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Squirrels must be low carb

I put nyjer seed out for the redpolls. The goldies always went for the sunflower hearts. I did try some thistle things once but they were ignored. I think the feeders were easier for them! They have just disappeared from the general area of my home and I blame the Planners at the council! The field they built on was full of thistles, and the finches bred down there, but no longer. The disease that hit the greenfinches also hit the other finches, collared doves and the sparrows to some extent. It is awful to see an affected one in the garden. Right now I'm inundated with jackdaws and starlings.
 
Thank you. I have a Panasonic Lumix FZ150. Previously I had the FZ38. Superb bridge cameras, although the FZ150 has been superseded by another FZ model. The photo was taken from a bedroom window.
 
I'm never going to outwit these clever devils. Do watch until the end!
 
Brilliant! I take it he/she chose the Snickers bar? (couldn't quite make it out)
 
Wantonewantonewantone! Priceless!

Some nice birds too. I went to Canada when I was about 20 and saw what looked like a Great Tit, asked my host what it was called (Chickadee) and then had great trouble explaining that Great Tit wasn't rude ...

I wonder if there's a bird table variety for Herring Gulls and cats ...

 
I love this photo x
 
I drilled holes in the wall and hung up my new squirrel feeder. I hung a huge dome, called a squirrel baffle (because it confuses them?), over the bird feeder. Wouldn't you know it, no sign of a squirrel or a bird since!
 
You'll have to Gargle for it but there is one of the hot spices - can't remember which - that tastes dreadful to us and squirrels, but which the birds don't notice.

You might find a reference to it on one of the bird watching/photographing forums.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-202877

chilli powder...


J.
 
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I thought I'd let you know that the squirrel loves his new feeder. He can hang by his back feet from the top of the wall, open the lid and feed on the nuts and seeds in the container. You can just about see him doing this in the picture taken on my laptop (sorry for poor quality, husband has camera).

What you can't see is my dog lying on the chair in front of my desk watching the squirrel. Squirrel watching has become her new hobby. She doesn't drool too much!
 
Bluetit1802 said:
That's fantastic Rosie. Have the birds got used to the baffle on their feeder?
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Yes, even the goldfinches are back. Strangely, the sparrows, who have always been ground feeders, hoovering up what the others drop, have taken to perching on the feeder under the baffle.

My little blue-tit family are all growing and can now feed themselves. They love clinging to the peanut feeder.

Of course, I'm getting no work done - I just sit watching it all.
 

I'm the same. It's a magical time of year. I've had several baby blackbirds that I've watched from the beginning when they first appeared, with their dads feeding them (not their mums). Now they are independent and learning quickly. Fledgling sparrows everywhere, flapping their wings and calling for food, only seen 2 baby bluetits this year, and one independent young goldfinch, plus several noisy baby starlings (earplugs required). I have upwards of 30 sparrows at any one time, and they have always used the feeders. Just need to reduce the greedy jackdaws now!
 
We have noisy starlings, but can go weeks without seeing them, loads of big. fat collared doves and a couple of chaffinches. Jackdaws don't come into our garden or enclosed patio, maybe too wary of the dog, though we have them in the paddock which we back on to.
 
We had a whole squadron of baby bluetits who flew around in formation for a while but have now presumably scattered. Several blackbird and dunnock youngsters, and a single young goldfinch that I'm aware of. Not sure where the greenfinches have got to though. Herring gulls still wolfing too much of the food (and terrorising the cats). Had to remove one from the living room the other day - wandered in through the half-open French windows and couldn't find his way back out
 
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