I find that most of the activity on my feeders happens between 10.30 and 12 - annoying as during the week I am at work at this time! I do sometimes see the odd blackbird or robin eating from the ground before I leave for work at 7.30/8, but not many and I never see birds on the feeders at this time. I never see birds feeding after work (4pm onwards). Is this normal or does it vary with location/time of year, etc?
My birds seem to visit when I am not looking!
I have just put 3 new fatballs in a feeder and have only ever seen 1 bluetit on it!!
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seymouraves said: Hi, theoretically the best time to see birds in your garden should be first coupla hours of daylight ... BUT atm it's really cold then so the birds may be less active. As the weather improves and spring arrives earlier is often better. Some birds move off to roost earlier than others in the afternoon so the last hour of daylight may not be so productive :) Some species have a feeding circuit so they may visit your garden at the same time each day . S
Hi,
theoretically the best time to see birds in your garden should be first coupla hours of daylight ... BUT atm it's really cold then so the birds may be less active. As the weather improves and spring arrives earlier is often better.
Some birds move off to roost earlier than others in the afternoon so the last hour of daylight may not be so productive :)
Some species have a feeding circuit so they may visit your garden at the same time each day .
S
Thanks for this, seymouraves. Out of interest, which species have a feeding circuit?
I would have thought it more likely the best time to see birds is shortly after you have put their breakfast out. I'm not an early riser, so never see dawn or anything remotely like dawn, but I know from what's not been eaten that my gang don't come early - they know what time they get their breakfast in my garden, and that's when they come! If I'm later than normal they are all queuing up.
Mid morning to lunch time is usually the busiest, although many of them are here or in the nearby trees all day.
Cheers, Linda.
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feeding circuits- Tits tend to move about in flocks of mixed species ( Blue, Great, Marsh, sometimes a treecreeper all together) in the winter and have a regular circuit. Long tailed tits often move in large LTT family parties sometimes with a goldcrest or two. You may think you have only 2 or 3 Blue tits visit your garden but ringing has proved a good feeding station might have a dozen different birds during the day :)
Finch flocks seem to move through on a circuit as well- siskins, goldfinches redpolls etc- It could explain why the same Brambling visits a feeder at 8am and then isnt seen again til 11am and then 2pm :)
:)
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Well, today I saw a long tailed tit on my peanut feeder at about 4.30pm which made me happy - nice to not be missing out completely on days when I'm at work!
My birds are first light for a couple of hours then about a couple of hours before sunset. Blackbirds, dunnocks and collard doves pop in an out all day.
I'm always look forward to seeing the wonderful green of the leaf buds coming into life you don't see any other time of year and the first swallow around the 15th April. Spring, Spring Spring.
My blue tits are coming for a last nibble later, up to about half 4 now and one of the Robins stayed until past half 5. He is always the last and first visitor. (or one very like him)lol
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
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Since Sparrow and plenty other have mentioned putting the birds' breakfast out it got me thinking. I don't actually put their breakfast out (other than the Blackbird's sultanas), they're left with what's in the feeders from the day before.
There's nothing wrong with that f the food is ok is there?
Hi Paul,
When I say I put their breakfasts out, I am talking about the table, ground feeder, and flat trays as these are usually empty by the time I get up, also what I scatter on the ground, which is mealworms and suet pellets. The hangers only get filled when they are cleaned or in need of a top up.
Hi Sparrow,
that would be the same as I do then - so that's ok! With these picky Sparrows I can never be too sure, lol!