Charlie you're absolutely right- I used to have a little feeder near the house and tucked inside a pyracantha. The little birds could all get in but it kept magpies and starlings -and the squirrel (!) - out and even the coal tits stayed and ate their food by the feeder instead of flying away to eat. I had a bird table and other feeders in a different partof the garden. At my last house we had feeders between the pond and the conservatory so we had a wonderful view but the sparrow hawk did hide in the cherry tree nearby. The small birds had good cover in the clematis etc right next to the feeders so they rarely got caught. We had the best of both worlds! The pheasants were tame and we could often hand feed them- they sometimes jumped onto the window ledges of the house. They nested across the road in our neighbour's garden but we always worried about them crossing the road!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When we start feeding birds regularly we create a feeding station for the ones we choose to like and a an opportunity for those that like to feed off those we choose to like. If you don't want to see raqptors feed from your garden remove the temptation by forcing the ready-meals to do what they were naturally inclined to do, that is search and scavenge the hedgerows.
Their is natural cycle to life, predation is part of that cycle. we need to learn to live with it. No Sparrow hawk or other natural predator ever did as much damage to the world as we did.
I think my blue tits have flown, as no sign of parents feeding. Also saw great tit adult feeding juvenile some peanut which the youngster held between it's feet and pecked at. Obviously a quick learner...
Lizzie-Let me know when you will be in Newhaven ( if you will be). Did you say you stay in Eastbourne? If so have you been to ESK- they have a nice plant bit with quite a at their own nursery.
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Oh, yes.I never noticed that before.. thank you... my life is now enriched.
Charlie you're absolutely right- I used to have a little feeder near the house and tucked inside a pyracantha. The little birds could all get in but it kept magpies and starlings -and the squirrel (!) - out and even the coal tits stayed and ate their food by the feeder instead of flying away to eat. I had a bird table and other feeders in a different partof the garden. At my last house we had feeders between the pond and the conservatory so we had a wonderful view but the sparrow hawk did hide in the cherry tree nearby. The small birds had good cover in the clematis etc right next to the feeders so they rarely got caught. We had the best of both worlds! The pheasants were tame and we could often hand feed them- they sometimes jumped onto the window ledges of the house. They nested across the road in our neighbour's garden but we always worried about them crossing the road!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When we start feeding birds regularly we create a feeding station for the ones we choose to like and a an opportunity for those that like to feed off those we choose to like. If you don't want to see raqptors feed from your garden remove the temptation by forcing the ready-meals to do what they were naturally inclined to do, that is search and scavenge the hedgerows.
Their is natural cycle to life, predation is part of that cycle. we need to learn to live with it. No Sparrow hawk or other natural predator ever did as much damage to the world as we did.
I think my blue tits have flown, as no sign of parents feeding. Also saw great tit adult feeding juvenile some peanut which the youngster held between it's feet and pecked at. Obviously a quick learner...
I am happy because we are going to England on Sunday and we will visit lots of gardens and, hopefully, buy some lovely plants.
Lizzie-Let me know when you will be in Newhaven ( if you will be). Did you say you stay in Eastbourne? If so have you been to ESK- they have a nice plant bit with quite a at their own nursery.
WW- lovely story about the great tits.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I might forget at the weekend so just wanted to say have a lovely visit back home Busy. Are you bringing a trailer for all the plants?