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Quote: So whatever/wherever you feed the birds make sure it is kept clean to prevent the spread of disease.
More words of wisdom 
I carry a scraper with me at all times, when I top up the feed station. Owt left on the tables is dispatched before I scatter any more.
I also spray the tables and the feeder perches reguarly, with one of the proprietry anti-bacterial brands, that caged birder fanciers normally use.
Get mine from Jollies
Adrian
Quote: I put me beer and fags out but the birds didn't seem interested in either! 
Nice one, they're not having my beer. 
I have a tub of RSPB fatballs which seem a bit hard and the birds have been avoiding them so I crushed up a few and spread them over two bird tables and within minutes I had Pied Wagtails, Blackbirds & Coal Tits feeding off them.
This week I've also had a Great-spotted Woodpecker and several Yellowhammer. The Waxwings haven't discovered the Cotoneaster yet, I'm sure I'll come home from work to see it stripped one day!
Great thread Tomcat, thanks for starting it.
Quote: Did I mention I photographed a glossy ibis this morning ? First one sighted in Berkshire since 1793
I should get out and take pictures, the truth is, I don`t have the patience for it. We have a field just up the road, its quite a sight seeing a kite picking up a young rabbit.
Quote: Dunnocks will only feed on the ground
Aha! I didn't know that.
I've always been under the impresssion that "Dunnock" was another name for a hedge sparrow, something that's just been confirmed by Mr. Google.
So . . .
If Dunnocks only feed on the ground, what are the birds that I, apparently wrongly, thought were Dunnocks that take the seed from my feeders?
I thought they were Dunnocks 'cos that's what they look like.
Any ideas?
Jester.
In reply to Brendan :- They will definitely feed off tables if they are hungry enough 
or brave enough!
When I was a lad we used to know them as Hedge accentors.
In reply to Dave :- Thanks mate
In reply to Brian :- Well done Sir(Black Ibis) + I am now picking up road kills if I get the chance and putting them in the field - Kite enticement which are in the vicinity
Adrian
Thanks Adrian,
I've just been looking at this site.
The photo at the top though, carries a caption describing the bird therein as "dunnock, hedge saprrow and (as you say) hedge accentor" and then repeats that in the opening sentence.
Which is what I thought was the case.
Then, a bit further down, it goes on to say that teling the difference between a Dunnock and a sparrow is difficult as they look very much alike.
Puzzled?
Yes, I am!
. . . and I'm still not sure what the birds are that are hanging from my feeder or eating from trhe branches next to it.
Hi Brendan,
There is a great difference between the two/three species - Dunnock, House Sparrow & Tree sparrow.
As in the image in your link, Dunnocks have that slatey blue breast with a mottled brown colour for the rest of the body.
Sparrows(both) have the distinctive black badges/cheeks - without going into to much detail & a different shaped beak too + Dunnocks sing, Sparrows only "cheep"
Adrian
Quote: Lol with wife nearly died earlier, spotted a large rat eating the bird food.
First I`ve seen, they must be getting hungry.
A bit like this, you mean? This was taken 2008 or 9. We had a whole family of them running up and down collecting food...
We bought a humane trap and set them free in woodland a distance away. I didn't exactly promote them being on the garden, but they were still interesting to see.
Haven't seen any more since then. The odd mouse once or twice but that's it now.
Quote: There is a great difference between the two/three species - Dunnock, House Sparrow & Tree sparrow.
Thanks again Adrian,
That's something else I've learned!
I actually went to the trouble of acquiring, from a charity shop, a book of British Garden Birds with loads of pictures and information about the various species, so that I might get gto know some of the birds in my garden.
I've just never really got around to it.
Quote: We bought a humane trap and set them free in woodland a distance away.
I can appreciate your reasons - up to a point, but Rastus rastus are regarded as vermin.
By letting them loose in an area which could have been devoid of rats, actually creates more problems for the indigenous wildlife
Adrian
We have our own apple tree`s and leave those that fall, the munkjack love em.
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