In the past several winters, my gardens have seen numerous birds at our feed tables but this winter, despite being well stocked, the feed is virtually untouched and the gardens are deserted. The warm and wet conditions clearly mean the birds are finding ample supplies of food elsewhere so conditions are very favourable for them. We've also seen next-doors Koi have been unmolested and no herons have been seen casting their beady eyes over the pond from his roof.
Bumper year for birds?
- Thread starter PaulB
- Start date
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Dangermouse
MousePower
We have noticed there are no tits in the garden too, we have got starlings, blackbirds and a singlr robin but that's been it this year, the starlings love the fatballs but the seed feeder is going untouched.
asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
Had a huge number of blackbirds in the garden recently, too many to count as the little s0ds wouldn't stay still, but at least four and twenty, I'd say.
Also some small yellowish, grey birds I haven't seen before. I think they were wheatears.
Also some small yellowish, grey birds I haven't seen before. I think they were wheatears.
coffeejo
Ælfrēd
- Location
- West Somerset
I've got fewer coal tits, long tail tits and goldfinches than last winter, though they actually stopped visiting last spring when I stopped putting out suet-based food for a while until I came up with a solution to stop one of the local foxes stealing the lot (and the feeders!). They've finally started popping around once in a while but seven months later and they're still sulking! 
On the other hand, I've never seen so many robins in my garden - I think they approve of the meal worms I've been putting out. And I sometimes wonder if I'm feeding all the hawfinches and sparrows in west Somerset. Not forgetting the blackbirds (one of whom has learn how to perch to eat from the feeders!), blue tits, great tits, wrens, woodpeckers and others I'm yet to identify ... Oh, and the resident sparrow hawk.
They're eating everything from seed to fat balls to suet coconut feeders to meal worms. Everything and anything, just not the peanuts.
Don't forget it's the RSPB annual birdwatch survey later this month (25-26 Jan).
On the other hand, I've never seen so many robins in my garden - I think they approve of the meal worms I've been putting out. And I sometimes wonder if I'm feeding all the hawfinches and sparrows in west Somerset. Not forgetting the blackbirds (one of whom has learn how to perch to eat from the feeders!), blue tits, great tits, wrens, woodpeckers and others I'm yet to identify ... Oh, and the resident sparrow hawk.
They're eating everything from seed to fat balls to suet coconut feeders to meal worms. Everything and anything, just not the peanuts.
Don't forget it's the RSPB annual birdwatch survey later this month (25-26 Jan).
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
Wheatears are summer visitors so that seems unlikely. Pop a photo on here or a bit more description and I will try to help with the ID.
Bird populations vary a lot year on year. This summer was very good for productivity. Spring was late, then we had an unusually warm, dry summer so lots of insects for raising young. No cold spell yet. However, November/December cold spells are OK for birds a they carry a lot of fat into this period. It is a cold spell from now through Feb that is usually the problem and will result in a lot of birds in your gardens
We now have fewer birds visit the garden over the past couple of years due to new neighbours next door who happen to have 2 cats. The neighbours on the other side had a lovely big cottoneaster bush where about 20 sparrows used to live. Most of them have now also gone. A great shame as Jnr loved looking at and feeding the birds.
The only birds that don't seem to have been scared off by the cats are a couple of wood pigeons, some crows and those bleedin' pesky Parakeet's. They seem to have taken over.
But did see a pair of Wagtails singing to each other across the gardens last Friday.
The only birds that don't seem to have been scared off by the cats are a couple of wood pigeons, some crows and those bleedin' pesky Parakeet's. They seem to have taken over.
But did see a pair of Wagtails singing to each other across the gardens last Friday.
Glow worm
Legendary Member
- Location
- Near Newmarket
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Fnaar
Smutmaster General
- Location
- Thumberland
We had to stop putting bird food out, as it was attracting rats!!! 
Mrs F laments that the tits* need a bit of loving.
*and sparrers etc, of course)
Mrs F laments that the tits* need a bit of loving.
*and sparrers etc, of course)
Bryony
Veteran
- Location
- Ramsgate, Kent
The only birds we have round here are seagulls, pigeons and parakeets!
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
I think we need a bit more info, but siskins is a good call.
1) Are they blue tit sized; sparrow sized or blackbird sized?
2) What do they do? Do they feed on the ground mainly, or on feeders?
3) Can you describe the plumage a bit?
If they are sparrow-ish sized, feed mainly on feeders and vary from greyish through to quite yellow (with some black bits) then they are probably siskins. They breed in coniferous plantations but often come to gardens in the winter
deptfordmarmoset
Full time tea drinker
- Location
- Armonmy Way
We don't do too badly for an urban, almost inner-city, area. Lots of goldfinches, blue and great tits. The River Ravensbourne runs into the Thames nearby and it brings down grey wagtails as well as the occasional kingfisher and there's a heronry nearby too.
I used to find parakeets irritating but there was a pair last year that used to occupy the ash tree outside my window and they made quite gentle, almost comical, noises to each other. I almost warmed to them.
I used to find parakeets irritating but there was a pair last year that used to occupy the ash tree outside my window and they made quite gentle, almost comical, noises to each other. I almost warmed to them.
Get some squirrel proof feeders - they should be rat proof tooWe had to stop putting bird food out, as it was attracting rats!!!
Mrs F laments that the tits* need a bit of loving.
*and sparrers etc, of course)
asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
Must admit I am no bird expert altho I know quite few species. My id was a lazy check on google!
We have a pond and despite the cats we get quite a lot of birds but I've not seen these before.
They were very agile and flew around the branches of our birch tree as if playing a game - there were 4. There were similar to blue tits but no sign of the blue and less white on the head - we get quite a few blue tits so I know what they look like. These were more like coal tits in being duller so it may have been these. Unfortunately they haven't been back so no photo opportunities.
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
Rules siskins out. They are bigger than blue tits (and coal tits are even smaller) and they aren't agile like blue tits are. The easiest way to ID a coal tit is look at the back of its head. If it is black with a big white stripe up the middle, it's a coal tit
