The Soop Kitchen

soop if Tara hears the sound of a cereal packet's contents being poured, the starving cat who lives here is mumping and screaming until I leave her some. I do not add sugar but the sugar in the cereal + the long life semi skimmed milk and she is in heaven. She is only allowed her prescription food but she also likes a few mouthfuls of curry (from my plate after I have finished eating). I do not mind her having the odd treat- I do not go out of my way to give it to her, having cereal about once every couple of months.

As I have said many times before Rory is not stupid, he knows which side his bread is buttered but he has given you years of enjoyment and he loves you both.

Is there moss or other stuff in the gutter that might be useful for nest building?

Lucky you Galen. I wonder if the one with the white bit is male or female? If one starts giving titbits to the other that'd be a giveaway.

The resident wren likes something in the conservatory gutter?
I have 2 robins and can tell them apart as one has a white feather in its right wing

We have a new neighbour who is very elderly and loves feeding the birds, so ours have all deserted us for the superior food she puts out!

We do have a resident buzzard family and occasional visits from an eagle - not as often as we would like, but I think that is because the rabbit population is down again (great for my garden).

No-one here has cats but we think we may have a pine marten. Last year there was a pile of cherry stones under the cherry tree, and birds would not have left them like that.

I found that too kittyl, so just feed peanuts, 'No mess seed', sunflower hearts and fat balls.....plenty enough choice for them all.

Our goldfinches totally ignore our nyger seeds, as does every other bird, but they do seem to like the sunflower hearts in the other feeders. We also get blue tits, great tits and coal tits fairly regularly and a flipping pigeon. We have a wren too but often can't see her, we only know she is there by the racket she makes.

Oh, and a pair of jays and spotted woodpeckers!

I can barely keep up with filling feeders; we have coal-, blue-, long tail- and great-tits, a swarm of goldfinches, nuthatches, chaffinches, blackbird, robins, wrens, dunnocks, linnets, a pair of collared doves...and a bl.... sparrowhawk this morning.
I'm refilling eight feeders every other day and it's costing me a lot of money!

Never mind, we love seeing them.

I bought a nyger feeder by mistake, then bought some seeds for it, my birds completely ignored it so eventually tipped it out ( yes, I know, ) whereupon a Forest of plants appeared over night on my back pebbled bit!!!

tizliz Many thanks for the helpful information.

Oh yes...we also have an occasional visit from a wren. Such a sweet, wee thing.

Rory can sit on the doorstep and the birds continue to peck around beneath the nearby tree. Mind you, MacSporran has decided that, as Rory is "getting on," he can have a gourmet lunch from hereon. That cat knows the sound of the cupboard door (in which the special food is kept), he knows the sound of the lid being prised open. MacSporran proudly announced this morning...Rory had the snip three years ago and in March it will be the 3rd anniversary of his confrontation with the otter/fox/mink. On that occasion, had he not been one of our family, he would not have survived his extensive injuries. We have no idea how he managed to make it back home. A costly vet's bill remains as a souvenir.

A dear little wren has taken up residence in our rear garden and scoots around busily under the shrubs and plants. It is so tiny and so very sweet. I love watching it.

We gave up putting the feeders out because we have a big wood pigeon population and they like to leave very large calling cards when they scavenge around underneath. They are busy with their "creative" activities already, and have no shame performing for all to see. Not my favourite birds.

Alea you know that there is insufficient room in the dog house with Grace, especially as she still has her lamp shade on. She needs the space so I am so pleased that you have moved out.

Birds left here many years ago. Tara did not help bringing some home for a light lunch but she did realise the error of her ways and stopped. I was not over impressed. Now she does not even bother with mice- pending old age in a cat has its compensations.

Crafting! You are a tyke.

Alea Lovely jubbly to have you back with us lot...please do not cause us to fret for your wellbeing in future. The kitchen needs you.

Galen and bags...we sometimes have the pleasure of the company of goldfinches. Our garden visitors are mostly chaffinch, great tits and a few blue tits. We also have a regular pair of blackbirds and a robin. We were given a "stick-it-in-the-window-bird-feeder" for Christmas. It came with a hessian bag filled with super bird treats, including nyger seed. There is a lone male chaffinch who hogs the feeder. He sits in it. He gorges. He is rotund. We also have two hanging feeders. A woodpecker and a group of tree creepers visit on rare occasions.The crows at the front of the house have what we call a "crow stone" on which we place their food. They take some over to the beach and "hide" it under rocks. Clever birds!

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Tits, nuts and balls all in one post. Galen what has become of you

As in ' love in a mist' did have but nobody touched it'!
Robins love mealworms and tits the suet. No ones touching the nuts or fat balls! Fussy beggars
And don't mention the pigeons or (grey) squirrel! I'm only colour prejudiced when it comes to squirrels

"?? Who let the dogs mum out?"?? Woof, woof!!

Nyger with a g

Do you have a nyder seed feeder? They love nyger seed. And teasels. And thistles.

Yes! They don't come onto the feeder. Just sit in the mulberry

They are lovely, aren't they, galen?

Alea is that's what happening to me? Nature is kindly reducing my perception of my failing?
Bags had 3 goldfinches in my garden today! First time ever!

Grace where are you? Your mum has escaped from the dog house did you know she was out? Who left the gate open? Try enticing her back with a nice and a