We were over the moon the other day when we saw an unusual visitor to the bird feeding station. We didn't recognise it at first but Google showed it to be a Nuthatch which made sense as he was hanging upside down on the peanut container and having a right old feast. I do hope we see him again soon.....
I love watching the antics of the birds at the feeders and the squirrels who try to negotiate the anti-climb dome! We have regular visits from Robins, a Blue Tit, Blackbirds, Magpies, and a Spotted Woodpecker came a couple of times too.
What birds do you have visiting your garden?
Do you have any tips on what food to put out that doesn't cost a fortune please?
We would love to encourage more types of birds to visit but would rather not attract rats and pigeons 😏
Thanks so much for popping in. Stay safe and well wherever you happen to be ,
Angie 💗
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Wow! Lucky you. I have birdwatching envy!
ReplyDeleteWe use sunflower hearts, as seeds often grew below the feeders, hubby gets it online in a huge bag, it's a big outlay but also the cheapest per pound, buying it locally at our pet shop is way too expensive.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marlene, I'll check that out!
DeleteHow lovely to have a nuthatch in your garden! My Mum and Granddad were avid birdwatchers and feeders, they used to say what food you give the birds depends on the time of year. E.g. in winter they need more fat to fill them up and keep them warm, in Spring/early summer don't put out peanuts as young birds could choke on them. Mum used to make her own fat balls, using melted lard with mixed seeds, currants, bread and cake crumbs mixed in. She formed them into balls and packed into yogurt pots or half coconut shells, with a hole punched in to thread through string to hang up in trees or on hooks on the bird table.
ReplyDeleteOoh thanks, Sooze, for the smashing tips! We do put out fat balls and they've been disappearing fast with the weather being so cold. Our little Robins love the mealworms.
DeleteWow, lucky you, it's nice to see something different visiting isn't it. We have a couple of Robins, Mr and Mrs Blackbird and our four fat Pigeons. We also get absolutely mobbed with Starlings if we dare to put out any meal worms ... which is a shame as the Robin loves them, I try and sneak him a couple on the edge of the raised bed.
ReplyDeleteAlan is not averse to spending a fortune on his little feathered friends, so they get mealworms, sunflowers seeds, mixed seeds and LOTS of fat balls, oh and fat filled coconut halves too. Alan is terrible for putting bread out but I usually try and snaffle his leftover slices and bake them dry in the oven when it's on, and then crumble the slices up into tiny pieces ... maybe that's why the pigeons are so fat!!
Luckily we don't seem to get starlings but we do have very fat pigeons too :/ That's a good tip to dry leftover bread. Thanks Sue, I'll try that. Bless Alan for feeding the birds so well ;)
DeleteHaving moved to a new build, there is a scarcity of bushes and trees, although the builders have planted lots of lovely things, they are not very big yet. So far in our now tiny garden I've seen a magpie and 2 blackbirds. I'm loathe to put food out because of Miss Sheva cat, but have put a shallow dish of water on the gabion wall. I also bought some cheap veg but from Aldi, 8p a bag, I can see a lot of soup in the future. Hugs Xx
ReplyDeleteOur bungalow was a new build too, Gill. We've been here 3 years and we've seen a gradual increase in the variety of feathered friends since we moved in. They will come! We've also seen bats in the garden at dusk, flying round and round just outside our patio doors ! Fascinating creatures :)
DeleteWell done on getting some lovely veg. Yes, lots of soup and veg stews to come here too :)
I'm hoping to restart birdwatching next year. Need to refill bird feeders first!
ReplyDeleteI love to watch them, Kirsten, and they need all the help they can get. Due to having such a wet Spring there were far fewer caterpillars this year and it affected their breeding and rearing of young. We saw hardly any Blue Tits at all, just one regular visitor.
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