Very busy at the bird feeder today! (2 Viewers)

[earleybird]

We use food4wildbirds.co.uk buying 50kg of sunflower hearts for £80 which works out at £1.60 per kilo. They do a 12.55kg bag for £24 (currently £23!) and have free next day delivery on orders over £20.



And some sparrows on our neighbours wall. They quite often do something like this - feeding on insects maybe??

View attachment 359171

Thanks for the hearts suggestion cat. :t:

Wonder if your house sparrows are checking out nesting possibilities under the fascia board ? Ours actually peck all the mortar out of our stonework and have made numerous nesting holes in our walls over the years.

I saw a bluetit checking out a nest box last week? Hopefully for roosting rather than nesting

 

[Bananafishbones]

Not unusual for odd birds to have all black heads during the winter months but I think the mild weather this winter is increasing the number of birds showing this plumage.

CB

Cheers CB

Its still milling around ..... feels like summer

Maybe got the Common Gulls back too..... only got a quick glimpse before one went out of sight though

 

[earleybird]

we were thinking of putting up some roosting boxes this winter for the Tits . Has anyone else done this before with any success ? I would appreciate any tips about boxes/siting ect

 

[bongofury]

we were thinking of putting up some roosting boxes this winter for the Tits . Has anyone else done this before with any success ? I would appreciate any tips about boxes/siting ect

I put up a camera box up in the spring of this year to replace a standard tit box. The first night it was being occupied. After an unsuccessful nest attempt in April / May I cleaned the box out and as soon as the weather got a bit chilly, it was being occupied every night again by a Blue Tit.

I quiet often 'tune' in to the nest box before work and watch the Blue Tit preening before s/he leaves and goes straight for the sunflower hearts.

It is located in the quietest corner of the garden, under tree canopy, but fixed to a makeshift, but sturdy, contraption of fenceposts attached together to give it some height - probably about 3 metres up. The trees aren't on our property so I'm reluctant to attach a box to them.

 

[earleybird]

I've been promising myself to fix up a nestbox camera and bought all the necessary equipment and cables but still haven't got a roundtuit .

I thought that Tits tended to roost together in winter to keep warm but a lone BT has been checking out the nest box next door last week. perhaps he is using it as a roost .

I have a cheapy compact camera that has a timelapse feature. I might try fix it up on a 30 second timer near the nest box and see what happens :t:

Is your roost box in the open ? or is the entrance protected by foliage.?

 

[JeffMoh]

Very windy here, as you can see from this Northern Mockingbird.

Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com

 

[bongofury]

Is your roost box in the open ? or is the entrance protected by foliage.?

The front is open to the elements, mainly to deter other birds from going near it, especially during nesting season.
Unfortunately since cleaning it, debris had been blown into it. I'm reluctant to take it down and clean it again though.

 

[Mary]

I've been promising myself to fix up a nestbox camera and bought all the necessary equipment and cables but still haven't got a roundtuit .

Is this what you're looking for eb? http://www.stilesandbates.co.uk/product.php/section/6445/sn/QRT3_MST

 

[earleybird]

Is this what you're looking for eb? http://www.stilesandbates.co.uk/product.php/section/6445/sn/QRT3_MST

thank you Mary ....:-C you just had to go and do it .....and find me a roundtuit:-C
Now i've got no excuses left lol:-O

 

[earleybird]

Very windy here, as you can see from this Northern Mockingbird.

Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com

he's looking a tad windswept Jeff !Its amazing how well these small birds cope flying in high winds and with the body heat loss .

I just took a looksee at your blog and I thought the flash worked quite well :t: I have been following some of karl Taylor's togging video lessons and he recommends using a flash on birds in low light conditions.

I love the little white throated sparrows. That little splash of bright yellow is gorgeous.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

A good day today - Pheasant, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Fieldfare and the first Collared Dove for some time.

CB

 

[warren30]

was watching the feeders today,yesterday my gf said there was a black plump scruffy bird on the tray feeder,and ground she didn't know what it was,said def wasn't a crow,it didn't come back today,hopefully it will
today I had
5 starlings
2 great tits
blue tit
Robin
2 pied wagtails
blackbird
2 magpies reg visitors they nest in tree to next garden
4 wood pigeon
few greenfinches chaffinches flying around trees behind but won't come on to the feeders still.

 

[roger1234]

26 goldfinches and 12 collared doves were the highlights yesterday afternoon

 

[roger1234]

Steady increase in chaffinches this morning and throughout the last few days

 

[Bananafishbones]

was watching the feeders today,yesterday my gf said there was a black plump scruffy bird on the tray feeder,and ground she didn't know what it was,said def wasn't a crow,it didn't come back today,hopefully it will
today I had
5 starlings
2 great tits
blue tit
Robin
2 pied wagtails
blackbird
2 magpies reg visitors they nest in tree to next garden
4 wood pigeon
few greenfinches chaffinches flying around trees behind but won't come on to the feeders still.

warren do you have sunflower seed feeders? Should be a magnet for your local Greenfinch :t:

 

[Bananafishbones]

a garden record count of 13 Blue tits, Good numbers of Greenfinch with 16, and the invasion of the Lesser Redpoll hasnt materialised just yet with only 2 feeding this morning.

 

[will562]

Was lucky to have the day off today and spent the morning watching the garden. Lots of activity with Chaffinches, GS Woodpecker, Goldfinches, Robin, Greenfinches, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Blue and Great Tits. Some photos attached but pretty poor quality as zoomed in on a compact camera. Oh and a poor blue tit with no tail (pic attached)

 

[bongofury]

a garden record count of 13 Blue tits,

Wow, nice count :t:

Snow here for the last couple of days, which has meant multiple feeder top-ups, but sadly I've no idea what is visiting:C

 

[Bananafishbones]

Was lucky to have the day off today and spent the morning watching the garden. Lots of activity with Chaffinches, GS Woodpecker, Goldfinches, Robin, Greenfinches, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Blue and Great Tits. Some photos attached but pretty poor quality as zoomed in on a compact camera. Oh and a poor blue tit with no tail (pic attached)

great garden birds Will ...... Marsh Tit takes some beating mate :t:

Wow, nice count :t:

Snow here for the last couple of days, which has meant multiple feeder top-ups, but sadly I've no idea what is visiting:C

Cheers Bongo.....
could be the Mealy Redpoll eating you out of house and home you wont kow until the weekend though :'D

 

[Peewit]

Very windy here, as you can see from this Northern Mockingbird.

Jeff
www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com

Wow some great bird counts going on here, there, and everywhere.

I am amazed, and keep them coming.... everyone

Regards
Kathy
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