Wild Bird feeding forum?

fryup

anyone seen any fieldfare or redwings yet??

TopTec

Yep. Several smaller groups of Fieldfare's here in North Mayo, sometimes accompanied with starlings.

TT

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

We usually have large flocks of fieldfare and redwing from the first week in November but none so far this winter.

vistafinder

fryup wrote: »

anyone seen any fieldfare or redwings yet??

I have seen Redwings for about the last week while walking the dog. About 5 or 6. West Cork!

BoonDockMoo

Was going to get that Aldi bird feeding station but ending up getting the one in Heatons instead. It's shorter but still tall enough.

Only had a small bird feeding table in front garden and one fat ball feeder in the trees at the back of house for the last year, but this bird feeding station has got the whole household interested in birds. We are able to watch them from the couch, very entertaining. I'm feeding peanuts, suet cakes, fat balls and seeds on it so there are lots arriving for their all day buffet!

Bought our first bird book "The Birds of Ireland-A Field Guide" by Jim Wilson (will be the household Christmas present from Santa! It's pretty cool with between 8 and 15 photos of each bird type from different angles. Haven't a clue about birds really but loving the activity in the garden....plus I feel I'm re-paying the birds for the few possible relatives/ancestors the outside cat has killed over the years.

I wouldn't mind getting another feeding station but maybe that would cause more rows between the birds? They had quite a few scuffles for the first while but seem to all be getting on or tolerating each other a bit more now. I haven't a clue though!

Gran Hermano

It gets addictive seeing how you can attract different birds with different food combinations. Often has us running for that field guide. Wait til you're adding a go pro to the bird table and binoculars to the coffee table.

gzoladz

Gran Hermano wrote: »

It gets addictive seeing how you can attract different birds with different food combinations. Often has us running for that field guide. Wait til you're adding a go pro to the bird table and binoculars to the coffee table.

Tell me about it... I started with a few feeders in the 2010 freeze and now I go birding nearly every weekend, have 5 or 6 birding books, binoc always ready and this year I ended up getting a scope

BoonDockMoo

Ha! Funny you should say that, I had already started reading a thread about binoculars after posting in this one. That might be a birthday present for someone in the house next

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

gzoladz wrote: »

Tell me about it... I started with a few feeders in the 2010 freeze and now I go birding nearly every weekend, have 5 or 6 birding books, binoc always ready and this year I ended up getting a scope

You'd want to be careful. That's how I started. Fed and watched garden birds 60 years ago and birds went on to be a lifelong obsession. I was never a twitcher but spent every available hour birding. Then the other wildlife like mammals, insects, flowers etc creep in they become a fascination.
I still get my greatest satisfaction from the "common" garden birds though.

vistafinder

The Goldfinches and Robins have been doing some singing around the garden with the last few days. The Wren made a few attempts too. Great to hear it.

Mech1

Lots of birds visiting this morning, they must be freezin !

TopTec

Don't forget to put out some water for them....

TT

boomerang

Trying to find a crow-proof way to feed the robins and other ground feeders... Latest experiment is a large wire hanging basket, upside down on the ground and secured with tent pegs. Nice suet block waiting for them if they go in. I see the robins hovering around the hanging feeders so I feel bad for them.

I'm only feeding the birds for the first time this winter but I'm amazed at the variety of birds I've seen. They are all common species but me it's been a revelation seeing birds I never knew we had close-by, like goldfinches and greenfinches. We have a ton of house sparrows. I actually love them.

fryup

male blackcap doing his bully boy routine around our feeding table

SeaFields

I have a jay coming to the feeder for the last two weeks. I wonder how common they are in and around garden feeders? I've never seen one before in the garden.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

SeaFields wrote: »

I have a jay coming to the feeder for the last two weeks. I wonder how common they are in and around garden feeders? I've never seen one before in the garden.

They are quite uncommon at garden feeders! That is a great one to have.

SeaFields

Mack Clean Wall wrote: »

They are quite uncommon at garden feeders! That is a great one to have.

Would it be the reason why the numbers of the other main garden species have dropped considerably since?

I don't know how often it is there. Every now and again when I walk past the window he flies off. I can hear it the odd time too. I assume it is there more than I notice.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

SeaFields wrote: »

Would it be the reason why the numbers of the other main garden species have dropped considerably since?

I don't know how often it is there. Every now and again when I walk past the window he flies off. I can hear it the odd time too. I assume it is there more than I notice.

It shouldn't at this time of year; no more than a magpie or jackdaw would disturb other birds.

gzoladz

They are quite shy. The only one I have ever seen was in Cabinteely a few weeks ago, I was organizing my gear and there it landed to feed a few meters away of me. I was unprepared so shoot my camera immediately and the result was poor but by the time I was ready to take a proper photo it was gone.

Beautiful colours!

splish

A friend of mine has had a few visits from this Jay in the garden over the last few weeks.

fleabag

I love feeding my little feathered friends and since I moved into this house in late summer the number of visitors has quadrupled. But seriously why is bird food so expensive? It's bird food - the clue is in the name!! I usually try and buy a big sack for around €20 but they seem to have disappeared. In Maxizoo the last day they were charging €48.99 for a sack! And don't even get me started on those 'gourmet' bags. Feeding the birds should not be a 'lifestyle choice' but it's getting to be that way if you're any way on a budget :mad:

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I have to agree on the expense. I find it has now got to the point where I am rationing feed.

fleabag

Me too and I hate it. I try and save every crumb from the house to supplement the food as well. Even found myself eyeing up the layers pellets in Maxizoo the last day - €10.99 for a big sack ...

jake is right

fleabag wrote: »

I love feeding my little feathered friends and since I moved into this house in late summer the number of visitors has quadrupled. But seriously why is bird food so expensive? It's bird food - the clue is in the name!! I usually try and buy a big sack for around €20 but they seem to have disappeared. In Maxizoo the last day they were charging €48.99 for a sack! And don't even get me started on those 'gourmet' bags. Feeding the birds should not be a 'lifestyle choice' but it's getting to be that way if you're any way on a budget :mad:

What area are you living? I buy a large sack for about €17. Could PM you the source.

fleabag

jake is right wrote: »

What area are you living? I buy a large sack for about €17. Could PM you the source.

I'm in Co. Waterford, please PM, might be worth travelling for!

Gran Hermano

Check amazon uk, they often have specials.

magicbastarder

how big is the sack? i usually pay €20 to €25 for a 25kg sack.

jake is right

magicbastarder wrote: »

how big is the sack? i usually pay €20 to €25 for a 25kg sack.

A 20k. sack for €17.

jake is right

fleabag wrote: »

I'm in Co. Waterford, please PM, might be worth travelling for!

PM sent.

gzoladz

My feeders are very unpopular as I live in an apartment and have competition, so hardly ever get anything.

However, yesterday a magpie showed up. I know, it is a magpie, but after months of no visitors it was nice to see it.