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Was out sorting out the animals, so apologies no pics due to cleaning out the 2 dwarf rabbits + 2 g'pis. When I said to DS2 listen to that + there in the neighbours trees, birch + willow, were a wee family of long tailed tits twinkling away to one another. They didn't stay long + unfortunately by passed the feeders that were v near where they were, so will need to keep an eye open in the hope that they decide to use the feeders + visit more often. Any advice on how to encourage them to find our feeders, v v welcome!! Thrilled, smilling from ear to ear + chores taken longer due to going 'oh watch' etc!!
So chores complete, DS2 niped inside, it was v cold + had been snowing when we'd been at rugby earlier. I still wandered past the feeders I have hanging in the crab apple tree, to have a wee look at what was there, bluebonnet, coal tit, blackies, robin, goldies, chaffies + bramblings, when I spot what I hope was a siskin (oh I wish they would return!!) but no, not a siskin but a repeat visitor from when the snow was down, a wonderful wee male redpoll!! Dotting aroud in the tree + then having a good feed on the nyger seed!!
So I'd gone out to do one of those chores that sometimes I don't feel as compelled as I should to do + had the most wonderful birdy time,seen some extra special birds for my garden + been thrilled to see those that visit more often.
Wow, what a treat!!
'In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks' John Muir.
Excuse wobbily dyslexic spelling!
Not too sure about the best ways to encourage but there were about 4 on my feeder when the snow was bad, I have patio doors and the feeder is pretty much right next to them so it suprised me to see them so close, they didnt appear to like the food though it was a gardman suet block and they flew on tried a bit and then flew off again so I will be trying a different brand next time!! they havent been back since :(
I don't know what the answer is to getting long-tailed tits to come to your feeders. I suspect they will when they're hungry and maybe yours were just off to bed! I have had them on my feeders and I just use the RSPB feeder mix. My best view recently was in a car park just as I was getting out the car to go shopping - so no camera!
This pic dates back a couple of years - just managed to dig it out. Not as good as those in another post by rhodopsin but not bad for a small camera through double-glazing. I had to wait to refill the feeders!
All the best,
Alyson
Hi Osprey
Sounds like you had a good time and I'm sure it made you feel good. I not sure we can be sure what we do will work but we all keep trying to get it right. In December I had three new birds to my garden, the GS woodpecker, coal tits and with all the small birds around the last was a sparrowhawk sitting on the fence right next to the feeders just under the tree. Great sight but not sure I want him top visit too often.
Good luck....
Robert
In reply to Robert:
Hi Osprey I would recommend peanuts, My LTTS are here daily now 7-13 at a time on two hanging feeders
It's both what you do and the way that you do it!
You cannot fly like an eagle with the wings of a wren. William Henry Hudson (1841 - 1922)
What a nice end to the day for you and what a selection of great birds too, a lot of those I have never seen in my garden.
Shane
Regards Shane
My Photos in Flickr.
Awesome descritpion of the long-tailed tits ...as you say "twinkling away to each other"...and that is exactly what they do! Saw my first gaggle a week or so ago down here in West Sussex and what a wonderul noise they make- really lifts the heart and so your excitement on seeing them has reminded me what a great experience it was! Thanks for sharing.
In reply to Deleted User:
They have been on the peanuts in our garden but the suet cakes are the one they seem to go for here. Had five on there earlier today. They were on peanuts in my local pub this afternoon too though
Stoat
I'm not bald. I've just got ingrowing hair!
Thanks all for your kind replys, it was a lovely time, esp as it was so unexpected!! The light would have been bad due to the direction of the setting sun!!
Alyson good to see you here, saw some of your photos on the Saltholme group!! Shane thanks for the kind comments. Robert hoping that they will come back!! Ruby-Sue they are quite delightful + just hearing them makes you stop what ever you are doing esp cleaning out smelly rabbits!! Lol.
Would like to say how much I enjoy being part of this forum as (most of the time it's so friendly. I have found that my eye is not to far out + that I really love sharing my esperiences with you all. Need to get out more, sometimes a bit tricky with all the boys + what they are up too. DH has had a hard time, bad depression, for the last few months. He's been of work since end of Aug!! It has been so great to have somewhere to go that envolves something that I love as there have been times when I have felt burried under the rest of the family!! Thanks all you havereally added a really important etxtra dimension to my life, somewhere that I don't feel odd!!
Thanks for helping me 'resee' all the wonder of the world!! LTT's redpoll + Bluebonnets alike!!