Starlings will do anything for those suet blocks - I find that hanging one or two of them up in the garden in a separate place from the usual feeders keeps them occupied, also scattering suet pellets widely in the garden. At this time of year the starlings in our gardens are family groups gathering food for nestlings.
Blackbirds are mainly ground feeders and although they'll use feeders in the winter, at this time of year they'll be scuffling around in the undergrowth looking for worms and grubs for their young, rather than hanging around bird feeders as they need different food at this time of year.
Most of the tits are also gathering caterpillars and aphids from the oak trees, hedgerows and shrubs as those are what their youngsters need, rather than the seeds we provide in feeders.
Most of the birds visiting our feeders at the moment are goldfinches who seem to take sunflower hearts all the year round.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The blackbirds here scuffle about under shrubs, especially the winter flowering honeysuckle. I'm sure if I scattered some blackbird food under there they'd love it. The only time they aren't there much is when the raspberries are ripe. Then they spend their days under those instead, stuffing their beaks with my raspberries
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
At my last house i used to have starlings, but I love them, The way they squabble etc always used to entertain me, for my other birds i used to put some food on a flat log that was under a hedge from my window i could see them eating it, the sparrows and blackbirds were more than happy to go under and have their own meal.
At my new house i havn't got any starlings, i miss them! I have a big group of house sparrows though who empty feeders within a day! but i don't mind
Ten years ago I planted a crab apple - John Downey - on which flourished colonies of aphids, farmed by ants, on the new spring shots. I was advised to tie suet balls to the branches to attract birds which will also devour the aphids.
later that year no aphids no ants. Every year since has been a lovely crop of blossom and healthy new growth. Works a treat.
Sadly something else is worrying this year. the lovely blossom went a bright orange rust colour and shrivelled from the edges way before the usual time for petal drop. Why? whats up?
Also there is fire blight on the walnut trees......
Fireblight is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, which only infects members of the Rosaceae family.
Walnuts belong to the Juglandaceae family and do not contract fireblight.
Walnuts can get Bacterial Leaf Blight, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis. The symptoms are small, angular brown spots on foliage - but it's not really a problem in Britain.
They are also susceptible to Walnut Leaf Blotch, which is caused by a fungus. Symptoms are brown, usually roundish blotches on the leaves, which amalgamate to form larger blotches with yellow edges, then the leaves shrivel and drop.
My tree suffers from leaf blotch every year, but as I only have it for ornamental purposes and not for fruit, it's not really a problem.
However, those sharp, nasty frosts last week nipped all the shoots of the walnut and give a general appearence of blight.
Some people didn't even realise we'd had the frosts, as the only real indicator in most parts was plants looking a bit grim.
If your apple blossom has been caught by the frost, then I'd be fairly certain that your walnut has too.
If this is the case, there's no need to worry. You probably won't have many, if any, apples - but the walnut will put forth new shoots in a couple of weeks and will be fine.
Well that's a relief. Thank you for your information. The tips of the new walnut leaves a blackend and curled dry I thought the trees were on their way out!
They'll be fine Maggie - I have lots of little frazzled bits from the frosts. It's just disappointing if it affects blossom, but the trees themselves will be fine.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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AAAAggghhhh! and Yuk!
I feed my garden birds but about a dozen starlings have turned up and are scaring off the robin and the black bird, havent seen any tits for ages.
I have had to stop scattering worms and grain on the terrace as it is now covered in starling poo.
The robin will feed from the hanging feeder but what about the blackbirds. How can I feed the black bird? He doesnt seem to use the feeder.
M
Starlings will do anything for those suet blocks - I find that hanging one or two of them up in the garden in a separate place from the usual feeders keeps them occupied, also scattering suet pellets widely in the garden. At this time of year the starlings in our gardens are family groups gathering food for nestlings.
Blackbirds are mainly ground feeders and although they'll use feeders in the winter, at this time of year they'll be scuffling around in the undergrowth looking for worms and grubs for their young, rather than hanging around bird feeders as they need different food at this time of year.
Most of the tits are also gathering caterpillars and aphids from the oak trees, hedgerows and shrubs as those are what their youngsters need, rather than the seeds we provide in feeders.
Most of the birds visiting our feeders at the moment are goldfinches who seem to take sunflower hearts all the year round.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The blackbirds here scuffle about under shrubs, especially the winter flowering honeysuckle. I'm sure if I scattered some blackbird food under there they'd love it. The only time they aren't there much is when the raspberries are ripe. Then they spend their days under those instead, stuffing their beaks with my raspberries
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
At my last house i used to have starlings, but I love them, The way they squabble etc always used to entertain me, for my other birds i used to put some food on a flat log that was under a hedge from my window i could see them eating it, the sparrows and blackbirds were more than happy to go under and have their own meal.
At my new house i havn't got any starlings, i miss them! I have a big group of house sparrows though who empty feeders within a day! but i don't mind
Just remembered to pass this tip on.
Ten years ago I planted a crab apple - John Downey - on which flourished colonies of aphids, farmed by ants, on the new spring shots. I was advised to tie suet balls to the branches to attract birds which will also devour the aphids.
later that year no aphids no ants. Every year since has been a lovely crop of blossom and healthy new growth. Works a treat.
Sadly something else is worrying this year. the lovely blossom went a bright orange rust colour and shrivelled from the edges way before the usual time for petal drop. Why? whats up?
Also there is fire blight on the walnut trees......
Anyone?
Cold/frost on the blossom is the most likely reason Maggie. If you have a photo - that will help with advice if it isn't that.
Dom't know about your wlanuts though I'm afraid.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fireblight is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, which only infects members of the Rosaceae family.
Walnuts belong to the Juglandaceae family and do not contract fireblight.
Walnuts can get Bacterial Leaf Blight, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis. The symptoms are small, angular brown spots on foliage - but it's not really a problem in Britain.
They are also susceptible to Walnut Leaf Blotch, which is caused by a fungus. Symptoms are brown, usually roundish blotches on the leaves, which amalgamate to form larger blotches with yellow edges, then the leaves shrivel and drop.
My tree suffers from leaf blotch every year, but as I only have it for ornamental purposes and not for fruit, it's not really a problem.
However, those sharp, nasty frosts last week nipped all the shoots of the walnut and give a general appearence of blight.
Some people didn't even realise we'd had the frosts, as the only real indicator in most parts was plants looking a bit grim.
If your apple blossom has been caught by the frost, then I'd be fairly certain that your walnut has too.
If this is the case, there's no need to worry. You probably won't have many, if any, apples - but the walnut will put forth new shoots in a couple of weeks and will be fine.
Well that's a relief. Thank you for your information. The tips of the new walnut leaves a blackend and curled dry I thought the trees were on their way out!
M
They'll be fine Maggie - I have lots of little frazzled bits from the frosts. It's just disappointing if it affects blossom, but the trees themselves will be fine.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...