With Autumn well set in, despite generally pretty mild temperatures, the feeders are getting busier in my garden. I am often asked what I feed and I have narrowed it down to just a few products now that all the birds love. Although they are the most expensive, sunflower hearts are a firm favourite and attract just about all species. I mix sunflower hearts with black sunflower seeds generally. I also feed a high energy no mess feed from CJ Wildlife. It contains a mix of Sunflower Hearts, Kibbled Sunflower Hearts, Kibbled Peanuts, Yellow Millet, Kibbled Maize and Pinhead Oatmeal. I also always feed a fat-based product. This is fed in different formats, depending on the fewer I use. The fat based products are particularly high energy and loved by the woodpecker and long-tailed tits especially!
It was good to see the bullfinch back on the feeders this week. Up until about 4 years ago, I had not had bullfinches in the garden very often. Like goldfinches, they have learnt to take advantage of the excellent feasts available at feeding stations.
There are good numbers of goldfinch and greenfinch, with chaffinch appearing too and the occasional house sparrow….
The jackdaws love the feeders too, but can work their way through a lot of food and they tend to scare off everything around!
Both male and female Great spotted woodpecker are also seen regularly. The male is distinctive with his red nape. The female does not have this coloration,
The waterhole is being well used. Lots of different species are drinking and bathing. This wren flitted about and enjoyed a bath…
I have had a new visitor to the garden in the last week or so; a male pheasant. He is stunning and is spending time picking up seed debris and drinking from the waterhole as well…
Another rarely seen visitor, was this polecat, seen at my fox feeding station. A brief glimpse but good to know they are around. I have filmed them before and they prey on the rats that often visit here.
Last week, Filmed this rather disturbing scene. One of my foxes seems to be very wobbly… as if it has some kind of nerve damage? One ear is back and his legs seem to be uncoordinated. I have no idea what is the issue here as he looks in prime bodily condition. I will have to keep an eye out for his return…..
You can watch all of these cameras, live, via my website or on the CJ Wildlife website.