'Twitching'

[Derculees]

Besides the tits, robins, and blackbirds that seem to be squabbling for territory our trimmed hawthorn hedge has a resident dozen sparrows.
A couple of dunnocks, a new, small number of starlings and a thrush that now calls briefly to the feeders. The small pond I have is filtered 24/7 and has'nt frozen as yet and the birds, including my 4 hens drink from it so much, I have to top it up, their drinker freezes up, nightly.

[Jogon]

Leafing thru a big coffee table RSPB Bird book last night (not mine)

Red Kite>
Eats carrion, rabbits, sheep
Catches birds up to size of crow, seagull with sudden attack

Magpie>
Eats carrion and food scraps
Summer eats bird eggs and chicks

[Defra regs prohibit farm carcasses being left around]

[Croggy1]

I see a pair of red kites flying around the house most days. Not many small birds for some reason ...

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/how.aspx

If you have an hour to spare this weekend, why not join in with the Big garden Birdwatch?

Quote:

Record the highest number of each bird species you see at the same time. Don't count the total over the hour as you may get the same birds visiting more than once. Also, please only count those birds that land within your garden - not flying over.

[chameleon]

Croggy1 wrote:

I see a pair of red kites flying around the house most days. Not many small birds for some reason ... http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/how.aspx If you have an hour to spare this weekend, why not join in with the Big garden Birdwatch? Quote: Record the highest number of each bird species you see at the same time. Don't count the total over the hour as you may get the same birds visiting more than once. Also, please only count those birds that land within your garden - not flying over.

KItes visit my area regularly, smaller birds seem to be fewer now the weather has improved(!!) slightly, though the bluetits are back today. Plenty of BBs, magpies, few crows, doves, only a rare pigeon visitor, surprisingly as the wood (a nice wood) to the rear is usually well inhabited. No thrushes this year - they have a preference for Holly Berries but they had gone by November. A pair of rather shy Jays come daily. No sparrows. Had Ivy on the side of the house which was always home to 20-30. Realised a while ago they'd not returned - can get rid of the blooming invasive ivy at last!

[majorhoundii]

WE rarely get any birds except a blackbird that appears to live here, magpies and starlings. I used to put it down to us having a cat, but we haven't had one for 6 years. We bought a bird feeding station at Christmas, fat balls, dried mealworms, and that Peckish stuff - nothing except starlings eating the mealworms. I don't understand it. We back on to allotments with trees. We spent about £20 on stuff for the birds -not even a sparrow. Just the blackbird, starlings, and a couple of magpies that ate all the brazil nuts when we dumped our Christmas nuts and haven't been back!    

[Si]

Trill fits the bill!

[chameleon]

Dinner has taken up residence in my garden

[Leodian]

chameleon wrote:

Dinner has taken up residence in my garden

Just for a moment I thought the white bit below the pheasant was a large white cat! Enjoy your pleasant pheasant dinner chameleon!     

[cnosni]

chameleon wrote:

Dinner has taken up residence in my garden

are you a pheasant Plucker?

[chameleon]

cnosni wrote:

chameleon wrote: Dinner has taken up residence in my garden are you a pheasant Plucker?

How did I know you'd come up with that one???