In reply to Post #37
Agree Lolo Williams is a natural wildlife presenter, lovely part of the world where he is
Agree Lolo Williams is a natural wildlife presenter, lovely part of the world where he is
In reply to Post #46
Ive got to say I was a bit sad to see that one of the Blue Tits succumbed, only two fledged. I built a bird house a good few years ago now and actually managed to get Blue Tits nesting there for a few years running, ive opened it up a couple of times over the years and found unhatched eggs in there occasionally, anyway this year it was looking a bit tatty and its the second year I haven't seen the Tits return, i'm told they usually come back and use the same nest often, so I opened it up and there was so much nesting material there was barely any space for a bird to fly into, loads of moss but some unnatural material like some form of plastic strands which is a bit sad, I would have thought the Tits would be able to tell the difference, there wasn't a lot of it but mainly moss and some unhatched eggs again, anyway ive given it a complete makeover, new roof etc...fingers crossed I get them back next year
Door mice on Springwatch tonite,, now that's got to be the cutest little creature there is
Ive got to say I was a bit sad to see that one of the Blue Tits succumbed, only two fledged. I built a bird house a good few years ago now and actually managed to get Blue Tits nesting there for a few years running, ive opened it up a couple of times over the years and found unhatched eggs in there occasionally, anyway this year it was looking a bit tatty and its the second year I haven't seen the Tits return, i'm told they usually come back and use the same nest often, so I opened it up and there was so much nesting material there was barely any space for a bird to fly into, loads of moss but some unnatural material like some form of plastic strands which is a bit sad, I would have thought the Tits would be able to tell the difference, there wasn't a lot of it but mainly moss and some unhatched eggs again, anyway ive given it a complete makeover, new roof etc...fingers crossed I get them back next year
Door mice on Springwatch tonite,, now that's got to be the cutest little creature there is
The blue tit's have fledged the "lockdown box " i built for them , they just have to avoid being eaten by the numerous cat's that hunt in my garden , is this what catapults were made for ?
In reply to Post #48
I think that's why they lay so many eggs, up to ten because the survival rate is low, cats are a big problem in urban areas for fledging birds as they often cant fly straight away and drop to the ground, in all the years I had them nesting ive never seen them fledge
, would love to see that, ive often seen both parents coming and going with food and been close to the box and heard them squeaking, probably thinking I was an arriving parent with food!
I was thinking of putting a camera in there but decided not to bother and leave them to it
Great to hear you had them nesting this year Spanker
I think that's why they lay so many eggs, up to ten because the survival rate is low, cats are a big problem in urban areas for fledging birds as they often cant fly straight away and drop to the ground, in all the years I had them nesting ive never seen them fledge
, would love to see that, ive often seen both parents coming and going with food and been close to the box and heard them squeaking, probably thinking I was an arriving parent with food!I was thinking of putting a camera in there but decided not to bother and leave them to it
Great to hear you had them nesting this year Spanker
In reply to Post #47
Sounds like there's not enough food around after the bird's have laid eggs and are abandoning the nest mate.
Sounds like there's not enough food around after the bird's have laid eggs and are abandoning the nest mate.
In reply to Post #50
No,the few eggs ive found in there over the years have been the odd one or two that just haven't hatched, I think the problem was like I said the box had gotten tatty and it was crammed full of nesting material, I fitted a small perch at the entrance hole and another one inside through the middle of the box to make it easier for them to hop in and out, probably not necessary when I see films of them on programmes like Springwatch they never have anything like that but it never seemed to do any harm, I still see Blue Tits about in the garden, I have an old gnarly apple tree that they seem to like, I think there are lots of bugs on it and they go for the fresh buds as well, lots of gardens near me and ive seen them coming and going bringing meal worm probably from a neighbours garden, I put feeders out with it in, a long way away from the nest as they say you shouldn't site a bird box too near a food source or they wont use it, anyway the Starlings muller it in no time, the meal worm that is
No,the few eggs ive found in there over the years have been the odd one or two that just haven't hatched, I think the problem was like I said the box had gotten tatty and it was crammed full of nesting material, I fitted a small perch at the entrance hole and another one inside through the middle of the box to make it easier for them to hop in and out, probably not necessary when I see films of them on programmes like Springwatch they never have anything like that but it never seemed to do any harm, I still see Blue Tits about in the garden, I have an old gnarly apple tree that they seem to like, I think there are lots of bugs on it and they go for the fresh buds as well, lots of gardens near me and ive seen them coming and going bringing meal worm probably from a neighbours garden, I put feeders out with it in, a long way away from the nest as they say you shouldn't site a bird box too near a food source or they wont use it, anyway the Starlings muller it in no time, the meal worm that is
In reply to Post #51
See what you mean
Wouldn't put a standing peg on the outside, other unwanted bird's can use it for predation mate.
See what you mean
Wouldn't put a standing peg on the outside, other unwanted bird's can use it for predation mate.
In reply to Post #52
yeah true, it would make it easier for predators i guess, whenever I used to watch the Tits coming and going they always used it before hopping through the hole, I have placed the box on its own and not near any high bushes apart from a small lilac tree that they also used a lot to hop onto before they would go in the box but I made sure I never put any feeders near it, like I say its pristine and clean now so hopefully next year, got to do all we can for the little birds, i do get a lot of Gold finches feeding as well, love them
Its funny but when I was a kid in East London, Sparrows were almost as common as pidgeons back then, i'm talking fifty years ago, nowadays even little Sparrows are quite rare, in the suburbs at least, but all little birds had a bad time of it through the advent of pesticides being used more and more in farming, thankfully some have recovered in recent years with a lot more knowledge now
yeah true, it would make it easier for predators i guess, whenever I used to watch the Tits coming and going they always used it before hopping through the hole, I have placed the box on its own and not near any high bushes apart from a small lilac tree that they also used a lot to hop onto before they would go in the box but I made sure I never put any feeders near it, like I say its pristine and clean now so hopefully next year, got to do all we can for the little birds, i do get a lot of Gold finches feeding as well, love them
Its funny but when I was a kid in East London, Sparrows were almost as common as pidgeons back then, i'm talking fifty years ago, nowadays even little Sparrows are quite rare, in the suburbs at least, but all little birds had a bad time of it through the advent of pesticides being used more and more in farming, thankfully some have recovered in recent years with a lot more knowledge now
In reply to Post #53
If you like the small bird's try a couple of small feeder's attached to a spindly branch that can just about hold the weight
It's incredible the change in bird numbers and species in the last couple of decades. 
If you like the small bird's try a couple of small feeder's attached to a spindly branch that can just about hold the weight
It's incredible the change in bird numbers and species in the last couple of decades.
In reply to Post #54
Ive got a few feeders dotted about the garden, niger seed feeders are great for the Gold Finches as the squirrels leave them alone, ive got standard seed feeders and suet ball feeders as well they occasionally get pestered by all sorts, Starlings, green Parakeets and clever pidgeons even and squirrels but i'm not too bothered, they all have to survive as long as they all get their share its a pleasure to watch the wildlife, theyre all kept well away from the bird house
Ive got a few feeders dotted about the garden, niger seed feeders are great for the Gold Finches as the squirrels leave them alone, ive got standard seed feeders and suet ball feeders as well they occasionally get pestered by all sorts, Starlings, green Parakeets and clever pidgeons even and squirrels but i'm not too bothered, they all have to survive as long as they all get their share its a pleasure to watch the wildlife, theyre all kept well away from the bird house
In reply to Post #50
Cats have a massive impact, there's a few near me, not to mention ****ting in the garden
Lot of fledglings around me, big family of thrushes, absolutely hammering the snails in garden!
Collard doves, Goldfinches, blackbirds, blue tits and even the sparrows are making a comeback and have all fledged. Saying that, I do get the odd sparrow hawk, bang, cloud of feathers, gone
No sign of any swallows though around me as yet, guess it's not going to happen?
I put some new feeders up this year, they have hammered the seed up to late
Cats have a massive impact, there's a few near me, not to mention ****ting in the garden
Lot of fledglings around me, big family of thrushes, absolutely hammering the snails in garden!
Collard doves, Goldfinches, blackbirds, blue tits and even the sparrows are making a comeback and have all fledged. Saying that, I do get the odd sparrow hawk, bang, cloud of feathers, gone
No sign of any swallows though around me as yet, guess it's not going to happen?
I put some new feeders up this year, they have hammered the seed up to late
Last Springwatch
I have spent quite a lot of time watching grebes over the years. Anybody see the discussions about their eggs being able to cope with water? Fascinating really
Brilliant programme with some stunning photography
Lolo Williams like already mentioned, brilliant. Hope he gets the leading role
I like Gordon B too
I have spent quite a lot of time watching grebes over the years. Anybody see the discussions about their eggs being able to cope with water? Fascinating really
Brilliant programme with some stunning photography
Lolo Williams like already mentioned, brilliant. Hope he gets the leading role
I like Gordon B too
In reply to Post #56
I've seen a couple of groups of Swallow's last few days. Don't know if they've arrived too late to breed though. I believe they come all the way up from South Africa so not surprised they get delayed sometimes!
I've seen a couple of groups of Swallow's last few days. Don't know if they've arrived too late to breed though. I believe they come all the way up from South Africa so not surprised they get delayed sometimes!
I was out yesterday for a quiet day session feeder fishing for anything.
Loads of little swallows / swifts - not sure which - were swooping down and taking flies off the water. They were ace and definitely more successful than I was all afternoon!
Loads of little swallows / swifts - not sure which - were swooping down and taking flies off the water. They were ace and definitely more successful than I was all afternoon!
I was watching the adult pair of peregrines this morning with no young ones present, is this a bad sign? In previous years I haven't seen both until they have the chicks with them