feeding the birds

Just been watching the Snowwatch joanella, loads of Fieldfares and Redwings....we haven't had them up here so it was great to watch...:o)

yes i agree,we have had the fieldfares for first time,all birds so hungry though i have fed them 3 times today,you may get them up there yet..:o)

I should look at it. I sliced up a tomato for them, but then Deida told me they don't like those lol.

a few little tips on it hywel,they say no margarine which i didnt know,not that i use the stuff only best butter in this house ha ha...

Here too lol

Check the RSPB site for what you should and should not feed the birds or look for all the blogs already existing on feeding on GoY. Basically no veggie fats at all but there are other things that are not good for the birds - including turkey and chicken fat. There are lots of super blogs about this so just check them out.

will do moon grower,not had much time on here for few days so may have missed them will check them tomorrow thank you :o)

Folk have been blogging about feeding birds for weeks...

so have i moon grower , but not been on for a few days , sorry wil try to keep up with everyone else....

Thanks for the information, Joanella...
a useful blog :o)

cheers terra :o)

That 'Snowwatch' programme was an eye-opener, wasn't it! Not much we can do for the endangered creatures like wild deer or the Dartford Warbler, but at least we know that we can help in or own small ways in our gardens.

I had one solitary fieldfare in the garden yesterday - it flew off before I got the camera focussed. :-((

yes spritz, it was a good programme as you say any way we can help is a bonus ,maybe it was camera shy lol..i have had quite a few this morning though...:o)

Good point, Joanella.
Any way we can help the wildlife is a bonus.
"My" dozen or so sparrows visit my garden bird feeders every day, and those sparrows are as special to me as rarer birds which visit other more rural gardens.

i know its funny how we feel like that,i have a few robins about 6 blackbirds,a good few fieldfare and others and i watch out for each ones every day, i dont even mind the pigeons, as long as i am feeding something that is all that matters :o)

I'm hoping that now I have more evergreen climbers, some of the sparrows might nest in my garden this summer. In recent summers in my back garden, blackbirds, collared doves and thrushes have all built nests and reared babies successfully. A robin's nest... now that would be something special...

Do you think your robins might nest in your garden ?

yes we have a nest in the conifer trees at the side of house they nest there every year,cant see too much though as trees are quite dense,no more birds nests though,you are lucky to have had so many...

Thank you for this link its informative

thanx sixpence,:o)

: O )

I missed some of the Snowwatch prog. last night but on the subject of Fieldfare, there was an item on the Regional News (East Anglia) about there being an invasion of thousands in Suffolk from Scandinavia - the largest number seen for many years.

I would love to have a robin's nest in my garden.
Any suggestions about achieving that, from anyone please ?
Yes, Ponty... I saw a report about all those thousands of Fieldfares..
Amazing ! :o)

I see above you say not vegtable fat, yet on most bird blogs and tv they say to feed mince pies, which has margine in the pastry which most margines contain vegtable fat in the reciepe.

yes ponty i have heard the same,there must be a reason for it.
cant suggest anything myself terra i didnt do anything to attract them they just moved in , years ago now..

intersting blog, i watch snow watch last night aswell and enjoyed it.

Terra.Robins will nest wherever they fancy and are very difficult to encourage. If you buy or make an open fronted box you may be lucky or may find that is ignored for years. I have had Robins nest on a shelf in the shed and in the garage, using a partially open window as an entrance but I have never succeeded in persuading one to nest where I place a box. If you try, place it out of the wind and out of full sun, away from any any busy path or other busy place like a bird table. Preferably, place it well inside a fairly ‘open’ hedge. They seem to like all sorts of novelties, like kettles and other similar sized containers. Try scattering a few around in ’private’ spots out of the reach of cats. Make sure you do this as soon as the weather breaks because they will start courting fairly soon. Good luck. I will be trying again this year.

thanks clarice i did too,
some good tips there ponty thank you..

Thanks, Ponty for the ideas to encourage robins to nest in the garden. :o)

thanx joanella, will check it out, i missed snow watch grr im terrible at remembering when programs are on :o(

hi san i nearly missed it too until ben told me it was on,i always put a reminder on for it but didnt for last nights for some reason..:o)

i just watched it joanella on catch up, really enjoyed it, lovely :o))

ok san :o))