.jpg)
I have niger seed in one of the feeders in my own garden, it really encourages goldfinches, they can't get enough of it.
.jpg)
The sparrows don't usually get a look in with the fat balls in my garden, the starlings always get to them first and bully the other birds until they give up.
.jpg)
It wasn't long before there was a crowd beneath the feeders hoovering up all the dropped seed.
.jpg)
I think these are female pheasants, perhaps someone will let me know if I've got it wrong. We used to get pheasants in my parent's garden but it was always male ones we saw.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Male pheasants are much more colourful than the females, but I think the females are beautifully marked.
.jpg)
.jpg)
I'm now stocked up again with seed for my own little feathered friends, they don't half get through it, they cost me a fortune.
We stopped using Nigella seeds for the goldfinches. There was so much waste which used to sprout every where. Luckily they enjoy the sunflower hearts we put out instead. I agree with the starlings being bully's & gobbling all the fat balls.
ReplyDeleteI put sunflower hearts out too. It's funny how each species of bird has its own preference. The starlings only put in an appearance when there's fat balls or suet blocks hung out.
DeleteLovely photo's
ReplyDeleteThank you. We didn't stay long but I still managed to take loads of photos.
DeleteYes, female pheasants. We used to get them regularly in the garden in Scotland - and they'd drive the dog mad, as she could see them from her bed just inside the patio door! Haven't found our nearest RSPB reserve here in Herefordshire yet, but am delighted to have spotted a Jay in the garden the other day - beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine what Archie would be like if he saw a pheasant in the garden, he goes mad if he sees a pigeon. How lovely having Jays in the garden. I've seen them in the nearby woods but never in my garden.
DeleteIt's always good to watch birds on the feeders. I also think that they're female pheasants, and as you say have wonderful markings. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI love watching birds on my own feeders, it's like having a little soap opera in the garden the way they all bicker with one another. I think some people see brown birds as quite drab, starlings are a good example, but if you look close enough, they're usually very pretty.
DeleteThey look like Mrs P, so they must be pheasants!
ReplyDeleteThe pheasants which visited my mum and dad's garden never brought a mate with them, they must have been lonely.
DeleteYes, the wee birds go through a massive amount of seed and nuts. We got a new niger seed feeder this year so we're getting lots of goldfinches in the garden.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising just how much they go through. Goldfinches love niger seed, we never used to have them in the garden until I started putting it out.
DeleteOur goldfinches love sunflower hearts too as does everything else. The robins even perch on the feeder for them. We bought some of the fat cylinders with our voucher one with berries, one with insects and one with mealworms. As well as lots of female pheasants you managed to get some good shots of tree sparrows.
ReplyDeleteI put out black sunflowers for the greenfinches, they don't visit for anything else. I used my voucher for seeds and fat balls, the starlings haven't found the fat balls yet so the bluetits are making the most of it while they can.
DeleteThey are very busy feeders! I love watching the pheasants cleaning up after the little birds. My chickens, being helpful souls, always help with the clean-up operation. So selfless.... ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe feeders are always well used at the reserve. I bet your chickens wait eagerly for any dropped seeds, at least the area will stay clean and tidy.
DeleteI put some fat-balls out during early January, but so far they seem to have elicited very little interest. I find that most birds enjoy sunflower seeds, especially the finches.
ReplyDeleteThe fat balls and suet blocks I put out always go in no time at all, but I noticed my next door neighbours put out a suet block weeks ago and it hasn't been touched yet. I brought home the sunflower heads from the allotment and hung them out, the birds went mad for them as well as the ones I put in the feeders.
DeleteIt's wonderful to watch the birds on feeders isn't it. We were at Slimbridge on Saturday watching all sorts there. Although in one area the feeders have been taken down early as they have been overun with brown rats. Normally the feeders in that area are removed in March anyway to keep the area quiet for nesting kingfishers. The pheasants are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI love watching the birds, I could spend hours gazing out of the window at the feeders. I suppose that's the drawback to feeding the birds in those sort of areas, rats will appear if there's a good source of food for them.
DeleteGreat pictures of the birds! I am glad they are enjoying the fruits of your birdwatching labours! xx
ReplyDeleteIt was very cold to be stood around watching them at the weekend so I'm glad that I get plenty visiting my garden so that I can enjoy watching them in the warmth.
DeleteOh dear i forgot about the RSPB bird watch on Saturday . Its a good job people like you didn't . We do feed the birds though, but at times they have to compete with the squirrels....xx
ReplyDeleteWe're really lucky that we don't get squirrels at all in our garden, I know they can be a pain when you're trying to feed the birds as my mum and dad were plagued by them.
DeletePheasant visit your garden, we only see them on the fields near our house. We have greedy starlings that eat everything we put out and a robin and lots of sparrows. What colour wool did you choose for the Blackberry beanie? I'm on the last few rows of my sister's with two more to knit!
ReplyDeleteThese feeders are at the RSPB reserve, we don't get pheasants in our garden but my parents used to before they moved house. We're quite lucky though, we do get a decent selection of visiting birds. Eleanor chose a green wool for the beanie, I think it's called Basil. It will go well with her coat.
DeleteWe have been making our own feed this year to put out, along with the scraps we always put out on the bird table. We have used lard with a variety of fruit, nuts, meat, bread and seeds. They get eaten very quickly!
ReplyDeleteIt's a good idea to make your own bird food. I've been meaning to make my own fat blocks for some time now but still haven't got round to it.
DeleteBeautiful pictures. The birds love eating fat don't they, I can spend hours watching them.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
They all make a bid for the fat balls I hang out, but the starlings usually make a play for them too and then the rest miss out, they're such bullies.
DeleteHow lovely to see the birds being so spoilt during such a cold snap. I love gold finches too. These pics are lovely, I think your pheasants are juveniles....last springs chicks, how lovely to have them.xxx
ReplyDeleteThe feeders are always full at the reserve, they attract so many birds. It's funny that there were only female pheasants around, I wonder where all the males were.
DeleteThe pheasants have lovely markings. I wish we could encourage more varieties of birds into our garden. We've hung up all sorts of hanging feeders and have a bird table, but so far we still just get those that feed on the ground such as the blackbirds and the robins. They were clever at finding a coconut feeder full of seeds that had blown down in the wind and was half covered with snow.
ReplyDeleteIt's always the colourful birds which get the glory but I think birds such as these are really beautiful with their markings. I do quite well with the variety of birds in the garden, I hang out different types of food and each one seems to attract a different species. It does get expensive though as they're very greedy things.
DeleteCute birds! They are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWe have some really lovely birds. I enjoy watching them.
DeleteLovely place to go! I love watching birds and the one on the feeder is amazing! I have a feeder on my window and the hummingbirds come here and the others that I do not know their breeds.
ReplyDeleteSandra
I have a feeder on my window too. It was well used when I first put it there but I haven't noticed any birds on it all just lately until yesterday when a little bluetit kept coming and taking some suet pellets from it. It must be lovely to have hummingbirds around, they're amazing birds.
DeleteThey certainly look as if they were enjoying tucking in Jo and thanks for a timely reminder to add dried worms to tomorrow's shopping list :)
ReplyDeleteThe birds love dried worms, they can't get enough of them. I buy suet blocks with mealworms added, they're a favourite.
Delete