Happy, happy day.

aestarte · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 09:10 AM

Firstly apologies for not being on line for ages, my computer is being an ass so I have had to give it a stern talking to. Now to my thread, what a fantastic day me and my partner had yesterday. We put out some different feed for the birds, we use a sycamore that is right near our house as a feeding station, any hoo within minutes we had the usual Shapwick posse of starlings attacking the fat balls and the robin but then we had the bluetits bring thier mates, two chaffinches came and stayed and to top our day off we had a long tailed tit come and stay for a while, I have never seen one before and he was a joy to see, fingers crossed now he knows where the food is he'll come back.

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 09:26 AM

Sounds like it was a great day. Long tailed tits often come in a big group, so if theres one there may be more around.

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 09:36 AM

VERY STRANGE. Just gone downstairs and happened to look into the back garden, and on and around the feeder's were around 9 Long tailed tits. Ive not seen them here since late summer.

sueb · #4 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 09:51 AM

I live in a groundfloor flat on the edge of a housing estate but I back on to woodlands. We have no gardens but areas of landscaping.There is a lovely cockspur thorn tree directly outside my living room window.Although I have lived here for almost 20 years I have never dared place a birdtable outside for fear of theft.But this year I asked my hubby to make one using bits and bobs,so it didn't really matter if it was trashed or stolen.We placed it next to the tree.However it has been here for about three weeks now.A couple of grey squirrels have tried to dismantle the fat ball container a few times,which has been quite amusing.I try to distract the squirrels by offering digestive biscuits,they have always been quite tame and come up to the window to beg.In all my years here I have never seen a nuthatch or a chaffinch and a pair of both of these birds are visiting regularly. Blackbirds usually only visit this area in a pair,but this year three pairs are feeding together beneath the table.
Infact I have never seen so may different species in this area.Everyday there are Robins,Blackbirds,coaltits ,bluetits,chaffinch,nuthatch.Greater Woodpecker,wood pigeon.What a joy,better than watching day time TV anytime.

aestarte · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 10:24 AM

absolutely, give me a window, garden and my tree and as for tv (what is that). Nature always rewards patience and a bit of hard work. We have also seen our first snowdrops and crocus' YAY spring is springing. Fi. X X X X

glsammy · #6 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

VERY STRANGE. Just gone downstairs and happened to look into the back garden, and on and around the feeder's were around 9 Long tailed tits. Ive not seen them here since late summer.

We had a few visit the feeders at Sherwood Forest last Monday, they normally wouldn't come anywhere near them. It was the same last year, they seem to be reluctant visitors, I suppose coming when their natural food supply starts to run down.

Dogghound · #7 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 01:15 PM

Lovely photo Graham. I often get them in the summer as well, the ones in this area never seem to be shy of bird feeders though.

dmclean2 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 05:52 PM

Nice photo Graham,
We had a little flock of 7 about 2 years ago , they used to come over the garden and would sometimes settle in the yew for about 5 mins then take off tweeting like they do, but sadly I havn't seen them since.
Duncan

wild flower · #9 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 05:56 PM

Beautiful birds! We recently had five feeding on the ground(!) around a fallen fat ball. Lovely little things.

Wild-Woman · #10 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 06:34 PM

I saw a group of about 6 LTT's in a local pub garden at lunchtime today. They seemed fairly at home with folk passing within a few feet of them.

tigger · #11 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 07:21 PM

It must be the day for long tailed tits... looked out the window this morning and there were 7 in the tree, looked out this afternoon and there they were again, and again just before it got dark... wonder if its the same ones flying round the country playing a weird mind game with all of us???