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IN OUR GARDENS 2025

Brummie a long time ago said:
They are noticeably less tame. The outstanding example is the robin, in the UK our local robin would shove Julie out of the way to check for worms if she was digging in the garden, sometimes perching on the fork while she was using it. Over here they don’t come near, and don’t come to the feeders even if we put out mealworms. Other birds are similar to the UK, happy to come to the feeders if they feel safe. The cats round here are night prowlers, so the birds are OK during the day. We do have an increase in blackbirds this year, about 5 pairs on the plot. We have just had a belter of a thunderstorm, and Julie was watching a blackbird near the shed. There was a bright flash of lightening, the blackbird jumped about a foot and then ran under a bush. Another bird that is up this year is the hoopoe (Upupa epops), normally quite private but several are flying around the plot quite openly this year. It has a simple call that Julie can copy quite well, and she often gets an answer when she calls. For all I know, they could be swearing back at her.
As for eating songbirds, the ortolan bunting (emberiza hortulana) sometimes appears in restaurants. (If you need a diversion, look up dining with a towel over your head). The quail, though not a songbird, is fairly common on the plate. There was a controversy a while ago about glue traps for birds. However, all sorts of birds get shot, especially after lunch when the empty bottles have been put away.
(Nothing can eat a baguette that is more than half a day old).
Andrew.
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Just got back, phew! Brought some bread I might be able to eat. I have problems. Partner crumbled some for our blackbirds, they have taken it to feed their babies. ! Partner's mum used to get black woodpeckers in her garden with mournful cry almost gibbon like. No Hoopoes.
 
Hope the trip went well.
I Am Nico said:
Partner crumbled some for our blackbirds, they have taken it to feed their babies.
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Oo-err. Low nutritional value and it can swell up in their tiny tummies and cause feeding issues. Hope yours are OK.

We have a few bird boxes up, and they have metal plates round the holes. So the woodpecker takes the bottom out.

A few boulangeries around here produce a very hard specialty bread that needs a hammer when it is fresh, and a chainsaw after a few days. Works as hardcore after a week.

We have a mass of butterflies at the moment, mostly graylings. We also have a lot of lizards, fairly small about 150mm long. They run under the plant pots or up the wall when we approach. Some are getting brave and will wait to see how close we are going to get before they scuttle away. We saw a couple fighting a few days ago, looked like an animated reef knot. (I say fighting ;)).

Julie was out early this morning and saw a bee asleep in a flower head. Wings folded, head down. She reckons it was snoring.

We are currently about 37 deg in the shade and about 24 deg at night. Flora and Fauna are feeling it too.
Andrew.
 
Brummie a long time ago said:
Hope the trip went well.

Oo-err. Low nutritional value and it can swell up in their tiny tummies and cause feeding issues. Hope yours are OK.

We have a few bird boxes up, and they have metal plates round the holes. So the woodpecker takes the bottom out.

A few boulangeries around here produce a very hard specialty bread that needs a hammer when it is fresh, and a chainsaw after a few days. Works as hardcore after a week.

We have a mass of butterflies at the moment, mostly graylings. We also have a lot of lizards, fairly small about 150mm long. They run under the plant pots or up the wall when we approach. Some are getting brave and will wait to see how close we are going to get before they scuttle away. We saw a couple fighting a few days ago, looked like an animated reef knot. (I say fighting ;)).

Julie was out early this morning and saw a bee asleep in a flower head. Wings folded, head down. She reckons it was snoring.

We are currently about 37 deg in the shade and about 24 deg at night. Flora and Fauna are feeling it too.
Andrew.
Click to expand...
Oh dear, it just contains wholemeal flour and no added sugar made for toasting.. Won't feed anymore. We have 2 bird boxes up, squirrels broke the feeder have it on an upturned pot for now. Mate is giving me his late parents' bird bath as he is moving to Brum. in a flat. Partner had some hammer bread at the b and b the day we left. She needed nan's ommer ond to bost it open. Envious of your wildlife. Friend has badgers will try and post at some point. We put plenty of water out and they drink it warm.
 
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