In reply to simonali:

simonali said:
Mike, I literally can't recall the last time I saw a starling. They seem to be very rare round these parts.

Starlings are still quite scarce in many places.

I wouldn't say we have that large number, but summertime, seeing close on 20 or so in our (very urban) garden isn't a rare thing the last three or four years.

Mike

Flickr Peak Rambler

I have snapped an averagely good photo of the mystery visitor. I'm pretty sure it's a female blackcap?

Found this funny pic of a moulting blackbird on the camera. Beak is a bit yellow...

In reply to simonali:

Yes I would agree, female Blackcap, a lovely visitor to get, have not had one of those in my garden. A lovely looking Blackbird in moult, looks like she has one of those frilly skirts on about to do a dance!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Mine was covered in Jackdaws the other day, Five fat balls were gone within two hours. I could see the sparrows and tits in the trees and hedges watching, waiting for the Jackdaws to go.

I know... birds are birds... but is there a way to stop the Jackdaws and Magpies ravaging all the food I put out whilst the smaller one's look on?

In reply to Dingledoodie:

Try using a guardian feeder, it has a cage around the outside with gaps too small for starling sized or larger. RsPB shop has them, as do various online retailers

Apologies for the revival. After a fair few months with next to no feathered visitors things have been hotting up again recently. Have spotted a male blackcap in the last few weeks but the female never seemed to reappear. Also had most of the tit family including a pack of long tailed ones, although they've not been back for a few days. Have had a greenfinch or two, as well. These seem to feed quite slowly and sit on the seed feeder for minutes at a time. I never did get that superzoom camera, though!

In reply to simonali:

You know they'll all disappear again for the weekend, as it's Gardenwatch again

In typical fashion and the opposite of what you just said, all the birds I just said hadn't been around suddenly appeared! The male blackcap was just joined by a female and the long tailed tits reappeared.

There are sparrows on all of the feeders and they drop stuff constantly. There is a dunnock, a robin and a juvenile blackbird picking up the bits they drop and I just spotted a mouse grabbing something for lunch too.

In reply to simonali:

Sound like a perfect garden party to me although I doubt very much its a juvenile Blackbird at this time if year...perhaps its a female? Enjoy all your visitors;-)

(Pardon the Scottish Accent)

Fat ball feeder visitors