Tea: the cup that cheers (but not, alas, inebriates)*

[desperance]

I was in despair, I tell you: utter despair. There had been no sightings of any feathered beings anywhere near any of my feeders, bar only Black Phoebe the Tyrannical Flycatcher posing on the hanger while she watched for insects to massacre; I quite thought all my efforts to be in vain. Spurned, I felt. I did.

But I was just making a cup of tea, in the classic British manner, when I happened to glance out of the window - and lo! Hummer! Zooming around the feeder, trying the sunny side and the shady side alternately (I was worrying at five o'clock this morning, whether it would get too hot for the little birdies under our relentless sunshine), pausing on the hangar, being entirely darling. So that's okay.

Still no hint of activity at the seed-feeders, though, or the suet. I want to draw big arrows across the lawn, to attract the attention of passers-over.


*My mother had a caddy-spoon engraved on the handle with (most of) this motto. The "alas" is all my own.

Comments

[movingfinger]

With the extremely dry weather, birds are having a harder time finding fresh water. I suggest that you add a bird bath (and wash it out every day when you fill it!) to your offerings. I know, it's Another Thing, but even one made from the biggest size of plant saucer balanced on a wall will get a lot of attention. Make sure it is not too close to cover for neighborhood cats, though.

Birds take a while to scope out and warm up to sources of food. Water they tend to be more enthusiastic about.

[desperance]

Cool, thanks. I had been thinking about a birdbath, but big-plant-saucer is easier to arrange. And we have a table in the middle of the lawn, where I could set it...

[movingfinger]

We have a small (I do mean small) tabletop fountain they especially love. So if you have something like that around and can set it out, the moving water attracts them very strongly, at least in our yard.