Blue Tits, Fat Balls & Pinched Nuts

Any Twitchers in Spain?

What else did you think this thread was about you naughty people!

When I go to Spain, I love seeing all the different birds that I don't see here in the UK.

The best one I have seen so far is the Hoopoe and of course, unlike the UK, loads of Sparrows.

What I think is sad though, is the Spanish set nets up to catch grazing Green Finches, which are then sold in the markets in tiny cages...............don't like that..................

I know in Costa Blanca North, they get Blue Tits and I wondered if the British or the Spanish, feed the birds like I do here in the UK?

Has anyone invented a squirrel proof cage for fat balls or nuts?

I am constantly battling to save my fat balls & nuts from our resident squirrels!!! LOL!!!

Come to that, are there squirrels in Spain anyway??

What birds are in your area of Spain that are not seen in the UK?

Fibby.  I live in the Costa Blanca south, and here too I have seen many Hoopoes, a magnificent bird.

Also finches, sparrows (there is a sparrow decline in the UK); swifts/swallows; peacocks; parrots; ducks (and many different birds (feather-type) on the beaches).  If you go into the mountains you can see kestrel/hawks too.

Never seen any squirrels though.

I too have seen birds for sale on the markets in Spain (but didn't know about green finches for sale)

I don't put fat balls out for the birds, but do feed them on bread/left-over bits etc.

I have even seen our resident Owl on occasion in Spain.  Then again, life is a hoot in Espana.

PS. I hope we can stop ruffling each others feathers. And no more of this? 

Acky, I too live in Costa Blanca South. ( Oooooo errrrr, we may have already met, who knows???!!!!!)

We are about 900 metres from the sea and I have watched a Hawk hovering in front of our apartment.

We often get a flock of parrots go squawking past,  on their way to their roost in Villa Martin square no doubt!

It's a shame about the sparrow decline in the UK, it's a lot to do with the Magpie's here as well as the change in the urban garden make up. Magpie's are meat eaters and I have seen many sparrows chased and caught by these intimidating birds.

I still feed them though they love cat food!!!

I love to go to the Natural Park near La Mata, it's so peaceful there and many birds (clothed ones) to watch AND yes, I do remember now, there was a squirrel, so yes, they are in Spain!

No doubt pinching ones nuts and fat balls!!!          Lol!!!!

p.s. My Feathers are smooth, always are!!

Acky, I too live in Costa Blanca South. ( Oooooo errrrr, we may have already met, who knows???!!!!!)

We are about 900 metres from the sea and I have watched a Hawk hovering in front of our apartment.

We often get a flock of parrots go squawking past,  on their way to their roost in Villa Martin square no doubt!

It's a shame about the sparrow decline in the UK, it's a lot to do with the Magpie's here as well as the change in the urban garden make up. Magpie's are meat eaters and I have seen many sparrows chased and caught by these intimidating birds.

I still feed them though they love cat food!!!

I love to go to the Natural Park near La Mata, it's so peaceful there and many birds (clothed ones) to watch AND yes, I do remember now, there was a squirrel, so yes, they are in Spain!

No doubt pinching ones nuts and fat balls!!!          Lol!!!!1

p.s. My Feathers are smooth, always are!!

Edited as I Posted 3 times!

what happened there?????????

Hi Fibby.

Yes I am afraid we have that problem as well I spend so much money on fat balls and nuts, only to see the squirrels demolishing them all.   I did read in a paper in Spain about squirrels so they must have them, but I have not seen any  they were saying if you put chili powder down that will stop them, well it might the Spanish squirrels but not the UK ones.

I have just send of for a new bird table from the Mail on Saturday, a pine one with two squirrel proof cage feeders, it had been reduced from £59.99 to £20.00 so will see how that goes, we will have to wait 3weeks as they are very busy at the moment with orders nice to hear.

In the field opposite us we have seen Kestrels and Hawks.  Plus the weekly pigeon guy that lets his painted birds out in Spain,

We also get the Blue tits in our nesting box love to see it when they come out,  we are normally in Spain when that happens,

Pat

We too have a "pigeon man" in Spain, maybe they are the same birds we see?!

Our man has been eating them to supplement his income after losing his job in theg recession!

Apparently he makes a mean pigeon pie............not for me thank you!

I think the Spanish take part in pigeon racing, not like our UK races where they fly back to the loft, but round and round?

At least that's what his seem to do, round and round and round our apartment block, very very fast!

I bought a new feeding station here in the UK.  Got it from B&Q, wrought iron with moveable bits and bobs. Cost about £25 but well worth it.

I have had much pleasure over this winter watching my visitors!

I would like one in Spain on our roof garden, but after all the fiasco with our resident pigeon man, i would not like to be seen to attract any more birds!

That would not make me popular!

Just to add that I saw a squirrel on the promenade in Los Alcazares so yes, you'll need to make sure your birdie food is well protected!

The Queen is a Pigeon fancier (races them)

The costliest Racing pigeons are valued @ £100,000!

Big Duncan Ferguson the former Scotland and Everton star is also a pigeon fancier, who enters races.  

Wonder if Her Majesty hears of the threads?...watch this space.  'One' doesn't think 'One' will though.

 My brother in law saves cold and hungry pigeons. Sister in law will export him free of charge.

Our apartment is facing the dehesa at Campoamor, we are often entertained by the antics of the local red squirrel population.  It appears their foraging route takes in our tennis courts and they still follow the age old track even if that means climbing up and down the fencing at either end when they could easily go along the outside of the court without negotiating the fences.  We have also seen an eagle owl in the dehesa.  Every evening we are treated to a wonderful arial display by the local population of swifts as they hoover up the insects in front of the apartment. 

In Cartagena many of the palm trees have parrots nesting in them, the noise at dusk is amazing. 

All in all a fascinating and entertaining wildlife.

We have seen lots of red squirrels here in Jumilla.  If I can find any photos, I will post them here!

Sue

There's a wonderful park in Guardamar, our local town, where red squirrels can be seen all over. Park is Reina Sofia.

hi Joechristie,

We too have swifts circling our apartment block, they have their mud nests under the roof overhang.

In the summer, they come so close, we think they will come in the window!

As for the red squirrels Suemac, I have never seen one yet, but really want to!

I will try a trip to the suggested park in Guardamar, picnic basket, bottle of wine, oh and some nuts of course!

I love watching the wildlife in Spain, such a relaxing part of my holiday, but no lizards in our area....shame.....