JDog Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 This particular farmer has only just realised that he can make more per hectare from the Government (at present the EU) by growing birdy mixes rather than conventional crops. He has gone to town on it too and as I write he is part way through sowing what appears to be many hectares. Less than 24 hours since he started sowing there are lots of tweety birds feeding on the seeds on the surface and depending on what is grown I can imagine that other larger grey and white birds will be interested in the growing crop. Pictured are three types of seeds found in most abundance on the surface. The larger ones look like parrot food, the mid sized ones look like the buckwheat eventually identified in PC's post and the smaller seeds are I know not what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 you will be "tweeting" your exploits next JD........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 The large one on the right looks a bit like sunflower seed, the others look like a mix of red and white dari and millet, bottom left as you say is buck wheat, as to it being a draw for our grey and white friends, I would think a very good possibility, lets hope any new licence allows us to shoot on stubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 the longer this licence thingy goes on....the less likely of a sucessful outcome............im not pleased with the lack of progress 4 minutes ago, old'un said: The large one on the right looks a bit like sunflower seed, the others look like a mix of red and white dari and millet, bottom left as you say is buck wheat, as to it being a draw for our grey and white friends, I would think a very good possibility, lets hope any new licence allows us to shoot on stubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 14 minutes ago, ditchman said: the longer this licence thingy goes on....the less likely of a sucessful outcome............im not pleased with the lack of progress I don’t think anyone is happy with the mess NE as created, I notice that pest control companies are also holding back for clarification on lethal control of birds. As you say lack of progress is frustrating but like anything to-do with government it seems to take them for ever to get things sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 1 hour ago, ditchman said: you will be "tweeting" your exploits next JD........... ARGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 1 hour ago, Walker570 said: ARGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !! "das roght sorr....every ones a winner"................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 (edited) The Brtish bird seed market is huge, so why shouldn't our farmers grow as much of it as they can. Less imports better balance and no big carbon footprint bringing it half way around the world. Edited May 18, 2019 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 If you google vine house farm deeping st Nicholas, the farmer Nicholas watts grows acres of sunflowers an produces bird seed mixes, and does very well from it too as he has a good wild bird shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted May 18, 2019 Report Share Posted May 18, 2019 Seems the local council here is growing more of these mixes now on central reservations and verges, which is great for wildlife and saves on grass cutting which is a no brainer. Pigeons certainly seem to like them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Continental Shooter Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 sunflower is a killer for pigeons and doves in south Europe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 On 18/05/2019 at 21:34, aga man said: Seems the local council here is growing more of these mixes now on central reservations and verges, which is great for wildlife and saves on grass cutting which is a no brainer. Pigeons certainly seem to like them too. If you have ever travelled through Texas, USA, in the spring and early summer, you will have witnessed the superb colour of wild flowers growing on the roadside. The vaste majority of these are seeded by the local authority/highway groups and a joy to see. I have been pleased this year that Leicester County Council have only trimmed about a yard of the lane edges and the visibility splays and left the wild flowers to grow and this should be nation wide. Even nettles support numerous insects and butterflies in particular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 5 hours ago, Continental Shooter said: sunflower is a killer for pigeons and doves in south Europe Saves shooting them. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 I really do think we should have a 'LIKE' button on this forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 5 hours ago, Walker570 said: If you have ever travelled through Texas, USA, in the spring and early summer, you will have witnessed the superb colour of wild flowers growing on the roadside. The vaste majority of these are seeded by the local authority/highway groups and a joy to see. I have been pleased this year that Leicester County Council have only trimmed about a yard of the lane edges and the visibility splays and left the wild flowers to grow and this should be nation wide. Even nettles support numerous insects and butterflies in particular. Not fortunate enough to have been to the USA as yet but i agree these wild flower verges are a joy to see and support a whole spectrum of wildlife. Certainly a way foward i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 11 hours ago, Continental Shooter said: sunflower is a killer for pigeons and doves in south Europe how do you mean ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Continental Shooter Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 1 hour ago, ditchman said: how do you mean ? Sorry, should have been clearer: they are magnets. Dove will not feed on anything else and leftovers or regrowth are pigeons territory in winter. Now wondering if, given the right conditions, could be the same here with woodies.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 there is a bit of land a couple of miles from here that regular grows sunflower....not sure if it is for cover or bird seed.........never seen birds hitting it tho....i know in licolnshire where they grow the stuff...it is attacked by swarms of finches..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted June 10, 2019 Report Share Posted June 10, 2019 13 hours ago, Walker570 said: I really do think we should have a 'LIKE' button on this forum 👍 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Continental Shooter Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 On 10/06/2019 at 00:36, ditchman said: there is a bit of land a couple of miles from here that regular grows sunflower....not sure if it is for cover or bird seed.........never seen birds hitting it tho....i know in licolnshire where they grow the stuff...it is attacked by swarms of finches..... Strange world. I remember my grandpa saying it took it a good few years for doves to realise sunflower was the perfect seed for their trip to Africa bit since then they only eat that so much so that if a field is cut early, the would leave the area all together instead of settling for nearby cultivations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinj Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 On 10/06/2019 at 06:26, BenBhoy said: 👍 +1 I like the idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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