We've been inundated with reports of unusual garden visitors since the snow arrived. The ice, snow and general wintry weather that has finally arrived has covered much of the countryside making many natural food resources such as worms and seed on the ground impossible to reach. So what is a hungry bird to do when this happens? Well they either sit it out and make do with what they can access or they move. Many of the birds that have been reported from gardens are those that can make use the plants that we use, the most common reports we are getting are of redwings and fieldfares descending on berry trees or where wind fall apples are still on the ground.
The list of berry and fruiting trees, shrubs and climbers that can be planted to attract them is long but some of the best include ivy, hawthorn, pyracantha, cotoneaster, crab apple, pear and holly. Ivy is one of the latest plants to produce ripe berries so it is a really important food source for many birds during periods of harsh weather in late winter as many of the other berries are long gone. What berries are they eating in your garden?
Some of the more unusual winter visitors to have turned up in gardens include woodcocks, kingfishers, bramblings, grey herons and even a couple of bitterns! We urge anyone with an interesting sighting of an unusual garden visitor to report it via Birdtrack.
Whilst all of this winter weather is going on, some species like the collared dove, robin and blackbirds have already raised young this year. The rooks, grey herons and mallards that usually start nesting early will have a tough start to their breeding season.