The nine o'clock raider
I've got a nice garden feeding station set up in my suburban garden. It consists of an assortment of sunflower heart feeders, a bird table and a hanging feeder that I use for providing mealworms to my feathered visitors. The feeding station is situated close to two Acer trees that I planted over 15 years ago. One of the trees is tall and sprawling, the other I coppiced and is short and bushy. Both provide great cover for the birds that are attracted to the free food nearby. Since early autumn, the feeders have been getting busier almost by the day. This month, a flock of up to twenty Goldfinches regularly visit. Occasionally, they pull in the odd Chaffinch and Bullfinch as well. Most notable has been the return of Coal Tits and Nuthatches to the garden feeders. These two species have been absent for a couple of years but have been putting in regular appearances. Additionally, a pair of Collared Doves has dropped in, and they clear up what drops from the feeders to the ground. Robin...
