Birds of the Garden Table

Bird Sections Below

Garden Birds

Seagull Special

How many species of birds visit your garden? If you provide a regular supply of food you can over time expect a lot of frequent visitors. The regular all-year-round visitors to our garden are sparrows, blackbirds, starlings, seagulls, woodpigeons, collared doves, magpies, blue tits and great tits - and occasionally jackdaws. In winter robins, wrens and thrushes are common. And last year we even had a greater spotted woodpecker! Greenfinches used to be common visitors but in recent years they have all but disappeared. We provide a varied diet. Wild bird seed from a seed feeder hung in an old apple tree at the far end of what is a small garden. We also have two peanut feeders in the tree but they are not so popular. The tree has been invaded both both ivy and a climber and therefore provides plenty of dense cover which gives the smaller birds more confidence.

On top of the washing line post at the far end of the garden, and close to the seed feeder, I have fixed a large and deep flowerpot saucer, in which we put both bread and fatballs. Finally, on an old garden table within a few feet of the back kitchen window there is a food bowl for bread, peanuts, fatballs, cheese, and whatever scraps are available. It is this location that provides the photographs. It's very satisfying when the adult birds have enough confidence to bring their young into the garden. [June 2006]