Feeding the birds

[gardenwatcher]

I have put up 4 fat balls in a wire holder . This is the first time I have fed the birds. I am suprised to see Robin feeding, RHS magazine quotes they only eat insects.
I want to get a picture of a black woodpecker I have seen a few times, and they like fat balls so Im told.

[Za]

Hi Gardenwatcher, your woodpecker will probably be a Great Spotted Woodpecker, I have seen them at feeders several times and they are well adapted to hanging on to feeders so hopefully you will get some nice shots.
Za

[Harold Smith]

Hallo Gardenwatcher,

Robins are mainly insect eaters, particularly in the spring and summer. However, when autumn and winter arrives they become quite omniverous and will eat anything to 'beak'. My garden Robins eat seed from the feeders and fat from the fat balls. They are also partial to suet sprinkles. What they get excited about the most is when I put out dried mealworms. I throw a couple of handfuls under the shrubs against my garden fence and several handfuls on the lawn. This gives the Robins and Dunnocks a chance for a good feed before the Starlings muscle in. Within a few minutes of putting the mealworms on the lawn this morning I had over seventy Starlings tucking in.

I also have a Grey Wagtail that visits nearly everyday eating the mealworms.

With any luck you may get a Great Spotted Woodpecker visiting. I hang fat cake from the feeder pole and have a female GSW come and feast on it nearly everyday.

Harold.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by gardenwatcher

I want to get a picture of a black woodpecker I have seen a few times.

As others have said, black woodpeckers are not native to Britain and are extremely rare vagrants over here. More likely a greater spotted woodpecker, these birds do visit feeding stations particularly during hard weather. However your proximity to tree cover wil influence how often they come.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

As others have said, black woodpeckers are not native to Britain and are extremely rare vagrants over here. More likely a greater spotted woodpecker, these birds do visit feeding stations particularly during hard weather. However your proximity to tree cover wil influence how often they come.

I'm pretty sure there's never been an accepted record of a Black Woodpecker over here, though they have certainly been some claims. It is expanding on the near continent so who knows for the future.

[burhinus]

I think they had a Black Woodpecker in Ambridge a few years back!! But that was the only one.