Billie no mates

[Mowgli]

Its been a bit quiet in the garden recently, the large family that has been in over the summer has moved? out, this little one has been a bit of a loner all through the summer, when all the others were battling over the feeders this one has waited till seed has been thrown on the ground by its battling mates and then proceeded to feed off the ground. It flew into the garden last thursday and sat on the bird bath waiting for one of the others to flick seed on the ground, after a few minutes when none of them arrived it flew off. Looks like I will have to do the job for them.

Mowgli

[peter]

Re: Billie no mates

I like it but it seems a bit soft to me. seems the focus has locked on the water holder. I know birds are hard to do not that I do them often

[Guest]

Re: Billie no mates

Mowgli - You are very fortunate in having so many visitors to your bird feeding table. I decided to build a a feeding table this summer and I have put a net bag of seeds and a peanut cage hanging beneath it. I also regularly put out on the table a variety of pellets, seeds and dried mealy grubs etc but all we seem to get are a couple of greedy magpies and a squirrel which only stay long enough to 'woof' everything available. Have you any tips to keep away the magpies and attract some of the smaller birds.?

[Mowgli]

Re: Billie no mates

Mowgli - You are very fortunate in having so many visitors to your bird feeding table. I decided to build a a feeding table this summer and I have put a net bag of seeds and a peanut cage hanging beneath it. I also regularly put out on the table a variety of pellets, seeds and dried mealy grubs etc but all we seem to get are a couple of greedy magpies and a squirrel which only stay long enough to 'woof' everything available. Have you any tips to keep away the magpies and attract some of the smaller birds.?

Hello Dennis, actualy I dont have any tips, I used to have a couple of pigeons that used to nick all the grub so I changed the feeder and hung it well away from the bird table, it was amusing watching them try all ways to get to feeders without succeeding, but like little billie in the original picture they just waited till some fell on the ground. I envy Pops as he gets loads of different birds and his pictures aren`t soft (thanks Pete!) perhaps having hedges and a budlia bush close by helps as they can hide, especially when next doors cat comes around.

This was a few weeks ago when it spotted the pigeon, the bird wasnt fazed it looked up and slowly flew off.
Mowgli

[Pops]

Re: Billie no mates

I have never seen a wren go onto a feeder. They much prefer to feed from the ground.
One of my ground feeder trays is very close to a shrub especially for the wren and the dunnocks. They can dart out, grab some food and eat it safely under the shrub.

Your wren here is maybe a bit peeved at the bird bath being empty

[Pops]

Re: Billie no mates

Mowgli - You are very fortunate in having so many visitors to your bird feeding table. I decided to build a a feeding table this summer and I have put a net bag of seeds and a peanut cage hanging beneath it. I also regularly put out on the table a variety of pellets, seeds and dried mealy grubs etc but all we seem to get are a couple of greedy magpies and a squirrel which only stay long enough to 'woof' everything available. Have you any tips to keep away the magpies and attract some of the smaller birds.?

You won't stop the magpies Dennis. Just persever with putting out the food. Winter is coming and the little ones will soon find you.
You can get some supposedly squirrel proof feeders but I warn you ... they are extremely clever little critters.