Egypt4u

Nice looking feeder granddad! I haven't seen one here like that but it sure looks nice and should attract quite a few different birds.

I haven't seen peanuts ever for sale here either for birds but we do sell sunflower seeds. The fat balls here are sold in pressed squares and I have one of those hanging in a cage. Saw two sparrows on it briefly this morning but not much action at it.

Haven't got my feeders out there yet but later this spring once I'm back I'll get them out there and hung up. Haven't quite decided where all I'm going to hang everything yet - soon!

Oops! nearly missed this one Nice feeder that Grandad, should keep the little blighters busy

Ah looking nice Grandad

Since the sun cracked through and since the pathway wasn't sloppy much I went down to the back forty and got a couple photos closer up of the swans





The marsh isn't overly deep and seems the swans are able to reach bottom grass as they're coming up with beak fulls.

@ Grandad - this is what our "fat balls" look like here. I can see, looking at mine, that somebody has been nibbling away at the top corners but it isn't getting near the activity I thought it would.



These squares are made in different formulas so as to apparently attract different birds. This one is just basically supposedly high protein for ALL birds.

That marsh looks really pretty with the frost on the reeds
Strange how in Canada your balls are square whereas in the UK our are round, I think I will rephrase that

Horus wrote:Strange how in Canada your balls are square whereas in the UK our are round, I think I will rephrase that

I like the look of your square balls and holder LLL. I have seen them here like that. The round ones here are often sold in little individual green plastic net so the can be hung individually. Not recommended practice though because birds CAN get their claws caught in the net. I always remove the nets.
Good pictures of the swans, and the reeds look as if they could be a varied habitat for birds and mammals. Keep your eyes peeled.

What a difference when the fog lifts, nice pics of the swans & I like the motion in the water.

I made two more nest boxes yesterday, one for tits and one for robins. Bit of an overkill really but I am determined to get another brood of chicks this year. I sense some keen competition coming from all points north and far west.
In the first picture I invite you to find the robin box. They like them fairly low and hidden, apparently.

I only put the new boxes up yesterday afternoon and this morning a blue tit is already considering taking up residence.

I have not seen any starlings for a long time but one has found the new feeder and keeps returning.

I did get a quick snap of one of the foxes but with low light and through double glazing it is not good quality. You can however see what a fine specimen he is.


The gauntlet is down.

Well I for one can't take it up just yet, great photo's though The Robin box is well hidden and with any luck you may get visitors, but for sure you will get Blue Tits in the other one, lovely fox

Definitely the fox looks in fine form.

Does the starling arriving mean the seed feeder will be emptied daily by a flock arriving? Happens here that if the starlings find your seed feeder they'll keep at it until they've managed to drain the seeds and seem to keep the other birds away.

Am I making out the robin box towards the top of the photo in the just to the right of centre? And does the outside of it have natural wood finish - bark?

All in all looks really good!

Yes it is there LLL but it seems that to stand a chance of getting them to nest, the box needs to be secluded so fingers crossed.

Hopefully this will get you a robin. I don't think I've ever seen a robin nest in a box but have over the years found the occasional next and blue egg.

I'm going to adopt Horus' suggestion for my bird bath (shallow bowl + rocks) however now that there is an entire marsh behind me I don't really know if I'm going to put a bird bath in the backyard other than ornamental. In the old place although I was close to salt water there was no fresh nearby so I was feeling the need to put out some sort of water for the birds but not so much in this place.

Great photos Grandad............you seem really into your wildlife

Nothing much happening outback at the moment. I expect the foxes have their cubs now and we should see them in about 6 - 8 weeks, Still putting lots of food out each evening, would like a good healthy litter again this year.

Am a little sad however because I have not seen the albino squirrel for a couple of weeks. I think she was pregnant last time I saw her so maybe she died giving birth or perhaps the foxes got her.

This is the first time for very many years that we have not had at least one albino around so it will be interesting to see if the 'genes' are still around and one or more will appear in a new litter. Fingers crossed.

This was my last picture of her looking plump in mid February

Never mind Grandad she may well turn up later as it gets a bit warmer

Awe! I do hope she turns up again

You could be correct Horus because, although squirrels don't hibernate, they do sometimes spend a long period in their nests which are very cosy and warm places.

Gee - having a white squirrel was really unique and interesting so am sure hoping she is just off on a mini vacation and will be returning real soon.

Well I made 4 new nest boxes and none has yet attracted any occupants. The only reliable local wildlife residents, apart from the squirells, are the foxes. We have seen foxes coming down for food but mostly well after dusk.

Last evening I put food out at about 6.30 and then sat outside and waited. Within a minute the vixen appeared and was not concerned about me. I could see six of her eight nipples well developed so I expect she has at least three cubs. As she is out foraging, the cubs will be at least four weeks old so hopefully we will see them soon.

She is still looking good but is beginning to moult on her hind quarters and will soon lose all her brush fur. I now need to get a picture of the dog to make sure she is not a single mum.

Fabulous shot Grandad and I'm pleased to see that you have all her health checks sorted out Just make sure that Mrs G doesn't catch you counting nipples or you could be in big trouble Look forward to seeing pictures of the cubs