Croydon Ducks - Garden Wildlife 2018

Croydon Ducks - Garden Wildlife and Foxes 2018

Latest update: 9th January 2019

Photos from the garden in 2018 of toads, frogs, foxes, birds and other wildlife. No young fox cubs, but certainly full sized cubs.

Older Photos of Garden Wildlife - 2017

A busy day on the squirrel feeder on the shed, four squirrels taking it in turns to take a peanut out of the feeder, two on the roof, one on
the feeder and the fourth on the chair.

Although the squirrels lift the lid to get at the peanuts, a Woodpecker decided to hack a hole in the front and lid so she could eat as well.
The feeder is made from 20mm thick tongue and groove floor board, and does suffer from the squirrel claws, but can be repaired.

A friend heard the feeder was broken and bought a new one, but it only lasted three days, looked pretty but totally unsuitable for squirrels.
I had a similar one many years ago which was made from plywood with a perspex window, this was thin strips of softwood glued
together and both top and bottom and split, and a thin polythene window that was broken wiithin one day.

So the original feeder was repaired with a new front and lid, but within three months the Woodpecker was back, lots of wood chips.

So cut another front off the plank, got this done to a fine art now.

13th February 2018, heron here for breakfast.

26th February 2018, Goldfinches on the sunflower hearts feeder. This needs refilling about every two days, although the pigeons have
learnt the seeds fall to the ground if they shake it so there is some wastage.

More Goldfinches.

And another Goldfinch on the other feeder, less wastage but not as much fun to eat from.

27th February 2018, not only Goldfinches, the Ring Necked Parakeet or parrot also tries her luck, don't think her beak is long enough to
reach through the cage.

The Ring Necked Parakeet now trying another feeder, no hope on that one. Like to feed them, but don't want to feed pigeons.

27th February 2018, afternoon, heavy snow starts. Does not stop the Starlings feeding.

Starlings waiting their turn to reach the two feeders.

Goldfinches still eating as well.

Have to keep refilling the bread feeder.

19th March 2018, the Ring Necked Parakeet is still looking for food.

11th January 2018, two foxes for dinner in a bare garden.

28th February 2018, heavy snow (for Croydon at least) one of the foxes having breakfast.

4th March 2018, snow does not last long, foxes having dinner again.

8th March 2018, three ducks eating seeds by the pond while the foxes eats dinner.

18th March 2018, more snow not as heavy as end of February, four foxes having dinner.

16th April 2018, three foxes tonight, two are mother and cub (last year) since they groom each other while waiting for food.

25th April 2018, three foxes again.

Two ducks eating seeds from the grass while the foxes eat dog food. If the foxes get too close to the pond, the ducks just jump in the
water.

26th April 2018, three foxes again.

24th May 2018, three foxes waiting patiently for dinner.

5th June 2018, lots of fledgling Starlings on the feeders, learning how to collect their food, and ideally not drop it on the lawn.

The fledgling Starlings do wander around the lawn, not very safe with cats and foxes around, and the pigeons steal their food.

Also eating dropped food under the tree.

6th June 2018, now the squirrel feeder lid has broken from squirrels jumping from the shed roof.

11th August 2018, the Wood Pecker is hungry and decided to eat peanuts from the squirrel feeder again. Fortunately now have
spare front panels so repair does not take long.

17th October 2018 - the heron comes looking for fish, hopefully did not catch any.

10th November 2018 - I put out any uneaten cat food each morning and some seed, the local crows and magpies are always waiting
and start eating very quickly, less often the fox tries as well.

Once the crows and magpies are finished, Collared Doves have their breakfast, before pigeons finish anything left.

17th November 2018 - breakfast again for the birds and fox.

20th November 2018 - several Goldfinches on the sunflower seed feeder.

29th November 2018 - the Great Spotted Woodpecker attemptng to reach the sunflower seeds, not sure if she can reach.

Meanwhile dozens of Starlings on the other Cherry tree, some eating peanut fat bars, others bread.

More Goldfinches

3rd December 2018 - I've seen Parakeets (parrots) in the garden over many years, but they never managed to eat from the feeders and so
rarely came back. But this newish cage feeder seems easier for them and they have become regular visitors.

More parakeets.

The parakeets have tried the other feeder, but the cage is too far from the seeds for them to reach it, so this is now mostly used by smaller
birds.

12th December 2018 - got a suet ball feeder as well, which has proved very popular with the parakeets, about three balls a day.

Not only the parakeets, but the starlings have now found the suet ball feeder.

A squirrel eating bird seed from a ceramic poppy.

Now added two more feeders to the tree, to allow more birds to eat at the same time, both parakeets and starlings. The triple feeder
has suet balls, suet pellets and sunflower seeds without a squirrel/pigeon protection cage, but is only being used by the intended birds,
so far at least.