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Original poster

Watching birds (and other wildlife) in the garden

279 replies

FleetwoodRaincoat · 02/04/2021 18:53

Not sure if this is the right place to post but I couldn't see a wildlife thread anywhere.

I've been really enjoying watching birds in our garden over the past year. I've put up several feeders, a bird box, built a little wildlife pond etc.

For the past few days I've been watching a pair of blue tits going in and out of the nest box. At the moment they seem to be going in then throwing stuff out, rather than building a nest.

Anyone else interested in what's going on in their garden?

OP posts:
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Cowbells · 30/04/2021 07:42

@FleetwoodRaincoat

Not sure if this is the right place to post but I couldn't see a wildlife thread anywhere.

I've been really enjoying watching birds in our garden over the past year. I've put up several feeders, a bird box, built a little wildlife pond etc.

For the past few days I've been watching a pair of blue tits going in and out of the nest box. At the moment they seem to be going in then throwing stuff out, rather than building a nest.

Anyone else interested in what's going on in their garden?

Thank you for starting this thread.

Watching garden birds is one of my favourite things in the world. It makes me so happy. We have nut, seed and fat ball feeders to attract a wide variety but have never put up a nest box. Your description of the blue tits is lovely. I want a nest box now!

We live near woodland so we get great variety - green and lesser spotted woodpeckers, loads of blue tits and great tits. Had a couple of very cute chaffinches picking seeds out of some seed heads in the border the other day. And nuthatches, which I love.

There's been a big bust up between one of our resident squirrels and a crow. The squirrel comes hurtling out of the tree to see the crow off and the crow fluffs its feathers to double its size before flying away. Been going on for two days now!

Silverparting · 30/04/2021 07:59

I love it.
We aren't rural, so tend to get the standard garden birds.

This week, a mob of starlings have decided to descend. My poor Robin was ousted from the feeder.

Over winter we had a lone yellow Wagtail visit every day, but then one day, after a really snowy day, it stopped. I hope it is OK wherever it is! That Wagtail gave me so much joy. I took some videos and they make me smile.

Squirrels wreck my feeders, yet the birds don't seem to like the cage type feeders.

MereDintofPandiculation · 30/04/2021 11:44

Over winter we had a lone yellow Wagtail That's a real rarity! We occasionally a grey wagtail, which has a bright yellow tummy and a grey back - still be a good sighting for an urban garden.

Silverparting · 30/04/2021 14:11

Ah sorry, it was a grey wagtail, just rechecked! I managed to capture it in all its bobbing beauty on video.

At the time, I'd put out a long tray for plant pots, filled with water. The wagtail loved that, especially when everything was frozen and I kept topping it up. It would visit several times a day and was very confident. I really miss my little Lucy as I named it.

Original poster
FleetwoodRaincoat · 30/04/2021 14:20

@popgoesperfection I've added different types of feeders over the past few months and only had sparrows (and wood pigeons picking up the crumbs!) but slowly different birds are finding them.

For the first time today I've had a pair of goldfinches on the feeder with sunflower hearts in it (a plastic feeder with perches that stick out on both sides at the bottom). Also had blue tits eating from the peanut feeder (mesh one with perches at the bottom) and a half-cocount filled with suet, sparrows eating mixed seed from a really tall feeder that has two lots of holes in, at the bottom and half-way up. I also have a sort of bird table (DH made it Grin) on which I put crumbs etc and they get picked up by the jackdaws, pigeons and seagulls.

I throw sultanas onto the lawn and patio, which the blackbirds eat too. So I think if you have a mix of foods and types of feeder then you will gradually attract different types of birds.

My mum was telling me that they had a pair of bull finches in their garden for the first time this week and they've been putting food out for years!

OP posts:
Original poster
FleetwoodRaincoat · 30/04/2021 14:25

For those who put out mealworms, are these dried ones or live?

@LargeInCharge I've always thought those window feeders didn't work - would love to get one of them. What kind do you have?

OP posts:
InMySpareTime · 30/04/2021 15:56

My new bird box has resident blue tits!

Watching birds (and other wildlife) in the garden
Thirstquenching · 30/04/2021 19:30

AnnieHooo I've had the bird house about 4 years. No interest the first year, then a year with chicks. Last year the honey bees got there first and used it for the summer. This year a pair of tits have been going in and out alot in the past two weeks with building material in their beaks, so fingers crossed!

Cavagirl · 30/04/2021 19:31

Fleetwood I put out dry ones, you're supposed to soak them for 20 mins or so first as otherwise they are too dry and the birds get thirsty apparently.
They are very popular with both the robins and magpies here!

Thirstquenching · 02/05/2021 12:03

They have laid eggs!! Can't see exactly how many cause they are hidden within the nest but I'm so excited now!!Grin

Cavagirl · 02/05/2021 12:19

Thirst that's so exciting!!!
Dumb question - how do you know??? There's definitely increasing activity in and around our blue tit box but I don't know if they're still building or if they have babies yet. I've stood underneath (it's pretty high up) to listen out for little tweets but nothing yet....otherwise not sure how I'd know?? Is it just frequency of visits to the box?

Catname · 02/05/2021 12:21

Fleetwood we put out dried mealworms. I don't think I could be doing with live ones Envy

I was unable to sleep this morning so came down at 5.30am to watch the birds. One of the Jay's came to the feeder but was put off by the squirrels. He did hop around on the ground, which was unusual for him.

Just now, we've seen one being chased around the garden by a Magpie - presumably territory squabbles? Then the same Jay, or its partner, came to the peanut feeder and swallowed 17 peanuts. A quick google reveals they were putting them into a pouch under their mouth. Never knew that.

The vixens could do with one of those. They are now running away with food, presumably for their cubs. The oldest litter were born 15 March so hoping they make an appearance shortly.

Thirstquenching · 02/05/2021 18:12

Cavagirl the lid lifts slightly so just waited till seen both birds leave the garden and just put my phone camera up to the gap and took a quick snap. Birds were none the wiser and weren't the last year we had chicks ( photo from the last time we had chicks)

Watching birds (and other wildlife) in the garden
popgoesperfection · 02/05/2021 19:45

I shall continue to wait patiently then @FleetwoodRaincoat Smile something must be visiting because the seed on the bird table has gone every morning !!!

Kentuki · 02/05/2021 21:20

It is so sad when magpies get a nest but most birds who get their brood eaten are inexperienced parents, they learn and can have another brood this season. Magpies numbers are declining though.

Kentuki · 02/05/2021 21:20

If it goes overnight it will be mice (or rats).

Squiz81 · 03/05/2021 11:44

I’m jealous of those with full nest boxes, our remain empty. Although the squirrel is using one to cache monkey nuts!

I put the wildlife camera out Saturday night and was shocked to see badgers in our garden! It’s got in via a hole in our fence the previous owners made for their cat. But we live in the middle of a residential area, it must have had quite a trek in. I left it some sandwiches last night. I don’t want it being hungry and eating the hedgehogs!

Watching birds (and other wildlife) in the garden
Squiz81 · 03/05/2021 11:46

I should add I left the sandwiches on that log out of reach of the hedgehog as they shouldn’t have bread

TonTonMacoute · 03/05/2021 12:20

Magpies numbers are declining though.

Not in my garden unfortunately.

I do feel so torn about them, they are beautiful highly intelligent birds, but fierce predators. Last year we had a family of seven or eight. I once heard the most terrible noise, and went out to see all of them attacking a young blackbird with its father. Having said that, we have a wonderful variety of birds who visit in great numbers - attracted by the quite ridiculous amount of food I put out for them Grin.

I also get very excited about creepy crawlies too, an interest I know not everyone shares! I found a beautiful oil beetle the other day, very handsome shining in the sun.

hedgehogger1 · 03/05/2021 13:30

We have starlings in our roof every year. If we are in the garden they squawk at you, you have to look away before they'll go in the nest. If you look at them they fly it. Would help if they realised they could just go in quietly

Iceniii · 03/05/2021 15:47

Just had a bird of prey, guessing kestral on the fence with a baby bird. Looked like pulling feathers out. Disturbed it and baby bird flew into our shrubs. Can't see an injured one. Both Robin babies look fine but no sign of the others.

Iceniii · 03/05/2021 15:48

TonTon been hoping for stag beetles and slow worms. We do get dragon flies, frogs and found a newt last year!

Thirstquenching · 03/05/2021 16:11

Been watching through bird box today. There has only been one bird going in and out and I'm sure I sent it with a bug in its beak so hoping Mum bird is sitting on the eggs and thats Dad feeding her 🤞

Thirstquenching · 03/05/2021 16:12

Excuse the spelling!

Iceniii · 03/05/2021 16:39

Been back and taken another baby. Wasn't even scared at me. I got less than a metre away. Sparrowhawk.

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