howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
18 December 2009
22:2735164calm down now, i am referring to the ornithological types.
during the big freeze, they may be getting good supplies of food from well wishers, but their water supply has dried up temporarily.
a warm saucer of water left outside in the morning will take a while to freeze up therefore giving our feathered friends time to get themselves a drink.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
19 December 2009
08:0435174Good thinking Howard; in these temperatures though, it won't remain fluid for long - maybe long enough though.
Roger
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
19 December 2009
12:1235200I have put out the milk and seeds today and nuts.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
19 December 2009
13:3535208we have a block of summat you can buy for birds in these cold times and they visiting our bird house
nice to watch
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
19 December 2009
14:5235216that sorts out their food keith, they still need water in these iced up times.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
19 December 2009
14:5935219Our bird bath is always topped up, and they`ve got some nice granary bread today.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
19 December 2009
17:2735233Warm water will actually freeze up quicker so it's better to use cold (although either will freeze up in this weather so you have to keep checking on it.) We buy sacks of wild bird food as we have 7 doves who visit daily plus starlings (groups of up to 30 at a time) a jay, blue tits, magpies, sparrows and 2 yellow wagtails. The starlings and smaller birds love those fat filled coconut shells and any food scraps especially cheese!
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
19 December 2009
18:2335244Dare not do too much down this way as only seagulls and pidgeons seem to attend the feast. Water isn't a problem - unless the river freezes, and I can't see that happening.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
19 December 2009
18:2335245I saw some magpies eating snow while we were waiting in the car this afternoon, that'll be water won't it ? I guess ice will hurt their beaks.
Roger
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
20 December 2009
12:0535303We had the luxury of a close encounter with a Sparrowhawk sitting on the fence in our garden earlier in the week - the first time we've seen a bird of prey there, and a magnificent specimen, too. Managed to scare the sparrows away!
Every morning I break the ice on our bucket in the back garden just so the birds can have a drink; fortunately the ice hasn't been too thick so far this year, but last year for a few days it got so thick it was unbreakable, so I just lifted the ice out of the bucket and let it melt on the flagstones.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
20 December 2009
20:1535343After feeding the birds all year, they`ll be feeding us soon.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
10 January 2010
14:5337058A pair of tits in the bird tree this morning. Flown off!
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
10 January 2010
16:1437086we have lots of bird food out on the bird house they all come along every day
no probs with seagulls
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
10 January 2010
16:4837092I must say so do we,and I spend hrs just looking at them.Time from time the young ones bring me in birds that the cats have got we do save some of them but some die,and it was only last night that the young girls came over,they call me the Dr with a bird it was still alive I took it in put it in a box gave it a hot drink some food it had the drink but not the food ,after some time i took it out put it in one of my nesting box,s he was not happy about that went back inside with in two hours and some more w/drinks he was flying around the room, and he let me put him in my hand,I open the door and off he went.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
10 January 2010
17:2137098colin,by any chance where they blue tits?.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
10 January 2010
18:1837106Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
14 January 2010
17:0437550Well, how about this? Keep your eyes peeled those of you who live near Cherry Tree Ave. I saw this Kingfisher on Barton Path this afternoon, that's only the fifth I've ever seen in Dover.
I'm sorry the picture is so crap, but it was at extreme zoom and the only one I managed to get. It's good to know they are about though.
The heron and the little egrets are back again too for winter!
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
14 January 2010
17:4537553Lovely to see them Phil.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
14 January 2010
18:3937563Thanks Phil. I've never seen a Kingfisher in Dover.........
The only Kingfishers I've ever seen in the UK were on the Thames at Wolvercote near Oxford and near Coltishall on the Norfolk Broads.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
14 January 2010
19:4437579On odd occasions while looking though the tea room windows at Crabble Corn Mill you can get a glimpse of a Kingfisher in the pond area. They are a lovely bird to sit and watch.
