more visitors to my garden.

Georgie6 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 09:16 AM

For several years my garden has been home to many birds (nineteen different species to my knowledge have visited). Despite there being plenty of berries, and the nuts and seeds I put out myself, I have seen no blue-tits, gold-finch or nut-hatch for several months. Today they were all happily darting to and fro on their various foods. Maybe its the cold weather thats brought them in looking for breakfast. I live in rural Shropshire, and it is getting much cooler. Georgie6.

Jason Claxton · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 09:26 AM

Yes Georgie maybe they have been taking some other natural food such as caterpillars and other insects.Tits often form flocks at this time of the year,so you are more likely to see large numbers together now.I'm getting a mixture of tits with loads of Long-tailed Tits in the flocks

Wildlifegardener · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 05:26 PM

Wow it must be wonderful to have nutthatches

and long-tailed tits too.

I have an influx of greenfinches! Cold or miserable weather I find defintely brings the birds in. Shows how valuable gardens can be as a food source.

Happy watching

Georgie6 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 06:17 PM

In the past I have had greenfinches, but not lately. I find they are aggressive little blighters though. There are several perches and feeders for the birds but greenfinches spend more time chasing off other birds from the perches, than actually feeding themselves. Yes, I am lucky to have a single nut-hatch. About three years ago I had a pair, one was perched on the left of the feeder tree and the other to the right. As one left, the other flew in, and as the second left back came the first, and so on. To me, the most beautiful of my visitors is the greater spotted woodpecker. Did you know, when the young need to be fed, the male spends 13 hours daily feeding young, its only when the last youngster makes it to the feeder tree that the female puts in an appearance to help out.Georgie6.

Wildlifegardener · #5 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 12:15 PM

My parents get great spotted peckers. Yes they are handsome birds, though I didn't realise that the females pretty much abscond from baby duties! It would be lovely to have them. Will have to erect a few forests complete with decaying trees nearby first!!

I find that the clouds of h. sparrows we usually get keep most of the other birds away (apart from the usual pigs and starlings). Its only when theres one or two around that the coal tits and blue tits come down for food. I love the goldfinches, they seem to tolerate the sparrows (maybe its feeding on a different feeder) - I don't think I would get them if it wasn't for the trusty niger seed.

thebeard · #6 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 02:28 PM

i live in a very built up urban area, and hardly see any birds around here

. however, i've bought a feeder today so lets hope i get some action! i've only ever seen a magpie, a wood pigeon and a goldlfinch around here, it'll be interesting to see if anything takes an interest!

Georgie6 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 03:31 PM

I didn't make myself clear, sorry. The female doesn't abandon the young, she is presumably on "nest duty" or whatever its called, and is only available to carry out "tree Feeder" duty when about four have already started to feed themselves and she joins the last one to help teach it what to do. Thankyou for your interest. Georgie6.