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Unusual visitors
Lulu The Lurcher
Posts: 258
in Talkback
On Sunday I spotted a very large lady pheasant at the bottom of the garden. I put out some seed down there for her and when she'd finished eating she came up towards the house, hopped onto the wall and disappeared into the woods. Next day there was a huge cock pheasant down there filling up on seed. He then made his way up towards the house, hopped onto the wall and disappeared into the woods at exactly the same spot where Mrs pheasant did the day before. I think she must have gone home and told him where they could get something to eat. Anyway they have both been back a couple of times a day each since then. I hope they stay 
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ooh next time try and take pics Lulu.
I have half a dozen pheasant at least, refugees from a neighbouring pheasant shooting estate. They know my timetable for feeding the sheep as well as the sheep do and are in there among the feet pecking away. A couple of them have started to join in too when I feed the ducks and hens and even go into the garage where the seed bins are. They are all males at present but there will be females later.They are such beautiful exotic looking birds to see in a wintry landscae.
There is a heronry on a nearby reservoir, it is odd to think of them nesting in trees, they look so ungainly. They usually only visit us in the spring when the frogs are breeding, but they are much shyer than the pheasant and will fly off if you even go near the window. We occasionally have had a pair of Canada geese drop in but they have never been tempted to stay - they all feed in the fields by a different local reservoir.
I'm afraid I agree with Pansyface ...
Last year ... in exasperation at the disappearance of every flower off my tulipa tarda and every pulsatilla bloom I've came up with a daft idea ...
I found a wooden football rattle that my husband had as a youngster .. and rushed into the garden making a helluva racket when they came..... it did send them running off and saved some plants. (Also gave a large tawny owl a bit of a fright!)
Husband thought I'd totally lost the plot! Luckily we've no neighbours or they'd be phoning the authorities about the crazy lady next door .....
So, my advice is DON'T encourage them!
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
We have had to stop feeding the birds as it just became a pheasant cafe ..
I do like the boomerang idea ... but the trouble is that I'm rubbish at any sort of throwing so it could easily end in tears. I'd probably wreck more plants than I'd save.
This year I might try a high tech. approach and get one of those drone thingies and see if I can chase them away. (could also end in tears....)
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
They are delightful - but thick as s*** unfortunately!
And yes - a nuisance in high numbers once they find their way in and decide to stay. They taste good though pansyface
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...