Feed the Birds – it’s not tuppence a bag anymore. But it’s well worth it.
There have been some feeders hanging in an apple tree in the garden for years.
Mixed seed, fat balls and peanuts have attracted many birds. Lots and lots of sparrows, plus a few blue tits and great tits. There are also resident robins, blackbirds, wrens and dunnocks which feed on the ground.
This spring the challenge has been to entice a wider variety, in particular finches. There are plenty of them around and about, but not coming into the garden. Cue some advice from friends and a bit of internet research.
It turns out they are picky eaters.
So this year a wider menu has been offered just for finches, who are partial to niger seeds and sunflower hearts.
As chaffinches are ground feeders a table feeder (made using an old picture frame and some chains from redundant hanging baskets) was also rigged up just for them. Plus some dry mealworms (soaked in warm water to rehydrate them back to lusciousness) for robins.
Well something’s been eating it!
….all the mealworms gone, but didn’t see what ate them this time.
But there have been a fair few hours of stake outs in the summerhouse with cups of tea and mini binoculars at the ready. It’s a very mindful way to spend time!
And success!!! This might be a blurry photo – but it is a goldfinch! In fact there have been plenty of them eating the niger seeds and sunflower hearts hanging up – and also sunflower hearts off the table.
In fact the r0ll call of birds seen in the garden in the last few weeks goes like this:
- Sparrows
- Great Tits
- Blue Tits
- Long Tailed Tits *
- Blackbirds
- Robins
- Starlings
- Dunnocks
- Collared Doves
- Crows (not so welcome)
- Rooks (ditto)
- Goldfinches *
- Chaffinches *
- Greenfinches *
Those marked with an asterisks have been seen for the first time this year. Hurrah!
And just this morning a possible sighting of a coal tit!
So go on – Feed the Birds!