The snow came, and although not as much as in some parts, it nevertheless covered everything to a depth of about five inches.
I though that this picture of one of the two Pied Wagtails in the garden told the story, it looks almost lost in the white wilderness.
Here it is proving that sun-dials don't work under six inches of snow!
Pam made a good mixture of rice and fate, and some bits of meat, which I mixed with sunflower seeds. I uncovered two of the garden tables and put the food on this, so that it didn't disappear in the snow, or immediately get gobbled up by Herring Gulls. This Starling was quick to use the table, but some birds were reluctant to land on them. Blackbirds, despite the tables being 4 ft across seemed unable to share, and spent the time chasing each other off the table rather than getting on with the necessary.
I didn't see any Greenfinches or Goldfinches on the ground, although there were loads on the feeders, Chaffinches, on the other hand happily acted as the snow finches of the garden.
Late in the day a group of Wood Pigeons overcame their reluctance and finished of the feast.
3 comments:
I have robins and other small birds feeding from the hanging baskets but nothing will land, even though they're obviously looking for food.
I'm back. A consequence of having a blog is that you get ignoramuses asking questions.
1. I have bird food - nuts, seeds, maggoty things on an upturned basin, no-one is eating it even though they flutter in the tree above. I see you have a table, are they more likely to see/use food that's more raised?
2. I had two birdies eating the last berries on my honeysuckle and they were slimmer than robins with dark brown heads, brown wings with dark tips and bodies 2/3 red and one 1/3 white. Do you know what they are?
And sorry to make you my bird guru. I don't know anyone in 'real' life to ask.
Thank you :)
Hi Margaret,
Don't worry about asking questions, that fine by me, but whether I can answer then is another thing. The siting of food can be important, birds need cover near by and to feel secure. I used the tables just to get food out of the snow. Most of the seed is in feeders (about 15 of them). I must admit I've never understood why some gardens are very productive while others aren't. Can't make anything of your descriptions, if you get another look and can describe which bits are what colour, if there are any markings, like eyestripes etc and a guess at the size, I'll have another think,
Tony
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