General Chat

I had two almost 6 year old visitors today with the mummy of one of them, and they were delighted by the antics of the starlings and one brave blackbird squabbling over some cooked chicken skin on the bird table, it soon ended up on the floor, and some left over baked beans and chips. I always put big chicken bones out for the birds to pick over then remove the bare bones and bin them before dark. Our robin came for a look when I put a wet piece of bread out and then a thrush. Haven't seen her in the garden before but we knew she was around because near a brick at the bottom of the hedge was a pile of broken snail shells, it is her anvil! We put out anything and everything for the birds, blackbirds love bananas,cheese and fruit loaf but I always make sure I soak any bread or dry items so that the crumbs can't swell anymore than they already are, inside the baby birds tums. Can prove fatal apparently. Starlings are just so greedy and bicker so much but the kids thoyught it lovely to see a young one being fed. All within a couple of metres of them at the patio door. Wonderful.

I am, unfortunately, between two take-a -ways, and by the time people reach my house they have 'had enough' and the remainder is usually in my front garden. The birds appear to like fried rice and all the other concoctions that goes with it. Yes they do like chips and to see a squirrel with a chip in it's paws eating is a sight to be seen. Brian (i)

Hi Brian so nice to see bird lovers on here , there are so many nasty people about.I buy Sultanas in bulk ,Peanuts by the Sack, Bird Seed by the Sack ,Apples and Bread The Large Fat Balls The square fat things with either Nuts or Fruit in which you hang in holders. I also buy the special Hedghog food Spikes either in Cans or dry in Boxes.We also throw out lots of bits like Jacket Potatoes they love them ,Chips too.I tell my husband we will have to cut down on our food so we can feed them. We also try and feed any other animals that come into the Garden.We get a lot of joy from them.Its just a shame the local Cats also visit and have killed quite a few this year.

Hello Val. Supermarket 'Own Brand' oats, their vegetable oil, and bird seed in bulk. They seem to strive on it. Brian (i)

please if you do feed the birds with cereals make sure they are not sweetened not very good for them.Porridge oats is good. We had our first babies today talk about a noise.I love it .

Brian when I see the magpies bullying the little birds I rush out and shoo them off.

We often see the Jay Its a beautiful bird. Have you got a digi camera ? you can get some lovely pics E x

The Squirrels get their nuts, again bought in bulk, but they do take birds eggs. Who takes priority? The foxes and hedgehogs also like the nuts so there is alway some put out at night for them. The foxes are very nervous and the slightest sign of movement and they are gone. I have never seen any young hedgehogs but there is a pair that feed every night. I do not like Magpies, a magnifcant looking bird but too distructive for my likeing. I do have an occansional Jay visit, again for the peanuts, a very shy bird. Great enjoyment. Brian (i)

We've got woodpeckers round here and I never realised how big they were and what a lovely colour (green) we also have a cuckoo or two and lots of little birds (I dont know what they are as I'm not au fait with birds ) also magpies,pigeons,and seagulls.Other wildlife is squirrels,badgers,foxes,hares (no rabbits) Oh and hawks also son saw a buzzard (whatever that is).

Buy nuts for the squirrils. we have them too, as long as you enjoy feeding them, then carry on, nature is wonderful Elaine x

How lovely of you!! Now i know birds eat cereal i can give them the cereal Daddy didn't eat! xx

I feed the birds with approx one pound (weight) of food every day, but now in the breeding season I have had to increase it to three pounds. This past two days they are going through four and a half pounds. Fortunately I buy in bulk so the cost is minimal, about fifty pence a pound. The Blackbirds are quite friendly but still very wary. The Robin keeps its distance. The Starlings only appear at nesting season and by the end of June they have gone somewhere else to live. This year I have a Chaffinch that has been successful, I saw an adult feeding two chicks. A Thrush appears occasionally. Blue Tits & Great Tits are regular visitors. A solitary Wren is often seen. There are no Sparrows. At my last address they nested in the eaves but after new barge/facia boards were fitted they disappeared, I missed their evening chatter. I find that watching them gives me many hours of pleasure and will keep feeding them throughout the year. The Food? Porridge oats, bird seed and vegetable oil mixed to a very ‘dry mix’. I call them every morning with “Tch, Tch Tch” and they are very quickly on the scene. Some blackbirds are very bold and as long as I stay still they will feed around my feet. Unfortunately I also have Squirrels and they can be very destructive. I know that they are classed as vermin but I am reluctant to eliminate them. Any views on that subject?? Regards to all. Brian (i)

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