Hi there
I was making my dinner tonight, and I noticed a little Robin Redbreast jumping around the Bird Bath - and I refilled the water for him - and it was although he thanked me a whole lot for all the attention I gave him.
Then 3 Blackbirds appear - two males and 1 Female. They started to grub about for worms, and they watched my movements through the patio doors. I could see the same 3 Blackbirds sizing up the Ground Seed Feeders. They are not brave enough to eat from them yet.(since we have moved in). They looked although they had most of their feathers back, and they looked a lot more comfortable with themselves now.
A Blue Tit called from the Hawthorn bush close the the patio doors, and the Sparrows from the front of the house make a brief appearance along in the Hawthorn bush with the Blue Tit. The sparrows disappear once more.
A Woodpigeon looked although it was stuck in a branch in our Plum Tree at the end of our garden. I went outside to investigate with camera in hand, and it moved onto the wooden Fence. I got a great shoot of the bird.
Mr Wood Pigeon must have been on a Plum raid. They do like their foods.- but not too many plums I hope - bad for the stomach. {eek}
Anyone else seeing their favourite 'Garden ' birds back in their garden at all?. Things are looking up now at last and we can talk all about our experiences on here.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Blackbird - glad to hear the birds are returning to you! We have had a busy week: Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Green Finches, Sparrows, of course, Robin, Blackbirds, 1 Thrush, Magpies, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, Stock Doves - I purchased a metal holder for the fat balls - I just love watching the Jackdaws hang on for dear life and push their beaks thru to get at the food! Three little special moments - we sat just a couple of yards away from a nut feeder on a tree and the Nuthatch came in and kept taking a nut then wedging in the bark and breaking it up to eat finally it flew over my husband's shoulder and laded in an open seed tray and had a feed there before flying off. Later i was sitting on a plank of wood across the brook at the bottom of the garden and watched a wren make its way to me along the waters edge stopping and feeding on insects and then coming nearer each time managing to keep to the stones rather than get wet feet - it came right up to the plank and then turned round and repeated its actions and finally the chiffchaff flew in beside me (very bright yellow so maybe a young one) and started to root around at the base of the shrubs. Also we have had the sparrowhawk every day but haven't witnessed anything this week which is the way I prefer it .
Hi Blackbird,
Our garden birds started returning just over a week ago, it's been very quiet here during Summer. First back were the Goldfinch which second only to Starlings are the most common bird in the garden. Greenfinch have started visiting over the last few days along with the House Sparrows. Just yesterday I saw a Blackbird for the first time in ages hopping about on the lawn.
I'm really looking forward to the Autumn and Winter months, hoping to see a wide variety of birds in the garden.
Paul.
Once the breeding season is complete, most birds moult their old and worn feathers. During this time because birds have lost lots of important feathers, they tend to keep their heads down and hide themselves away to avoid being eaten. There are plenty of seeds, fruit and berries out in the broader countryside for the birds to enjoy, so don't be too surprised if birds stay away a bit longer and make the most of any bumper crop - and who could blame them!
hi Lucy: Wow to have a Nuthatch isn your garden is something to envy. They seen to go for the Nutfeeders a whole lot. Now people are seeing them in their gardens more often now.
I have heard and seen them at the RSPB Lodge H/Q on a few occasions now. They are not the easiest bird to see - but their call gives ti away each time. Then you can see them scuttling up and down the trunks of the mature trees. They like to be in sense area of trees.
Great to see the little Wren too. Are they not the sweetest little bird, and as for the Chiffchaff that is a rare visior to the garden so I am thinking that you have a lot of dense woodland around you.
A Sparrowhawk does keep the birds on their toes. I remember once we could see a Sparrowhawk landing on our bird table and I have never seen the garden birds move so fast to get our of its way. It was like magic - been and gone! eek
lucybob Hi Blackbird - glad to hear the birds are returning to you! We have had a busy week: Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Green Finches, Sparrows, of course, Robin, Blackbirds, 1 Thrush, Magpies, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, Stock Doves - I purchased a metal holder for the fat balls - I just love watching the Jackdaws hang on for dear life and push their beaks thru to get at the food! Three little special moments - we sat just a couple of yards away from a nut feeder on a tree and the Nuthatch came in and kept taking a nut then wedging in the bark and breaking it up to eat finally it flew over my husband's shoulder and laded in an open seed tray and had a feed there before flying off. Later i was sitting on a plank of wood across the brook at the bottom of the garden and watched a wren make its way to me along the waters edge stopping and feeding on insects and then coming nearer each time managing to keep to the stones rather than get wet feet - it came right up to the plank and then turned round and repeated its actions and finally the chiffchaff flew in beside me (very bright yellow so maybe a young one) and started to root around at the base of the shrubs. Also we have had the sparrowhawk every day but haven't witnessed anything this week which is the way I prefer it .
Hi Paul
Great to hear that your bird are returning once more to your garden area. The Goldfinches are beautiful and I love their tinkly little clal as they move about the trees. Starling numbers can reach epic porportions in the garden, They like to be in their groups and eat us all out of house and home.
Little Brown Job Hi Blackbird, Our garden birds started returning just over a week ago, it's been very quiet here during Summer. First back were the Goldfinch which second only to Starlings are the most common bird in the garden. Greenfinch have started visiting over the last few days along with the House Sparrows. Just yesterday I saw a Blackbird for the first time in ages hopping about on the lawn. I'm really looking forward to the Autumn and Winter months, hoping to see a wide variety of birds in the garden. Paul.
Hi MrsT
A very interesting read from yourself.
Waiting for birds makes us think about the autumn and winter months ahead. We need to get all the bird food we can store to keep them happy.
I have to admit have seen a big difference in the Scottish and English climate. It is so much more colder earlier on in the year in Scotland. The birds seen to arrive in our gardens quickly. The frosts are earlier and the cold creeps in at a faster rate, so the birds need human intervention to help them along their way.
I have notice that there is more of an abundance/selection of fruits/food in England, and that may be due to the milder climate. Just a bird large bird pantry
So in this case who could blame them for all the wild food that they can get!
MrsT Once the breeding season is complete, most birds moult their old and worn feathers. During this time because birds have lost lots of important feathers, they tend to keep their heads down and hide themselves away to avoid being eaten. There are plenty of seeds, fruit and berries out in the broader countryside for the birds to enjoy, so don't be too surprised if birds stay away a bit longer and make the most of any bumper crop - and who could blame them!
Hello.
To be honest I've never really noticed a dissapearance of birds from my garden at any time of the year since I started feeding them. Its something I've read about but never personally witnessed.
Paul
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
My wildlife garden has had a fairly busy day today, coal tits popping by, and blue tits enjoying their peanuts. I've noticed in the past week that the number of birds visiting has increased from a lowpoint in August, and I agree with you that the climate in Scotland means that birds will adopt winter feeding patterns a lot sooner than elsewhere. Our robin has never gone away since last winter, and seems to regard the entire garden as his own- allowing other species to visit, but only grudgingly.
I think that differences in behaviour make it important that the right advice is given about when and what with to feed birds.
ps. Your garden sounds brilliant, and is making me turn various shades of green with envy!!
I even love magpies