Guest 767- Registered: 30 Aug 2012
- Posts: 458
Thank you for your kind words Tom! While being 'a little touched', at least where Kestrels are concerned, I am now actively following clues to a second nest site for Kestrels at the castle as well as trying to find a photosite from which I can photograph one of the two pairs of Perigrines that nest within the castle confines. One site I know off and have been watching for some five years, but, as with the Kestrels, the safty and well being of the birds come first, over rideing any interest that I may have.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
had my bird feeder out for 4 days now without any sign of our feathered friends showing an interest in the incredibly tasty dried meal worm on offer.
short of putting a post card in the newsagent's window what can be done to lure them in?
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
Lock your cat door...........
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I feed my bird 3 times aday and take her out great pet I have had her for the pass 31years.
but she does not like seed.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,658
I had a similar problem Howard until I started to put the remainder of the cats' food out, our cats always leave a little on the plate. I now get a regular pair of magpies and the occasional blackbird, the wagtails and robins prefer their food on the ground but the sparrows seem to use the feeders that are next door.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
The most startling of bird meets garden episodes I have encountered was an invasion of young Starlings...not a pest - grub or mature beast - was left unfound. Some work followed putting the soil back into the pots, but well worth it.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the cat cannot get within range of the feeder plus the branches of the tree would not take her weight.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Does Christopher Wren have relatives that visit Howard? Or maybe a cousin of Isimbard Kingdom Brown-owl?
Perhaps you you should put a sign up informing the birds that the cat is only for show?
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
We use the shed roof as a bird table as it's out of cat reach. In the snow the other day we saw a gull and a blackbird arguing over a left over Yorkshire pudding, this morning a visit by a hungry raven.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Rather by the way, but I hear on the news that sea birds in the channel are suffering from an oil-spill. A mixture of light oils seems to be responsible. Planes have been out in an attempt to spot affected birds and the spill itself. The oil is being analysed and records of ship movements and cargo manifests will be looked into if this transpires to be a case of illegal hold-rinsing.
Spotted anything anybody?
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
further along the coast i believe tom.
shed roofs and lean to's are used as launching pads by my cat, 2 collared doves last summer alone thought they were safe in a tree.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
howard,have a word with swanpy,hewill give you a few tips.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
Lovely photos, lovely kestrel, thanks.
Keep feeding the birds!
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
that's what i am trying to do kath but the feathered frauds are having none of it.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
at the moment the birds here seem to go for sunflower hearts and peanuts mostly....
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,658
Agree about the peanuts and thanks for the reminder I must get some more, especially for the back garden feeders where the squirrels seem to think we put them out just so they can pig out.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Sprinkle the bird food with a little hot chilli powder. The birds are immune to the hot taste but squirrels hate it.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,658
To be honest Peter I don't mind the squirrels, I like watching their antics as they try to reach the food and there are plenty of nuts on the front garden feeders.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
don't think i have seen a squirrel since i moved here.