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December

I am now using three seed feeders, the two large ones have nyjer seed and a high energy - no mess mix. The small feeder takes my remaining stock of while sunflower seeds which will not be replaced when finished. The ground feeder tray has a fat bar and a specialist ground blend while the feeder hopper has sunflower hearts with a little oatmeal mixed in. The hanging fat feeder has a peanut cake mix with insects and the other fat feeder is still empty.

Apart from starlings and sparrows the birds are now back in force. Blue and great tits are in evidence in large numbersand I am also getting the occasional coal tit. On the ground, as well as the usual dunnocks and robins I am seeing wrens and a pair of blackbirds. Chaffinches and goldfinches are also frequent with greenfinches a little less common.

So far I have yet to see wrens or blackbirds anywhere near the ground feeders but that will come.

The hanging fat bar has not been touched yet although it usually takes a few days for the birds to get the hang of that feeder. It is intended for the tits but no doubt the starlings will dominate it once they return. When they do return I will start feeding specialist starling cake, which nod doubt will be preferred by the tits.

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