Author Topic: Garden birds - regular and unusual sightings (Read 138353 times)

BrookyP · « **Reply #30 on:** December 27, 2010, 10:00:18 pm »

PS

I had the same issue so looked on ebay and got approx 60 kilo for £30 delivered

the birds do nail this stuff so guess its better to buy in bulk. Trouble is where to put the sacks. We cant leave them in the shed as the mice nail it too. Currently its in the kitchen!!

ta bp

Nobby · « **Reply #31 on:** December 31, 2010, 06:00:18 pm »

I buy 2x 25kg sacks of mixed seed from http://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/acatalog/seedmixes.html
It costs £49 and is delivered to your door. It lasts for about 5 weeks at the current rate of consumption - about double that in the Summer.

Albert Ross · « **Reply #32 on:** January 04, 2011, 02:21:07 pm »

Try http://www.gjwtitmuss.co.uk Thats where we find the best prices.

Editor · « **Reply #33 on:** January 04, 2011, 02:46:17 pm »

Quote from: Nobby on December 31, 2010, 06:00:18 pm

I buy 2x 25kg sacks of mixed seed from http://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/acatalog/seedmixes.html
It costs £49 and is delivered to your door. It lasts for about 5 weeks at the current rate of consumption - about double that in the Summer.

Thanks Nobby. I have ordered some. Also ordered some squirrel proof feeders. I usually don't believe these things work, but relatives in Liverpool say they do. They have an aluminum sleeve that falls down to block the seed outlets if a squirrel climbs down. They have had them for two years and say it works. So two are on order. Will report back on the success.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-Steel-Squirrel-Proof-Feeder/dp/B000TAI9WW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1293458871&sr=1-4

Editor · « **Reply #34 on:** January 10, 2011, 10:54:10 am »

I think we may have beaten the squirrels after years of trying. Our new bird feeders are attached to a branch with wire and have a piece of plastic tube around. Below, there is an aluminium tube. When the squirrels try to climb down the tube it slides down and covers the nuts and seeds. This morning a squirrel tried to get at the nuts but slide down the tube, jumped off, tried again and then, defeated ran away.

Buster · « **Reply #35 on:** January 10, 2011, 01:46:06 pm »

Where did you get them from? I dont mind the squirrels but they do go through the food at some rate so it would be good to have another option available.

Editor · « **Reply #36 on:** January 10, 2011, 02:14:15 pm »

Quote from: Buster on January 10, 2011, 01:46:06 pm

Where did you get them from? I dont mind the squirrels but they do go through the food at some rate so it would be good to have another option available.

Hi Buster, we got ours off Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-Steel-Squirrel-Proof-Feeder/dp/B000TAI9WW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1293458871&sr=1-4

David

Buster · « **Reply #37 on:** January 10, 2011, 02:41:13 pm »

thanks.

Buster · « **Reply #38 on:** January 10, 2011, 02:49:25 pm »

I have just clicked on the link - have you seen the customer image attached? Squirrel hanging from the feeder!!!

Editor · « **Reply #39 on:** January 10, 2011, 04:47:05 pm »

Quote from: Buster on January 10, 2011, 02:49:25 pm

I have just clicked on the link - have you seen the customer image attached? Squirrel hanging from the feeder!!!

Couldn't find the customer image, but these squirrels are clever fellas. The instructions make clear that you need to have them a certain minimum distance from the ground to stop the squirrels jumping up and hanging on the perches, and a certain distance from other vantage spots.

Editor · « **Reply #40 on:** January 10, 2011, 05:10:49 pm »

Quote from: Buster on January 10, 2011, 02:49:25 pm

have you seen the customer image attached? Squirrel hanging from the feeder!!!

Just found the image, thanks Buster. Attached below. My guess is that the feeder must have been too close to the ground or to another vantage point. Mind you, I will probably post tomorrow to report that the squirrels have got the step ladder out of the shed.

Bob Horrocks · « **Reply #41 on:** January 10, 2011, 06:29:25 pm »

Not directly concerned with the original topic but linked to recent postings. I went to the Isle of Wight at Christmas and saw this sign. Not sure what I was supposed to do if I saw one.

sasquartch · « **Reply #42 on:** January 11, 2011, 09:31:58 am »

The Isle of Wight is one of the few remaining areas where red squirrels thrive, not having been driven out by the grey squirrel. On holiday there a few years ago actually saw a few (apparently for a given acreage of woodland only a few reds can survive compared with many more grey squirrels) which was a comparitively rare sight.

Editor · « **Reply #43 on:** February 15, 2011, 10:21:52 am »

Just had a great spotted woodpecker eating the peanuts from our bird feeder. Seems it was swallowing them whole. Could this be dangerous for it?

Nobby · « **Reply #44 on:** February 16, 2011, 08:03:53 pm »

Hello Dave - Swallowing peanuts whole is standard feeding behaviour for woodpeckers. As they don't have teeth it's pretty difficult for them to chew into smaller pieces before digesting. Birds have extremely potent digestive juices!

Editor · « **Reply #45 on:** February 17, 2011, 07:22:55 am »

Thanks Nobby. Great to watch the woodpecker getting stuck into the peanuts. The jackdaws enjoy them, too.

Nobby · « **Reply #46 on:** February 18, 2011, 06:51:55 pm »

Our garden highlights recently have been Siskins (37+ coming to sunflower hearts) today, with 3 Ring-Necked Parakeets feeding on the mixed seed yesterday.

Editor · « **Reply #47 on:** February 18, 2011, 07:31:28 pm »

Quote from: Nobby on February 18, 2011, 06:51:55 pm

Our garden highlights recently have been Siskins (37+ coming to sunflower hearts) today, with 3 Ring-Necked Parakeets feeding on the mixed seed yesterday.

Unfair, Nobby, why do you get all the interesting visitors?

Editor · « **Reply #48 on:** March 15, 2011, 10:18:11 am »

Just had a parakeet on the nuts. Lovely bird.

Editor · « **Reply #49 on:** March 15, 2011, 04:08:37 pm »

Not a great pic because I couldn't find my camera.

epiphany · « **Reply #50 on:** March 15, 2011, 04:39:53 pm »

I hope they do not start roosting anywhere round here!
Have you heard the racket they make in large numbers in West London?
Sounds like the Amazonian Rainforest, assuming there still is a rainforest?
Maybe that's why they are here.

peppermint · « **Reply #51 on:** March 18, 2011, 10:35:23 am »

If they can give the local crows a run for their money I'm all for them staying

Smurf · « **Reply #52 on:** March 18, 2011, 04:27:54 pm »

Couldn't believe it when I saw 3 green parakeets tucking in to the feeders in my garden...amazing!

Ferdie · « **Reply #53 on:** March 18, 2011, 07:04:09 pm »

They were in Barnet some years ago, so it was only a matter of time before they reached BP.

Richard Sutton · « **Reply #54 on:** May 08, 2011, 09:40:03 pm »

I was amazed yesterday afternoon to find a very noisy green parrot with a red nose sitting in a willow tree at the back of my garden. Not sure if its an escaped pet, or a wild parrot such as those that seem to be spotted throughout the country recently.

Editor · « **Reply #55 on:** May 08, 2011, 09:58:57 pm »

Quote from: rvsutton on May 08, 2011, 09:40:03 pm

I was amazed yesterday afternoon to find a very noisy green parrot with a red nose sitting in a willow tree at the back of my garden. Not sure if its an escaped pet, or a wild parrot such as those that seem to be spotted throughout the country recently.

Check a few posts earlier in this thread where you will find out more about the parakeets.

Editor · « **Reply #56 on:** June 10, 2011, 10:20:32 am »

All go in our garden. Looks like two families of hedge sparrows, two families of blue tits and one family of great tits all settled in with the parents working full time feeding the chicks. And then there are the jackdaws, wood pigeons, magpies and collared dove. The robins and the dunnocks are picking up the bits.

Editor · « **Reply #57 on:** June 10, 2011, 10:22:51 am »

Just read this on the WHT site. Disgraceful. What sort of ~~person~~ animal would do this?

Quote

Buzzard illegally shot dead near Welwyn

The raptor was felled with a shotgun on the cusp of the village and Wheathampstead and Sandridge, near the John Bunyan pub and Lemsford Road. And police are trying to snare the bird of prey’s killer. Rural and wildlife officer, Sergeant Jamie Bartlett, said: “It is really sad that this buzzard’s dependents may not be able to fend for themselves and may have died as a result of their mother being shot. More...

Editor · « **Reply #58 on:** June 10, 2011, 11:37:18 am »

Sorry to be hogging this thread this morning but I think we have a family of dunnocks in the garden, too. Proud parent showing fledglings the ropes. Can't get on with my work there is so much going on.

Aloo · « **Reply #59 on:** June 10, 2011, 11:49:04 am »

If the incinerator goes ahead the only birds we'll have round here will be crows picking at torn black bags.

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Author Topic: Garden birds - regular and unusual sightings (Read 138353 times)

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