We loved to do our bit for wildlife and the birds are very entertaining. Fortunately the squirrels don’t pose a threat because all of our feeders are RSPB approved. However, this does not guarantee peace at the diner because the greedy pigeons do scare off the more timid birds. Yesterday, I saw three black crows hanging off a bird feeder and then a pheasant climbed aboard which was very cheeky. Some birds are definitely more welcome than others and we don’t like the troublemakers getting fat at everyone else’s expense.
But the sight of greenfinches, nuthatches and robins makes up for the thugs. The long tailed tits and blue tits come along en masse and there are often as many as ten at the dinner table. But the bird we love to see the most is the jay. Usually, they are quite shy birds but we see one on a bird feeder now and then and it is beautiful with its characteristic blue flash.
I make bird cake which disappears faster than chocolate brownie in our pantry. I make a dry mix of crushed biscuits, seeds, plain flour and chopped peanuts and pour in some melted lard – about one third fat to two thirds dry mixture. Then I press the cake into metal suet feeders but I always leave a few balls of bird cake on a tray so that the robins can feed. Apparently, they cannot cling on to hanging feeders easily and prefer to peck at the cake on a flat surface. They keep coming back for more so they must like it.
Sadly, I have not managed to get any good photos of the birds feeding but I live in hope. It is a challenge! But as long as the birds have food to make the winter months more bearable, then that is enough for us.
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| Springfield Diner |
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