[Mr Mercury]

Has anyone noticed a distinct lack of long tail tits this last cpl of years?

[fishini]

 Mr Mercury, on 05 June 2023 - 08:33 PM, said:

Has anyone noticed a distinct lack of long tail tits this last cpl of years?

I've got loads do you want to borrow a few? Suet cakes attract the. In numbers

[Mr Mercury]

 fishini, on 06 June 2023 - 03:42 AM, said:

I've got loads do you want to borrow a few? Suet cakes attract the. In numbers

I’ll try that but before the suet balls I used used to attract the starlings in biblical numbers!

[fishini]

 Mr Mercury, on 06 June 2023 - 06:29 AM, said:

I’ll try that but before the suet balls I used used to attract the starlings in biblical numbers!

Starlings are now on the red list so be grateful.It's one bird I don't get in my garden sad to say

This post has been edited by fishini: 06 June 2023 - 07:11 AM

[spireitetoo]

 fishini, on 06 June 2023 - 07:07 AM, said:

Starlings are now on the red list so be grateful.It's one bird I don't get in my garden sad to say

Can have some of mine, they fall over each other try to get on the feeders. When the crows have cleared off..

[fishini]

 spireitetoo, on 06 June 2023 - 08:29 AM, said:

Can have some of mine, they fall over each other try to get on the feeders. When the crows have cleared off..

Just use hanging feeders crows struggle with feeders. I don't use a bird table

[spireitetoo]

 fishini, on 06 June 2023 - 08:44 AM, said:

Just use hanging feeders crows struggle with feeders. I don't use a bird table

I do, the buggers jump, hit it with there beak and pick up the food as it falls out...

[fishini]

 spireitetoo, on 06 June 2023 - 02:55 PM, said:

I do, the buggers jump, hit it with there beak and pick up the food as it falls out...

Get 2 hanging baskets made of wire and some ti wraps. Place feeder inside and ti wrap the baskets together to form a ball. Smaller bird can get to the food but larger birds cant

[spireitetoo]

 fishini, on 06 June 2023 - 05:52 PM, said:

Get 2 hanging baskets made of wire and some ti wraps. Place feeder inside and ti wrap the baskets together to form a ball. Smaller bird can get to the food but larger birds cant

Cracking idea that, will get on it after my jollies...

[dim view]

Just had a beautiful bird which I was unable to identify crash into my patio door. Mr Google came to my rescue and it's a Bengalese Finch. I'm pleased to say it was only stunned for about 5 minutes then it did a runner. Made my night.

[spireitetoo]

Dunno if it affected the wild life down on the Avenue country park, but there's been a bird scarer in the field nr the old Avenue farm, ( bottom of grassmoor) for 2 or 3 week now, been banging about every 30mins or so when on, it's had a big effect on my feeders, the crows have disappeared, and so have many of the smaller birds, (starlings especially too) .

This post has been edited by spireitetoo: 25 July 2023 - 07:45 PM

[fishini]

 dim view, on 25 July 2023 - 07:17 PM, said:

Just had a beautiful bird which I was unable to identify crash into my patio door. Mr Google came to my rescue and it's a Bengalese Finch. I'm pleased to say it was only stunned for about 5 minutes then it did a runner. Made my night.

Not a wild bird but an escapee. It's a bird that is domesticated and not found in the wild. Sadly it won't survive it's freedom

[fishini]

 spireitetoo, on 25 July 2023 - 07:45 PM, said:

Dunno if it affected the wild life down on the Avenue country park, but there's been a bird scarer in the field nr the old Avenue farm, ( bottom of grassmoor) for 2 or 3 week now, been banging about every 30mins or so when on, it's had a big effect on my feeders, the crows have disappeared, and so have many of the smaller birds, (starlings especially too) .

Bird numbers on feeders will naturally fall at this time of year as food is plentiful in the wild. Hate bird scarers they do little in the grand scheme of things. They are the new tactic on the moors by the evil gamekeepers. They place them near Hen Harrier nests to disturb them when nesting along with get this, maniquinns. They won't be happy until they are extinct in the UK. Good news though Severn Trent and United Utilities have cancelled all shooting licences on their land. We need all companies along with the National Trust to do the same

[spireitetoo]

 fishini, on 26 July 2023 - 05:48 PM, said:

Bird numbers on feeders will naturally fall at this time of year as food is plentiful in the wild. Hate bird scarers they do little in the grand scheme of things. They are the new tactic on the moors by the evil gamekeepers. They place them near Hen Harrier nests to disturb them when nesting along with get this, maniquinns. They won't be happy until they are extinct in the UK. Good news though Severn Trent and United Utilities have cancelled all shooting licences on their land. We need all companies along with the National Trust to do the same

Tbh I really can't understand the positioning of it, the fields are farmed and are currently full of corn, the old chicken sheds are just that, old empty sheds ( other than the Atkinson builders stuff in 1) so really can't see why it's been put there, unless the horses down there have been getting worried by something ( well the owners of the horses) .. it just seems a pointless positioning..

[spireitetoo]

Seems the positioning of the bird scarer last year has done me a favour, I'm getting a much better variety of wild bird on my feeders this yr, the crows seem to have cleared off, leaving plenty for smaller birds, Inc wagtails, tits of all colors, and even a Jay, tho there doesn't seem to be as many sparrows, and certainly not as many starlings...

[Mr Mercury]

 spireitetoo, on 01 June 2024 - 12:16 PM, said:

Seems the positioning of the bird scarer last year has done me a favour, I'm getting a much better variety of wild bird on my feeders this yr, the crows seem to have cleared off, leaving plenty for smaller birds, Inc wagtails, tits of all colors, and even a Jay, tho there doesn't seem to be as many sparrows, and certainly not as many starlings...

Hadn?t seen a starling for a while this year until I put a new suet pellet feeder out the other day and they cleared it in a day! Still not had any long tail tits for a cpl of years when they used to be regulars here.

This post has been edited by Mr Mercury: 01 June 2024 - 12:58 PM

[fishini]

 Mr Mercury, on 01 June 2024 - 12:58 PM, said:

Hadn?t seen a starling for a while this year until I put a new suet pellet feeder out the other day and they cleared it in a day! Still not had any long tail tits for a cpl of years when they used to be regulars here.

My long tailed tits have come back in flocks. I even had a pair nesting in my gorse bush. The young have fledged now. Had some death's though in my nest boxes due to the wet weather reducing the number of insects. Six young in my tawny owl box after I ousted the pigeons and squirrels

[Mr Mercury]

 fishini, on 01 June 2024 - 02:42 PM, said:

My long tailed tits have come back in flocks. I even had a pair nesting in my gorse bush. The young have fledged now. Had some death's though in my nest boxes due to the wet weather reducing the number of insects. Six young in my tawny owl box after I ousted the pigeons and squirrels

Good stuff, yes I used to get a lot of the LTT, but like I say none now. Lots and lots of goldfinches as well now.

[fishini]

 Mr Mercury, on 01 June 2024 - 02:45 PM, said:

Good stuff, yes I used to get a lot of the LTT, but like I say none now. Lots and lots of goldfinches as well now.

You are obviously interested in feeding the birds. So have you any nest boxes in your garden?

[Mr Mercury]

 fishini, on 01 June 2024 - 04:56 PM, said:

You are obviously interested in feeding the birds. So have you any nest boxes in your garden?

No, never really bothered tbh. Also the main area where they would be is south facing. Real sun trap and would be too warm.