Robins on peanut feeders? (2 Viewers)

[herring99]

Been holed up for a week now with gastric flu, but felt well enough yesterday to do some garden watching. One of the first sites was two Robins feeding on all our feeders (fatball, seed and the peanut one). Is this behaviour usual? Was also rewarded with the first blackcap and GS woodpeckers of the year and a garden first with nuthatch!

Almost enough to compensate for having to stay indoors unable to eat and stay within sprinting distance of the toilet!

 

[AnnieW]

Been holed up for a week now with gastric flu, but felt well enough yesterday to do some garden watching. One of the first sites was two Robins feeding on all our feeders (fatball, seed and the peanut one). Is this behaviour usual? Was also rewarded with the first blackcap and GS woodpeckers of the year and a garden first with nuthatch!

Almost enough to compensate for having to stay indoors unable to eat and stay within sprinting distance of the toilet!

Sympathise with the gastric flu - I was stricken a couple of weeks ago. Not nice !! Hope you're feeling better soon.

We get robins on all the feeders ... they seem to be very adaptable. The only thing I haven't seen them tackle is the nyjer feeder !!

 

[Richard W]

Robins use my peanut feeders, and fat balls hanging from an arch, dont see them eating Nijer or sunflowers.

 

[david2004]

Sounds unusual to me! They are traditionally ground eating birds, but my Robin started hovering at the seed feeder recently. I then purchased the RSPB feeders with perching rings and it can quite happily feed from it! Tried to get to fat balls once and failed, but never seen a Robin on the nuts.

 

[herring99]

If they play ball today I'll try and grab a picture. So far they have sat in the ivy and mocked me! Did manage one of the nuthatch though, which I've attached and found that it has an amazing colouful underside! Over 25 years birding and this is the first time that I've ever noticed this. Well at least I'm learning stuff.

 

[david2004]

Great photo herring99! I've never had a Nuthatch at the feeding station. Never even seen one here!

 

[stevo]

I`ve seen Robins use peanut feeders quite a lot,they will also take loose peanuts too.

Cheers Steve.

 

[Mary Evelyn]

The robin uses everything in our garden.
The trouble is, he also trys to guard everything too.Different areas of the garden - all day he flies from one to another.....Sitting....eating...waiting..watching.attacking.He should be worn out oFortunately,he has found a mate and just maybe he will settle down. :eat:

 

[herring99]

Well this Robin seems to have no end of tricks! He went for a bath this afternoon. Nothing special in that, except to get a bath in our pond he shimmied down a fallen plant stalk to his required depth, shook himself in the water then shimmied up the stalk to get out! Bit of a show off to an audience. It did the peanut trick again but I was occupied looking after the baby who now has what I had...........YUCK!

 

[herring99]

Just saw your reply Mary after posting mine. This Robin also has a mate but his aggression to allcomers in the feeder area has not diminished with her arrival! As I said, bit of a show- |8)| off

 

[Peter Lapukovsk]

Our Robin spends a lot of time, on the tube feeder. Getting very fat, now and he has learned to protect the seed from fellow birds.

 

[souterman]

Why not drtill some holes in a stick stick and put out some peanut butter as well. Robins will give it a try so will the woodpecker. The nuthatch will enjoy the exercise as well.

 

[Geoff Pain]

Robin tries out everything in our garden,had Goldcrest feeding on the fat balls this week.

 

[souterman]

oh dear this auld age. Why not drill a few holes in a stick and fill it with peanut butter Robin, G.S Woodpecker and Nuthatch will enjoy searching it out

 

[Mary Evelyn]

Just saw your reply Mary after posting mine. This Robin also has a mate but his aggression to allcomers in the feeder area has not diminished with her arrival! As I said, bit of a show- |8)| off

I know, it's just wishfull thinking ha ha. o
This Robin even tried it on with my neighbours cat -lucky, I chased the robin ha ha... :frog:
I always thought pea-nut butter too salty - am I wrong? :h?:

 

[Mary Evelyn]

Our Robin spends a lot of time, on the tube feeder. Getting very fat, now and he has learned to protect the seed from fellow birds.

I never knew a robin that had to learn anything Peter.They are usually taught before they leave the nest.Mind you mines a little fat too. o

 

[AnnieW]

The robin uses everything in our garden.
The trouble is, he also trys to guard everything too.Different areas of the garden - all day he flies from one to another.....

I've spent the last few days watching an increasingly energetic food feud between 2 robins and 2 male blackcaps. The 4 of them seem so hell bent on chasing each other off a peanut block that they rarely eat that much of it themselves. What's more fun is that they are so focussed on keeping each other away that they are giving the tits a clear run at it. As soon as they start chasing each other around a large mixed flock descends; they stuff themselves for a couple of minutes departing, before the warring factions return !!!

 

[Mary Evelyn]

I've spent the last few days watching an increasingly energetic food feud between 2 robins and 2 male blackcaps. The 4 of them seem so hell bent on chasing each other off a peanut block that they rarely eat that much of it themselves. What's more fun is that they are so focussed on keeping each other away that they are giving the tits a clear run at it. As soon as they start chasing each other around a large mixed flock descends; they stuff themselves for a couple of minutes departing before the warring factions return !!!

You are so right Annie....My Blackbirds do that too.So much food going to others - while they fight .I can't understand it....Never could :h?: