We had a very heavy frost last night. I knew it was coming so took all my feeders indoors overnight to stop them freezing up. This morning I had dozens of birds waiting for me. I rushed out to replace them all, still in my dressing gown and slippers, and scattered food on the ground for the ground feeding birds. I was rewarded with them all coming for breakfast. Poor little things must have been so hungry. The ground is solid, like rock. I also had to pour tepid water on the bird baths, which were frozen solid all the way down. And all this before my own cuppa and still in slippers!! What a saint!!
Cheers, Linda.
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Defintely a saint. I completely forgot about my bird feeders this morning! Too busy trying to get the car defrosted for the family to go off to school/work. The frost is only just beginning to clear here now but it is still very cold! I had better go and sort the bird feeders out since you've reminded me. Thanks!
Happy snapping!
Welcome to the forum Wildshots. I see you are also a Lancashire Lassie.
My saintly actions this morning rewarded me with dozens of birds all morning. My song thrush came back, also a flock of very tuneful starlings, the usual clan of sparrows, dunnocks, more coal tits than normal, 2 robins, Mr and Mrs Blackbird, 4 blackheaded gulls on the shed roof, some fat and healthy looking jackdaws, and various others. Alas, no blackcap and no goldfinches so far. This is an attempt at capturing one of my jackdaws. I told you I am hopeless with a camera!
Sparrow, those birds are blessed to have you looking after them so well. Your photograph is quite appropriate with the blue cast on it. The poor bird was just blue with the cold!
I have replenished my feeder tables five times so far today - and the birds haven't stopped yet. I only had a new delivery of food for them this morning - at this rate I'll be ordering another batch tomorrow!
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
I have been much the same with the feeders today. This is the first winter I have been doing this - is it normal, or is it because we had such a very heavy frost last night? During this morning the garden was absolutely full of birds of all dimensions and descriptions, it was quite weird. I even had a starling eating from a long peanut feeder, clinging on for dear life and making it swing like something on a fun fair! if it continues like this I will be spending more on the birds than my family!
Brenda - thanks for the comment, and thanks for not being too unkind about my photo!!
Hello and yes, I'm a Lancashire girl too but I'm amazed at the range of birds that you are attracting to your garden. What am I doing wrong I wonder? The most we get here are starlings (and lots of them), robins, wrens, goldfinches, blue-tits (although not at this time of the year), and plenty of greenfinches. Never had a black-cap though. If your bird is feeling blue I was too this afternoon! For some strange reason my central heating didn't come on. Fingers crossed it seems ok at the moment. I've just received the 'Adverse Weather Policy' from my son's school - doesn't bode well does it!
Hello Wildshots
No need to be amazed at the range of birds I have in my garden. Wait till you read some of the other posts and see the photos. It makes mine look very pathetic. I only started feeding and watching the birds in May and it took ages to get anything beyond house sparrows, starlings, jackdaws and a pair of collared doves. Everyone on the forum kept telling me to be patient and put out the right sorts of food in the right places. It is only now beginning to happen. I had one blackcap the other day, first one ever, and not been back! I only have a couple of blue tits and a few coal tits, and no finches apart from 5 goldies who appeared from nowhere last week and now visit every day (except today).
Poor you without central heating on a day like today. What you needed were some fat balls for lunch and feathers!!
Wow, would you look at the Claws on that Bird.!
I like the way it has tilted it's head, wonder what it's got it's beady eye on..?
Susan H said: Welcome to the forum Wildshots. I see you are also a Lancashire Lassie. My saintly actions this morning rewarded me with dozens of birds all morning. My song thrush came back, also a flock of very tuneful starlings, the usual clan of sparrows, dunnocks, more coal tits than normal, 2 robins, Mr and Mrs Blackbird, 4 blackheaded gulls on the shed roof, some fat and healthy looking jackdaws, and various others. Alas, no blackcap and no goldfinches so far. This is an attempt at capturing one of my jackdaws. I told you I am hopeless with a camera!
I guess this is what happens somtimes if you let your feeders freeze, then pick them roughly up to fill them. :-(
Here is my frosty effort for the day.
Good grief Juno, have never seen that before. We have frosts but not to the point the feeders freeze but we live near the sea so don't get it as hard as some although I did have to chisel off the ice from my car this morning.
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/