Birdy Bath

This is a photo of my new birdbath. Hopefully it will attract more birds to it. Has its own self contained resevoir, and pumps the water to the top to give a running stream effect.

Hopefully it wont be to long before the birds start to use it.

Squeaker

Well it stayed in the bath for quite a while. Looks like not a care in the world. Must be a great feeling.

Squeaker

Was watching this young woodpigeon this morning. Started off on the edge flicking water with its beak. Had a feeling it may go in for a bath. It did go in, but did not splash about. Just sat there soaking up the rays.

All New 4 Seasons Mix

After several trials at finding a right mix that works for me, i believe that i have come up with a formulae that produces close to zero waste. In fact during my trials i have had no waste.

The changes i made was to leave out the kibbled peanuts and sunflower hearts. In its place i introduced a product called "Ground Treats". These are suppose to mimic insects that bird eat.

The ingredients now are:-

Suet pellets.

Dried mealworms.

Mixed dried fruit.

Currants.

Ground treats.

This mix would suit a wide variety of garden birds.

Gourmet Food

My regular blackbird has been frantically collecting food to take back to its young. Seems it has rearing a second brood, but have never seen any of the fledgelings from the first.

Has taken a fancy to beef mince, must look like worms, feel like worms, and perhaps tasted better. Theres no accounting for taste.

wish the hedge was thicker

This poor little thing looks absolutely miserable in the rain. Must have thought the new hedge might give it some cover.

One of the fledgelings that come into the garden.

Goldfinches

Looking out the kitchen window and was lovely to see these two goldfinches.

Not regular every day visitors to the feeders. But when they do call is always a welcome sight. Shot through the net curtain so not the greatest pic.

Interesting light

Took this photo early in the morning. As can be seen the light is coming from the left. I pressed the lens right up against the net curtain. Has given it quite a nice affect. The different colours in the background is reflected light from parked cars.

Yummy Mealworms

This cheeky little thing thought it would have a tuck in before the hedgehog came for supper. Just love the way it is balancing on the edge of the dish.

Was Playing

cat and mouse with this little thing. It kept darting out and back again. But with more patience than a saint did manage to get this.

Its a cute little thing, and is very welcome...in the garden that is.

Rooks.

The rooks are beginning to come into the garden a lot more now. No doubt when eggs are hatched will have even more. They are quite bold birds, but argue a lot when there is food around.

Pied Wagtail.

The regular Pied wagtail was surveying the garden this morning from a vantage point.

Flew up on to the fence post to get a better view. Stayed quite a while. Not often they will pose for a photo.

Song Thrush

Today i got this photo of a Song Thrush that came in to the garden for food. To me i would say it is a new one. Dont look the same as the one below, at least not to my eyes. If it is a new one, is more than welcome into the garden.

I hope it will make my garden its regular place.

New Arrival

Today seen the arrival of a new bird to my garden. When it came in had its back to me, and i thought it was the female blackbird that graces my garden. Then it turned around, and could see it was not a blackbird but a song thrush. By the time i had gotten the camera it was gone.

I was more than happy to see it return. Went to the banquet dish first and took a tasty dried mealworm. Then it went to another tray and took some dried fruit and then some nuts. Was ready with camera, but due to failing light and slow shutter speed, not the best of pics. Has a little camera shake.

This is the birdy banquet that i made up this morning. It has peanuts crushed as well as sunflower hearts. Together with some suet pellets, dried mealworms and sultanas.

Also has a selection of fruit in the form of green grapes, apple, red melon and white melon. Heres hoping i get some takers.

Pied Wagtails

A nice start to the new year for me. Two pied wagtails have graced my garden for the past couple of days. They dont seem to be bothered by the starlings that come in to feed either.

I dont know if the one opposite is a juvenile or not. Am going by the grey that it has mixed with what should be quite white on the throat and cheeks.

As one can see the one to the right has better white on the throat and cheeks. To my surprise i also notice that it has been rung. Was fortunate to be able to have photographed them on birdy bath as well. Taken through net curtains, so not the best of pics.