The view from my window

Not Coventry but I can understand your sentiments MR, it's taken me two years, but it was well worth the wait. As you say well done Mrs. Red.

Many hawks in the city.

I couldn't see what the hawk had caught but my guess is a sparrow. Sparrowhawk - sparrow. Since last year when the first sparrowhawk came into my back garden and nabbed a sparrow, the sparrows have been very slow at showing themselves in the morning. I reckon the hawk has made this area a regular calling point. In taking the photo, I was very lucky, he was right down the garden, maybe 35 feet away. I was in my kitchen, so the photo was taken through the kitchen window and through a metal gate. You can see the blurry rungs of the gate. The rungs are actually 12mm diameter. I treated myself to a Sony 100-400mm zoom with a x2 magnifier. Lot of fun with it.

I have an idea for another "Famous Five" book: "Five go to Heathrow" (from our window this morning!)

Hello all. I just wondered if anyone knew anywhere that made/sold a bird feeder pole 'designed' to look like a fake tree or similar? I've got a feeding pole in my garden, but it doesn't get that much use other than the starlings because it's quite exposed and I guess the smaller birds feel vulnerable out in the open. It's quite a small garden and planting an actual tree to hang feeders off etc isn't something I want to do due to the amount of shade it'd create as well as the roots etc. So I wondered if anywhere did a pole disguised as a tree to provide cover for the birds? It'd also help keep the food drier as it does go mouldy pretty quickly. Also does anyone know where I can get a bird feeding table with a mesh on the outside to stop larger birds getting in? I have seen one in a garden locally but the gaps in the mesh are still big enough to allow them in. My only other option is getting some mesh myself and attaching it to a bird table but DIY isn't exactly my strong point!

Hi all, if I can put my oar in - I made this contraption. It's a few pieces of approx 2" x 2 1/2", then using some 'garden border' from Tesco at 4 quid a bundle (8 pieces). The border is simply plastic coated wire. Use the spare ones for the roof. It supports a piece of board if it's raining. That solitary blackbird almost lives in it. The pigeons can't get through but the blackbirds and wagtails can. This chap came for a look but didn't risk coming down.

Thanks Heathite. It's something my sister is looking for and that's the sort of thing I'll be looking to make if we can't take the lazy option and buy one. She actually wants a raised platform and a fixed roof to keep it dry. She sort of does something similar at the moment - an old hanging basket turned upside down and held down with metal pegs into the lawn. It does a decent job of letting the smaller birds have a go. I've seen a few more birds over the past week cos of the weather but as soon as it starts warming up they stop visiting. One irony is I moved the feeder from the back to the front and I actually now get more birds in the back garden than when the feeders were there!

Do you have the new established Bunnings Warehouse near to your area, they are very good for birdfeeders. Good luck.

Hi Dreamtime No, they aren't that local to us. I think I'll end up having to getting one like you've pictured and tacking a bit of mesh around the edge. If the roof doesn't come off easily I'll have to work out how to 'hinge' one of them to put food in/clean it. Maybe just attach one side with cable ties? Had a mad idea earlier for the feeding pole. I think there's an old sun parasol lying around somewhere and I thought I could rip the fabric off and get some fake ivy etc to wrap around the structure? A rotary airer might work too?

Morning AD, A good length of galvanised piping works well for the post, keeps the cats away. You seem to have some good ideas up your sleeve so work with those and good luck.

A lovely Goldfinch, he didn't see me for a while which is unusual, they are very keen sighted. Took this one yesterday, bottom of garden, they love those Niger seeds.

Just before eight o'clock last night

Great photo MR, perfectly timed and framed by the greenery. Heathite, I do love the gold finches but my favourite is the long tailed tit, not least because they often arrive as a large family group. I put some mince pies out one winter on the bird table and I had a fan of tails all the way round. I wish I'd thought to photo it. Another time, the parents were teaching the babies about windows and they sat on the sill and one by one fluttered gently up the glass tapping it with their beaks as they went. They weren't a bit scared of us and kept tipping their heads to one side as the peered at us inside.

Thank you Helen, as yet I haven't seen any long tailed tits. Also, can someone help to identify this beautiful singer? He/she was quite close on the rooftops. What a beautiful song it was though.

Live meal-worms, they love them.