DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH HIS HOME COMPUTER, THIS IS THE LAST POST FROM ADRIAN UNTIL THE NEW YEAR
I did have another posting in mind for today, but sometimes a subject pops up that is far too distracting.
The thing is that, in response to my last posting looking at which berries are left until birds are desperate, the query came back, "So which berries get taken instantly, then?". Good question, Matt :-)
Ellen has already posted her suggestion - Mahonia. And I started by thinking of Hawthorn, which is an absolutely vital winter food source for so many of the thrushes, in large part because there's so much of it in our countryside. But on reflection, nope, that's not quite on my top top list. And we can forget things like Holly and Berberis, which in my experience are more of those 'If that's all there is' type berries.
I so wanted to include things like Amelanchier lamarckii, the Juneberry or Snowy Mespil. But a tree that fruits in midsummer is nice but doesn't do much for starving winter birds.
So here are three that in my experience get guzzled before they've barely had chance to ripen.
1) Rowan (left). Blackbirds in particular, but all the other thrushes too, seem to find this irresistible. It's a prime choice for Waxwings too, but few are left by the time they arrive here.
2) Elder. I know, I know, it's not the most attractive of trees - all a bit scrubby and wayward. And how wonderful it would be if those great pancake flower heads were stuffed with bees and butterflies when usually they are insect-free. But all those succulent clusters of juicy berries? Starling and Blackcap heaven.
3) Wild Cherry. There's a big stone to negotiate, but apart from that birds over millennia must have been very grateful for these natural late summer treats
Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to share your experiences - it's the best way for us all to learn!
And I hope you enjoy your berries too - cranberries maybe?! A very merry Christmas to everyone, and I hope Santa does you proud in the gardening department,
This is fab;thank you for all your suggestions - the more observations the better, please! And if anyone can pin down the species or cultivar of any of these cotoneasters, pyracanthas etc the birds are taking, that would be great.
Surprisingly this year the first 'berries' to go were our bumper crop of red grapes - a big hit with the blackbirds, followed by the pyrancantha berries (red first then orange) and cotoneaster.
No take up of the mistletoe I put out after twelfth night though!
20 or so years ago 'not eaten by the birds' was a selling point of the 'other than red' berried Pyracanthas (I remember because I had been set on an orange one!)
I find Sweet Cherries (summer) irrisistable to birds. I have to work hard netting branches to have any hope of a cherry - even then they spot them through the mesh and most have stab marks! Can't imagine how any make it to the shops.
Of the winter berries I have first to go were Hawthorn and Holly
then Cotenester Horizantales and Guelder Rose
then small (Holly sized) Rose hips
The only remaining berries are those very nearest the house and the Mistletoe.
I have four pyracanthas, two red and two orange. The blackbirds polish off all the red berries in the Autumn but the orange ones usually take all winter to get eaten. However, last week I glanced out of my kitchen window and was astonished to see up to thirty redwings all over the garden, in bushes and trees, all waiting in turn to eat the orange berries. I've never seen a redwing in the garden before and it made my Christmas!
Thanks for your suggestions, folks. In particular it's great to get a first-hand observation of what will eat Leycesteria berries, and how quickly they go :-)