@Emptyheadtime I had this in a previous garden and I *think* it was slugs. All the stuff that gets dropped from the feeder- especially if it's fat balls - encourages slugs and I've found that they love lupins. I've got more mature shrubs under my feeder now and they cope much better.
Perennials under feeders are always a mistake, whether it's slugs, or being squished by wood pigeons The slugs come out at night and finish off any little morsels of bird food left on the back doorstep here. Lupins are slug magnets. I gave up on them many years ago. If the cold, wet soil in winter/spring didn't get them, the slugs did
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think I might have had a good idea💡. I wanted to put some cotton wool out for the nesters but I didn't want it to blow away so I've stuck bits of it to the teasel seed heads So far, it hasn't blown away but it remains to be seen if there are any takers.
Posts
The slugs come out at night and finish off any little morsels of bird food left on the back doorstep here. Lupins are slug magnets. I gave up on them many years ago.
If the cold, wet soil in winter/spring didn't get them, the slugs did
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Cushty
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I wanted to put some cotton wool out for the nesters but I didn't want it to blow away so I've stuck bits of it to the teasel seed heads
So far, it hasn't blown away but it remains to be seen if there are any takers.
They are overwintering here, so, yes
yes, small birds can appreciate cover close by; it can encourage them to feel safe enough to spend time on feeders.
Saw one singing it's head off last Friday. Heard another one today.
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful