I have also seen a large increase in the numbers of birds visiting my feeders this year and its costing me a fortune to feed them
A 6 port sunflower heart feeder and a 4 port seed feeder need refilling every two days. Four fat balls can go in a day if the local Starlings take a fancy to them and the 2 seed/fat filled Coconuts last about a week before they need replacing. The peanut feeder lasts for about 2 weeks as only the GS Woodpeckers and Great tits seem to bother with it. Cheddar cheese ,four apples and lots of raisins and sultanas also get put out weekly during Winter.
Also I have put 50mm metal mesh around the bird table which means nothing bigger than a Starling can feed from it as the Doves and Pigeons were eating everything.
All this over Winter has resulted in visits from, [Maximum seen at one time] ;
Siskins 5 Song thrush 2 Willow tit 1 Greenfinches 8 Goldfinches 38 Robins 7 Reed buntings 4 Grey Wagtails 2 LT tits 12 Goldcrests 5 GS Woodpeckers 2 Chaffinches 6 Starlings 27 Redwings 7 and plenty of Blackbirds,Coal,Blue and Great tits.
Both male and female Sparrowhawks also visit my garden daily and I have seen the female take Collared doves on at least 5 occasions this winter.
I think that the birds get better fed than I do, but its worth it
Re Pete's last comment, it's strange how different people notice completely opposite effects, my feeders are very busy at the moment, I'm currently putting out 4 fatballs daily and have 2 four port feeders with sunflower hearts that are at least half emptied on a daily basis. What amounts are other people putting out on a daily basis?. I also have a regular sparrowhawk who does make kills. Cheers Ian
Not sure if it is due to the hard weather but the numbers of birds coming to our feeders are very reduced. Fewer greenfinch and tits for sure. Maybe the daily visit of a sparrowhawk has something to do with it, but I have never yet seen it with a kill.
Ashton under Lyne's Pied Wagtail roost has decreased by over 50% over the last couple of days, it makes me realise how far out I was on my original estimate, there are now around 130 birds.
I've not noticed any different in our back garden,we've had up to 16 Long Tailed Tits in at any one time,Blackbird,Chaffinch,Greenfinch,House and Tree Sparrow,and Brambling numbers have remained constant.One thing that I've not seen before the bad weather is the Tree Sparrows feeding on the fat balls.Thrush and Starling numbers are down,probably just a result of birds moving out of the area.
An ill Siskin and Starling coming to feeders with feathers fluffed out in my garden in Hale Barns were both found dead just after the prologned cold snap sadly. Also Wrens have become scarce locally which as a fairly sedentary bird makes me think they've suffered too Dave. The Long-tailed tit flock in the garden has gone from a regular 8 to a regular 5 but this might not be the same flock, it's hard to tell. Some species like Fieldfare and Meadow Pipit have been non existent locally recently but it's possible they have all shifted south? It's been a tough one this winter though. Cheers. Henry.
Long-Tailed Tits are normally regular in our Ashton-in-makerfield garden, but about 6 yesterday were the first since the harsh weather. Several Goldcrests also usually roost in the vicinity, but have been absent recently. Has anyone else noticed much evidence of the recent cold spell having bumped off a few birds?
