Blogs

We've been inundated with reports of unusual garden visitors since the snow arrived. The ice, snow and general wintry weather that has finally arrived has covered much of the countryside making many natural food resources such as worms and seed on the ground impossible to reach. So what is a hungry...

A Blackbird feeding on Snowy Berries at South Perrott in Dorset, UK

With the mild weather so far this January for many parts of the UK, has it tempted anyone out into the garden to get planting or trimming those shrubs now the berries have gone? Or are you still lucky enough to have berry-bearing hedges with berries still on show? If you are getting a trim in before...

2012 has started with a buzz literally as we have had a few reports of bees being seen already as well as butterflies. Despite the stormy conditions experienced across much of the UK, it seems the relatively mild winter so far for parts of the UK is disrupting the natural world. Have you seen any creatures...

For a stand alone tree that won't exceed 4m and has lots of berries for the birds you will be hard pushed to find better than a rowan. These are often prolific with berries and are popular with lots of birds including robins, blackbirds and the other thrush species. Crab apple and bird cherry...

Now that most of the leaves have fallen or soon will be, we are able to see much more clearly into hedges and shrubs, revealing the winter larder of berries. It seems to have been a mixed season with hawthorn and rowan trees in this part of the world having quite a good crop whilst the sloes on blackthorn...

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/wildlifegarden/atoz/g/guelderrose.aspx

Picture taken by Ben Hall (rspb-images.com) Image available from RSPB images: http://www.rspb-images.com/Respages/Prints.aspx

Hi everyone, If you're keen on feeding the birds in your garden, then you must head to Saltholme this Saturday. If you've got your sights set on attracting fieldfares, redwings and even waxwings, then planting shurbs that provide berries is a great place to start. Ian Forrest snapped this...

Here are a few suggestions, tips and hints for things to do and see during August; Go wader watching, many migrant waders are turning up around inland and coastal wetland sites giving a good chance to brush up on your identification skills. Our wetland reserves are great places for this, have a...

This is a question we always get asked at this time of the year and its one with a few possible answers! Firstly, for many birds we are coming to the end of a hectic breeding season. After all of the battling for territory, courting mates, finding nesting material, gathering food for young and chasing...

Hi I like you have spotted the beautiful Waxwing, but the weather was bad,dull, overcast. It was in Woking, i managed to get some videos and photos, but not good quality. I can pick out they are Waxwings, because of their shape and flight pattern and also sounds. You were very lucky to have such great...

A stunning bird in a picture perfect setting. Taken in sub-zero temperatures, in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.

I have a chance to invest in a tree that will encourage birds into the garden. I am replacing an old pear tree that was producing near inedible fruit and was cut down in November. I fancy something which is a reasonable size and has berries for the birds through the autumn and into winter, like a...

robin feeding in my garden, winter time

Baines I know we have had a lot of thrushes visiting the UK this winter, but I was still surprised to see 13 Fieldfare in a single flock. What a great sight. They were happily feeding in a feild by the River Douglas, North West Lancs. Edenbridge Kent We have a large cotoneaster tree which...

Hello CM Try a mix of holly, hawthorn, pyracantha and ivy. Adding these to your already good selection will increase the availability of berries throughout the winter. There are many other shrubs and trees that also provide fruit and berries so if anyone else can suggest things that work well for...

Hi everyone, Another glorious day at Saltholme. The sun is shining, the snow is shining and the wigeons are whistling. There are two water rails right in front of the wildlife watchpoint. Today marks day five of Saltholme's advent calendar. Most of the photographs were taken by visitors and...

Hi everyone, We're still at the behest of the snow today at Saltholme. The visitor centre is open but we're taking the weather as it comes. Please give us a ring at reception on 01642 546625 before you set out. We're warming your December with a different Saltholme photograph each day...

blackbird at lodmoor enjoying the berries

Hi RVP I'd aim for January/February as this will be before the nesting season kicks off and will give the ivy enough time to produce its berry crop which the wintering thrushes will seek out. If you can, leave some parts uncut this time round and cut them back the following year, this should keep...

I have alluded to this in another thread but thought i would share an article with all about watching waxwings . If you are lucky enough to be doing your shopping and come across waxwings, or maybe even going specifically to look for waxwings, it would be really interesting to see your reports. It...

It really does seem to have been a good year for fruits and berries- the south hedgerows of Exminster Marshes have been illuminated by the reds of rosehips, guelder rose, hawthorn and woody nightshade. These strikingly bright colours act as bird beacons in a fascinating display of evolutionary mutualism...

I saw Katie's photo of the Hawthorn berries. Spooky, as I also took some similar photos on a visit to Fowlmere. But I don't know what they are called 8-( any ideas anyone?

in September at Fowlmere

Waxwing, photographed on top of a hawthorn just across the road from our house 2009. In flight look very similar to Starlings, (can be indentified by thier call) Voice: Call high "sirr" Song: repeated rattling and wheezing notes.

My sister has a beautiful, if possessive, pair of mistle thrushes. They guard her bird table and cotoneaster berries, often attacking any other bird hoping to dash in for a quick snack.