Gooseberries being stripped already!

Anyone else suffering gooseberries being stripped by birds yet, or is it just me? Have some new bushes planted last autumn that were heavily laden and each day the number of berries is rapidly dwindling! Have seen those vile flying rats (wood pigeons) stuffing themselves on a neighbours berries. Is this normal so early? The berries are at least a month away from being ripe. Have decided just to net the entire plot lol, am so bored of fighting with birds, slugs, rats, foxes etc etc 

Between Friday when I was last on the plot and today (Tuesday) the birds have eaten half my blackcurrants and redcurrants. Spent 4 hours netting everything

Sorry to disagree wil4025. It will be the birds that have done this. Sawfly will have stripped the leaves.

I've noticed the sparrows and tits are having a right go at the blueberries and blackberries.  I've netted the blueberries, to do all the fruit would be 2 cages 23'x22' 

I've noticed the sparrows and tits are having a right go at the blueberries and blackberries.  I've netted the blueberries, to do all the fruit would be 2 cages 23'x22' 

Just because you see spadgers and tits on the fruit bushes does not mean they are doing harm they may be taking insects which are on the plant.

Very unlikely that tits will be eating your fruit as they are insectivores.