Frugal Living and the Wild Birds in the Garden

I've always liked feeding the wild birds, so we have a corner designated just for them. The variety of bird species here is fantastic. There's a flock of longtailed tits living on the edge of the woodlands, we can watch mallard, sandpipers and curlews across in the marsh, we have wrens, an assortment of coal, blue and great tits, chaffinches, sparrows, dunnocks, thrushes, blackbirds and greenfinches in the garden. There are buzzards circling overhead most days and we are very priviledge to have seen the rare hen harriers on several occasions. There are also owls and hawks, plus hundreds of wintering Fieldfairs. April saw the arrival of the Oystercatchers and we now have Goldfinches and Siskins visiting the new feeding station.

November 2008 - New house, new garden, new bird corner. It will be interesting finding out what types of birds frequent this area.	December 2008 - The heron is a regular visitor to the marsh in the field opposite the house, as are Mallards, sand pipers and curlews.
19/01/09 - Not quite what we expected to see feeding in the bird corner of the garden but he's become a bit of a regular now.	Mr Crow comes down to inspect the willow alongside the hen runs. These are another threat to the safety of future chicks.
20/03/09 - There's a pair of Pied Wagtails showing a huge interest in the log pile opposite the hen runs. I'm watching for any signs of nest building.	20/03/09 The one on the left is sitting on top of the broody hens' quarters and the one above is on the wood for the new hen runs.
21/03/09 - The Blue tits have been looking inside the nestbox I fitted t the fence behind the Ribes, which is about to start flowering.	A female greenfinch and a coal tit visit the peanut feeder.
These photos were taken through the living room window as we mostly feed the wild birds in the front garden. Above - Great Tit	The Coal Tit is a tiny bird compared to some of the others
There are always Chaffinches around to be seen scuttling around the grass, below the bushes and around the hen runs.	The Great Tit on the edge of the bird bath. Great Tits, Blue Tits and Coal Tits have all been inspecting the nearby nest box.
10/04/09 - We have wrens nesting in the conifer hedge between us and next door.	12/4/09 - The introduction of the new bird feeding station has brought the Goldfinches into the garden
12/04/09 - The Siskins are enjoying the peanuts on the new feeding station.	12/04/09 - Goldfinch and male Siskin sharing one of the peanut feeders.
15/04/09 A collared dove surveys the bird feeding station.	27/04/09 - A barn owl swoops overhead, evening sunlight catching the white feathering.
09/05/09 Our resident Mr Pheasant now wants in with the chickens!	23/05/09 - Baby bird takes shelter on the window sill. Long tail suggests it's a Wagtail chick.
27/06/09 There are Wheatears nesting in the wall just along from the house, we see them most nights when passing. This is the male.	27/06/09 The female Wheatear seems to be a bit more timid but just as noisy in warning us away from their nesting site.
25/07/09 Linnets everywhere at the moment, we had a pair with their young in the garden today.	13/09/09 A partridge visiting the garden. The pheasants are still about, too.
As winter approaches, the Sparrowhawk is venturing into the garden more often.	14/11/09 Female pheasant pays a visit to peer in at our penned male pheasant, Bailey.
06/01/10 We've just discovered what has taken over the empty housemartin's nest - about 20+ wrens!	06/01/10 Reed Bunting photographed en route to the forest.
13/02/10 Still plenty of Reed Buntings to be seen during today's walk.	13/02/10 The Reed Buntings seem to prefer Hawthorn rather than reeds here.