days we've had

Blackbird
House sparrow
Dunnock
Starling
Robin
Mistle thrush
Magpie
Wren
Blue tit
Great tit
Long tailed tit
Coal tit
Jackdaw
Goldfinch
Grey wagtail (surprise visitor though I cant claim he had any food)
Goldcrest (again didn't eat just moped about at the top of a pine tree)

There was a female blackcap about a month ago and we normally get a few redwings and fieldfare in january.

We have peanuts, mixed seed, sunflower hearts and fatballs.


Figured I'd update this as we've had a few new birds in recent weeks:

Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Fieldfare
Redwing (technically late December for this and the fieldfare)
Treecreeper a 1st for me in the garden
 
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So far this week we've had;

Coal tits
Great tits
Blue tits
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
Sparrows
Starlings
Blackbirds
Doves + Pigeons
Squirrels
a barn owl
Robins
Pied wagtail
herring gulls
a rat

Plus the resident kestral family who I'm never sure if they are in or out, but I don't go anywhere near them.

Feed is a combination of peanuts, mixed seed, sunflower hearts, mealworms, nijer seed, fat balls and suet cakes. All on hanging feeders and tables (and a squirrel feeder) with a bit on the garage roof for the ground feeders - the cat population is quite high around here.
 
Downy Woodpecker (male and female)
Hairy Woodpecker (male and female)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (female)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (male and female)
White-breasted Nuthatch (male and female)
American Goldfinches
Black-capped Chickadees
Pine Siskins
Common Redpolls (male and female)
Mourning Doves
Blue Jays
Cardinal (male and female)

Male Red-breasted Nuthatch;



And we get American Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus);



Although there's over a foot of snow on the ground at the moment so they're using tunnels in the snow the get about.
 
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Not that much variety this year:

Blackbirds (counted 24 at once yesterday)
Robins
CHaffinches
Dunnocks
blue Tits
Great Tits
A solitary coal tit
House Sparrows
A Spotted woodpecker
Greenfinches
Jays
Magpies
Pied wagtails
and a Thrush of some description.

In the past we've had in addition to the above, Wrens, Treecreepers, Siskins, a Ring Ouzel once,Yellowhammers and Bullfinches.
 
That is a nice image, really lovely light you've caught it in.
 
Mainly Blackbirds, but do have Blue and Great Tits plus a Robin and a couple of Magpies

Plenty of squirrels, two of which are the Black variety which seem rather aggressive and see the grey ones off quite often

Have also spotted a male Hen Harrier above for the last couple of weeks and will try to get a shot or two if its about next week

Strangest sight though is a Chinese Water Deer that comes to graze in the back gardens, my daughter thought I was joking when I first got her out to see it
 
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In the feeders we've got peanuts, niger seed, fatballs, mixed seed with fruit, and in the scatter feed meal worms, suit/peanut pellets, suit/insect pellets, suit/fruit pellets, seed/fruit mix, sunflower hearts. And not forgetting water.

In the last week:-

Black Birds
Song Thrush
Red Wing
Fieldfare
Collard Dove
Wood Pigeon
Rook
Jackdaw
Magpie
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Gold Finch
Chaffinch
Starling
Brambling
And yesterday a Woodcock :D although he didn't eat any of the offerings I'd put out.
If I think of or see any others I'll update. :)
Robin
Black Headed Gull
House Sparrow.
Redpoll
Sparrowhawk
Greenfinch
Blackcap
 
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Hi guys/girls,

Brand new to the forum so hello all...

Got this nature/bird photography bug a bit bad at the moment so was keen to get involved on this forum...

I have all the usual tits, finches and "bl**dy" pigeons but have to say magpies are what I have flocks of at the moment!...

My two more recent unusual visitors and maybe my two top trumps in this game has to be a Coot (twice!) and an Egret (this was in the field at the bottom of my garden but I do own it so class it as part of the garden!?)
 
:thumbs: Red Kites landing on the bird table - honestly but no picture yet.
 
Nothing close to exotic here :(

Starlings
Blue Tits
House Sparrows
Robins
Blackbirds
The odd Chaffinch & Greenfinch

More Starlings
And, a neighbours bloody pigeons :rules: :bat:

They've turned their nose up at the mixed seed, so I've bought some more sunflower hearts, and will make another "cake" today to see if I can get them interested again. Problem with the fat cake is that the Starlings arrive in droves and the smaller birds don't get a look in.



Steve
 
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put out fatballs and peanuts not had one single bird!

never get cats in the garden so I dont know why we get no birds. occasionally get blackbirds landing on the fence but thats about it

any tips?
 
wow - what a great turnout on peoples feeders, us photographers must be single handedly supporting the wildlife!

I must be the only person in the neighbourhood to feed the birds as I get a healthy selection, I've been lucky enough in the past few weeks to see;

Blue Tits
Great Tits
Blackbirds
Magpies
Collared Doves
Wood Pigeons
Robins
Long tailed Tits
Chaffinches
Green Finch
Greater spotted woodpeckers (a male & female pair)
A Jay
Pied Wagtails
our resident squirrel
starlings
and a Heron flying over on his commute!
(and a huge flock of gulls in the school playing field beyond our fence!)

all I need know is a decent pic of them all! this year (when I break it to the wife) I want to set up a 'false' tree branch to enable some more natural setting pics :)


_MG_4785 by felt_tip_felon®, on Flickr


woodpecker by felt_tip_felon®, on Flickr
 
This year we've been getting:

Sparrow
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Long tailed tits
Goldfinches
Starlings
Robin
Dunnock
Blackbird
Redwing
Fieldfare
Greater spotted woodpecker
Pheasant
Blue tit
Great tit
Collared dove
Wood pigeon

I'd love to add thrushes to the lost but I haven't seen one this year:(

And all that also attracts a very nice sparrow hawk who does a great job of keeping the collared dove population down
 
I think my dog has scared all the wildlife from my garden. I have put up feeders, bread on the grass, everything but no wild life.
Thinking if I can get a bird suit for the dog.
 
Couldn't possibly put this up for crit so thought I'd try here.

Our son gave us the "caravan" for Christmas so I hung it in a magnolia tree more in hope than expectation.
I was really surprised this morning to see some interest shown.

Shocking picture quality, diabolical light and shot from inside lounge through double glazed windows.

 
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