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Happy gardening!

Thursday 9 February 2012

Brittany winter garden visitors...

One bonus of the cold weather is the variety of birds it brings into the garden... best not mention the quantity of bird food I'm getting through at the moment!!  This little ceramic feeder was a Christmas pressie and the birds love it... they can get right inside it and just enjoy a good feed of the mixed seed/nuts that I've got inside... a bit like a bird version of Santa's Grotto!!

After everyone's comments about the feeder, I thought I'd just post some info on where you can buy one... and they do send overseas as well - http://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/ceramic-wild-bird-seed-feeder-p-21463.html - hope this helps!

Having seen all the advertising for the Garden Birdwatch which took place in the UK recently it's been interesting to see a few changes in the numbers and species of the birds visiting our garden this winter too.  We have many Blue and Great Tits, Robins, more Chaffinches than normal, Greenfinches (not so many), Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Sparrows, Wrens and Nuthatches too but I've not seen many Song Thrushes, Redwings or Fieldfayres either, but maybe they are yet to arrive.  I have also spotted the odd Gold Crested Wren as well which is v. exciting.

We've never had many Goldfinches visiting our garden which is a shame - we had one it's own that came last year and despite putting out a niger seed feeder we still have only one... they're quite a splash of bright colour in the garden at this time of year!  Maybe it really is Billy no mates and the same lonely bird that keeps returning?!





























The weather in Brittany this last week or so has been pretty cold - I think it was about minus 7 degrees C last night so we've done our best to provide the birds with a number of feeding stations this year - their favorite spot though, is in the trees where there's a bit of shelter and protection from the Sparrow Hawks around here.

One thing not to forget about is providing enough water for the birds which they desperately need when the weather is this cold.  Our water feeder has been frozen solid every day!


This rather handsome male Great Spotted Woodpecker (they have red on their head as well as their tummy!) spent quite a bit of time on the fat balls today.  It's a good time of year for spotting they around here with the lack of foliage on the trees.

Do hope you're keeping warm and that it's not as cold where you are... 

Do consider our little feathered friends in the cold weather as they really do depend on kind people putting out what they need in winter just to survive.  If you live in the UK I could highly recommend BRINVALE BIRD FOODS - I ordered some fat squares when I was last over and their service was EXCELLENT - so helpful and very reasonable and if you order over 10kg delivery is free - my order arrived in 24hrs!  If you decide to give them a go do let them know that you got the contact from this blog (I don't get any payment for this but it's just good for them to know!)... many thanks

13 comments:

debsgarden said...

Hi, Miranda! It's great to hear from you. I just spent a few minutes catching up on some of your previous posts. I love the fox photos in your last post, as well as all of your bird shots. On occasion we have had red foxes in our yard. I once looked out the kitchen window and spotted one about twenty feet from the house! I am always thrilled to see wildlife!

Miranda Bell said...

Hi Debs -have really missed having the time to blog and visit other peopes' gardens... the trees partciuarly at your place look amazing. Yes.. the fox was a wonderful surprise - in broad daylight too... I've been back a few times recently and haven't seen another but I know they're there! Have a good week Miranda

Midmarsh John said...

Very true Miranda. Our feathered friends need a lot of help to survive this time of year. Nice to see the Goldfinch. My regulars seem to have deserted me but I hope they have found food in another garden.

Miranda Bell said...

Thanks John for your kind comments - hoping that your Goldfinches return... I'm sure they will when they realise the good food they're missing :-)

Gone Tropical said...

I so love birds in the garden, your visitors look very happy with the spread you are offering :-)

NHGarden said...

What a cute ceramic feeder! Reminds me of an egg :)

Janet said...

We have the same ceramic bird feeder. The birds don't use the perch but also go right inside. Some wondeful bird shots, Miranda.

The Sage Butterfly said...

I enjoy watching the birds, and it is so interesting to see what birds you have in your neck of the woods. That woodpecker is so beautiful. I was sitting here admiring that egg-shaped feeder you have...very nice. I bet the birds really like that because of its large opening.

Miranda Bell said...

So lovely to have all these new visitors to my blog - a real warm welcome to Gone Tropical, NH Garden, Janet and The Sage Butterfly - all your comments are very much appreciated and look forward to visiting your own blogs v. soon - enjoy the rest of your weekend - do visit again - Miranda

Miranda Bell said...

Just incase anyone is interested - various people in their comments had mentioned the blue ceramic feeder - I've added the info on where this can be bought into the text of the posting so hope this helps! The company do send overseas and are based in the UK Miranda

Norma Chang said...

Beautiful bird shots, you must spend a great deal of time waiting for just the right angle. First time visiting and enjoy your post very much.

Miranda Bell said...

Hi Norma - thank you very much for visiting my blog - a warm welcome. All the bird photos on this are taken from indoors, but it does take time waiting for the right moment! I much enjoyed your blog too - just hope my comment reached you okay. Miranda

Anonymous said...

Mianda you have a lovely garden plus a way with words. Well done. Anna from Exeter.