Hobbies and Crafts

Ahhhh my Robin is back...well I like to think it is the same one! lol. My patio is small and filled with flower pots. Last year I started bird feeding and put EVERYTHING out! Nuts, fatballs, seeds, the lot... am a little shortsighted so when I saw these cute little grey 'birds' on the ground gobbling up the food which had fallen from the feeders, I thought...awwwwww.....and then I put my glasses on and to my absolute horror, I saw that the lickle birds were, in fact, a large family of mice. It took me weeks of agony (cant stand mice) to see off that family and cost me a fortune! So I had to stop feeding the birds for a while. Now, I go out every evening and clear up the fallen seeds and stuff. So far, fingers crossed, no mickey mouses! But I DO envy you folks in the countryside with your exotic collection of birds...BC XX

We may have fieldmice BC but don't see them!!

Jude, Niger seed should be in a special feeder, I don't think goldfinches will feed on the ground.

Ann
Glos

l would think we have got mice and did have rats. Rat catcher had to deal with them !!! the cat used to see to the mice!!

Awww BC, sorry l did laugh at your post...lol

Thats what l told Vic, l'll get one don't you worry...lol

jude:o)

Hi, just to say that I believe salt is bad for birds, as on my list it's a definite no-no. Presumably it'd be best not to put bacon out.
x

Hi, Jude to answer your question the phesants stand and wait for me to put the food out then the Coook bird calls his 4 girls in for brekkie. Looks as if we still have a pair of woodpeckers the ones with the black and red markings.
I have always put bacon rind out for the birds if it has fat on it, also rind from cooked gammon.

The field next door is now home to a flock of Fieldfare, and we have 3 different sites for the buzzards.
Coming home late the other night I see 3 barn owls along the main road,
Well I am away to fill the peanut feeders again.
Happy bird watching.

Picked up a leaflet on bird feeding in the garden centre this morning. It definitely says no salt food.

Glad we have bacon only very rarely then. My sister was here today and got very excited when she saw a bird on the nuts she hadn't seen before. I didn't see it so made her look through my bird books, she identified it as the white backed woodpecker because of the amount of red on it's underside and head. Wish I'd seen it, I've only seen our lesser spotted one and the Jay. It's really made my sisters day lol.

Caz

I made a fairly large fat ball yesterday and put it out today and the whole lot has disappeared, I watched the starlings and a pigeon demolish it!!

Ann
Glos

Starling love the fat balls, never seen them go som fast. Could not see the birds this morning as it was so foggy. it cleared about lunchtime and so had all the food I had put out. Wish I could put a pic on here to let you see my peasant knocking for his food.

Hello everyone:o)

Awww Bellblair that would be great would'nt it:o)

We had quite a few birds flitting in and out today,more than yesterday! our Woodpigeon with the bad leg is still here, l thought he was a gonna!!

l can remember years ago my Nan putting out bacon fat,perhaps it was unsmoked. l'll try and find out through the rspca site, l was a member but might have expired now.
l meant to bake a couple of potatoes today but forgot, will try abd get them ready for tomorrow, if this weather keeps up they'll need it!

One of our fatballs (bought ones) has disapeared, l actually saw a Starling haveing a rite go at it, then it was gone. The nail and everything has gone. Probably a squirrel....lol

Take care
Jude :o)

Found this on the RSPB site, l could'nt copy and paste there was too much, it does say no salt but does'nt mention bacon......BUT it has other ideas, very useful:o))

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/index.asp

jude :o)

Hi
I've been following this thread with interest and I've just received an email from the RSPB about the Big Garden Birdwatch on the 24-25 January.
Information can be obtained from
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/about/index.asp.
Von

Sadly we'll be away and l know where we are going there are no birds in their garden:o(((((

jude :o)

thanks for that Von. Every year I do the bird watch and every year it is the one day we get few birds in the garden. I reckon they are up in the trees having a laugh!!!!

Strange, no scraps out for a couple of days and the shop bought fat balls have come back into favour!!!

I had a shock this morning, still half asleep I went into the porch to get some toastie bread from freezer. Just opened the door when this WHOOO-OOOO came, it seemed like something coming out of the freezer. Of course it was the owl but it made me jump and I woke up pretty quick.
When I could use the garden we were stood out one night when it came gliding over our heads, silent as a ghost, it always uses our chimney to sit on, a lovely experience.

Caz xx

Wonderful Caz, Saw one once from the bedroom window when we lived in Bedfordshire and one once flew across in front of our car in the Lake district. beautiful birds.

Ann
glos

The weather here has been very wild to say the least for the past couple of days, and looks as if its going to get worse. so I have achored all the feeders down, and OH called me into the lounge to see mr pheseant trying his hardest to jump up the the feeders silly boy his food goes on the ground.

Collecting my son from work the other night around midnight and it was very clear and in a mile and half stretch I saw 2 barn owls one sitting on a fence post and the other flying. such graceful birds.

Hope you all get a bit of good weather soon.

Caz ..... how lovely. We can hear one sometimes during the evenings, but not for ages:o(
Have seen and held some at various shows:o))

Oooo perhaps l will get a chance to hold some birds at the Cotswolds Zoo when l go to be a zoo keeper, now that would be great:o)

Bellblair...its very damp here and worse to come:o(( potatoes in the oven for feed time tomorrow:o)
You are a lucky girl,although we do pretty well here l spose!! Do you stillhave Deer come in the garden??

Ann - we went to Hobby Craft this afternoon,l so very nearly got Vic to buy a nyjer feeder!!

jude :o) x

Yes Jude the deer are still here, 3 weeks ago they had a shot in the woods and oboy you should have seen the stag that came out he was just heaven, he just knew how are to get away from them and stoped and turned and looked at them as if to say you cant get me. The heron has arrived back not sure if we have 1 or 2 close by. with the burn running high at the moment they just stand on the banking looking in. but go up the fields to feed. Wounder if we will get the hares back this year.

Well its starting to cloud over so I had best go and get the washing in before the rain comes back.
Keep safe everyone.

Hi,
Well we have got past that storm, and all the birds where in early for thier brekkie today, even the dog could not frighten then Mr Pheseant ws talking away a Meg stood at the back door barking to come in. We have had sunshine and shower so far. Have not seen jenny wren for a few days they must be in hiding.