Peanuts: A food source which is used mostly by tits, and finches and will, very occasionally invite woodpeckers. I have seen a Greater Spotted Woodpecker twice, and they are a treat to see. Unfortunately, as we discovered, they also attract squirrels. While they are great fun to watch, they destroyed our original peanut feeder in its effort to remove the food. Apparently though, other food sources are now much preferred to peanuts. No idea why!
Feeder Seed mixes: We used to feed the birds with black sunflower seeds, and sunflower hearts. These were popular with finches in particular. The seed mixes are generally more popular with the smaller birds, such as tits and Dunnocks. The seeds were small enough that the Blue Tit parents fed a few of them to the chicks in our nest box this year. I think this food also helped see the return of House Sparrows in our garden. The spillage, from the feeders keeps the ground feeding birds happy too.
Table mixes: We sometimes provide Robin foods bought from the local pet store. It includes mealworms, seeds and cereal type things. It is quite expensive, but I find that the birds love it. As you may have guessed, it attracts Robins. However, House Sparrows, Blackbirds, Collared Doves, Magpies, Wood Pigeons Dunnocks and tits are also attracted by these foods. I also put some Raspberries and Blackcurrants on the table, alongside a few scraps, which keeps the bird table busy.
Fat: Keeps our Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, Magpies and the odd flock of Long-tailed Tits busy. Earlier in the year, Starlings were an entertaining sight at the fat cakes and balls, but I have seen an absence in them recently.
Nyjer Seed: In our garden, it almost exclusively attracts Goldfinches, but Greenfinches are occasionally seen feeding on them.
Images all from CJ wildlife website apart from raspberries (google images)
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