Our Feeding Stations :):)

my feeder @ 8am this morning, its actually stopped snowing and looking at the tracks on the snow over the water bowl something has already walked along it. also it looks like someone has had a go at the top left feeder and dug down in the snow

Heck PPH that is a lot of snow but at least your birds seem determined to feed as usual which is lovely. I'm glad it's now stopped snowing there it's really not been good for the wild life has it. My feeder has been really busy this morning with all the Starlings and Blackbirds picking up the dropped seeds. I also seem to have a determined Pigeon this morning who is feeding as well, he is scaring off the little birds but he must be hungry as well so I am letting him feed and then opening the door to make him go so the others can feed again.
Hope the snow stays away for you now and makes life a little easier for your birds. Love your pic by the way, that bush is covered.
littlewid-x-

Wow PPH that's a lot of snow - hope you're okay there. your birds must be pleased you're on hand to clear the snow for them.

We're really lucky here, sun shine and cold but no more snow. Just topped up all the feeders and plenty of birds around already, including 2 woodpeckers.

Lai

It looks as though you've really had a good dollop there PPH, lets hope thats the last of it. We are like Lai here cold, but sunny. We counted 30 plus birds on the feeders this morning, everythings coming in, and feeding like mad. Even the big birds have to feed, we've had Crows picking up seeds off the wall that were really for the ground feeders. So we are putting extra fat food mix out for them
WS

We may not have had more snow, but it's freezing out there, all the feeders are covered in frost and the water has frozen within two hours.

First thing this morning I put out some pasta from last night and it has all gone, yesterday I put out some cheddar cheese and that went within minutes. These poor birds, it must be so hard for them at the moment, so thanks for the extra feeding tips WS.

It's hard to keep up with just how much they are eating - especially with our pheasants who seem to spend most of the day chilling in the garden

Lai

I've got a bit of feeder clearing to do this morning


WS

Lai

LOL...

I should have taken a photo of the SM/TT bird smorgasbord before clearing it this morning and reloading with new birdcake. We've not has our fair share of snow in Northants. I feel cheated.

But there are a number of thick discs of ice in the flower beds where the water bowl has been emptied and re-filled...
I love this weather.

Ditto the ice frisby's TT

Lai

Same here with the ice TT, and your welcome to have some of ours, but your going to need a veryvery big Truck
WS

These Birds are eating us out of house, and home, we spent just over £10-00 yesterday just on sunflower seed, and wild bird seed.Mind you the price was'nt bad the Wild Bird seed was .68p a Kilo + Vat, and the Sunflower was £1.16 a Kilo + Vat. We got it from a big Farm/ Pet stores, and it works out a lot cheaper than normal shops, so we got a load
WS

We've just stocked up again this morning WS - as you say they are eating so much at the moment, but everything was so frozen first thing I feel so sorry for them all.

We had a lovely display from the sparrowhawk with both Pete and I trying to get photos - it was having a real go at the jackdaws and crows. It went on for over 15 minutes going from tree to tree and giving chase, just wonderful to see. Sadly not one decent photo, practice needed for sure.

Lai

All I seem to be buying at the moment is Dog Food, cat Food, Litter and a Mountain of Bird Food.......but mainly Bird food, as you all say they are just eating tons of it, it's so hard to keep up with them. I haven't even been having a lie in as I'm so worried about them getting their food it's so cold and you just seem to be topping up all day. Not sure if our Garden Centres are open over christmas but I know Sainsburys opens on Boxing Day, so if my supplies run low at least I can nip up there and get some seed and pellets for them......I have a feeling I may be doing that run the way things are going, the supplies are fast disappearing.
littlewid-x-

Well I made that trip to Sainsburys yesterday. My little birds have eaten me out of all the suet pellets they love so much so had to go and buy some more. They are not the same as the ones I have been using but hopefully they will love them just the same. They are eating the seed and peanuts a bit and also the mealworms but it is the pellets they are going mad for and I just can't keep up. I am now getting a variety of birds feeding which is lovely and I seem to have a regular pigeon as well, he is rather plump but he must be hungry to keep feeding but he is polite as he is now waiting for the other birds to feed then he has his turn.....so how can I turn him away, he obviously needs it as well.

littlewid-x-

We put out some old edam cheese this morning and it went in a flash - much as i dont always like the bigger birds coming in, they deserve to eat as well so it'll be off to the shops again in a couple of days

Lai

Mrs S's Bird Food Recipe
1 lb Flower Plain or Self Raising
8 oz Lard
Large Handfull of Sultanas or Raisns

Take the Lard out of the fridge well before you plan to use it. It's then softer, and easier to use

Rub the Lard into the Flower, add the fruit. Mix with approx a Mug of water to from a stiff dough. You soon get used to how much water to put in after a couple of goes, if you've added to much just add some more Flour.

Thats the basic recipe, you can add anything to it like sunflower seeds, crushed nuts, suet, anything that will mix in.

You can then form it into Balls or flat cakes put it in the fridge to stiffen. You can also use it to fill half Coconuts. The lard gives the Birds alot of energy without having to expend to much eating it. They love it, it's based on an old RSPB one

Takes about 10 Mins to make
We still put seed ,and nuts out, but its bulk food for them high in energy, and easy to digest
WS

Sounds as even though I could manage that WS and all those ingrediants with a few extras will be on my shopping list from now on. Thanks to you and Mrs S for that

littlewid-x-

Same here - ( posted under different thread WS ), thanks to Mrs S for her recipe.

Lai

Your welcome. I noticed today that the feeders have been alot quieter, as the weather has gone milder. I think our feathered friends have earned a rest from flying backwards, and forwards to the feeders
WS

Just spotted this one, it's a bit late, but just in case



WS

Thanks for that WS - i would never have given turkey or goose fat anyway, it would have seemed strange to give birds fat from other birds but they are enjoying the cheese, biscuit crumbs and the blackbirds love the pears.

Lai

put out some pasta today and also some left over home made fruit bread as well as the normal seeds and mealworms , I hope they like it

They'll love the pasta PPH - I am not sure which of the birds eats it but it all goes, probably the crows and jackdaws but i guess they need to eat as well.

I bet they'll love your home made fruit bread

Lai

They will love the Fruit Bread PPH, I've put it out before. Our feeders are alot quieter, since its warmed up a bit, I dont know about yours
WS