Wildlife & Nature Blogs

Much colder weather

After some real spring days last week here in Kent with the temperature up to 18 Celsius, into the 60s in Fahrenheit, and plenty of sunshine, this week has seen...

Feeding continuing apace

With the days becoming longer and so more opportunities for the birds to feed and possibly now in some cases extra beaks to feed too, I don't think I have...

Spring is here

This time of year a week in the garden or the countryside makes a great deal of difference and in the past week or so, bushes which just had fat...

Watch it!

During the past week the pair of squirrels have been busy eating peanuts and burying some in the garden and this is where my first amusing story for the week...

Mosses and how to create your own miniature rai...

Mosses are to be found almost everywhere in Britain- in towns and cities (see previous blog) as well as in villages; on trees, on the ground, on walls, on roofs;...

Top 10 Most Common Garden Birds in the UK and T...

The birds and the strong winds

The past week has brought stormy weather too much of the country at one time or another and here in Kent we had a very windy day last Friday and...

Plenty of activity at the feeders

Bird activity at my feeders has been high through the past week and I’ve had my usual visitors to the garden including the feral pigeons.Another new mainly white pigeon has...

Pigeon gathering and plenty of other birds

It has been a busy week with bird activity in the garden and they are noticeably coming earlier in the morning and staying later in the afternoon.I don’t have to...

Encouraging Birds to Use a Nest Box: Tips and T...

Spring – luckily – is on the horizon and although we can’t believe that it’s nesting season again, it’s one of our favourite times of the year. How can anyone...

Some new sightings

A couple of days ago I was delighted to see one redwing in the garden, as that was my first sighting of one of them for about 10 months.Unfortunately, the...

Warmer days for now

The past few days have certainly brought what you could almost describe as spring-like weather and temperatures.I have been able to work in the garden with just a light jacket...

Frost and ice

During the past week it has been frosty most mornings with white hoar frost on the grass and ice in the bird bath saucers, so I’ve had to add to...

A watery winter for birds

Spring and summer, usually the warmest months, are when the majority of us faithfully supply our garden birds with fresh water for drinking and bathing. By this time of year,...

It was here before!

Over the Christmas period as I mentioned in a recent blog, I was putting out extra food in the garden that was scraps of chicken, sausage meat and so on...

New year and more birds

Firstly, a Happy New Year to all who read my bird blogs.I think the birds have been spoilt over the Christmas and New Year period with plenty of extra treats...

Hawk eyes

I haven’t had any hawks in the garden as far as I know although possibly a sparrow hawk has been on a couple of occasions recently, as the birds all...

Paddling around in the water and mud

The past week has brought some strong winds again and further heavy rain to Kent but despite that, the birds in the garden have been enjoying the birdbath saucers.The starlings...

Understanding the Decline of Common Bird Specie...

Since 1980 the UK and Europe have seen large scale population declines in around 600 million breeding birds, according to a new study by scientists from the RSPB, BirdLife International...

A job to keep up

The past week has brought some very cold weather and also Storm Arwen.The birds seem to cope very well with the blustery conditions which in Kent weren’t as bad as...

Much colder weather

Although there has been some very welcome late autumn sunshine in the last few days and indeed some days have had clear blue skies, it has certainly turned much colder...

A routine week

It has to be said that the past seven days have been fairly routine as far as the birds in the garden are concerned. haithsGenerally the biggest number of birds...

It’s getting dark, we’re off!

The past week has not brought very much sunshine to Kent and some damp weather too but it’s not been as cold.However, it is noticeable that the birds are now...

One, two, three, or more…

My peanut feeder seemed to be going down very quickly in recent days and although I knew there was at least one squirrel coming and sometimes two, flipping the lid...

Big birds and something new

We’re just a couple of days to go until the clocks go back as I write and the mornings are noticeably darker just now, but just as it’s getting light...

The Benefits of Weeds: How They Help Wildlife i...

Tuesday, 26th October 2021 We all know that weeds have been a burden for gardeners for hundreds of years, but should we start to see them in a new light? They are...

Autumn routines

There have been a couple of warmer days this past week with a fair amount of sunshine and you could be forgiven for thinking that we’re not into the third...

An S.O.S for biodiversity

Before the Industrial Revolution, the UK was covered in dense forests that covered much more of the countryside than they do now. These massive areas of wilderness were home to...

Plenty of sunshine and plenty of birds

In a blog a few weeks ago I commented that the squirrel was coming for peanuts but was chewing them through the mesh of the feeder and wasn’t copying a...

Welcome!

In recent blogs I have mentioned that the jackdaws seem to have returned now we’ve moved into autumn and three are regular visitors at various times of the day at...

Natural Pest Control: Eco-Friendly Solutions fo...

Thursday, 30th September 2021 We love all nature at Haith’s, even if that garden visitor has two, four or even more legs - or no legs at all - but we do...

Autumn has arrived

In the past few days there has been some rain in Kent and Sunday was the last really warm day when I could safely go out without a jacket on.It...

It didn’t take long

In many of my weekly blogs I have mentioned the bird feeding facilities that I have in the garden and for the last several months I have been placing a...

It looks very much like autumn

Although we haven’t had any particularly chilly nights at the back end of summer and then into the start of metrological autumn, the trees are certainly starting to turn colour...

Where Do Wild Birds Go During Bad Weather? Unde...

You may have noticed that when it rains there is seemingly less bird activity and that birds seem to disappear during strong winds and storms. So, where do they go?...

Buzz buzz buzz

This past week has brought some much warmer days again across Kent although it is cooler today and we’ve had some welcome rain overnight.Bees have been busy in the garden...

Amusing to watch

My blog this week starts on a light-hearted note.In the past few weeks the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been taking place in Tokyo and I think the birds and...

Comings and goings

I have seen at least three blackbirds in the garden this past week, a male, female and possibly an adolescent.They are coming in the morning and as I’ve been putting...

This is hard work!

I enjoy watching the birds from various windows in the house when I’m working on whatever I am doing and a couple of days ago I was sitting at my...

Are there any foods starlings won't eat?

Starlings look black at a distance but close up they have glossy green and purple plumage and in groups, they can be very noisy - often scaring away the smaller...

A staycation with nature

Many of us this year will be taking summer breaks in the UK and myself included. I was fortunate to find a very quiet and peaceful place to stay with...

Business as usual

Over recent weeks I have been commenting about the young starlings, the young sparrows and the adolescent blackbird. Well during the past week I have seen one young robin, so...

Bird Feeding Basics: Essential Tips for Beginners

Friday, 6th August 2021 Bird feeding in your garden doesn’t have to be a lavish or expensive affair. In fact, the most basic of equipment is needed. In Haith’s wildlife garden we...

Haith’s New Wildlife Ponds: Latest Updates and ...

As promised, I am updating you on the progress we are making with our two wildlife ponds. What a difference a few weeks makes. I reported in June that we...

Plenty of activity

During the past week the squirrels have been very busy checking out my cobnut tree and I think they are now taking some nuts to store for the winter.However if...

That is mine!

The weather has been cooler this week and the birds have been tending to return to their normal routines although the feral pigeons still disappear from the roof at the...

Modified behaviour

The past week has brought very hot weather to much of the country and Kent has been no exception.I have still seen plenty of birds in the garden, but they...

Better weather for the birds and bees

The past week has brought some better weather to Kent with less incessant rain, although there have been some showery days and as the week has gone we have slightly...

Meet the family

During the week I have seen evidence of a lot of young birds coming with or without their parents. The starling group on some of the cloudy and cooler days...

Busy bees

The various types of bee in the garden, which I’ve mentioned before I’m not very good at identifying, have been very busy during the past week feeding on the various...

Plenty to look at

I’m very pleased to say that the woodpeckers are now daily visitors to the garden and I will either see one or two at a time.They have learnt that it...

Then there were three

In recent blogs I have been talking about a greater spotted woodpecker coming into the garden and onto the feeders, although I was never sure whether it was the same...

Bird Foods Blackbirds Avoid: A Guide

Blackbirds are one of the most common wild bird species in the UK and providing them with the right kind of bird food could encourage them to feed in your...

Creating Wildlife Ponds: Our Experience and Tips

It has been a few weeks since I wrote my blog about attracting wildlife to Haith's bird food centre in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Where we've been handing over commercial space for...

Waste Not, Want Not: Sustainable Bird Feeding P...

There are so many so-called waste-free, no-mess bird food mixes available in the UK we thought we’d take a closer look at the one that started it all – Huskfree...

Plenty of customers at the feeders

There have been some very warm days in the past week and the amount of food being eaten by the birds has not reduced and in fact with the longer...

Summer routines

The past few days in Kent and indeed in quite a bit of the country, have certainly seen a welcome boost in temperature and sunshine and things are looking much...

Welcome back!

I think it is fair to say that people as well as birds have been fed up by the strong winds, low temperatures and rain over the past few weeks,...

Busy parents

In my blog last week I mentioned that the baby starlings had arrived in the garden and there is still a lot of activity. It always amuses me with the...

Experience Nature: Tips for Getting Closer to W...

Thursday, 13th May 2021 One in four of us will experience a mental health problem each year but thankfully mental health awareness is growing - and rightly so. ‘In every walk with...

The youngsters have arrived

On Sunday I saw the first young starlings of the year, four in total with their parents, but as the week has gone by more and more have been arriving...

That is New

Bird activity continues apace and I have now placed my new additional seed feeder in what I hope will be a suitable place for the smaller birds. The feeder does...

Why Handcrafted Matters

Everything is better when it’s made with love and attention to detail. Serve your family or friends a frozen, mass-produced pudding and yes it will ‘do’ but only the handcrafted...

Just hopping about

Bird activity continues to be high in the garden probably a result of some of the cooler days this past week, but also as I mentioned in the last couple...

A busy week

The amount of food that has been consumed by the garden birds this past week has certainly increased, partly down to the colder weather some days with overnight frost but...

That will do nicely

In my last blog I mentioned that the birds did not seem to be using the new bird bath saucer for bathing and I concluded that it was too shallow...

Business is brisk

Bird activity continues to increase in the garden and a crow is a regular visitor once again, which usually means that the other birds keep away until it has finished...

Just sitting around

There’s been a lot of bird activity in the garden this week with a pair of black birds coming and going at various times of the day, starlings making frequent...

Give and take

Nest preparation seems to be continuing apace with the birds this week and I have seen a female blackbird going away with a beak full of moss and then disappearing...

That’s new

The birds have had a new deep tray for a bird bath and water dish for about 10 days now and it’s taken them quite a while to pluck up...

Six Reasons to Enjoy Spring: Birdwatching and N...

To many people it’s their favourite season - spring heralds the promise of new life with fresh sounds and colours after the darkness of winter. What better time to venture...

That’s more like it

I’ve mentioned in my blogs before that I have a small seed tray size gravel tray down on the lawn for the birds to use as a birdbath. As the...

The Story of Daphne and the other birds

In my blog last week I mentioned the sparrows collecting material for their nest building and other birds have been doing the same during the past week.A couple of days...

Spring has sprung

During the past week the weather has certainly been spring-like with temperatures around 15 or 16 Celsius, around the 60 Fahrenheit mark, although overnight it’s still a little bit chilly....

Normal service is resumed

Last week was very cold in Kent with snow on the ground from the Sunday afternoon through until the following Sunday. The birds were more plentiful as it was very...

Do I need a bigger bird table?

The past week has brought a massive change in the weather here in Kent and for the last five days we’ve had snow on the ground, frosty nights and very...

Are sunflower seeds good for birds?

Are sunflowers good for birds? The answer is emphatically yes. They are packed full of fat, protein, vitamins and minerals, making them the ideal bird food for garden birds. There...

I counted them all landing

The past week has brought another mixture of mild weather, some colder days and plenty more rain. The birds are eating apace and of course last weekend was the RSPB...

That’s not quite right

In my blog last week I mentioned that I had a new bird in the garden and I assumed it was a fieldfare. Upon further investigation I have decided that’s...

A new visitor

The past week has seen the usual mix of birds coming to the garden and I think that either supplies of food in the countryside are starting to dwindle or...

Trying out new things

The jackdaws have been keeping me amused during the past week and four of them are coming regularly to my feeders at various times during the day.The other afternoon on...

New year and some new visitors

Since my last blog shortly before Christmas, the weather of course turned much colder and so bird activity at the feeders increased dramatically. The really wet days we have had...

Feathered friends

The past week in Kent has not been as cold and bird activity does vary from week to week according to the conditions, but that’s not to say that I...

Feathered friends

The past week in Kent has not been as cold and bird activity does vary from week to week according to the conditions, but that’s not to say that I...

More comings and goings

With the darker mornings and some foggy mornings this past week, the birds have been arriving slightly later at the feeders and bird table. Some of the days have been...

Brisk weather and brisk business at the feeders

The days are definitely colder and there have been a couple of frosts in the past week and the last couple of days have been much colder, so activity at...

A busy week at the feeders and bird table

The extra suet log that I have been hanging in my cobnut tree has certainly been put to good use by a variety of birds in the past week.My photograph...

Move over it’s my turn!

In my last blog I talked about the suet log which I had placed in my cobnut tree to give the smaller birds up to and including starlings, the chance...

Frosty mornings and hungry birds

The last couple of mornings have brought a white ground frost to my back garden and the birds have certainly been pretty hungry this week.They have generally disappeared for the...

Extra food needed

With the colder weather with us now, at least on some days, I decided to put out some additional food for the smaller birds and have placed a suet log...

End of British Summertime and care needed

With the change in the clocks last weekend it is no surprise that the birds are arriving for food at different times. It’s been pretty dull and damp the last...

Birds keeping me amused

There has been slightly less work taking place in my garden during the past week and so the birds are back into their normal routine of eating food at the...

Routine and opportunities

On some of the colder days in the past week bird numbers have certainly increased, but unfortunately, I have been having work done in the garden on steps and a...

Woodpecker in town

Over the past week it has been nice to see several visits of a woodpecker to the garden and although I can’t be sure that it’s the same one, it...

Be a nature detective this autumn

Autumn is now here and this brings many changes in the natural world. Animals and plants get prepared for the colder months ahead and it’s a great time of year...

A routine week at the feeders

I think this past week has been a fairly routine one as far as the birds in the garden are concerned and I don’t seem to have had any more...

All creatures great and small

In some of my blogs I have mentioned other wildlife as well as birds coming into my garden and so my photograph this time shows the fox standing down at...

A nice drop of rain

The extreme hot weather finally left Kent on Saturday 15th and we have had some rain and some thunder. I’m sure the birds welcome less heat and the availability of...

Is this branch taken?

The weather has been hot during the past week and especially so on Friday 31st July and so bird activity has been a little more muted during the last few...

Not the new normal

The new normal is an expression we are used to hearing concerning the pandemic and I began to wonder earlier this week if there was a new normal with the...

Turtle Dove: Identification, Habitat, and Feedi...

There cannot be many people who haven’t heard of the festive song regarding the twelve days of Christmas and two turtle doves. You may ask yourself why these summer migrants...

Britain’s Top 10 Most Common Garden Birds of 2020

Britain’s top 10 most common garden birds – 2020The results for this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch are in and yet again the House Sparrow has topped the charts at the...

Move over because it is my turn now

Activity at the bird table has continued apace during the last week and I’m now convinced that the feral pigeon numbers are bolstered by youngsters, as some of the ones...

A change in routine

The last couple of days have been hot here in Kent and the birds at the feeders and bird table have moved to a new routine. Normally the larger birds...

Working it out

Activity continues to be brisk at my bird feeders, which is probably the biggest understatement of the year. The starlings have been bringing more and more youngsters to the feeders...

Armchair Naturalist - Strange goings-on

My neighbour’s house has for many years been the home for a small group of house sparrows, noisy, bolshy and entertaining. They (the house sparrows) usually start quite early getting...

Please stay still!

It has been an interesting week as always watching the birds in the garden and as I mentioned the other week, the first of the young birds are appearing. There...

Armchair Naturalist - Woods versus forests

It is always very important to remember how diverse and important our forests and woods are. They are packed full of flora, fungi and fauna as well as having huge...

New arrivals and familiar friends

I have a surprise visitor to report this past week with the sighting of a lesser spotted woodpecker on my peanut feeder. I do very occasionally see them in the...

Spring Birdwatching: Transforming Your Urban Ga...

Living in a seaside town during the winter months can be a bit bleak but beauty can be found everywhere if you search hard enough for it. Come the months...

Little and large

Over the past four blogs, I have been giving an account of the birds in my garden and have talked about the feral pigeons, the sparrows and wood pigeons in...

Armchair Naturalist - Having a wash and brush up

In my recent blogs, I have been talking about the birds in my garden and particularly the feral pigeons. Here in Kent that has been very little rain during April...

Having a wash and brush up in the wildlife garden

In my recent blogs, I have been talking about the birds in my garden and particularly the feral pigeons. Here in Kent that has been very little rain during April...

Armchair Naturalist - Wildlife during lockdown

As we are in a serious pandemic around the world at the moment due to Covid – 19 we have noticed that our towns, cities and villages have become quieter...

War Pigeons: The Role of Pigeons in Wartime Com...

Thursday, 7th May 2020 When the country awakens on the morning of Friday 8th May it will mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe. The guns...

Armchair Naturalist - Nature is certainly makin...

During these uncertain times, more and more of us are turning to nature and the great outdoors as part of our daily exercise whilst following the government guidelines during the...

Armchair naturalists should also be nature dete...

We two armchair naturalists are fortunate insofar as birdlife is concerned. From the windows of our tiny cottage we can see much activity. We enjoy watching male and female blackbirds...

Armchair Naturalist - Why I never tire of watch...

On this glorious spring day, I am sitting by my pond. Now and again the breeze floats the exquisite scent of the bluebells over to me and I've just noticed...

Armchair Naturalist - Wildlife surveys

Several people have asked about surveys that they can take part in during lockdown. Obviously please do these within your gardens and don’t go endangering yourself. So as part of...

Celebrating Earth Day 2020: Tips for Supporting...

Wednesday, 22nd April 2020 On 22nd April every year, we are encouraged to celebrate Earth Day. First organised in 1970, it is the global effort to clean up habitats and promote environmental...

Building the des res aka a nest

This is my third armchair naturalist blog for Haith's. Last week I tended to concentrate on the larger birds in the garden so it seems only fair that the smaller...

Birdwatching from Home: My Isolation Experience...

I am working from home due to the unprecedented times of COVID-19 isolation stay at home rules and keeping myself safe, and protecting the NHS. There's just me and my...

Daily Exercise for Birds: How to Encourage Natu...

It is another sunny day here in Lincolnshire and I set off for my once a day daily exercise. Spring is in full swing now as the blossom trees are...

Armchair Naturalist - Nature notes from a Wilts...

Something has eaten the frog spawn in my pond! The usual suspects are the sharp-suited heron, the gorgeous glossy crows, and the very curious but cautious magpies. I’m glad to...

Exploring the Wild Side of Cleethorpes Town: A ...

Tuesday, 14th April 2020 It’s Sunday and through these uncertain times during the coronavirus pandemic, my husband and I are following the government guidelines and taking to exercising daily outdoors. We are...

Easter Birdwatching Observations: Insights from...

Sunday 12th April 2020 Easter, but it doesn’t feel like it because of the personal, national and global concern about Covid-19 and growing number of deaths. However, as the Queen...

Armchair Naturalist - Peacock Butterfly

I am carrying on with my series of armchair naturalist blogs, a series looking at enjoying the wildlife in my garden in collaboration with Haith’s. Today, I am looking at...

Armchair Naturalist - It’s That Time of Year Ag...

I live in a suburban garden, 90 feet long by 45 feet at the rear, narrower at the side of the house and with trees and hedging at the front....

Armchair Naturalist - An Introduction to Woodca...

Nature is oblivious to the current pandemic coronavirus which is affecting the world's human population, in a way that we could not envisage some months ago. Whilst handshaking high fives,...

The Importance of Keeping Bird Feeders Full: Ti...

In colder weather it’s a great help to birds by filling the bird feeder twice daily: in the morning and early afternoon is perfect. Equally important is the food we...

A Record Breaking Bird Food

Our new One for All™ bird food is breaking all records in my garden: it’s attracting more species than any bird seed recipe I’ve ever tested. It’s encouraging birds to...

Robin Bird: Identification, Behavior, and Feedi...

The Robin (Erithacus rubecula), is a small insectivorous passerine bird and is simply known as the robin or robin redbreast (due to the colour of its breast being bright red)...

Sparrow: Identification and Behaviour

The Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is a passerine bird from the sparrow family. It is smaller than a House Sparrow, but its appearance is similar. Its chest is a chestnut-brown...

A Look at 'Straight' Bird Foods

Cheaper bird food mixes often contain large quantities of low-energy fillers such as wheat and milo. It's certainly worth spending a little more to avoid these cheaper fillers. Another way...

Capturing the Natural World Through a Lens: Tip...

I challenged my two boys to take a few photos on Sunday to see if they could capture nature and its surroundings during a family stroll into town. Here's the...

Wren Bird: Identification, Behavior, and Feedin...

The Wren (Troglodytes Troglodytes) is a small dumpy bird that is warm brown in colour with lighter shades of brown and cream, its wings are small and roundish and the...

Latest news: An elected fellow of The Linnean S...

Simon H King, Haith’s Associate Director has recently been elected a Fellow of The Linnean Society of London, the world’s oldest active biological society. The Society was founded in 1788...

Wildlife adventure with an iPhone

In this week's Wildlife Adventures with an iPhone, I'd like to show you what's happened to that buddleia bush in my garden.The one that was so full of life in...

Hawfinch: Identification, Habitat, and Feeding ...

The Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) is a passerine bird and is part of the finch family (Fringillidae). The Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) is a passerine bird and is part of the finch...

Birdwatching Beyond the Garden: Exploring Birds...

Everyone knows that if you’re lucky enough and encourage birds, they should land in your garden. But did you realise that different birds live in different places? We have chosen...

Goldfinch: Identification, Behaviour, and Feedi...

The Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a small bird which heralds from the finch (Fringillidae) family. Its body is predominantly brown in colour (golden), belly and rump are white, and its...

Which Bird Foods Attract Goldfinches?

There are only three types of Goldfinch in the world. Two live across the Atlantic Ocean (the American goldfinch and Lawrence’s goldfinch – also found in the USA). The European...

Wildlife adventures with an iPhone - Bird Feede...

There’s no substitute for good quality, super-clean bird food in my wildlife garden; however, bird feeders can be interchangeable depending on the bird diet I’m providing. There’s no doubt in...

Introducing 'One for All': Our New Premium No-M...

Those of you who regularly read my Wildlife Adventures with an iPhone series will have seen the video I took while testing our new no mess bird seed mix, “One...

My 20/20 Vision: Together, We Can Make Things B...

I can remember when I first put bird food out in the garden and waiting patiently with my face squashed up against the kitchen window for the birds to show...

Wildlife adventures with an iPhone - Two New Au...

It's beginning to look a lot like autumn out there. Birds are looking a little more purposeful in their search for food. The sudden drop in temperatures and dwindling daylight...

DIY Bird Enthusiast: How to Protect Your Birds ...

We often receive photos from Haith's customers, but these made us stop in our tracks. You won't believe what this is. Mrs Price's bird feeders have been 'bombarded by the...

Common Pheasant: Identification, Habitat, and F...

The Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is a bird in the pheasant family (Phasianidae). The male has iridescent copper-coloured plumage and a long tail. Its head and neck are green, though...

Mallard Duck: Habitat, Behavior, and Feeding Guide

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a large duck, with a long body, and a long broad bill. The male is instantly recognisable with its shiny dark green head, a yellow...

Which Bird Food is Best for Ducks?

Ducks are found throughout the world in all different habitats such as small ditches, ponds, right through to rugged coasts. All species are aquatic and have webbed feet and a...

Common Blackbird: Identification, Behaviour, an...

The common Blackbird (Turdus merula) is a member of the thrush family. The male Blackbirds have a glossy black plumage, black-brown legs, a yellow eye-ring and an orange-yellow bill. The...

Wildlife adventures with an iPhone - Birds at t...

Welcome to this week's wildlife adventures with an iPhone, I'd like to share a short video of one of my favourite wild birds - the House Martin.Actually, it’s three times...

What Bird Food Do Blackbirds Like? Top Choices ...

We all know the English nursery rhyme “Sing a Song of Sixpence” which includes the unfortunate mention of 'Four and twenty Blackbirds, baked in a pie,' - we like to...

Teasel: Embracing This Wildflower in Your Garden

In this edition of my wildlife adventures with an iPhone, the thought occurred to me (during a lunchtime stroll) that one person's wildflower is another person's weed. Take the Teasel,...

Wildlife adventures with an iPhone - Mallard Du...

In today’s wildlife adventures with an iPhone, I want to encourage you to use your smartphone camera (mine’s an iPhone) to reconnect with the natural world. Feeding bird food to...

Long-tailed Tit: Favourite Bird Foods and Feedi...

The Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) is a small bird with pink, black and white plumage and a long black tail with white outer feathers. It is called the 'Long-tailed' tit...

Best Bird Food for Small Garden Birds: A Compre...

More numerous and harder to spot are our smaller garden birds. These could well be cute finches, tits and sparrows being some of the birds that will most frequently visit...

Wildlife adventures with an iPhone - The Chaffinch

I’m determined to continue my wildlife adventures with my trusty iPhone at the ready. However, this week I wanted to find something a little more subtle than last week’s Goldfinch...

Wildlife adventures with an iPhone

This weekend I thought I'd take time out for nature and see what I can capture on my trusty iPhone. I went in search of something a little off beat...

Siskin Bird: Identification, Habitat, and Feedi...

The Siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small passerine bird and is part of the finch family (Fringillidae). It is a lively little finch that has a distinctly forked tail and...

Yellowhammer Bird: Identification, Habitat, and...

The Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) is a passerine bird and is part of the bunting family. The bright yellow plumage of the adult male Yellowhammer - along with his reddish-brown upperparts...

Best Bird Food for Wrens: A Comprehensive Feedi...

Tuesday, 14th May 2019 The tiny Wren is one of our favourites. Small and often very secretive it breeds all over Britain but can suffer serious declines if we have a prolonged...

Can Bird Seed Go Bad? Shelf Life and Storage Tips

The biggest clue you might get that your bird food may no longer be fresh is if your garden birds won’t eat it (although - just to confuse matters -...

Bullfinch Bird: Identification, Behaviour, and ...

The Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) comes from the family of finches (Fringillidae). It is a quiet, secretive but heavily built finch, the male has beautiful uniform pinkish-red breast and underparts, a...

How Water Helps Wildlife: Tips for Creating a W...

Wildlife cannot live without water and UK homeowners are being urged to help newts, frogs and hedgehogs by installing a garden pond or simply filling an old sink, bowl or...

Starling Bird: Identification, Behavior, and Fe...

The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized passerine and is typically 20cm (8in) in length, and is slightly smaller than a blackbird. From a distance, they can appear just...

Chaffinch Bird: Identification, Habitat, and Fe...

The Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) is a common and widespread small bird in the finch family. The male is brightly coloured with a blue-grey cap and reddish underparts. The female is...

A Guide to Choosing a Nest Box

There are few things more satisfying or entertaining than having birds take to a nest box that you have put up. Ideally, no garden should be devoid of a bird...

Attracting Blue Tits to Your Garden

The Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is a very small passerine bird and is a member of the Tit family (Paridae). They can easily be identified as it is the only...

Jackdaw: Characteristics, Habitat, and Feeding ...

The Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) is the smallest member of the crow family. It has a dark grey to black plumage with a contrasting grey nape, light coloured eyes and a...

Great Spotted Woodpecker: Identification, Behav...

The Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) is a medium-sized bird, and is one of two black and white woodpeckers that can be found in Britain. Identification is easy to detect...

Mistle Thrush: Identification, Habitat, and Fee...

Thursday, 6th December 2018 The Mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus) is the largest member of the thrush family. It’s a very distinguished looking bird; its upperparts are grey-brown, and its underparts are a...

A Wildlife Garden in November

A drop in temperature offers a fantastic opportunity for the garden bird enthusiast; it’s a great time of year to watch nature develop in your own back garden; it’s a...

Dunnock Bird: Identification, Habitat, and Feed...

The Dunnock (Prunella modularis) is a small passerine bird and - at first glance - it can look very dull, but it can be quite attractive when seen up close....

Understanding Metabolic Bone Disease in Hedgeho...

Upon reading articles online suggesting that peanuts and sunflower hearts could lead to metabolic bone disease (MBD), and that dried fruit may lead to tooth decay, we immediately contacted our...

Metabolic Bone Disease in Hedgehogs

Upon reading articles online suggesting that peanuts and sunflower hearts could lead to metabolic bone disease (MBD), and that dried fruit may lead to tooth decay, we immediately contacted our...

Night-Singing Birds: Species and Their Songs

Monday, 22nd October 2018 No-one can have failed to notice the night’s drawing in but this doesn’t mean the end of birdsong. Although birdsong is normally connected with daytime birds there are...

Crested Tit: Identification, Behaviour, and Fee...

The Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) is a passerine bird and is a member of the tit family Paridae. It may not be a very colourful bird, but it can be...

Great Tit: Identification, Behaviour, and Feedi...

The Great Tit (Parus major) is a passerine bird and the largest member of the tit family (Paridae). It's perhaps best recognised by its glossy black crown and pure white...

Redwing Bird: Identification, Migration Pattern...

The Redwing (Turdus iliacus) is a small bird and a member of the thrush family (Turdidae). Its appearance is very similar to the Song Thrush but is distinguished by its...

Migrating Swallows

One of the UK’s most popular summer visitors is the Swallow. They arrive here in April and by early June most Swallows have started to breed. The first brood of...

Swallow Bird: Identification, Behaviour and Fee...

The Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is part of the group of passerine birds in the family Hirundinidae which are characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding. They are easily recognised with...

Wheatear Bird: Identification and Migration

The Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is a small passerine bird previously considered to be part of the thrush family (Turdidae); however, they are more commonly thought of as members of the...

Helping Wildlife from the Workplace: Tips and S...

We all know the pleasures of feeding our local wildlife at home. Watching your garden birds feeding can give us great satisfaction and when your birds drink, bathe and preen...

How to Hydrate Damaged Feathers: Care Tips for ...

We all know the benefits of providing our garden birds with water. Drinking and bathing are the main reasons but a new report suggests that there are even more health...

Willow Warbler: Identification, Habitat, and Fe...

The Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) is a small delicate bird and looks very similar to Chiffchaffs but they are a bit more slender. They have grey-green backs, pale yellow under...

Hygiene Tips for Garden Bird Feeding: Keeping Y...

What is the importance of Hygiene and Garden Bird Feeding. The importance of practising hygiene when feeding garden birds was emphasised once again in a recent scientific paper in the...

Lapwing: Identification, Behaviour, and Feeding...

The Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) is a member of the plover family it is also known as the green plover or pee-wit after its call. It is mainly black and white,...

Does Nature make us happier?

Thousands of us took part in the 30 days Wild in June and - with growing evidence that the natural world improves our energy levels and reduces anxiety - more...

Grey Wagtail: Identification, Habitat, and Feed...

The Grey wagtail (Motacilla Cinerea) has slate grey upper parts and a strong yellow under-tail. In flight, its tail is longer than those of pied and yellow wagtails and it...

Goldcrest: Identification, Habitat, and Feeding...

The Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) is a very small passerine bird; they are a dull greyish-green bird with a pale belly and a black and yellow stripe on their heads, which...

Bird Species Threatened with Extinction: Causes...

After a five year study of population data called The State of the World’s Birds, a biodiversity crisis has been revealed due to the expansion and intensification of agriculture. The...

Nightingale Bird: Identification, Habitat, and ...

The Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) is a small passerine bird that is slightly larger than the Robin but more slender. Their colour is a rather plain brown, with a thin black/brown...

Big Garden Bird Watch 2018: Key Findings and In...

In 2017 during the breeding season conditions were mild and this has been linked to a higher than usual influx of smaller bird species in our gardens during January 2018....

What Do You Feed a Bird? Essential Tips for Bir...

The first thing to do is to find out which birds are most likely to be visitors to your garden. That means bird identification: if your bird ID is a...

What Kind of Food Do Birds Like to Eat? Top Pic...

As with humans, birds also like a variety to their diet. Here at Haith’s, we are regularly asked ‘What kind of food do birds like to eat?’ We offer a...

What Is a Bird's Favourite Food? Top Choices fo...

Different birds have different food requirements as they navigate their lifetime, high-protein in spring, high-energy during winter, and supplementary offerings such as suet will help birds live a healthier life....

Can You Eat Bird Food? Safety and Nutrition Ins...

As the title suggests we do sometimes get asked, “Can you eat bird food?” We like to tell our customers that our high-quality bird seed is super-clean and safe for...

What Attracts Birds to Feeders? Tips for a Bird...

There are lots of bird feeders of different styles, designs and sizes on the market, so you may think to yourself which is the best one for my garden and...

What Can You Feed a Wild Bird? Safe and Nutriti...

Feeding garden birds is one of the most helpful things you can do for wildlife; however, you have to be thoughtful with your feeding. What can you feed a wild...

What Do Garden Birds Like to Eat? A Comprehensi...

It’s often an assumption that birds only need our help during the winter months but this certainly isn’t the case. Wild birds need our help throughout each and every season...

Which kind of bird food attracts the most garde...

A wildlife-friendly garden is a great way to support nature and bring more life to your garden. A question we get asked regularly here at the Haith's bird food centre...

Nuthatch Bird: Identification, Habitat, and Fee...

Nuthatches (Sitta europaea) are a small passerine bird belonging to the family Sittidae. They have blue-grey upperparts and a long black stripe through the eye. The underparts are pale reddish-brown....

Why Choose Safe4 Disinfectant?

Our Safe 4 Disinfectant Range has been tested by independent laboratories and meets with all the accreditation standards. Buy now from just £3.60Safe4 disinfectant is used worldwide and has been...

Brambling Bird: Identification, Migration, and ...

The Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) is similar in size and shape to the Chaffinch. It is recognised by its russet-coloured upper-breast and white rump, the male having a black head with...

Beware: Seven Common Foods That Are Harmful to ...

Throughout the cold winter months, we all know to feed our garden birds high-quality bird food such as Sunflower hearts, Premuim Peanuts, and Suets. However, we have listed below seven...

Willow Tit

Very similar in looks to the Marsh Tit, unfortunately in fast decline. Can be found in damp woodlands, hedges and, thickets in England, Wales and southern Scotland. The Willow Tit,...

Blackcap Bird: Identification, Habitat, and Fee...

The Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is quite a chunky bird and is about the size of a Chaffinch and heralds from the warblers’ family. It is a distinctive greyish warbler, and...

Green Woodpecker: Identification, Habitat, and ...

The Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) is a member of the woodpecker family (Picidae). It is one of three types of woodpecker and is the largest. The crown and nape are...

Advice on Bird Feeders and Nest Boxes

Feeders and nest boxes. People put them up and then are disappointed when nothing seems to be eating or nesting. So, they e-mail me or collar me in the street...

A Visit to the Arabian Gulf

From 3-10 December 2017 Professor John E Cooper, veterinary advisor to Haith’s, and his wife Margaret E Cooper were in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as guests at an international...

Collared Dove: Identification, Habitat, and Fee...

The Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is a small dove with a long tail and is known to be smaller than a Woodpigeon. They are easily identified with its pinky-brown grey...

Skylark Bird: Identification, Song, and Feeding...

The Skylark (Alauda arvensis) is a small brown bird and is a member of the Lark family. It is a streaky brown colour with a small crest, the tail is...

The Best Food for Blackbirds

Blackbirds are one of Britain’s most familiar and best-loved birds. Belonging to the thrush family, only the male is all black with female and young Blackbirds being brown. They are...

Fieldfare Bird: Identification, Behaviour, and ...

The Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is a large, colourful bird and a member of the thrush family (Turdidae). They are very similar in size to a mistle thrush and can easily...

Rook Bird: Identification, Habitat, and Feeding...

The Rook (Corvus frugilegus) is a large member of the crow (Corvidae) family; it is similar in size to the Carrion Crow. It has a slender bill, a bare, greyish-white...

What Do Robins Eat? A Comprehensive Guide to Th...

Robins are a welcome sight in any garden. They're associated with Christmas and the winter months though are resident year round. Both female and male have a bright (almost) identical...

Birds and Halloween traditions

Birds have been connected with Halloween folklore for as long as we can remember. The reason is that many cultures (ancient and modern) view certain types of birds as dark...

What to Feed Garden Birds and What to Avoid: A ...

We all know what to feed our garden birds, don’t we? Read on to find out what you shouldn't be feeding the birds. Sunflowers, peanut granules and niger seeds are all bird favourites. Millet...

Linnet Bird: Identification, Habitat, and Feedi...

The common Linnet (Linaria cannabina) is a small passerine bird and a member of the finch family. It is a slim bird with a long tail. Its upper parts are...

The Charm of Goldfinches: Identification, Behav...

A recent UK-wide survey by the British Trust for Ornithology has revealed that Goldfinches are now being seen in record numbers in our gardens. After a healthy breeding season this...

Help to hibernate! Help a hedgehog hibernate th...

Different animals hibernate at different times of the year. Discover below how you can help a hedgehog hibernate this autumn and winter For warm-blooded animals, a lot of energy is...

Why we're all doing work that matters

According to WWF research, Earth has lost half of its wildlife in the past 40 years which is why we’re doubling our efforts to take care of what’s left of...

Wild Bird Food Direct from Haith's

Haith’s wild bird direct, Grimsby, is dedicated to caring for your garden wildlife, we provide high-quality wild bird food at an affordable price. The team here at Haith’s wild bird...

A Yellowhammer

The Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) is a passerine bird and is part of the bunting family. The bright yellow plumage of the adult male Yellowhammer - along with his reddish-brown upper...

Attracting Robin Red Breast to Your Garden

To help attract this delightful bird to your garden we have the following suggestions for you to try... Recently voted as the nation’s favourite bird, Robins are a welcome sight...

Attracting Birds to Your Garden

Living things have three basic needs to survive; - shelter, water, and food. Our gardens, if we are lucky enough to have one, can provide homes for an enchanting variety...

Mistle Thrush: Characteristics, Habitat, and Fe...

The Mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus) is the largest member of the thrush family. It’s a very distinguished looking bird; its upperparts are grey-brown, and its underparts are a pale yellow...

A South Gloucestershire Birder's Diary: Birdwat...

As an ‘obsessive’ birder based in S. Gloucestershire I’m keen to see (and if possible find) rare and scarce birds and butterflies in my area: over the years (now more...

Help Our World: Practical Tips for Supporting W...

We were recently contacted by a local primary school in the Grimsby area, they asked us if we could donate some products and recipes to help them understand about helping...

Cuckoo Bird: Identification, Behaviour, and Fee...

The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a common solitary bird and is more often heard than seen. Learn more about Cuckoos here... The Cuckoos call ('cuck-oo cuck-oo') is only given by...

Honeybees and their hives

Apart from Antarctica, Honeybees are found the world over. From the same family as ants and wasps, they live on a variety of nectar and pollen. Honeybees live in colonies...

Magpie Bird: Characteristics, Behaviour, and Fe...

When it comes to the decline in songbirds much finger pointing has taken place at Magpies. Find out why these intelligent birds are considered as a pest. Magpies (Pica pica)...

Why do birds have different songs? #AskBillOddie

Birds in the United Kingdom exhibit a diverse array of songs, each unique to their species, and the reasons behind this rich variation are as fascinating as the melodies themselves....

Which species of birds' behaviour do you find m...

Bird behaviour is a captivating realm that intricately weaves together instinct, adaptation, and intelligence, presenting an endless array of marvels for enthusiasts and scientists alike. Observing birds in their natural...

Yellow Wagtail: Identification, Migration, and ...

The Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) is a small passerine bird and is part of the Wagtail family (Motacillidae). It is a bird that visits us between March and September, and...

How Watching Wildlife Improves Well-being: Heal...

Wildlife, and especially watching garden birds, has always made us happy but a recent study by Exeter University has confirmed that people living close to birds have a better level...

How to stop grey squirrels from stealing bird food

If you feed the birds in Britain you’re almost certain to see a grey squirrel or two. They are incredibly common and they have a knack of knowing when a...

Mandarin Duck: Identification, Habitat, and Fee...

Recently a colleague spent an enjoyable afternoon fishing in Lincolnshire and spotted a Mandarin duck in the lake. With a great latin name of Aix galericulata, we decided to look...

The birdsong of spring

Spring is a great time of year. It’s the return of many things including spring flowers like daffodils, crocuses, and tulips. But we like the return of the dawn chorus...

Marching into spring

We're on route to the breeding season – we're marching into spring - and now is a good time to review our foods. The birds that have frequented our gardens...

Song Thrush: Identification, Habitat, and Feedi...

The Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) can be seen all year round and is quite easy to identify as it is slightly smaller than the Mistle Thrush. It has even brown...

World Wildlife Day at Fylingdales Primary School

Fylingdales Primary School recently engaged its young students, aged 6 and 7, in commemorating World Wildlife Day, an event dedicated to raising awareness about the significance of protecting wildlife and...

Why We Love Garden Birds: Tips for Attracting Them

In this blog we explore the importance and the love we share for wild birds. What’s so special about garden birds? As we all know, Britain is a nation of...

Bird Feeders Hygiene: Best Practices for a Heal...

When a large number of birds are attracted to gardens to feed, their chances of contracting a disease are slightly increased because they are grouping together in one place (a...

The natural world and Christmas

Wrap up warm this winter, it's going to be a cold one! The question is are we expecting a white christmas this year? Read this blog to find out. At...

The natural world and Christmas

At this time of year, it’s our first instinct to put the fire on, decorate our homes with all the festive treats that are on offer and hibernate with friends...

Winter Berries and Wildlife

Winter berries bring colour to our hedgerows and provide vital food for wildlife. It proves that they're not just for Christmas.At this special time of year, when the wintry weather...

Drought, Dams, and Drinking Water: Ensuring Bir...

Haith’s Veterinary Advisor Professor John E Cooper FRCVS and his wife Margaret recently returned from another four weeks in East Africa where, amongst other things, they provided training at a...