Foxgun Tom 75 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Grey Squirrel on its lunch! There's quite a famous picture of a squirrel on a bird table munching away on an adult blue tit! still trying to find it? Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
craigyboy 1,274 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Grey Squirrel on its lunch! There's quite a famous picture of a squirrel on a bird table munching away on an adult blue tit! still trying to find it? Tom i remember it mate,it was on the front cover of cmw,vermin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Catcher 1 639 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Grey Squirrel on its lunch! There's quite a famous picture of a squirrel on a bird table munching away on an adult blue tit! still trying to find it? Tom Thankyou Tom I rest my case. .atb. Catcher. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DUCKWING 302 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 WATCHED SOME JACKDAWS TODAY TRYING TO GET AT SPARROW CHICKS IN A HOUSE GABLE COVERD WITH IVY ..... LAST YEAR SAW JACKDAWS TAKING PIED WAGTAIL FLEDGLINGS .....CROWS TAKING DOVE SQUABS AND EATING BLUE TITS AS SOON AS THEY EMERGED FROM THEIR NEST IN A BRICK PILLER ..... SHOT A GREY SQUIRREL THIS MONTH THAT WAS TRYING TO CHEW INTO SOME OF MY NEST BOXES , CAUGHT 29 MAGPIES / 13 CARRION CROWS THIS LAST MONTH IN THE LARSONS , TRAPPED NUMEROUS RATS AND SQUIRRELS ....... YEP ...... THERES A LOT OF PRESSURE ON WILDLIFE YET I STILL SEE PLENTY , THE SET A SIDE FIELDS HAVE BEEN A GREAT BOON SINCE WE LOST A LOT OF THE PIT HEAPS AND UNKEPT FACTORY GROUNDS , THESE WERE ALWAYS GREAT SITES AS THEY WERENT SPRAYED AND THE WILD FOOD GREW FOR THE FINCHES ETC ,...... PERSONALLY I THINK THERES A LOT LESS SPRAYING OCCURING IN MY AREA , EVERY YEAR WITH MY DAUGHTER I MAKE A FEW DOZEN NEST BOXES FROM SCRAP PLY OF DIFFERENT TYPES , WE ARE UP INTO THE HUNDREDS NOW , AND BACK END OF THE WINTER WE TAKE THE LADDER AND GO AND PUT THEM OUT ..USUALLY ON ONE OF OUR DOG EXCERCISING ROUTES , THAT WAY WE CAN CHECK IF THEY ARE GETTING USED AND BY WHAT ...... FOR THE PAST FEW YRS SHES KEPT A BOOK ON THEM , ITS SURPRIZING WHAT CHOOSES TO NEST IN WHAT BOX AND WHAT POSITION ..... YOU FELLAS SHOULD TRY DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR , PLY CAN BE EASILY FOUND IN SKIPS OR BY BREAKING DOWN OLD FURNITURE ETC , A LACK OF ,,, SAFE DECENT NESTING SITES HAMPERS A LOT OF OUR NATIVE BIRDS ALL THE BEST DUCKWING 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Foxgun Tom 75 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 I remember as a kid in the late 60's flocks of sparrows feeding in barley fields late summer you never see that now! but I did have a charm of Goldfinch'es in my garden last year 20/25 birds Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
craigyboy 1,274 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 WATCHED SOME JACKDAWS TODAY TRYING TO GET AT SPARROW CHICKS IN A HOUSE GABLE COVERD WITH IVY ..... LAST YEAR SAW JACKDAWS TAKING PIED WAGTAIL FLEDGLINGS .....CROWS TAKING DOVE SQUABS AND EATING BLUE TITS AS SOON AS THEY EMERGED FROM THEIR NEST IN A BRICK PILLER ..... SHOT A GREY SQUIRREL THIS MONTH THAT WAS TRYING TO CHEW INTO SOME OF MY NEST BOXES , CAUGHT 29 MAGPIES / 13 CARRION CROWS THIS LAST MONTH IN THE LARSONS , TRAPPED NUMEROUS RATS AND SQUIRRELS ....... YEP ...... THERES A LOT OF PRESSURE ON WILDLIFE YET I STILL SEE PLENTY , THE SET A SIDE FIELDS HAVE BEEN A GREAT BOON SINCE WE LOST A LOT OF THE PIT HEAPS AND UNKEPT FACTORY GROUNDS , THESE WERE ALWAYS GREAT SITES AS THEY WERENT SPRAYED AND THE WILD FOOD GREW FOR THE FINCHES ETC ,...... PERSONALLY I THINK THERES A LOT LESS SPRAYING OCCURING IN MY AREA , EVERY YEAR WITH MY DAUGHTER I MAKE A FEW DOZEN NEST BOXES FROM SCRAP PLY OF DIFFERENT TYPES , WE ARE UP INTO THE HUNDREDS NOW , AND BACK END OF THE WINTER WE TAKE THE LADDER AND GO AND PUT THEM OUT ..USUALLY ON ONE OF OUR DOG EXCERCISING ROUTES , THAT WAY WE CAN CHECK IF THEY ARE GETTING USED AND BY WHAT ...... FOR THE PAST FEW YRS SHES KEPT A BOOK ON THEM , ITS SURPRIZING WHAT CHOOSES TO NEST IN WHAT BOX AND WHAT POSITION ..... YOU FELLAS SHOULD TRY DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR , PLY CAN BE EASILY FOUND IN SKIPS OR BY BREAKING DOWN OLD FURNITURE ETC , A LACK OF ,,, SAFE DECENT NESTING SITES HAMPERS A LOT OF OUR NATIVE BIRDS ALL THE BEST DUCKWING belting idea mate,what kind of birds have you had nesting in em,any surprises Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Catcher 1 639 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 I remember as a kid in the late 60's flocks of sparrows feeding in barley fields late summer you never see that now! but I did have a charm of Goldfinch'es in my garden last year 20/25 birds Tom AS i said Tom out today and a few times last week same place.The song birds are thriving.Hopeing to get some good pics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gonetoearth 5,144 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 (edited) HAD a nest next to one of my bird feeders chics were doing fine then this morn seen a grey on the feeder by the time i got me ultra it had gone so i went and checked nest , raged and chics gone went back to house turned round magie sat right next to nest pop one less magie , but i need to get the grey asap , we have reds too , the grey is a curse and know matter how many i shoot the smile on my face will always be the same , magies jays, crows, jackdaws all do the same , keep at them lads Edited May 12, 2011 by gonetoearth Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 have had blue tits nesting in a box at my living room window for about 7 years now.minted wee things. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ideation 8,217 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 We have a fair number of song birds, but a lot of greys and you do notice in areas where we kill them on sight there are more birds than the areas we leave. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DUCKWING 302 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 WATCHED SOME JACKDAWS TODAY TRYING TO GET AT SPARROW CHICKS IN A HOUSE GABLE COVERD WITH IVY ..... LAST YEAR SAW JACKDAWS TAKING PIED WAGTAIL FLEDGLINGS .....CROWS TAKING DOVE SQUABS AND EATING BLUE TITS AS SOON AS THEY EMERGED FROM THEIR NEST IN A BRICK PILLER ..... SHOT A GREY SQUIRREL THIS MONTH THAT WAS TRYING TO CHEW INTO SOME OF MY NEST BOXES , CAUGHT 29 MAGPIES / 13 CARRION CROWS THIS LAST MONTH IN THE LARSONS , TRAPPED NUMEROUS RATS AND SQUIRRELS ....... YEP ...... THERES A LOT OF PRESSURE ON WILDLIFE YET I STILL SEE PLENTY , THE SET A SIDE FIELDS HAVE BEEN A GREAT BOON SINCE WE LOST A LOT OF THE PIT HEAPS AND UNKEPT FACTORY GROUNDS , THESE WERE ALWAYS GREAT SITES AS THEY WERENT SPRAYED AND THE WILD FOOD GREW FOR THE FINCHES ETC ,...... PERSONALLY I THINK THERES A LOT LESS SPRAYING OCCURING IN MY AREA , EVERY YEAR WITH MY DAUGHTER I MAKE A FEW DOZEN NEST BOXES FROM SCRAP PLY OF DIFFERENT TYPES , WE ARE UP INTO THE HUNDREDS NOW , AND BACK END OF THE WINTER WE TAKE THE LADDER AND GO AND PUT THEM OUT ..USUALLY ON ONE OF OUR DOG EXCERCISING ROUTES , THAT WAY WE CAN CHECK IF THEY ARE GETTING USED AND BY WHAT ...... FOR THE PAST FEW YRS SHES KEPT A BOOK ON THEM , ITS SURPRIZING WHAT CHOOSES TO NEST IN WHAT BOX AND WHAT POSITION ..... YOU FELLAS SHOULD TRY DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR , PLY CAN BE EASILY FOUND IN SKIPS OR BY BREAKING DOWN OLD FURNITURE ETC , A LACK OF ,,, SAFE DECENT NESTING SITES HAMPERS A LOT OF OUR NATIVE BIRDS ALL THE BEST DUCKWING belting idea mate,what kind of birds have you had nesting in em,any surprises ALL SORTS FELLA .. TO BE HONEST ITS MORE SURPRIZING HOW SOME WITH PUSH INTO BOXES THAT WERENT MEANT FOR THAT SIZED BIRD ,.. AND HOW BIRDS THAT LIKE TO NEST CLOSE TO THE GROUND WILL GO UP OVER INTO A BOX IF THERES ONE PRESENT THIS YEAR THERES A GRASS WARBLER , 3 WOOD WARBLERS , 5 LITTLE OWLS ..... SPOTTED , PIED FLYCATCHERS AND A QUITE A FEW REDSTARTS ,YELLOW WAGTAILS , CHIFFCHAFFS NUTHATCHES , TREE CREEPERS , LOTS OF THE USUAL SUSPECTS.... ITS FUNNY HOW BIRDS THAT USUALLY DONT USE A BOX WILL DROP INTO AN OPEN FRONTED ONE IN THE RIGHT LOCATION , I FIND THESE USUALLY HAVE TO BE QUITE HIDDEN AMONGST THE BRANCHES ..... GIVE IT A GO LADS , DUCKWING Quote Link to post Share on other sites
undisputed 1,664 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 WATCHED SOME JACKDAWS TODAY TRYING TO GET AT SPARROW CHICKS IN A HOUSE GABLE COVERD WITH IVY ..... LAST YEAR SAW JACKDAWS TAKING PIED WAGTAIL FLEDGLINGS .....CROWS TAKING DOVE SQUABS AND EATING BLUE TITS AS SOON AS THEY EMERGED FROM THEIR NEST IN A BRICK PILLER ..... SHOT A GREY SQUIRREL THIS MONTH THAT WAS TRYING TO CHEW INTO SOME OF MY NEST BOXES , CAUGHT 29 MAGPIES / 13 CARRION CROWS THIS LAST MONTH IN THE LARSONS , TRAPPED NUMEROUS RATS AND SQUIRRELS ....... YEP ...... THERES A LOT OF PRESSURE ON WILDLIFE YET I STILL SEE PLENTY , THE SET A SIDE FIELDS HAVE BEEN A GREAT BOON SINCE WE LOST A LOT OF THE PIT HEAPS AND UNKEPT FACTORY GROUNDS , THESE WERE ALWAYS GREAT SITES AS THEY WERENT SPRAYED AND THE WILD FOOD GREW FOR THE FINCHES ETC ,...... PERSONALLY I THINK THERES A LOT LESS SPRAYING OCCURING IN MY AREA , EVERY YEAR WITH MY DAUGHTER I MAKE A FEW DOZEN NEST BOXES FROM SCRAP PLY OF DIFFERENT TYPES , WE ARE UP INTO THE HUNDREDS NOW , AND BACK END OF THE WINTER WE TAKE THE LADDER AND GO AND PUT THEM OUT ..USUALLY ON ONE OF OUR DOG EXCERCISING ROUTES , THAT WAY WE CAN CHECK IF THEY ARE GETTING USED AND BY WHAT ...... FOR THE PAST FEW YRS SHES KEPT A BOOK ON THEM , ITS SURPRIZING WHAT CHOOSES TO NEST IN WHAT BOX AND WHAT POSITION ..... YOU FELLAS SHOULD TRY DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR , PLY CAN BE EASILY FOUND IN SKIPS OR BY BREAKING DOWN OLD FURNITURE ETC , LACK OF ,,, SAFE DECENT NESTING SITES HAMPERS A LOT OF OUR NATIVE BIRDS Spot on ALL THE BEST DUCKWING Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richie10 345 Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Remember years ago when driving long distances your car used to be covered in insects on the windscreen, on the reg plate and grill? When does that happen now? That is the problem, the insects have reduced massively. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ratreeper 441 Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Habitiat loss is always number one. Any predator only feeding on birds like sparrowhawks can't possibly be the culprit or they wouldn't have any food would they. The only solution is to preserve more areas or countryside, there isn't enough wild grassland for things like barn owls etc and woodland/wetland is rare. I am in my early 20's and even I have noticed a huge drop in songbirds. I remember seeing huge flocks of starlings all the time, where have they gone? Sparrows? It's a great shame. It isn't realistic to expect people to stop having cats, and there are too many squirrels and corvids to control without something dramatic happening. I am sure in some areas (with reds) you can get paid £1 a squirrel tail or something like that? might be bollocks but an incentive to kill them, or a campaign to stop people feeding them and liking them so much might help. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TOPPER 1,809 Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 a few years ago i declared war on the local magpies , crows , greys i wiped the magpies out with trapping and shooting didn t see one for a good 6 months and the small birds thrived we have loads of sparrows finches tits etc around now a few of the locals have commented on how many small birds are around now thanks to my efforts culling the predetors Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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