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[CLKD]

In-comers ......... where ever you go there are locals who don't like the idea of foreigners 

I added up my live meal worm invoices would never dare tell Himself but it is something that will have to go when we retire ....... would have paid for one oil delivery

[residualheat]

Ooh, that sounds like a scary bill, CLKD!!

I can't afford live mealworms at the moment, especially at the rate the birds get through them, but when I do my potting on in spring, I save all the vine weevil grubs and put them in a dish for the birds and they're gone in no time 

[CLKD]

I purchased of a specially designed live meal worm feeder in a cage, that the larger birds can't reach into - so far it's working!  We talked to the designer at Bird Fair in August and despite the high price decided to give one a go.  So we won't be feeding the bigger birds precious live food which I prefer the robin and tits to have access to.

Yep scarey bill - fortunately Hubby has never asked!

[residualheat]

Good idea on feeder, CLKD. When I was putting out a lot more live food, I was disappointed that the blackbirds and starlings found it first and the robin, who I'd actually bought it for, didn't get much at all.

[CLKD]

1 goldfish and 1 thrush this morning, we woke to heavy frost at the front of the house but the garden is more sheltered.  Even so I have had to break the birds' water twice already they are queuing up for a drink and a wash.  Ordered more live meal-worms this morning for delivery tomorrow .......... 2 chook eggs so far, expecting a 3rd at any moment .........

Just as I pressed send I could see 'goldfish' ..... that should read goldfinch 

[Taz2]

I had to read that twice CLKD 

I have 15 Goldfishes in my apple tree and countless pigeons and doves on the feeders. Chaffinches, greenfinches, blue, great, coal and longtailed tits on the just-sunflower-hearts one and starlings on the nuts. I also have four cats which arent mine curled up in various parts of my house - their owners go to work, leaving them out, and don't have cat flaps. They are gradually moving in and think that I haven't noticed!  It was certainly very frosty here today and I passed two accidents on the country roads on the way to work.

It is lovely to have some Winter weather though - I have felt quite cheated so far!!

Taz x

[CLKD]

I much prefer cold, crisp, frosty Winter mornings than that warm, muggy rain ....... at least with the cats inside the birds can feed safely  though when we had a white cat who would stalk, the birds would laugh at him ....... 

[Jules]

I love seeing the Goldfishes (carrying on the theme here) - we got loads in our garden a couple of years ago but not many seen yet this year.  And if we are being silly, shouldn't that be Chaffishes and Greenfishes.   

I had a close encounter with a Robin at the weekend, he was sitting on the feeder attacking one of the fat balls when I pulled into the drive, so I sat in the car watching him a while.  As soon as i turned the engine off he practically zoomed towards me and i thought i was going to catch him with the door he was that close.  Phew!  So pretty aren't they.

[Taz2]

Hi Jules - I nearly did put Chaffish but then thought that the reason Goldfish worked well was because there are such things as Goldfishes whereas I had never heard of a Chaffish - but if you say it out loud - chay-fish - it sounds like good old menopausal dryness!!

Our robin has been away for a while but he was in the garden this morning after the grated cheese. My Goldfishes are spending so much time arguing over the niger seed that they are not really getting much eating done - they are always so argumentative! 

Taz x

[residualheat]

The blackbirds at our last garden were like that - they spent so much time running one another off 'their' territory I'm surprised they ever had time to eat.

Robins are my favourite.

[CLKD]

My robin sings to me from the pergola opp the kitchen window when his meal worm tin is empty.  The other robin at the front of the house also hops close to the window when he is hungry.  Occasionally they meet in the alley at the side of the house by the kitchen door 

[residualheat]

How lovely, CLKD.

I do love robin song, it's such a sweet, beautiful sound. At our last house, 'our' robin used to sing at dusk from the greenhouse roof, opposite the kitchen window, serenading me as I cooked dinner   

[CLKD]

I have been in and out of the house a lot today replenishing the wild birds' water and tapping their seed feeders as well as trying to keep the chickens' water bowls de-iced .......... although the sky has been blue and the sun out nothing has started to thaw.  Expect it will be the same tomorrow.  I have spare fat balls inside which I swap first thing, I have watering cans stood near the radiators ready to dash out with as the birds seem to need water before food.  I ordered more live meal worms as I can see the pied wagtails are chasing the robin away in order to get to them first. 

[dando]

I've bought some wild bird seed and a feeder but it seems to be taking the birdies ages to find the food.  The feeder looks untouched so far.  I've hung it on the cherry tree in the front garden.  The rest of the seed is on the back garden wall.  The wood pigeon has found it but that seems to be it.  Don't think I could cope with live mealworms.  What about the freeze dried ones.  Are they as good???  Also should I try buying a couple of fat balls?  I don't have a water dish for the birds. I'm scared of tempting them down to the ground as all my neighbours have cats!

[Taz2]

Hi Dando - it depends on what type of seed mix you have in the feeder as to what you will attract and it can take up to two weeks for them to get used to a feeder. As for the water it is thought that you save more than you lose by putting water down. It is really essential during a freeze such as we have at the moment.

If you feed sunflower hearts then all the finches plus robins are attracted to them. On the ground they are eaten by blackbirds who are unable to take the whole sunflower seed but enjoy the hearts. How high is your feeder? As well as seed I feed a breakfast each morning to mine - bread or cake crumbs, digestive biscuit crumbs, grated cheese and soaked sultanas plus shredded suet if I have any handy.

Good luck! I have sent you a pm with a link to the birdseed company I use.

Taz x