So pleased for you, Fairygirl: our weather has turned much chillier today with stiff NW winds. So I've redoubled the number of peanut feeders and fatball/ slab mesh feeders today to reduce 'queueing' time of my regulars. *Neighbours feed with nyger seed also, so I often have overflying goldfinch twittering as they pass through...!!
Last season, my garden appeared to be at the margins of three blackbird territories - the 'fellas' were often to be heard giving it large well into the dusk at evening time - a real delight as I was putting the greenhouses & cold frames to bed for the night.
Goldfinches are thin on the ground here unfortunately, David. I'm hoping I might gradually get more types of birds in though - there was a goldcrest at one feeder yesterday which is great. Used to get a flock of long tailed tits regularly at my house round the corner from here too
I'm just pleased the blackies are keen to hang around. They get through at least one apple a day as well, which I stick into the ground with a metal skewer.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Interesting that you've been feeding up the blackbirds on 'tethered' apples, Fairygirl: I've used both apples and pears from my store. Also, experimentally, I left out a few very late gourds to see if anything would be tempted by them. So far they've been ignored, other than by slugs shaving the outermost veneer off as they pass! [Can't say I blame them - when I tried roasting a couple they were foul!!]. I'll be sticking to regular pumpkins in future.
Nanny Beach: I'm not certain about variety - I cadged some seeds of an ex-work colleague from his carving session! [*If you pm me, I'll pop a few of those in the post??]. Otherwise, try something modest-sized - I gather (from forum comments) that the 'monster' varieties need lots of tlc, feeding & watering etc. Good luck with your self-imposed task! [Tip: get the kids involved at all stages....].
They love the apples David and it's a good way of keeping them in one place so that they can eat the whole thing. I used to do something similar in the past by coring the apple and tying it to a tree support.
They've eaten a couple today - the ground was frozen and snowy. It gives them something juicy. They had a load of raisins as well as lots of sunflower hearts. There definitely seems to be two proper pairs which is lovely
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We have a crab apple tree at the front of our property and the birds love it. However, this year it has been so overloaded I've collected a lot of the 'windfalls' and scattered them across the back of the property...result: loads more birds and the squirrel thinks all of his Christmases have come at once. Don't know why the 'backyard' birds don't think to hop over the fence and get them fresh!
Posts
So pleased for you, Fairygirl: our weather has turned much chillier today with stiff NW winds. So I've redoubled the number of peanut feeders and fatball/ slab mesh feeders today to reduce 'queueing' time of my regulars. *Neighbours feed with nyger seed also, so I often have overflying goldfinch twittering as they pass through...!!
Last season, my garden appeared to be at the margins of three blackbird territories - the 'fellas' were often to be heard giving it large well into the dusk at evening time - a real delight as I was putting the greenhouses & cold frames to bed for the night.
Goldfinches are thin on the ground here unfortunately, David. I'm hoping I might gradually get more types of birds in though - there was a goldcrest at one feeder yesterday which is great. Used to get a flock of long tailed tits regularly at my house round the corner from here too
I'm just pleased the blackies are keen to hang around. They get through at least one apple a day as well, which I stick into the ground with a metal skewer.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Interesting that you've been feeding up the blackbirds on 'tethered' apples, Fairygirl: I've used both apples and pears from my store. Also, experimentally, I left out a few very late gourds to see if anything would be tempted by them. So far they've been ignored, other than by slugs shaving the outermost veneer off as they pass! [Can't say I blame them - when I tried roasting a couple they were foul!!]. I'll be sticking to regular pumpkins in future.
David Mathews2, what sort of Pumpkins? I promised the Grandkids Id have a go for this years Halloween
Nanny Beach: I'm not certain about variety - I cadged some seeds of an ex-work colleague from his carving session! [*If you pm me, I'll pop a few of those in the post??]. Otherwise, try something modest-sized - I gather (from forum comments) that the 'monster' varieties need lots of tlc, feeding & watering etc. Good luck with your self-imposed task! [Tip: get the kids involved at all stages....].
They love the apples David and it's a good way of keeping them in one place so that they can eat the whole thing. I used to do something similar in the past by coring the apple and tying it to a tree support.
They've eaten a couple today - the ground was frozen and snowy. It gives them something juicy. They had a load of raisins as well as lots of sunflower hearts. There definitely seems to be two proper pairs which is lovely
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Certainly true that, Nutcutlet. It's cos of where we are.
Birds singing here, and I saw some black-headed gulls with their black heads the other day.
We have a crab apple tree at the front of our property and the birds love it. However, this year it has been so overloaded I've collected a lot of the 'windfalls' and scattered them across the back of the property...result: loads more birds and the squirrel thinks all of his Christmases have come at once. Don't know why the 'backyard' birds don't think to hop over the fence and get them fresh!