Feeding The Birds

[LadyCG]

Do you put food out for the birds?

Or hedgehogs and other critters for that matter?

I've just found some florentine mince pies and mini stollen I forgot I had and some OOD Brioche buns that little G wasn't keen on and I've just thrown the lot out with some crusts of bread.

I like looking after the birdies :-)

[murraymints]

lol Rowan Mr Fox and his family are regular nocturnal visitors too.. the occasional large badger..which is not so welcome for the hedgies !!

[LadyCG]

One of the old Koi Carps died and we lay it out on the grass for the fox but it didn't get taken, surprisingly. In the end we had to dispose of it.

Do you know of any bird wildlife parks that are good to visit, Rowan?

[LadyCG]

Trouble with foxes is they carry mange so not good for the dogs...

[murraymints]

have also seen large owls ripping away at small birds.. big brown ones Barn/Tawny ??

[murraymints]

we get the cubs sunbathing at the bottom of the garden at times..cute wee things..but worry about the cats when they are around..although Mia is a feardie and runs away from the slightest confrontation !

[LadyCG]

Ouch! Yes owls can be vicious, but they're just part of the food chain too I guess. I just had to see tiny little creatures being killed.

I don't like any form of animal suffering if I'm honest but I understand that that's nature.

[murraymints]

I can't watch those lion killing zebra things either !

[rowanwitch]

Sandwell valley country park has an RSPB reserve within it, quite a good one especially for ducks in the winter, there's Doxey Marshes in Stafford about five minutes from the station, Sutton park is a National nature reserve has a lot of different habitats including a number of lakes. Good for Kingfishers. Winterbourne house has great gardens where you will see most of the common wild birds, plus Middleton lakes (rspb)near Tamworth.

[murraymints]

love to see kingfishers !

[LadyCG]

Okay, thanks Rowan.

Have you been to Arrow Valley Country Park? I used to go there a lot when I lived in Alvechurch. Nice for jogging, picnics, a coffee overlooking the lake, etc. Lots of ducks, swans and geese.

[rowanwitch]

Tawnies are quite small, most of the British owls are bigger. Except the little owl of course which suffers from ' small bird syndrome'. They will tackle almost anything as they are bolshy little devils Owls are mostly fluff. They don't take many small birds they prefer mice and voles so great for pest control.

[murraymints]

Blakeney point in Norfolk is so nice..loads of twichers ..salt marshes..

[murraymints]

this was a large brown thing Rowan... at first I thought it was a hawk..'till I had a good look... must have been about 18 inches tall !!

[rowanwitch]

Not driving and rubbish public transport restricts my birding now. That's why I love Norfolk as there is a little coastal bus that covers some of the. Best birding in the uk. Ditto North Wales. Good buses along the coast roads.

[Chipchopper]

Yes, I feed them every day, mostly peanuts.
Sunflower hearts and fat balls too.
Never give up.

[rowanwitch]

All that area is birding heaven, plus you have the boat trips from Morston Key and Wells that give you a chance to see all the seals and sometimes cattle egrets and now spoonbills are breeding there I believe. Mostly near Cley reserve.

[murraymints]

morning Chip xx sunflower heads I keep after they have been chopped down..I dry them and put them out ! as you say, if youbstart feeding them then you have to continue

[murraymints]

we used to get the boat out to see the seals !

[rowanwitch]

Large brown thing that height was more likely a buzzard, we regularly had them perch on the fence. They can bunch up when perched so might look like an owl from a bit of a distance. If you are right on the edge of a town there are a few eagle owls but they don't normally come into built up areas. It's just possible it was a juvenile eagle, young goldies can turn up anywhere after bad weather.
https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/six-types-owl-youll-find-britain-166296

[murraymints]

don't think I have seen any spoonbills ? they are huge !!