Colourful Squabble In The Garden

[Tilly2]

We have just watched a jay and a greater spotted woodpecker taking it in turns to bash each other up on the peanut feeder. The woodpecker won in the end.

[janbee]

Lucky you Tilly. I love watching birds and have several feeders in the garden. Unfortunately the local cats are quite a deterrent to that enjoyment.

[Tilly2]

You need a cat deterrent, jan.

[MargoTester]

We have a pair of gsw who are regular visitors and they can be quite vicious - never seen one take on a jay though. We also have a lovely nuthatch. We are very lucky as we back on to a wood, the only problem being the ruddy grey squirrels!

[janbee]

I've got one. It's fancy Solarpest thing to deter foxes and cats. They LOVE it!!

[MargoTester]

Jan I thought about getting one to deter the squirrels they obviously don't work that well then?

[Canary42]

I have a cat deterrent but if I use it the deluded hypocrites from the Animal Rights Lobby get upset.

[Tilly2]

My cat deterrent is Tilly.

Margo, you are right about woodpeckers being vicious. Ours are regular visitors and are very spiteful and aggressive with other birds. They are beautiful though.
The jay is relatively new. That's lovely too.

[MargoTester]

Tilly - Only ever say a jay in my friends garden in Norfolk they are lovely. My hearts desire is to see a kingfisher. We went to Buckingham Palace and were walking through the gardens and my friend said 'oh kingfisher' but I missed it!

[janbee]

margo, I don't think there are many things that can deter a squirrel.! I've seen things at garden centres and, I think, on amazon but don't know if they work. Good luck

[MargoTester]

Jan - they are little blighters I go outside and shout at them and they more or less laugh at me! I'm going to get a peashooter.

[janbee]

Margo, I've only ever seen two Kingfishers in my life. One was in Kithnos in Greece and the other was at Sussex Wildlife trust in Small Dole in West Sussex. Both stunning to see. Absolutely beautiful. I was surprised to notice how small they were. I'd always imagined them to be much larger birds.

[janbee]

Margo get a cannon !!

[janbee]

... or a flame thrower.

[Tilly2]

I don't mean to upset you both but we have kingfishers on the river just around the corner from the house.

[janbee]

you're boasting now tilly ! Take a pic and post it online here.

[MargoTester]

Looks like I will have to get down to Sussex then. Have ordered a flame thrower from Amazon!

[MargoTester]

Tilly I am so jealous of you!

[Tilly2]

jan, I don't have a camera that is capable of taking a picture of a kingfisher in flight.

You always hear them before you see them.

[Chipchopper]

Yep, I would have put my money on the woodpecker Tilly, much more agile on the feeders.
The Jay is one of my favorites too, last time I mentioned that on here, some dismissed them as just crows, well I think crows are pretty cool too.

I remember once watching a wildlife documentary all about kingfishers and the wl photographer stuck a stick in the river bank and sat and waited for the kingfisher to come and perch. So what are you waiting for, put some camou on and get on down there with your camera!

[Tilly2]

River, dog, river, swim, river, splash, river, play, river,chase birds away. No chance, Chip.