Feeding the birds

Whitewave They are gorgeous little birds. All fluffed up to keep warm.

Oh lovely photo whitewave I’ve never heard of Fielfaresnever mind seen one.

Was feeling disappointed as, having put out a piece of bread covered in suet, margarine, peanut butter and dog food, very few birds were taking an interest [except, of course, Mr Pigeon who was still eating the seed and lard that I made yesterday]. Then I looked out and there was a Jay feeding from it. I know they're quite common but I've only seen them a handful of times [if that].

Handsome birds. We had some in our lane on Sunday; they are quite often seen alongside redwings but I haven't seen the latter this year. They come to this country to escape the cold weather in Scandinavia. They misjudged it badly this year!

I haven't seen any redwings for years...

I made some fat ball mix today with peanuts, bird seed, sunflower seed,apple, grapes and cheese all ground up and mixed with some warmed up lard.

I ran out of feeders and found an old ladle and whisk which I stuffed the mix into and hung them from the trees. They are having a feast. I hang all feeders on tree branches, no problem with rats and our cat, although a good mouser, doesn’t bother the birds.

I didn't think to grind the seed up. I'll do that tomorrow. Had a shock when I thought the dog had eaten the lard I'd taken out of the freezer [paper and all] until I realised I'd moved it to a safer place. She used to be a terrible thief but now she's old she doesn't do it as much and I'm getting a bit complacent.

Psst has the snow stopped yet?

pbs.twimg.com/media/DXHtauOXcAEED3V?format=jpg

morethan I think that is a wagtail. Does it twitch its tail up and down as it walks/runs?

Ive got 1 fieldfare. Yesterday he ate 3 apples and a tomato. He wont allow any blackbirds or robins. He ignores sparrows but hides when the crows come down. He chases anyone near his food. He is so cute but i wish he would let the others feed

I think so Elegran but now I’ve got big gull like birds sweeping down so haven’t seen the little uns for a while. It’s snowing again here again so you’ve got to feel sorry for the poor little things. Arhh their back must be desperate. Oh yes I can see the tail wagging.thanks for the input.

Whitewave. thanks for the lovely picture of Fieldfares. There seem to be two threads running on Feed/ing the Birds, and I have just found your picture. We have flocks of them in the garden today, and I wasn't sure what they were, as I don't remember seeing them before, but you have confirmed it. They are scoffing the berries on our tree like billy-o.

They were making the most of the remaining ornamental crabapples on the trees around our estate today. We have a lot of fruit trees and berried shrubs in the landscaping so there are rich pickings at the moment. As you say, large flocks of them this year. Not many redwings though. They are often seen together.

My late husband used to feed the birds, but it led to rats, so sadly I don't feed them now. However, yesterday I had three Redwings right up near the patio doors, turning over any exposed leaf litter for insects, which made me feel rather guilty! As I don't eat bread (being a low-carber) I did find some ciabatta croutons (for my soup) which I crushed to crumbs, and also grated some rather ancient cheese, which I put on the patio. So far, only a crow and a wood pigeon have noticed them.
I am going to get a window feeder (as linked above), as I do love to see the birds, and hope the birds find it, and the rats don't!

We have several hanging feeders with various seeds for the sparrows and other small birds. They’re quite picky and much gets dropped to be gobbled up by the wood pigeons and blackbirds etc. No rats luckily. We bought a couple of half coconuts filled with fat and seeds and refill them with melted lard with seeds in. The tits and robins love them.

The main thing which brings birds into the garden I think is having a little waterfall to our small pond. Running water is most important. It brought in a couple of redwing and a field fare today and we’re quite well into town.

What about dried fruit ie currants, raisins, which look rather too dried to use in cakes? Would they be suitable for birds?

I did put a home-made gf loaf out the other day which was rather leaden - some seagulls came and demolished it in a few minutes. I'd rather feed the smaller birds but we have seed and fatballs out for them.

Be careful if any of you have dogs as raisins are poisonous to them. I prepared a veritable smorgasbord of delights for the birds today and they've hardly touched it. Ground seeds mixed into lard; peanut butter, grated cheese, eggshells [even put on a tiny bit of minced beef]. Annoyingly, DIL put some apple aside for me to bring home and I've forgotten it; I know the blackbirds would have wolfed that down.

DH threw some sliced apple out onto the snow today and we had two fieldfares eating them for a good part of the day. As said upthread they guarded their territory quite viciously.

Well, I didn't know that, thanks for that tip Tegan

We don't have dogs now but we feel a bit sad as the birds seem to be ignoring our our offerings. I think there are a lot of neighbours feeding them.

We have some apples in the fridge, may put those out tomorrow if I can plough through the snow in the back garden.

I know that blackbirds love grapes, they always pinch ours which grow on the vine.

Grapes are poisonous to dogs as well [although my last dogs stole a bunch, scoffed the lot and were perfectly ok!].

apparently tomatoes are poisonous to dogs, I never knew that when my dog used to get the left-over spaghetti bolognaise (his favourite).

I didn't know that ...

I've just checked and apparently it is the stems and leaves of tomatoes and green tomatoes are unsafe for dogs.
He always seemed fine and what I didn't know I didn't worry about but they were were ripe tomatoes anway.

I do wonder how dogs survived a generation ago. My parents trained their dogs with raisins as rewards and a chocolate treat or a grape or two wasn’t unknown. They loved them.