@Dovefromabove Not sure if mine really counts as a "proper" bird bath (it's a shallow plastic saucer with some stones in), but the birds did definitely seem to like it during the warmer weather! I wanted to get a proper bird bath before I realised just how prohibitively expensive they all seem to be - luckily the birds don't seem to judge me by my wallet! As time goes on I may see if I can find ways to add more water to the garden.
Here's a photo of the starlings having a splash about
Any access to water for bathing and drinking is fine. I had a seed tray with gravel and a couple of rocks in it, while I was sorting the garden out. Used all the time I have a small pond, a second one for a water lily, plus a round metal tray which was from a fire pit/barbecue thing, and held the coals. It's got the same arrangement of rocks/gravel, and is used regularly. Just make sure to keep it free of ice in colder spells Another useful thing is to have feeders which can be accessed by ground feeding birds easily. I have purpose built 'cages' which all the small birds can access, and I have a ground tray too, but I also put some feeders with suet balls at ground level, attached to a fence, or the leg of my bench. It means the blackbirds and dunnocks can access it readily. I also have one which is hung from a branch of the conifer at the end of the garden, and the bottom of it is wired onto the fence, and the blackies can get to it easily too. Regarding climbers - you could have a climber on an obelisk or simple frame, which would take up very little room. Many will be fine in pots too. Bog standard ivy in a planter with trellis, or a few battens wired together for example, would make an effective pillar of cover for small birds. And who's dissing my pal - Dave the pigeon?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Our main bird seed is sunflower hearts, in the winter fat balls the smaller ones, in a feeder brings in tits and finches, plus blackbirds, a robin or two, siskins, collard doves, woodpigeon just one or two, and stock doves, the occasional greater spotted wood pecker, trotty, and sparrow hawk.
@cornelly It definitely sounds like upping the sunflower hearts might do me some favours, then. I have never seen a siskin other than on telly before, so that would be a lovely bird to get. What is a trotty?
If you are planning to stay then shrubs and trees really help. They give them cover and also attract insects for them to eat. If you have room then an apple tree (semi dwarf?) will always be welcome. They dont like to stay too long if there's not much cover. Ivy and other climbers are also good and can be quick to grow. It does take time. I'm just now starting to get a nice variety although admittedly we are on the edge of a large arable farming area.
We get the usual blue and great tits, sparrows, chaffinches, dunnock, wrens, robins, thrushes, blackbirds, goldcrest and various warblers (hard to tell apart) also green and spotted woodpeckers, Jays and occasionally long tail tits, fieldfare and once a redstart. We have quite a lot of birds of prey too.
Sunflower seed hearts will attract most birds, but we found the great spotted woodpecker would only come for pink fat blocks. It ignored white ones. No idea why.
I think the RSPB bird watch results include some info on urban vs country results, which might give an indication.
@B3 I do mine weekly, but that's mainly because it's under an oak tree and attracts debris. I don't think size matters, it's more about location. Mine is a shallow dish style on a stand, about 18" diameter and 2" deep in amongst bushes etc. If the birds can get to it whilst staying in cover, I've noticed they tend to stay longer and visit more. But then they do have to keep an eye out for marauding sparrowhawks around here...
@fidgetbones interesting, I have a family of woodpeckers that only come for peanuts and the white suet! Perhaps yours are more upper class and only dine on the pink champagne
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Here's a photo of the starlings having a splash about
I have a small pond, a second one for a water lily, plus a round metal tray which was from a fire pit/barbecue thing, and held the coals. It's got the same arrangement of rocks/gravel, and is used regularly.
Just make sure to keep it free of ice in colder spells
Another useful thing is to have feeders which can be accessed by ground feeding birds easily. I have purpose built 'cages' which all the small birds can access, and I have a ground tray too, but I also put some feeders with suet balls at ground level, attached to a fence, or the leg of my bench. It means the blackbirds and dunnocks can access it readily. I also have one which is hung from a branch of the conifer at the end of the garden, and the bottom of it is wired onto the fence, and the blackies can get to it easily too.
Regarding climbers - you could have a climber on an obelisk or simple frame, which would take up very little room. Many will be fine in pots too. Bog standard ivy in a planter with trellis, or a few battens wired together for example, would make an effective pillar of cover for small birds.
And who's dissing my pal - Dave the pigeon?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That sounds like a lovely arrangement and variety of water sources. I will have to look in to creating something similar.
Thanks for the tips on climbers, too; I shall investigate my options.
We get the usual blue and great tits, sparrows, chaffinches, dunnock, wrens, robins, thrushes, blackbirds, goldcrest and various warblers (hard to tell apart) also green and spotted woodpeckers, Jays and occasionally long tail tits, fieldfare and once a redstart. We have quite a lot of birds of prey too.
Keep going, it will build up. 👍
@B3 I do mine weekly, but that's mainly because it's under an oak tree and attracts debris. I don't think size matters, it's more about location. Mine is a shallow dish style on a stand, about 18" diameter and 2" deep in amongst bushes etc. If the birds can get to it whilst staying in cover, I've noticed they tend to stay longer and visit more. But then they do have to keep an eye out for marauding sparrowhawks around here...
@fidgetbones interesting, I have a family of woodpeckers that only come for peanuts and the white suet! Perhaps yours are more upper class and only dine on the pink champagne