Do birds have a set lunchtime (1 Viewer)

[senatore]

I have noticed that in my back garden things can be very quiet with only a solitary visitor there when quite suddenly as though it is arranged a mass of visitors all turn up at the same time.
This morning a large team of Greenfiches accompanied by a few Coal tits,Great tits and Blue tits arrived to attack the feeders.At the same time a large group of Starlings attacked the Cordyline white berries and Dunnocks with some Chaffinches were feeding on the ground .3 blackbirds dropped in for a bath and were watched by 2 Woodpigeons and a Collared Dove.A few minutes later they all moved on.
Is this normal?Do different species lunch together at the same time?

 

[Margaret Mc]

Exactly right. This happens all the time in my garden too. I imagine early morning is a favourite time but thankfully I'm abed. But around late morning and three-ish there is a surge. I assume this is when they can fit me in while they are charging round neighbouring garden feeders checking on their supplies or in the woods doing what comes naturally.

Margaret

 

[david2004]

exactly the same here too.

 

[Henry B]

Same here.

 

[Merop]

They also have an afternoon siesta when you hardly hear or a bird then its suppertime again and all is a biz.

 

[AnnieW]

I certainly see patterns of activity with different birds favouring different times. I've noticed during the breeding season all species pretty much come and go all day - which I guess is to be expected - but as winter sets in there's more of a pattern.

Blue, Great Tits & Robins tend to feed pretty much throughout the day, although they seem to swap from the back of the house to the front as the day ( & sun) progresses. Blackbirds & Doves seem to favour early morning and late afternoon, whilst Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Dunnocks seem to favour mid-morning. Thrushes (when I see them) tend to be late afternoon to evening along with Long-Tailed Tits & Bullfinches.

Anne

 

[Tannin]

I often wonder if what we see is:

(a) the birds having particularly active periods through the day, and many of them resting at other times

(b the activity is actually more-or-less non-stop, and what I'm seeing is a loose group or feeding association of small birds arriving in the place that I happen to be at this particular moment

Explanation (b) makes some sense to me, as I'm sure that there must be safety benefits in numbers, particularly with regard to hawks and similar. But I imagine that both are true.

 

[christineredgate]

The birds all seem to be extra active ,at this time of year in the late afternoon.Stocking up with food before the cold winter evenings.Very noisy early am,they all have to be first at the feeding stations!!

 

[louiseuk]

I have noticed that in my back garden things can be very quiet with only a solitary visitor there when quite suddenly as though it is arranged a mass of visitors all turn up at the same time.
This morning a large team of Greenfiches accompanied by a few Coal tits,Great tits and Blue tits arrived to attack the feeders.At the same time a large group of Starlings attacked the Cordyline white berries and Dunnocks with some Chaffinches were feeding on the ground .3 blackbirds dropped in for a bath and were watched by 2 Woodpigeons and a Collared Dove.A few minutes later they all moved on.
Is this normal?Do different species lunch together at the same time?

I would say they have set times, early morning they come into my garden first then again about lunchtime and then just before it gets dark in the afternoon. Birds need to eat before it gets dark/sunset as they need to store up as it is a longish time before morning when they can eat again, so I always make sure food is there for them.

The birds I get are mainly Starlings, Sparrows & Pigeons along with Robins & Blue Tits.

 

[IanF]

We have the same with mass visitations eary morning around 1.00 pm and then in the late afternoon.

Some species are always on the feeders though, especially the Goldfinches of which there are always at least one or two around. Blue Tits are always about likewise Blackbirds and the odd Dunnock.

 

[Rob Williams]

I've noticed that 9am, 1pm and 3pm tend to be peak times. Quite how this remains constant while we mess around with the clocks, I do not know!

Mind you, I was gald today that I was checking at other times as I managed to see a Wren quickly followed by a Goldcrest.


Rob

PS I did miss the Grey Heron fly through the garden yesterday, my wife is still not sure how he managed to get that wingspan between the trees.