Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: Ali T on January 26, 2024, 14:42

Title: Great British Bird Watch 2024
Post by: Ali T on January 26, 2024, 14:42
Anyone else going to take part in the GBBW this weekend? I'm hoping for waxwings and parakeets but will settle for the usual sparrow/wood pigeon combo!!!
Title: Re: Great British Bird Watch 2024
Post by: mrs bouquet on January 26, 2024, 15:16
I am always trying to spot the birds, but only get sparrows and wood pigeons.   A new neighbour with 3 cats isn't helping the situation.   Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: Great British Bird Watch 2024
Post by: wighty on January 26, 2024, 17:03
I'll contribute seagulls, as living on the top of the cliff above Sandown  Bay we don't get much else.  There is an occasional  Robin but not much else.  Our most exciting bird watch is the drive to work along the Military Road where we see Buzzards, sea gulls (of course) and  a variety of black birds.  We sometimes see a Heron or two.
Title: Re: Great British Bird Watch 2024
Post by: snowdrops on January 26, 2024, 17:57
Never get much here no matter what feeds I put out for them, in fact I throw most of the food away as they just don’t come for it 😢. No cats here. The odd Robin & blackbird but if there’s food out pigeons just gorge on it.
Title: Re: Great British Bird Watch 2024
Post by: perris on January 27, 2024, 09:22
I'm surprised by the paucity people are reporting. Depending on my luck at the chosen hour, I'm expecting to see tits, starlings, blackbirds, thrushes, robins, finches, wrens, crows, magpie, tree sparrows, a pheasant, and possibly a woodpecker.
Title: Re: Great British Bird Watch 2024
Post by: New shoot on January 27, 2024, 14:48
I'm surprised by the paucity people are reporting. Depending on my luck at the chosen hour, I'm expecting to see tits, starlings, blackbirds, thrushes, robins, finches, wrens, crows, magpie, tree sparrows, a pheasant, and possibly a woodpecker.

I don’t see crows or pheasants, but I get all the above as well, plus we have collared doves, wood pigeons, jackdaws, a jay that pops by sometimes and red kites circling overhead, although they only come down close when I am at the plot.  They swoop low over your head checking what you are up to  :lol:  The woodpeckers I sometimes see are the Greater Spotted ones. 

It is fairly urban here, but I feed sunflower kernels, peanuts or fat balls depending on the season and niger seeds.  It is all in feeders on a stand.  I only chuck stuff down on the ground if the blackbirds or robins mug me for it when I go out, or if the weather is really severe and I feel sorry for the scroungers like the woodies  :)
Title: Re: Great British Bird Watch 2024
Post by: Hampshire Hog on January 28, 2024, 20:40
Afraid I didn’t participate but I did see several red kites a robin and a heron on Friday.
Suppose the pigeons and ducks count too. Looks like there is some bird life round here at least.
Title: Re: Great British Bird Watch 2024
Post by: snowdrops on January 29, 2024, 10:53
I'm surprised by the paucity people are reporting. Depending on my luck at the chosen hour, I'm expecting to see tits, starlings, blackbirds, thrushes, robins, finches, wrens, crows, magpie, tree sparrows, a pheasant, and possibly a woodpecker.

I don’t see crows or pheasants, but I get all the above as well, plus we have collared doves, wood pigeons, jackdaws, a jay that pops by sometimes and red kites circling overhead, although they only come down close when I am at the plot.  They swoop low over your head checking what you are up to  :lol:  The woodpeckers I sometimes see are the Greater Spotted ones. 

It is fairly urban here, but I feed sunflower kernels, peanuts or fat balls depending on the season and niger seeds.  It is all in feeders on a stand.  I only chuck stuff down on the ground if the blackbirds or robins mug me for it when I go out, or if the weather is really severe and I feel sorry for the scroungers like the woodies  :)

That’s made me think, I do get Magpies and we sometimes get a sparrow hawk patrolling which is probably why we get less than I’d like. We also get red kites whirling overhead in the summer months, I usually hear them before I see them.
This week I’m going to clean out the feeders (again) & refill in the hope of a better population  ;)
Title: Re: Great British Bird Watch 2024
Post by: mrs bouquet on January 29, 2024, 16:54
Chatting to daughter next door, and she has no birds now either.  We think it is because of the 3 cats, that have moved in close by.   The hedge used to be full of sparrows in their garden, which backs onto mine, but the cats climb the hedge.    Oh bother the cats.   I have bought some cat spikes but need somebody to fix them now.   I have also bought a box of fat balls and a holder,  hopefully the birds will recognise it.  Mrs B