What birds (are you/have you been) watching? What birds have been watching you?

[Dave2002]

In my attempts to entice birds into our garden I buy various types of bird food. I allocate about £1 a week for this, when I feel like it, to fat balls (often from Lidl). These usually come with green netting, though now I cut the balls out and put the balls into a metal feeder. This is usually "attacked" by crows, jackdaws and magpies which manage to break the balls up, and the pigeons wait for the seeds to fall off below, though some smaller birds do get a look in.

I read that the green netting is actually a bad idea - supposedly causes problems for some (young) birds. Is that true?

[Vox Humana]

I read that the green netting is actually a bad idea - supposedly causes problems for some (young) birds. Is that true?

I remember once seeing a photo published by the RSPB of a Coal Tit hanging by its tongue which was trapped between the green netting and the fat ball. I doubt it's a common problem, but obviously it can happen.

[Dave2002]

Do birds visit feeders/gardens according to a timetable? Over the last year or so I noticed that different birds seem to come at different times. Quite a while back, crows, jackdaws and magpies would visit early in the morning - particularly the jackdaws and crows which would squabble a bit. Now they seem to invade between 1pm-2pm. Is the arrival of different kinds of birds just random, or do they actually build up a schedule?

Does this vary between different types of birds?

[Serial_Apologist]

Do birds visit feeders/gardens according to a timetable? Over the last year or so I noticed that different birds seem to come at different times. Quite a while back, crows, jackdaws and magpies would visit early in the morning - particularly the jackdaws and crows which would squabble a bit. Now they seem to invade between 1pm-2pm. Is the arrival of different kinds of birds just random, or do they actually build up a schedule?

Does this vary between different types of birds?

Luncheon vultures come at about 12 noon and depart around 2.30 on a long meal break.

[Dave2002]

Luncheon vultures come at about 12 noon and depart around 2.30 on a long meal break.

Wot, not 3.30pm after a few glasses of wine? !!!

[Serial_Apologist]

Wot, not 3.30pm after a few glasses of wine? !!!

[Lento]

In my attempts to entice birds into our garden I buy various types of bird food. I allocate about £1 a week for this, when I feel like it, to fat balls (often from Lidl). These usually come with green netting, though now I cut the balls out and put the balls into a metal feeder. This is usually "attacked" by crows, jackdaws and magpies which manage to break the balls up, and the pigeons wait for the seeds to fall off below, though some smaller birds do get a look in.

I read that the green netting is actually a bad idea - supposedly causes problems for some (young) birds. Is that true?

Trapped feet are the usual problem, I believe.

[Lat-Literal]

Have walked to the local pond to feed the ducks on four consecutive Sundays.

Today was the first time I had seen a grey heron there.

[ardcarp]

Witnessed a blue-tit incident this morning. Found it lying on a shelf beneath a window. It was on its back, feet in the air and seemingly dead. It had obviously flown into the glass. However on attempting to pick it up, it suddenly revived and flew off.

[alycidon]

I don't often post on this thread, because I don't have much of interest to report, but at present we have four starlings nicking the fatballs and availing themselves of the birdbath facility! The thing is, these birds are very uncommon in these parts (northern Scotland), but we can do without them as they are greedy little blighters.

While we are on the subject of wildlife, we were halfway through Sunday Lunch an hour ago when we spotted a sheep on its back in the adjacent field. Rang the farmer - no reply - left a message - and decided to take action requiring a clamber over the stock fence to get the beast upright - and risking our own necks in the process (we are in our seventies!)

Now I'm guilt-ridden because I feel so self-righteous about it. Didn't get to church this morning because I've been unwell for several days, but wait a minute. That's practical Christianity, isn't it?

Anyhow, we are in the farmer's good books - which is where we like to be.

[Serial_Apologist]

I saw a couple of cockney cockatiels in one of our crab apple trees yesterday afternoon, making little squawks of pleasure to one another as they munched their way through the plentiful supply, their colourful plumage picked out against the yellowness by the late autumnal sunshine.

[vinteuil]

... yesterday walked the Thames path from Waterloo all the way back to Hammersmith Bridge.

Among the usual wildlife, a nice moment when. just beyond the MI6 building, on seven tallish piles out in the river, were seven watchful cormorants...

[Serial_Apologist]

... yesterday walked the Thames path from Waterloo all the way back to Hammersmith Bridge.

Among the usual wildlife, a nice moment when. just beyond the MI6 building, on seven tallish piles out in the river, were seven watchful cormorants...

Hi vints!

It just so happens that I did that very route by bike for the very first time just over a month ago - or, at least, the bit continuing from the Putney Embankment (where all those boating clubs are) along that lovely, almost rural stretch through to Hammersmith Bridge, crossing over to the Hammersmith side, where I stopped off for a well-deserved pub lunch overlooking the river, before continuing along that path for a look around Kelmscott House.

[Padraig]

... yesterday walked the Thames path from Waterloo all the way back to Hammersmith Bridge.

Among the usual wildlife, a nice moment when. just beyond the MI6 building, on seven tallish piles out in the river, were seven watchful cormorants...

Never been there vinteuil - but I can picture it all now.

[Stanfordian]

On the Fylde Coast, seabirds aside, as a child (around 45 years ago) I rememember many sparrows, thrushes and starlings in the garden, fieds and woods. Now I see very few of those and see group upon group of crow faily members but I'm not sure if they are crows, ravens, jackdaws, rooks? I guess they might be jackdaws!