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[thorntrees]

We have seen a big increase in the number of blue tits, great tits and coal tits on the feeder this last week. The robin is back on the patio waiting for food each morning and today I saw a pair of blackbirds scurrying about in the bushes. It looks like they are all sussing out where food and water will be available for the winter! I really enjoy watching them but not so keen on the two big black crows that appear as well.

Thorntrees

[Taz2]

Lucky luck you Hurdity! I've been looking out for some here but so far no luck. I too love them.

My feeders seem to have been full of birds all year. The starlings have had a sudden increase as is normal for November and this morning I counted over 43 down for breakfast. They will appear again in the next hour or so for their evening meal!

Taz x

[Hurdity]

...but Taz and thorntrees - I have almost no birds on the feeders though 

I know it's not cold but I just don't know why. Our neighbours at the back have huge gardens next to our orchard, all of which backs onto open fields and they have big bird feeding stations. Our feeders are in our small front garden surrounded by buildings but other gardens are not too far away. They hang from a small roofed bird-table that my husband made. Perhaps the birds just don't need to make the effort yet and we will get them back when it turns cold and the berries have gone.

The peanuts keep going mouldy because the birds don't visit so I have to throw away loads of them - and they are pretty expensive and such a waste! The fat balls are being eaten though

We have had the odd coal tit, great tit and blue tit, but really only one or two, the odd chaffinch, and our summer flock of 25 sparrows is reduced to 7. Never any starlings and just the odd robin too.....

Perhaps I should join a bird forum   

Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Ours are now eating nuts and fat balls.  There are plenty of natural foods around ………

[Taz2]

How high are the feeders Hurdity and do they have cover around them such as bushes for the birds to perch in before they make their flight onto the feeder? Mine are all in trees and hang eight feed or so from the ground. I have to use a clothes prop to get them down. We have a year round visitation from all of the finches plus starlings, robins, wrens, blackbirds, blue, great, long-tailed and coal tits, doves and wood pigeons. The goldfinches adore the sunflower hearts plus niger seed and the others eat a good quality seed mix. The starlings love their breakfast of any table scraps or left over cat food plus breadcrumbs, digestive biscuit crumbs, sultanas, grated cheese and dryporridge oats.

Taz x

[CLKD]

I have a query about spiders.  We have had a nest protected by a small spider over our kitchen windowsill for about 5 weeks now - no sign of hatchlings  - I don't like to poke said nest to see if there's anything inside but I think she's sitting on nowt.  How long does a nest take to hatch?

We also have LOTS of birds - sign of colder weather to come 

[honeybun]

I would poke it CLKD....with the Hoover. Don't lik dusty spidery corners. They have to go 


We have a female sparrow hawk stalking our garden on a regular basis. The rest of the birds are very quiet at the moment. Sparrow hawk is very grand but she is scaring away everything else. Just a few at the feeders at the moment.


Honeyb
x

[Hurdity]

I like spiders 

How lovely to see a sparrowhawk honeybun - we had one in the summer during the breeding season - when the big flock of sparrows were feeding (25 of them at once!). One time the hawk just came and sat on the top of the bird table 2 m from the window - amazing to see so close, but I didn't see it take any though (sparrows that is). The fat-ball feeder is protected by two half hanging baskets clipped together so only small birds can get through, although the other three are free. Still not many birds though - a few more today as it was frosty first thing.

I can't imagine having to get them down with a clothes prop though Taz! Our front garden bushes aren't tall enough or strong enough for that! They do provide some cover though.

Hurdity x

[thorntrees]

Our garden robin is getting quite cheeky. He sits on the patio table singing away waiting for me to feed him, he's there at breakfast time, lunchtime and mid afternoon. Hope he gets a mate, we had baby robins being fed on the patio last year, they are so cute. Also saw a little wren yesterday so hope he becomes a regular visitor. I love watching the birds in the garden at this time of year they are all so busy.

Thorntrees

[Taz2]

I'm sure he'll find a mate come spring thorntrees. I love watching our wrens popping in and out of the ivy. My garden is busy all year round but the short days make especially the smaller birds very frantic to try to get enough food in before nightfall.

Not sure about your spider CLKD without knowing the type. The garden spider watches over her eggs but because she spends so long tending the nest she dies of starvation in the late autumn and the eggs don't hatch out until spring. Some spiderling facts here http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/spiders/facts08.htm

Taz x

[CLKD]

  ……. she's indoors.  I have a spider identification chart ……..

[thorntrees]

Just been watching our visiting male blackbird having a bath in the birdbath on the patio. The light is just fading and he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself getting clean before a night in the nest. Its been such a gloomy and miserable day in Worcestershire today  and watching him really lifted my spirits so thought I would share - I'm easily pleased 😊

Thorntrees.

[CLKD]

   …… I gave the bird baths a good scrub on Monday, the ice needed breaking so I did the lot with an old toilet brush.  A bit of Milton, good scrub and a good rinse - job done.  Dark now, birds have gone to bed - 1st job in the morning will be re-filling their feeders 

[Taz2]

We haven't had any ice yet - a bit of frost on the car for a couple of mornings. I've just been out to fill my feeders again as I hate the thought of them arriving just as it's getting light, hungry for their breakfast only to find the feeders empty and saturday mornings is the only one when nobody in the house has to get up for a certain time so I might just stay asleep for a bit longer. It's a bit like us going to the supermarket for our bacon and crusty rolls first thing only to find it shut. 

Taz x

[CLKD]

There are enough fat balls outdoors so don't worry Taz  ……… along with live meal worms in the feeders.  Fresh water.