[Bananafishbones]

Originally Posted by karpman

Hey all
So fond of the greenfinches now there my most reliable bird apart from magpies but the bloke next door shoo's them away he ain't so keen think they sit in the tree in his garden squawking at like 6 am.

The more he shoo's the more fat i put out LOL
and they love it
Karpman

Karpman it is a shame when your neighbour shoos them away, I am lucky here that no-one has complained, even when the Starlings take over and squabble like mad. ChrisK makes me laugh when you tells of his pigeons Sh*ting on his non bird loving neighbours lawn

Welcome captaincarrot, its a real hoot on here

Today a large flock of tits flew into the garden again, Blues 8, Great 3, Coal 3, plus the usual suspects.
Have noticed the Chaffinch numbers increasing aswell, just hoping for a you know what mixed in with them
Dave

[michael23]

well had a 2 siskin in yesterday, albeit very brief as they were squabbling whilst flying past the nyger seed, but no sign since, I await their return. The usual birds have been in, pair of willow tits, a few goldfinch and greenfinch, a lovely flock of long tailed tits this morning. Dunnocks and robins too. Also i appear to have 2 wrens back now after their absence over the last 2 or 3 months or so. 2 teal flying over yesterday.

[Disneynut1973]

Captaincarot, you have some great birds there. Luckily we only get one squirrel and he doesn't visit often so we haven't had to change all our feeders!

Michael very nice to have the Siskins - a bird i've never seen. Long Tailed Tits made a few appearances over last winter but I haven't seen them in a while hopefully they should put in an appearance soon.

I have to say I haven't seen my garden in daylight the past couple of days so haven't a clue whats been going on - day off tomorrow though so should get to whats around.

[JeffMoh]

Originally Posted by captaincarot

just thought i'd say helo and tell the story of our feeders

we moved into a new house on september first.

first got a feeding station put out peanuts, fatballs, mixed seeds and feeding mealworms apple pieces breadcrumbs and seeds on the integral mesh table.

we had magpies, crows, jackdaws, great tits, blue tits, coal tits, laong tailed tits, blackbird, thrush, robin and wren and one greater spotted woodpecker in the tree behind.

plus 3 squirrels.

it then got o the stage that the squirrels were there all day so we got a second feeding station and put out the same assortment of foods on that station as well.

unfortunately this resulted in 5 squirrels turning up and the birds still can't get a look in. we are now changing all our feeders to squirrel proof versions and see how we get on but i'm quite happy so far with our list of visitors.

Welcome to the thread. You've got some nice birds there. I hope the squirrelproof feeders work. We had a lot of problems with squirrels here but proofing the feeders seems to have worked.

BTW, I'm in Texas but originally from Carlisle, so I enjoy hearing about all those British birds.

Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com

[JeffMoh]

Originally Posted by Bananafishbones

Karpman it is a shame when your neighbour shoos them away, I am lucky here that no-one has complained, even when the Starlings take over and squabble like mad. ChrisK makes me laugh when you tells of his pigeons Sh*ting on his non bird loving neighbours lawn
Dave

We used to worry when we lived near San Francisco. Our feeders would bring in 50-60 Goldfinches at a time and they'd poop all over cars parked near our deck/balcony. Luckily, though, nobody ever made a formal complaint.

Jeff

[captaincarot]

so much for the squirrel proof feeders. get home from work open the thameside advertiser and right on the front page is a squirrel proof feeder, complete with squirrel right in side the cage, stuffing his face. then inside a whole series of pics of him getting in and out, you've got to laugh.

but on the bird front, 8am this morning 2 jackdaws on the front feeder watching me through the window.

blackbird sat on the fence watching another one eat some scraps from the other feeder tray.
wren scuttled through along the fence.

after work a couple more blackbirds and a solitary magpie sat up the tree. got a call from bornwild telling me there was a coal tit on one of the feeders but i'm sure she does this just to wind me up.

[green eyes]

Thanks for the link to your blog Jeff, you have gorgeous birds over there, though the flood looked quite nasty.

Welcome Captaincarot

I gave up a long time ago with the squirrels! I have to rewire the feeders on quite often as the little blighters chew anything. Here is one today eating a grape, plus a pair of collared doves, jays, and a male chaffinch on the fence. Caught between very heavy showers and glowering skies.

[karpman]

Nice photos GE

Had some great tits this morning a robin and usual magpie!

A buzzard sitting on a post in the field behind and at lunch a super fat greenfinch "fatter than the rest anyhow" Think he was The Don of the greenfinch world!
He took a bath and everyone new about it lol!

Really missing the light at the minute my viewing time seems so short and precious spending more time looking at the tv thru me bins rather than me feeders!

Roll On The Weekend

Karpman

Ps. My garden seems to attract fat lazy birds from the Italian mafia strain for sure...

[Cheshire Birder]

Thanks for all the comments re: the Barn Owl.

Originally Posted by Mary

Have you heard of these folk, CB? http://pbms.ceh.ac.uk/sendSamples.htm

They do research on corpses of BOP, with a view to recording contaminants in their diet.

No Mary, not heard of them i'll bear it in mind next time. Unfortunately the Owl was in a spot where it would be impossible to get the body without endangering oneself.

First Fieldfares of the autumn over my work place today. Yea!!!

CB

[green eyes]

Karpman

thanks. I don't think I have any fat birds, although the squirrels are pretty chunky! There were three greenfinches and a couple of sparrows. The robin never stayed still long enough to pose for a piccy. Five magpies were bouncing around in the treetops, cackling away at passing cats below.

The little flock of long tailed tits were chattering away in the lilac at the front. They really are the cuteist, boldest liitle bundles of pink!

[karpman]

Originally Posted by green eyes

Karpman

thanks. I don't think I have any fat birds, although the squirrels are pretty chunky! There were three greenfinches and a couple of sparrows. The robin never stayed still long enough to pose for a piccy. Five magpies were bouncing around in the treetops, cackling away at passing cats below.

The little flock of long tailed tits were chattering away in the lilac at the front. They really are the cuteist, boldest liitle bundles of pink!

I love Long tailed tits so much one of me favourites there so nice there verging on edible!

I think i borrow someone else's birds for most of the day lol there certainly not getting fat off my food they ain't been around long enough!
I like to try to imagine them speaking like Italian mafia makes me smile

I really love to try and fathom the characters of the birds too i could spend all day psycho analysing a robin lol.

can't belive i missed out on the joys of garden life for so long! no more slashing the hedgrows to stubble for me:)

and welcome captaincarrot

karpman

[JeffMoh]

Squeezed in a few minutes birding at work today. Saw something quite remarkable. Photos at: www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com

Off to Spain tomorrow!

Jeff

[Disneynut1973]

Jeff, what excellent photos of the Hawk, nice of it to pose for you! Enjoy Spain, can't wait for your photos from there!

Already my garden has been busy this morning, Goldfinch, Blackbirds, Starlings, Sparrows, Dunnocks, Collared Doves and a Blue Tit.

Been to clean out the feeders and replenish them and scared them all off now though!

[green eyes]

Karpman

I know what you mean about the long tails!!

Dunnocks were hopping around in the leaves, blackbirds chasing eachother, squirrels burying nuts in my pots. GRrrrrrrr Blue, great LT and coal tits, chaffinches, robins, sparrows, jays , woodpigeons, magpies and collared doves have all been at the feeders today. It's nasty and cold and wet, so I expect numbers to rise in the next few days.

Jeff

the Cooper's hawk is beautiful. Well done getting lovely photos!

[JeffMoh]

Waiting to go to the airport, just spent 30 minutes in the front yard. Beautiful day – low 70sF/20sC.

Our first couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers for the season turned up but flew off when a Turkey Vulture passed overhead. They must have thought it was a hawk.

Three White-winged Doves in the mulberry but too nervous of me to feed, even though I’ve put out a hanging platform feeder for them and sparrows.

.The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is in our elm tree most of the time and he tends to chase off our resident male Downy Woodpecker.

Interesting watching different feeding behavior. The Carolina Chickadees zoom in, grab one seed and fly up to a branch to open and eat it. The House Finches settle on a feeder and just keep on munching for ages, sometimes half-an-hour or more. Most are tidy eaters but a couple are messy or picky – they throw down lots of seeds onto the lawn in their rummaging for the seeds they like.

The Sapsucker gets on a branch of the elm and hammers away to get at the sap. He’ll sometimes sit still for literally hours. Not sure if he’s napping or waiting for sap to accumulate. He hasn’t learned about the suet feeders yet. Just as well, because the Downy can feed from those when he’s chased off the elm.

Well, it’s time to go!

Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com

[karpman]

Hey all!

Had a great hour before work this morning!
Starlins, Greenfinch, Sparrows which are rare for me!

And the greenfinch *don* managed to get a poor photo but gives and idea of his shape!!

karpman

[captaincarot]

somehow got lost on the way to work today and ended up at leighton moss.

on the feeders there.

coal tit, willow/marsh tit, bullfinch, nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, chaffinch, greenfinch, great tit, blue tit, sparrow, goldfinch, robin, lt of pheasant.

we also saw, reed bunting, reed warbler, while out in the reserve.

on the water, grey herrons, pochard, gadwall, mallard, wigeon, teal, shoveller, tufted duck, mooor hen ,coot. great crested grebe, and red breasted merganser.

lapwings, snipe, sanderling, greenshank, black tailed godwit,

little egret, great white egret.

brent (probably bit far away) geese, snow geese possibly 5.

peregrine.

2 stag and 3 doe red deer.

oh an this thingy ere anyone know what it is



http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/sho...7/ppuser/80825

[ChrisKten]

Well done spotting that Hawk, Jeff, you got some good pictures and interesting poses.

Enjoy your trip, Jeff, have a safe journey.

[ChrisKten]

Originally Posted by captaincarot

oh an this thingy ere anyone know what it is



http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/sho...7/ppuser/80825

Hi captaincarot.

Looks like a male Ring-necked Pheasant.

[bornwild]

its a green pheasant google it lol

bornwild x

[Bananafishbones]

Just had a Song Thrush under the feeders, first one since the 2 juveniles were regular in early August, a very pleasing sight!! however it brought out 4 male Blackbirds intent on defending their territory.

Wren also showing well today, Chaffinch numbers upto 5

[Bananafishbones]

Originally Posted by karpman

at lunch a super fat greenfinch "fatter than the rest anyhow" Think he was The Don of the greenfinch world!
He took a bath and everyone new about it lol!
Karpman

Ps. My garden seems to attract fat lazy birds from the Italian mafia strain for sure...

Karpman I have got a hefty Greenfinch at the moment. He sits under the feeders moping up all the spills. ..... More excersise needed for this one!! I guess not far off double the size of the others

[spock]

I have a lookout point from my shed that over looks the back garden,and in 2 hours I had seen,
7 great tits,5 blue tits,2 blackbirds,4 doves,1 pigeon,1 wren,1 bullfinch,3 coal tit,
2 gold crest,1 green woodpecker,and I lost count of the sparrrows.
All in my back yard.
0, and one robin,
and how about these here doves,what are they upto.(see attached,sorry about quality,focus not to good, I rushed it a bit)

[Bananafishbones]

welcome aboard spock


we are now getting a few new contributors to our thread, Good stuff

[captaincarot]

today feeder visitors were coaltits great tits, blue tits, we had a robin on the table again, and 2 magpies, but mostly it was squirrel. we still have 5 of them, but now they can't get food out of the resistant feeders they chase each other round in circles and scoff everything off the tables.