Have enjoyed looking at the other posts with tours of peoples garden so thought I would add my own as they are today. It has been steadily drizzling all day but regulars have all popped in at some point.
Today however for the first time both a goldfinch and a sparrow have flown into the net around the trampoline. This has never happened before and I am hoping my children will not protest too much to me getting rid of it after this summer. I want to plant more trees and shrubs in this frankly dismal and bare area of the garden.
This is the Sparrows area. They seem to be loving the new position of these feeders and visit several times a day in groups of about 8 -15. The suet feeder was a favourite if the bluetits, but they have not touched it for about a week in favour of seeds.
The dunnocks and robins clean up under the feeders.
The table and ground feeder are used mainly bu pigeons, starlings, doves and magpies with the occasional visit from Blackbirds and Robins
This pole is a new addition since the arrival of goldfinches. There are only two most days, but there have been three. The blutits now use this as well for the sunflower hearts. (and sometimes a starling). The strange bamboo poles are constructed to stop my dog charging over the top of the small shrubs i planted in the autumn.
This is the current position of my guardian feeder, but it's still mainly starlings and pigeons trying to get at the contents.
This is a previoulsy unloved area which I am hoping the pyrachantus will grow up and cover the fence. There box has been visited several times so am hoping for occupation. The ground feeder is used by wood pigeons when the feral pigeons are on the other one. There is on on it as I type as he seems to prefer this location.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
Hi Sarah
The birds are definitely well catered for in your garden, although I think your gaurdian feeder is too in the open and too low down for the shy blue tits etc. Might be better next to your conifer. As you get more birds you will find the net a bit of a trap to them when they are in breeding mode, they should sell them with a cover like the garden furniture - that would solve it. On second thoughts you would need a pair of steps to reach it !!
Do you find the children take a greater interest in the birds now they are visiting regularly ?
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Hi Bramble,
Thank you for your brilliant tour of your feeders. Your weather looks much like ours today - quite heavy rain. You have a good selection of goodies for your birds.
I love your bird table. Mine is beginning to look a bit scruffy. I am surprised your starlings don't use the fat cake holder in your sparrows corner. I have one the same, and it is always covered in starlings or jackdaws! I
Can you remove the netting from the trampoline until the summer when the children want to use it again? Or failing that, maybe stick some plastic windmill type bird scarers or other stickers in the netting to stop them flying in it?
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Nice tour of your garden.I think the Pyracantha will look good when it grows up the fence.I have just planted some new shrubs and added some pansies etc for some spring colour.I like both your bird baths especially the small one, that is what I am looking for at the moment,there doesn't appear to be many around. I use the large plant pot saucers as bird baths.
Littleowl
Thank you for your comments.
Yes I suppose I could take the net down, but the kids us it in the cold weather too and if they fell off I would never forgive myself. Perhaps the windmill things would be a better option.
Sparrow both the starlings and the bluetits were getting through one of these suet cakes a week, but this one (the same variety) has hardly been touched
My children are 14 and 17 but both interested in wildlife and the my daughter the envirmonment particulary ( she is hoping to study envirmonmental scince and uni and is then off the save the world!!!) they are able to identify most common garden visitors and particulary enjoy my mums garden whcih offers a much wider variety.
I will try to guardian feeder in a more sheltered location, perhaps hang it from the pole under the nyger seed.
Sarah
Hi Sarah, thanks for the tour of your garden. I tend to agree about the height of the guardian feeder as, where it is at the moment, it is neither high or low. If you can get it so that the base is roughly 4' off the floor then the small birds may feel more confident about using it. I am interested in your nest box siting. How high is that off the ground please? I ask as I have some nest boxes but they have never been put up because I was told 3 metres (9 feet) off the ground and that is way too high for me to get them down and clean them out etc. Yours looks as though you can reach it without even a pair of steps, never mind a ladder (or even a cherry picker!!!!!!) - which is what I would ideally like.
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!
Hi squirrel.
My nest box is on my garage which is a single story and is the only place really i could site one. It may well be lower than recommended, but there are no predators that can get to it. ( My dog keeps all cats away)
I think it is about 5'6". My height from the ground as this was where the hole was in the garage was already and I don't know how to use a drill (or have one for that matter)
Several blue tits have been in an out of it during the winter so I am hopeful of occupation.
Am not too sure why they have to be higher, if it's preference or necessary. Perhaps someone could answer that?
Many thanks Sarah, I could cope with 5 to 6 feet so I shall give it a go and see what happens. After all, I am not likely to get any birds nesting in the boxes while they are in my front room so it's a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained as I can put mine where no predators can get at them. Well, not without going through me first!!!
Go for it Squirrel
Good luck.
Hi Bramble
Love the picture of your garden and you bird feeders. Gives a feeling of what you have in your garden area
Your first picture of your square feeder - yes I have one but I use it to place 4 Tesco Scones instead of the fat square, and the Starlings love that. The feeder hanging from mid-air is better than the scones crumpled up on the floor area.
Love the fact you have two bird baths for the price of one. Never thought of doing that at all. The birds have more choice.
How tall is your Bird Feeder Table? Good idea with the Fat coconut hanging as it is.
The protective top over the ground feeder is a great idea too. Keeps to larger birds form having a field day.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
hi Bramble/Squirrel
Love to hear all about your Blue Tits in the near future.
Just to say we always place our boxes high up off the ground. Dave is tall 6'2" so he uses his height to place boxes as high up as possible.
I have not got around to setting up our Blue Tits boxes this year as we are not real settled in our current property at all. Just to many things to sort out at the moment.
So I want to hear all about everyones stories about their Blue tits this year instead.
bramble67 said: Hi squirrel. My nest box is on my garage which is a single story and is the only place really i could site one. It may well be lower than recommended, but there are no predators that can get to it. ( My dog keeps all cats away) I think it is about 5'6". My height from the ground as this was where the hole was in the garage was already and I don't know how to use a drill (or have one for that matter) Several blue tits have been in an out of it during the winter so I am hopeful of occupation. Am not too sure why they have to be higher, if it's preference or necessary. Perhaps someone could answer that? Sarah