Are you planning on using your usual site, or maybe working on a new site.
What are you expecting to visit, and what are you hoping/planning will visit.
I didn't use a feeding station last year {spent my spare time on my coast}, but intend to share this years winter between the coast and my new {in progress} feeding station.
My previous feeding station was not ideal, and didn't fulfill all the essential criterea, although it was reasonably successful. This station was situated in open woodland/gorse scrub {which required a lot of pruning of the gorse}. I was also confined to an area away from the clay pigeon shooters, which resulted in me having to use a site that had small trees immediately behind my hide {and therefore dappled light, apart from the middle of the day}. However, it was fairly secluded and not liable to disturbance from the publc. It took a lot of work, lugging various branches/stumps and tying back/pruning etc, and because it was a difficult terrain to reach this site, my well beaten track {to and from} became a magnet to the grazing sheep, and i would often find my logs/perches etc disturbed on my arrival .
I checked out this old site a few weeks ago {in anticipation for this year}, but my previous gorse pruning had encouraged so much new growth that i would need a JCB to enter the site .
I decided to start from scratch for this winter, and set about searching for a suitable area/site. Although i have many square miles of uninhabited land near my home {and permmision from all relevent landowners}, it is surprisingly difficult to find 'the' site for a productive feeding station situation. Because i don't drive, i needed this site to be very local, and finally found a hopeful site.
This site will allow me good light for the majority of the day, and although there are trees behind my where my hide will be placed, they are far enough away for the low winter sun to clear, and it is fairly sheltered from the winds. It is also in an area that is highly unlikely to be disturbed by Joe Public.
I am sited within yards of a line of old 'woodpecker' pecked trees, and on extremely boggy/waterlogged land that is frequented by snipe {and hopefully woodcock} in cold temps. Apart from woodpecker, buzzard/sparrowhawk/kestral are regular passer-byes, and all these birds are my main aim from this site {along with the usual tits/finches}.
Unfortunately, sheep do roam this particular area, and have already knocked over my carefully assembled stumps/logs/perches, while scratching themselves against them , but now that the heavy rains have arrived, i suspect the flooded grass will keep them at bay .
Initially, this flooded area was a concern for hide placement, but i have lugged a builders pallet into position {and placed it onto supporting props}, as a nice 'dry' base for the mini-dome above the flooded/boggy land .
Although this site is still in progress, and i seem to be continually placing {and re-placing} various perches for unobstructed shooting directions, i think i am finally getting there, as the tits/woodies are already showing a nervous interest in my activities.
what great fun all this sounds alan, the things i am missing by going underwater so much! i've never used a feeding station myself but i can imagine it conjures up great enthusiasm for the coming cold months.
i hope you have great success.
m
Posted by Craig Thomson on October 8, 2006 at 6:04 AM
Hi Alan,
I sympathise, having set up a feeding station or 2 in years gone by. I am actualy in the process of tapping up the local BNFL site to see if I can place a semi permament hide on their land as its an ideal site with plenty of mammals as well as wetland, scrub and pasture birds.
If it comes off Ill let you all know and post a pic or 2
Cheers,
Craig
Posted by Chris Lloyd on October 8, 2006 at 3:02 PM
Hi Alan,
My main feeding station will be in my back garden which will attract Blue Tits, Great tits and Blackbirds. However I am hoping to set up a feeding sight for Foxes from around December time to last until cubbing season in March/April so hopefully that will work out.
Discussion
3 repliesAre you planning on using your usual site, or maybe working on a new site.
What are you expecting to visit, and what are you hoping/planning will visit.
I didn't use a feeding station last year {spent my spare time on my coast}, but intend to share this years winter between the coast and my new {in progress} feeding station.
My previous feeding station was not ideal, and didn't fulfill all the essential criterea, although it was reasonably successful. This station was situated in open woodland/gorse scrub {which required a lot of pruning of the gorse}. I was also confined to an area away from the clay pigeon shooters, which resulted in me having to use a site that had small trees immediately behind my hide {and therefore dappled light, apart from the middle of the day}. However, it was fairly secluded and not liable to disturbance from the publc. It took a lot of work, lugging various branches/stumps and tying back/pruning etc, and because it was a difficult terrain to reach this site, my well beaten track {to and from} became a magnet to the grazing sheep, and i would often find my logs/perches etc disturbed on my arrival
I checked out this old site a few weeks ago {in anticipation for this year}, but my previous gorse pruning had encouraged so much new growth that i would need a JCB to enter the site
I decided to start from scratch for this winter, and set about searching for a suitable area/site. Although i have many square miles of uninhabited land near my home {and permmision from all relevent landowners}, it is surprisingly difficult to find 'the' site for a productive feeding station situation. Because i don't drive, i needed this site to be very local, and finally found a hopeful site.
This site will allow me good light for the majority of the day, and although there are trees behind my where my hide will be placed, they are far enough away for the low winter sun to clear, and it is fairly sheltered from the winds. It is also in an area that is highly unlikely to be disturbed by Joe Public.
I am sited within yards of a line of old 'woodpecker' pecked trees, and on extremely boggy/waterlogged land that is frequented by snipe {and hopefully woodcock} in cold temps. Apart from woodpecker, buzzard/sparrowhawk/kestral are regular passer-byes, and all these birds are my main aim from this site {along with the usual tits/finches}.
Unfortunately, sheep do roam this particular area, and have already knocked over my carefully assembled stumps/logs/perches, while scratching themselves against them
Initially, this flooded area was a concern for hide placement, but i have lugged a builders pallet into position {and placed it onto supporting props}, as a nice 'dry' base for the mini-dome above the flooded/boggy land
Although this site is still in progress, and i seem to be continually placing {and re-placing} various perches for unobstructed shooting directions, i think i am finally getting there, as the tits/woodies are already showing a nervous interest in my activities.
Fingers crossed for a successful winter
Alan
what great fun all this sounds alan, the things i am missing by going underwater so much! i've never used a feeding station myself but i can imagine it conjures up great enthusiasm for the coming cold months.
i hope you have great success.
m
I sympathise, having set up a feeding station or 2 in years gone by. I am actualy in the process of tapping up the local BNFL site to see if I can place a semi permament hide on their land as its an ideal site with plenty of mammals as well as wetland, scrub and pasture birds.
If it comes off Ill let you all know and post a pic or 2
Cheers,
Craig
My main feeding station will be in my back garden which will attract Blue Tits, Great tits and Blackbirds. However I am hoping to set up a feeding sight for Foxes from around December time to last until cubbing season in March/April so hopefully that will work out.
Regards Chris
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