Over the garden fence

Re: Bird feeding

Clematis — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:28:35 GMT

I haven't had any berries this year - am I doing something wrong? Didn't have any on the Holly either!!! Was it the weather - or did the birds get them before I saw them?

Re: Bird feeding

Pip — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:20:16 GMT

Since cutting back some branches that were blanketed in Ivy, the poor Blackbirds have been telling me off. I've now had to put shreded paper and other materials for them to live. I throw out some apple and cheese for them. The Robin''s enjoy that too.

How do I stop squirrels invading the house and 'planting' their own garden...

Re: Bird feeding

Phot's-Moll — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:59:33 GMT

Leaving some branches unpruned makes sense, Terra. I'll try to do that. My plants are tied to wires too, which does help to keep them tidy.

RobK - it's surprising how many birds will come to feed in built up areas if we provide them with what they need. I'm sure you're right that numbers are lower than they used to be though.

Re: Bird feeding

RobK — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:02:05 GMT

Hi, I have several feeders,with a mixture of seed,mealworms (dried) Nyger seeds, and nuts.These attract Coal tits and blue tits.

I also scatter some seed on the lawn for the Blackbirds,robins,starlings,Dunnocks,Feral and wood pigeon. And just yesterday a song thrush.

My Dad lives 10 miles from me and has lots of Goldfinches, These feed on the Nyger seeds,they prefer to feed away from the other birds so he has positioned the feeders away from the others.

All this in Manchester less than 5 miles from city centre,on a normal housing estate,altough we do have lots of trees around. Which are home to a large flock of Long tailed tits.

Numbers are down for garden birds,my neighbour a keen gardener for most of his 81 years tells me he used to get lots of birds.

Still I suppose we should do all we can to attract them to our gardens,especially this time of year.

Re: Bird feeding

terraGirl — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:15:57 GMT

I have to prune the fire thorn quite hard - it's only a small garden, and left to its own devices, it would take over! I prune in early spring after the berries are gone (and with very, very thick gloves). Does impact on the berries, so I try only to prune what's necessary.

The shrub has a habit of flopping over, so I've tied it to the fence similar to a climber, but with very strong wire. And the main stem is supported by a thick bamboo cane. Any growth coming forward is pruned, any sideway growth tied to the fence via wire.

Luckily the fence behind is a strong one with concrete pillars so it can take the weight.

About pruning the RHS site says: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0601/pruning_pyracantha.asp.

No easy way to avoid reducing the berries - I try to only prune every other year and to only prune what's necessary (but that quite hard), to keep some branches unchanged for berries.

Re: Bird feeding

sue1002 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:43:04 GMT

In my pruning book Phot's it says that Pyracantha will tolerate hard pruning but it might make them more vulnerable to fireblight.

Re: Bird feeding

Phot's-Moll — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:39:19 GMT

How do you get your pyracantha (firethorn) to produce berries and still stay close to the fence? - or do you let it grow naturally?I have two and they've produced lots of berries so far, but they've now reached the top of the fence and bush out more than I'd like. I'm worried that pruning hard back will result in no flowers and berries.

Re: Bird feeding

terraGirl — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:18:56 GMT

The birds in our garden love the fire thorn (blackbirds) and cotoneaster (tits, finches). We grow them alongside the fence, easy to maintain and a real hit with the birds when it gets colder.

Unfortunately they also love our plums - especially tits have a habit of hanging upside down & picking holes in the bottoms, followed swiftly by wasps.

Rasperries are also much loved by birds - although with plenty of raspberries around the sharing between humans & wildlife is quite fair.

Sunflowers are usually quite popular - even squirrels seem to like them. I don't really mind - just plant plenty and enjoy the acrobatics of birds getting the seeds.

Re: Bird feeding

sue1002 — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:42:51 GMT

I was watching the birds here today and noticed that for the first time ever, both house sparrows and bluetits are feeding on the fat balls, the seed only feeders which they usually feed from are not being touched.

Re: Bird feeding

sue1002 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:29:38 GMT

We've got loads of birds in the garden this morning, starlings, bluetits, a pair of chaffinch (seen the male one before but today is the first time I've seen the female one), house sparrows and our robin is back.

Re: Bird feeding

Foxnfirefly — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:03:34 GMT

Lovely close-up!! Those are colorful birdies, Phot's. It's dark when I leave for work and return home, so only on a weekend if I can sit and watch, I hope to catch some. I just put the bird feeder out now as they have plenty of nut and berry trees for food sources at this time of year. Jan & Feb. are the hungry bird months here.

Re: Bird feeding

Phot's-Moll — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:46:40 GMT

They look even better swaying about on the ends of the verbena, but obviously they're harder to photograph when they do that!

Re: Bird feeding

sue1002 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:39:09 GMT

Thanks for putting the photo up Phot's, they are lovely looking birds.

Re: Bird feeding

Phot's-Moll — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:05:36 GMT

Re: Bird feeding

Foxnfirefly — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:20:57 GMT

Did you see the new bird camera? I came across it on the web today!! $240. That's a lot for birdwatching, though...

It's at: http://www.wingscapes.com

Taking birdwatching to the next level.....It could be used in the stables and the cookie jar area, as well. Wink! Wink!!