Bird Feeder Watch. 02/03/2018

[Togo]

It has been a busy week on the feeder that is for sure. I have put out at least 3 times more feed than usual, and there are hundreds of visitors. Yesterday there were 6 male Blackbirds happily feeding together from what I have been putting on the ground. They are usually pretty territorial, but a truce seems to have been called. The sunflower hearts and mealworms are disappearing as fast as I can put them out. Just had a quite rare Song Thrush on the feeder tray again taking mealworms, and I put some lukewarm water out earlier which got a few visits for a drink. Costing me a fortune. :))

[melv16]

In previous years of bad weather it also cost me a fortune. Over 50 goldfinches, 16 bullfinches, nuthatch, all the tits including willow. Redpolls and reed buntings were the icing on the cake.
I've had hardly any birds this year, which is a mystery.

[Chipchopper]

Costing a fortune, for me too, Togo!.
I've been buying a 2kg bag of peanuts each week from a local shop, but they are large and good quality nuts.
Thanks for the reminder, I must get some meal worms!
Happy bird watching....Chip

[Prudie]

So many more birds today than there was on the RSPB gardenwatch day, typical. Apart from the usual I have had 4 fieldfares and a mistle thrush which has been special. The birds are sliding around on the frozen snow.

[ladybirder]

Melv I am so jealous. What sort of area do you live in to attract all the birds you mention? Are you on/near farmland/woodland?

[Togo]

Must admit we have seen lots that we rarely see during this spell of cold weather. Including Chaffinches and Greenfinches. We have Nuthatches regularly and a pair of Woodpeckers that are a sight to see. A Heron even parked up in the nearby trees to see what the fuss was about, and on Tuesday I watched a dozen Crows mobbing a Buzzard that was looking for a target. At night if I am quiet I sometimes catch sight of a Barn Owl that sits watching for Mice.

[melv16]

Ladybirder. My house backs onto allotments, which in turn border a park.

[ladybirder]

Ah I see. Thank you. How lucky are you;-))

[Tilly2]

I buy sunflower seeds and premier wild bird seed from this supplier.

https://www.thecornmill.com/

20Kg bags of each...£38.00

Excellent service and two day delivery for which there's no charge.

[Chipchopper]

Never seen a fieldfair in my garden so far, although I did get a close look at one, just outside the care home that I was visiting today.
It was about 1m away on a pyracantha bush gorging on the berries.
I think when you can get that close, they are really desperate for food.

[Tilly2]

I love Fieldfares. I love the way they dart about on the ground.

Saw two beautiful goldcrests today, under the pine trees in the park.
That made my day!

[melv16]

Got over 50 fieldfares on the trees in the bottom of garden yesterday. Record count for back garden.

[Chipchopper]

I can actually say now that I've seen a fieldfare in my garden, beautiful markings when seen close up!
Very few berries around this year, so I'v been putting apples out for them.