On Wed, 27 Mar 2024 20:06:11 +0000, Sam Plusnet wrote:

> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine and neither of us knew the other
>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>
> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I bought
> her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her birthday.
>
> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>
> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
> bought one of those as well. After all, you can't have too many
> birdbaths can you?
>
> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had bought
> her...
> a birdbath.

How do your visitors distribute themselves among them? Are there
colonisations, boundary lines, class differences, squabbles, ... Or is it
a place of harmony and neighbourly sharing?

Couldn't find any Greek nymphs specialising in birdbaths, so you may
be unlucky in that area.

On Wed, 27 Mar 2024 20:45:26 -0000 (UTC), Iain Archer
<ianews@montaigne.me.uk> wrote:

>On Wed, 27 Mar 2024 20:06:11 +0000, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>
>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine and neither of us knew the other
>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>
>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I bought
>> her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her birthday.
>>
>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>
>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>> bought one of those as well. After all, you can't have too many
>> birdbaths can you?
>>
>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had bought
>> her...
>> a birdbath.
>
>How do your visitors distribute themselves among them? Are there
>colonisations, boundary lines, class differences, squabbles, ... Or is it
>a place of harmony and neighbourly sharing?
>
>Couldn't find any Greek nymphs specialising in birdbaths, so you may
>be unlucky in that area.

We've had bird feeders attached to the back fence for a couple of
years and the robin defended his patch to begin with but now only blue
tits use them. B just bought a new feeder to attach to the glass
kitchen door so they'd be closer to see. I don't think they'll come
that near the house. It arrived today, so we'll see.

On 27-Mar-24 20:45, Iain Archer wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Mar 2024 20:06:11 +0000, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>
>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine and neither of us knew the other
>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>
>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I bought
>> her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her birthday.
>>
>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>
>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>> bought one of those as well. After all, you can't have too many
>> birdbaths can you?
>>
>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had bought
>> her...
>> a birdbath.
>
> How do your visitors distribute themselves among them? Are there
> colonisations, boundary lines, class differences, squabbles, ... Or is it
> a place of harmony and neighbourly sharing?
>
> Couldn't find any Greek nymphs specialising in birdbaths, so you may
> be unlucky in that area.

The two larger ones are in constant demand[1].
One is at ground level, and the other is on a pedestal - which makes the
bather somewhat safer for the most part.
That said, we do get the occasional visit from a sparrowhawk, and for
him a bird on that pedestal birdbath is a bit like putting a golf ball
onto a tee.
The smaller one is used, but it has a much smaller capacity and
empties/dries up far too quickly.

[1] They're maybe 30 foot apart, so they attract different clientele.

--
Sam Plusnet

On 27/03/2024 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>
> Liliana was given a Nespresso machine by her children this
> Christmas[1] It's not so much the unrecyclability of the pods - the
> local pod supplier takes back the used pods and recycles the materials
> - but the boodily expensive cost of the pods in the first place. Even
> third-party pods, which sometimes contain jolly nice coffee and
> sometimes don't, cost a huge amount.
Your definition of a "huge amount" may differ from mine, but on my
subscription I buy 12 packs at just under £45. Each pack has 16
capsules, so each coffee costs us less than 25p.

Not cheap, although a bargain compared to Costa etc. We place an order
every 12-16 weeks and it's well worth it for us to have superb esperesso
coffee available in moments (it's vital to prewarm the cuops though).

For the subscription that includes a machine for £1 there is a minimum
number of orders, but we have opaid that back now and can cancel at any
time.

<https://www.lavazza.co.uk/en/my-way-coffee-subscription/coffee-machine-and-capsules>

On Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:31:34 +0000, BrritSki wrote:

> Your definition of a "huge amount" may differ from mine, but on my
> subscription I buy 12 packs at just under £45. Each pack has 16
> capsules, so each coffee costs us less than 25p.

This prompted me to work out what I'm paying. I buy a 1kg bag of beans
every 6 weeks or so, at ~£14 a bag. (I wait for it to be on offer and
stock up.) I make ~14 cups a week, so that's about 17p per cup.

The capital cost of my De'Longhi Magnifica bean to cup machine is not
small, but it's lasted 10 years so far so that's another 8p a day or so.

--
Jim <http://www.jim-easterbrook.me.uk/>
1959/1985? M B+ G+ A L- I- S- P-- CH0(p) Ar++ T+ H0 Q--- Sh0

On 28/03/2024 13:41, Jim Easterbrook wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:31:34 +0000, BrritSki wrote:
>
>> Your definition of a "huge amount" may differ from mine, but on my
>> subscription I buy 12 packs at just under £45. Each pack has 16
>> capsules, so each coffee costs us less than 25p.
>
> This prompted me to work out what I'm paying. I buy a 1kg bag of beans
> every 6 weeks or so, at ~£14 a bag. (I wait for it to be on offer and
> stock up.) I make ~14 cups a week, so that's about 17p per cup.
>
> The capital cost of my De'Longhi Magnifica bean to cup machine is not
> small, but it's lasted 10 years so far so that's another 8p a day or so.
>
Not much in it then cost wise.

In message <l6labsFk6ugU1@mid.individual.net> at Thu, 28 Mar 2024
13:41:16, Jim Easterbrook <news@jim-easterbrook.me.uk> writes
>On Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:31:34 +0000, BrritSki wrote:
>
>> Your definition of a "huge amount" may differ from mine, but on my
>> subscription I buy 12 packs at just under £45. Each pack has 16
>> capsules, so each coffee costs us less than 25p.
>
>This prompted me to work out what I'm paying. I buy a 1kg bag of beans
>every 6 weeks or so, at ~£14 a bag. (I wait for it to be on offer and
>stock up.) I make ~14 cups a week, so that's about 17p per cup.

Just to provide the other end of the scale: I'm not that fond of
"proper" coffee (however made), as I find it too strong and bitter (I
have a very sweet tooth); if someone gives me some with obvious pride,
I'll drink it to not hurt their feelings, but probably smother it in
enough sugar to spoil whatever its fine qualities are. I consider
"proper" coffee and instant coffee to be more or less separate
substances, despite coming from the same plant. And, again, because of
the amount of milk and sugar I add (so no point in buying expensive), I
use the cheapest instant I can find - less than a penny a gramme;
usually Aldi or Lidl's 200g jars that are under 2 pounds, but
occasionally Morrisons or Tesco 100g jars. Not sure how much I use - I
recently tried to monitor it, and a 100g jar lasted me between 1 and 2
weeks. I have several mugs a day. Sugar - I take two; I used to take one
sugar and one pill as a gesture to limiting calorie input, but since
being diagnosed diabetic that's become two pills (0.1p each: ordinary
saccharin, 1000 for a pound from Morrisons including the dispenser). I
probably spend more on the milk (ordinary semi-skimmed, bought in 4 pint
bottles; don't know how much I use, but its a lot).
>
>The capital cost of my De'Longhi Magnifica bean to cup machine is not
>small, but it's lasted 10 years so far so that's another 8p a day or so.
>
My kettle (has lasted some years but I think of it as fairly new) was
IIRR about 6 pounds. Not sure from where - I think Argos, as I have a
vague memory of paying 50p or a pound more to have a black rather than
white one. Come to think of it - maybe a minute at 2 kW, so 1/30 of a
unit - my units cost (reaches for hand-delivered bill!) 27.966p + VAT,
so about a penny for a mug. I presume your assorted coffee machines are
only a few hundred watts, but you have them on for longer.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

A true-born Englishman does not know any language. He does not speak English
too well either but, at least, he is not proud of this. He is, however,
immensely proud of not knowing any foreign languages. (George Mikes, "How to
be Inimitable" [1960].)

On Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:31:34 +0000, BrritSki
<rtilburyTAKEOUT@gmail.com> wrote:

>On 27/03/2024 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>
>> Liliana was given a Nespresso machine by her children this
>> Christmas[1] It's not so much the unrecyclability of the pods - the
>> local pod supplier takes back the used pods and recycles the materials
>> - but the boodily expensive cost of the pods in the first place. Even
>> third-party pods, which sometimes contain jolly nice coffee and
>> sometimes don't, cost a huge amount.
>Your definition of a "huge amount" may differ from mine, but on my
>subscription I buy 12 packs at just under £45. Each pack has 16
>capsules, so each coffee costs us less than 25p.
>
>Not cheap, although a bargain compared to Costa etc. We place an order
>every 12-16 weeks and it's well worth it for us to have superb esperesso
>coffee available in moments (it's vital to prewarm the cuops though).
>
>For the subscription that includes a machine for £1 there is a minimum
>number of orders, but we have opaid that back now and can cancel at any
>time.
>
><https://www.lavazza.co.uk/en/my-way-coffee-subscription/coffee-machine-and-capsules>

The Nespresso machine is over there and the coffee prices are all over
here so it's difficult for me to make a comparison.

Over here, the ESE pods cost me about 25p each and a single shot of a
reasonable quality ground coffee costs about 20p so, as I said, that's
not too bad a difference. Over there, Nespresso-compatible pods cost
about £4 for ten. The Nespresso originals are about twice that price.
Over there good coffee which is sold as beans or ready ground costs
about the same as it does here.

There is one other little twist. Over there Nestlé won't maintain the
guarantee on their machines unless they have only been used with
genuine Nespresso capsules. You'd think they were a sub-division of
Epson with terms like that, wouldn't you? And anyway, how would they
know?

It seems that they do know because Nestlé hold several patents on
aspects of their capsules that other manufacturers have to find a
workaround for. One is to do with the seal and another is about a
piece of paper inside the capsule which acts a bit like a widget in a
cans of beer. So a "compatible" capsule doesn't fit in quite the same
way as a genuine one. (I wasn't sure that I believed any of this when
I first heard about it but I've seen a video takedown of the device on
a YouTube coffee channel and I believe it now.)

The manufacturers of Nespresso-compatible machines have their own
workarounds for those patents so although there may be problems - both
with the guarantee and with leakage - using compatible pods in genuine
machines, you can use either type in a compatible machine without
doing any harm.

Oh gosh! That's more than anybody wanted to know, isn't it?

Nick

In message <ns9b0j5h3s23ft0r5drl6o90tels9inmt4@4ax.com> at Thu, 28 Mar
2024 17:52:42, Nick Odell <nickodell49@yahoo.ca> writes
[]
>genuine Nespresso capsules. You'd think they were a sub-division of
>Epson with terms like that, wouldn't you? And anyway, how would they
>know?
[]
>The manufacturers of Nespresso-compatible machines have their own
>workarounds for those patents so although there may be problems - both
>with the guarantee and with leakage - using compatible pods in genuine
>machines, you can use either type in a compatible machine without
>doing any harm.
>
>Oh gosh! That's more than anybody wanted to know, isn't it?
>
>Nick

No! I find it interesting (even though I don't like "proper" coffee;
it's the engineering aspects I like). I wonder if the CMA (competition
and markets authority) can be persuaded to investigate the EPSON-like
attitude. (Not that they have done anything about printers, so probably
they won't. But I feel the CMA are more proactive than the ASA, who are
mostly chocolate teapot, like the various Of*s.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

There should be a place on the ballot paper for 'None of the above', and if
enough people filled that in, the system might start to change. - Jeremy
Paxman in RT, 2014/1/25-31

On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>
> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I bought
> her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her birthday.
>
> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>
> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
> birdbaths can you?
>
> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had bought
> her...
> a birdbath.
>

Can you advise on the placing of bird baths? My mum had a stone one
(fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
after a long day in the garden. I brought it here and have tried it in
two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds have
set toe in it. When I move (soon) I want to find the best place for it
in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while builders have
inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and there is a fair
choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.

--
Jane
The Amethyst Artist
BTME

http://www.clothandclay.co.uk/umra/cookbook.htm - Umrats' recipes

On 05/04/2024 09:24, Jane Vernon wrote:
> On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>
>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I
>> bought her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her
>> birthday.
>>
>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>
>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
>> birdbaths can you?
>>
>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had bought
>> her...
>> a birdbath.
>>
>
> Can you advise on the placing of bird baths?  My mum had a stone one
> (fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
> which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
> after a long day in the garden.  I brought it here and have tried it in
> two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds have
> set toe in it.  When I move (soon) I want to find the best place for it
> in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while builders have
> inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and there is a fair
> choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.
>

I don't have a fancy birdbath, but have placed a large underdish (there
must be a word for the thing that goes underneath a pot?) full of water
on the ground near the bird feeders. It's mostly in the shade, and also
next to several pots which I imagine give a bit of shelter. I have seen
about ten sparrows fighting to play in it, and the blackbirds love it.
Not sure whether it is the proximity to the ground or the bird feeders
that is the attraction.

--
Kate B

Kate B <elvira@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> On 05/04/2024 09:24, Jane Vernon wrote:
>> On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>>
>>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I
>>> bought her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her
>>> birthday.
>>>
>>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>>
>>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>>> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
>>> birdbaths can you?
>>>
>>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had bought
>>> her...
>>> a birdbath.
>>>
>>
>> Can you advise on the placing of bird baths?  My mum had a stone one
>> (fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
>> which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
>> after a long day in the garden.  I brought it here and have tried it in
>> two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds have
>> set toe in it.  When I move (soon) I want to find the best place for it
>> in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while builders have
>> inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and there is a fair
>> choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.
>>
>
> I don't have a fancy birdbath, but have placed a large underdish (there
> must be a word for the thing that goes underneath a pot?) full of water
> on the ground near the bird feeders. It's mostly in the shade, and also
> next to several pots which I imagine give a bit of shelter. I have seen
> about ten sparrows fighting to play in it, and the blackbirds love it.
> Not sure whether it is the proximity to the ground or the bird feeders
> that is the attraction.
>

They ate ‘Pot bases’ round ‘ere.

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

On 05/04/2024 12:05, Mike McMillan wrote:
> Kate B <elvira@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 05/04/2024 09:24, Jane Vernon wrote:
>>> On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>>>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>>>
>>>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I
>>>> bought her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her
>>>> birthday.
>>>>
>>>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>>>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>>>
>>>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>>>> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
>>>> birdbaths can you?
>>>>
>>>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had bought
>>>> her...
>>>> a birdbath.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Can you advise on the placing of bird baths?  My mum had a stone one
>>> (fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
>>> which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
>>> after a long day in the garden.  I brought it here and have tried it in
>>> two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds have
>>> set toe in it.  When I move (soon) I want to find the best place for it
>>> in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while builders have
>>> inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and there is a fair
>>> choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.
>>>
>>
>> I don't have a fancy birdbath, but have placed a large underdish (there
>> must be a word for the thing that goes underneath a pot?) full of water
>> on the ground near the bird feeders. It's mostly in the shade, and also
>> next to several pots which I imagine give a bit of shelter. I have seen
>> about ten sparrows fighting to play in it, and the blackbirds love it.
>> Not sure whether it is the proximity to the ground or the bird feeders
>> that is the attraction.
>>
>
> They ate ‘Pot bases’ round ‘ere.
>
Or "pot saucers" around here

--
Best wishes, Serena
Q. What lives in the bottom of the sea and shakes?
A. A nervous wreck.

On 05/04/2024 12:01, Kate B wrote:
> On 05/04/2024 09:24, Jane Vernon wrote:
>> On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>>
>>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I
>>> bought her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her
>>> birthday.
>>>
>>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>>
>>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>>> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
>>> birdbaths can you?
>>>
>>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had
>>> bought her...
>>> a birdbath.
>>>
>>
>> Can you advise on the placing of bird baths?  My mum had a stone one
>> (fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
>> which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
>> after a long day in the garden.  I brought it here and have tried it
>> in two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds
>> have set toe in it.  When I move (soon) I want to find the best place
>> for it in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while builders
>> have inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and there is a
>> fair choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.
>>
>
> I don't have a fancy birdbath, but have placed a large underdish (there
> must be a word for the thing that goes underneath a pot?) full of water
> on the ground near the bird feeders. It's mostly in the shade, and also
> next to several pots which I imagine give a bit of shelter. I have seen
> about ten sparrows fighting to play in it, and the blackbirds love it.
> Not sure whether it is the proximity to the ground or the bird feeders
> that is the attraction.
>

I suspect that it's a combination of being near the feeders and close to
shelter that makes it attractive to them. They definitely like to know
they can get under cover, if they see an airborne predator in the
vicinity. They seem to worry far more about those than about feline
predators, or other ground based dangers.

--
Best wishes, Serena
Getting older is no problem. You just have to live long enough (Groucho
Marx)

On 05/04/2024 12:01, Kate B wrote:
> On 05/04/2024 09:24, Jane Vernon wrote:
>> On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>>
>>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I
>>> bought her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her
>>> birthday.
>>>
>>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>>
>>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>>> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
>>> birdbaths can you?
>>>
>>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had
>>> bought her...
>>> a birdbath.
>>>
>>
>> Can you advise on the placing of bird baths?  My mum had a stone one
>> (fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
>> which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
>> after a long day in the garden.  I brought it here and have tried it
>> in two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds
>> have set toe in it.  When I move (soon) I want to find the best place
>> for it in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while builders
>> have inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and there is a
>> fair choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.
>>
>
> I don't have a fancy birdbath, but have placed a large underdish (there
> must be a word for the thing that goes underneath a pot?) full of water
> on the ground near the bird feeders. It's mostly in the shade, and also
> next to several pots which I imagine give a bit of shelter. I have seen
> about ten sparrows fighting to play in it, and the blackbirds love it.
> Not sure whether it is the proximity to the ground or the bird feeders
> that is the attraction.
>

I tried near the bird feeders. Mind you, they (the feeders) are hung in
trees, so maybe the birds didn't like that.

--
Jane
The Amethyst Artist
BTME

http://www.clothandclay.co.uk/umra/cookbook.htm - Umrats' recipes

On 05/04/2024 18:23, Serena Blanchflower wrote:
> On 05/04/2024 12:01, Kate B wrote:
>> On 05/04/2024 09:24, Jane Vernon wrote:
>>> On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>>>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>>>
>>>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I
>>>> bought her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her
>>>> birthday.
>>>>
>>>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>>>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>>>
>>>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>>>> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
>>>> birdbaths can you?
>>>>
>>>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had
>>>> bought her...
>>>> a birdbath.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Can you advise on the placing of bird baths?  My mum had a stone one
>>> (fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
>>> which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
>>> after a long day in the garden.  I brought it here and have tried it
>>> in two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds
>>> have set toe in it.  When I move (soon) I want to find the best place
>>> for it in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while builders
>>> have inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and there is
>>> a fair choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.
>>>
>>
>> I don't have a fancy birdbath, but have placed a large underdish
>> (there must be a word for the thing that goes underneath a pot?) full
>> of water on the ground near the bird feeders. It's mostly in the
>> shade, and also next to several pots which I imagine give a bit of
>> shelter. I have seen about ten sparrows fighting to play in it, and
>> the blackbirds love it. Not sure whether it is the proximity to the
>> ground or the bird feeders that is the attraction.
>>
>
> I suspect that it's a combination of being near the feeders and close to
> shelter that makes it attractive to them.  They definitely like to know
> they can get under cover, if they see an airborne predator in the
> vicinity.  They seem to worry far more about those than about feline
> predators, or other ground based dangers.
>

Well, as I said up there to Kate, I did try near my bird feeders, which
are hung in trees. The trees are all fairly low-branched. Maybe I'll
try near feeders again as the trees I have in mind are not so dark and
low-growing.

--
Jane
The Amethyst Artist
BTME

http://www.clothandclay.co.uk/umra/cookbook.htm - Umrats' recipes

On 06-Apr-24 7:48, Jane Vernon wrote:
> On 05/04/2024 12:01, Kate B wrote:
>> On 05/04/2024 09:24, Jane Vernon wrote:
>>> On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>>>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>>>
>>>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I
>>>> bought her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her
>>>> birthday.
>>>>
>>>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>>>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>>>
>>>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>>>> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
>>>> birdbaths can you?
>>>>
>>>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had
>>>> bought her...
>>>> a birdbath.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Can you advise on the placing of bird baths?  My mum had a stone one
>>> (fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
>>> which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
>>> after a long day in the garden.  I brought it here and have tried it
>>> in two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds
>>> have set toe in it.  When I move (soon) I want to find the best place
>>> for it in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while builders
>>> have inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and there is
>>> a fair choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.
>>>
>>
>> I don't have a fancy birdbath, but have placed a large underdish
>> (there must be a word for the thing that goes underneath a pot?) full
>> of water on the ground near the bird feeders. It's mostly in the
>> shade, and also next to several pots which I imagine give a bit of
>> shelter. I have seen about ten sparrows fighting to play in it, and
>> the blackbirds love it. Not sure whether it is the proximity to the
>> ground or the bird feeders that is the attraction.
>>
>
> I tried near the bird feeders.  Mind you, they (the feeders) are hung in
> trees, so maybe the birds didn't like that.

How long did you leave it? Some birds seem conservative and don't adapt
to changes quickly.

We put up a nyjer seed feeder and not a single bird went near it for
ages, so when the seed in it went 'off' we retired the feeder.
Some time later we tried again, and after a few months it attracted a
steady clientele.

P.S. Blackbirds are enthusiastic bathers. You may have to top up the
bathwater quite often, if it doesn't rain enough.

--
Sam Plusnet

On 06/04/2024 07:50, Jane Vernon wrote:
> On 05/04/2024 18:23, Serena Blanchflower wrote:
>> On 05/04/2024 12:01, Kate B wrote:
>>> On 05/04/2024 09:24, Jane Vernon wrote:
>>>> On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>>>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>>>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>>>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>>>>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>>>>
>>>>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I
>>>>> bought her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her
>>>>> birthday.
>>>>>
>>>>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>>>>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>>>>
>>>>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>>>>> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
>>>>> birdbaths can you?
>>>>>
>>>>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had
>>>>> bought her...
>>>>> a birdbath.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Can you advise on the placing of bird baths?  My mum had a stone one
>>>> (fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
>>>> which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
>>>> after a long day in the garden.  I brought it here and have tried it
>>>> in two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds
>>>> have set toe in it.  When I move (soon) I want to find the best
>>>> place for it in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while
>>>> builders have inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and
>>>> there is a fair choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I don't have a fancy birdbath, but have placed a large underdish
>>> (there must be a word for the thing that goes underneath a pot?) full
>>> of water on the ground near the bird feeders. It's mostly in the
>>> shade, and also next to several pots which I imagine give a bit of
>>> shelter. I have seen about ten sparrows fighting to play in it, and
>>> the blackbirds love it. Not sure whether it is the proximity to the
>>> ground or the bird feeders that is the attraction.
>>>
>>
>> I suspect that it's a combination of being near the feeders and close
>> to shelter that makes it attractive to them.  They definitely like to
>> know they can get under cover, if they see an airborne predator in the
>> vicinity.  They seem to worry far more about those than about feline
>> predators, or other ground based dangers.
>>
>
> Well, as I said up there to Kate, I did try near my bird feeders, which
> are hung in trees.  The trees are all fairly low-branched.  Maybe I'll
> try near feeders again as the trees I have in mind are not so dark and
> low-growing.
>
The RSPB have this to say about birdbaths:
https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/page/bird-baths

And there is more near the bottom of:
https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/bird-feeders-boxes-tables/bird-baths

--
Ric

On 06/04/2024 19:19, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 06-Apr-24 7:48, Jane Vernon wrote:
>> On 05/04/2024 12:01, Kate B wrote:
>>> On 05/04/2024 09:24, Jane Vernon wrote:
>>>> On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>>>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>>>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>>>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>>>>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>>>>
>>>>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I
>>>>> bought her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her
>>>>> birthday.
>>>>>
>>>>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>>>>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>>>>
>>>>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>>>>> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
>>>>> birdbaths can you?
>>>>>
>>>>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had
>>>>> bought her...
>>>>> a birdbath.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Can you advise on the placing of bird baths?  My mum had a stone one
>>>> (fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
>>>> which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
>>>> after a long day in the garden.  I brought it here and have tried it
>>>> in two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds
>>>> have set toe in it.  When I move (soon) I want to find the best
>>>> place for it in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while
>>>> builders have inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and
>>>> there is a fair choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I don't have a fancy birdbath, but have placed a large underdish
>>> (there must be a word for the thing that goes underneath a pot?) full
>>> of water on the ground near the bird feeders. It's mostly in the
>>> shade, and also next to several pots which I imagine give a bit of
>>> shelter. I have seen about ten sparrows fighting to play in it, and
>>> the blackbirds love it. Not sure whether it is the proximity to the
>>> ground or the bird feeders that is the attraction.
>>>
>>
>> I tried near the bird feeders.  Mind you, they (the feeders) are hung
>> in trees, so maybe the birds didn't like that.
>
> How long did you leave it?  Some birds seem conservative and don't adapt
> to changes quickly.

Some months.

>
> We put up a nyjer seed feeder and not a single bird went near it for
> ages, so when the seed in it went 'off' we retired the feeder.
> Some time later we tried again, and after a few months it attracted a
> steady clientele.
>
Good tip. I'll bear this in mind in my new garden.

> P.S. Blackbirds are enthusiastic bathers.  You may have to top up the
> bathwater quite often,

if it doesn't rain enough.

Hah! In my dreams. Seriously, only in my dreamworld does it not rain
enough, because that would mean they could finish the outside work on my
new residence.

--
Jane
The Amethyst Artist
BTME

http://www.clothandclay.co.uk/umra/cookbook.htm - Umrats' recipes

On 07/04/2024 00:34, Joe Kerr wrote:

>>
> The RSPB have this to say about birdbaths:
> https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/page/bird-baths
>
> And there is more near the bottom of:
> https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/bird-feeders-boxes-tables/bird-baths
>

Thank you very much, both very useful pages now bookmarked.

--
Jane
The Amethyst Artist
BTME

http://www.clothandclay.co.uk/umra/cookbook.htm - Umrats' recipes

Jane Vernon <spam@nopotteratthisaddress.co.uk> wrote:
> On 06/04/2024 19:19, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>> On 06-Apr-24 7:48, Jane Vernon wrote:
>>> On 05/04/2024 12:01, Kate B wrote:
>>>> On 05/04/2024 09:24, Jane Vernon wrote:
>>>>> On 27/03/2024 20:06, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>>>>> On 27-Mar-24 17:17, Nick Odell wrote:
>>>>>>> [1]Which is quite amusing because I gave her a Dutch-made Technivorm
>>>>>>> Moccamaster filter coffee machine  and neither of us knew the other
>>>>>>> were planning coffee-related gifts
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Not coffee related, but when Wofe had a 'significant' birthday I
>>>>>> bought her a birdbath - I bought this somewhat in advance of her
>>>>>> birthday.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In discussion, I discovered that the type of birdbath she actually
>>>>>> wanted was not the type I had bought.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Since the price wasn't too high, and we have a fair sized garden, I
>>>>>> bought one of those as well.  After all, you can't have too many
>>>>>> birdbaths can you?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On her birthday we had afternoon tea with friends, and they had
>>>>>> bought her...
>>>>>> a birdbath.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Can you advise on the placing of bird baths?  My mum had a stone one
>>>>> (fortunately the bath bit comes off the pedestal for transportation)
>>>>> which was regularly visited by dirty birds or those wishing to relax
>>>>> after a long day in the garden.  I brought it here and have tried it
>>>>> in two different places (one sometimes shady, one not) and no birds
>>>>> have set toe in it.  When I move (soon) I want to find the best
>>>>> place for it in my new garden (which is lovely if unkempt while
>>>>> builders have inhabited the place for the past almost 16 months) and
>>>>> there is a fair choice of shade, sun and even out of the wind.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I don't have a fancy birdbath, but have placed a large underdish
>>>> (there must be a word for the thing that goes underneath a pot?) full
>>>> of water on the ground near the bird feeders. It's mostly in the
>>>> shade, and also next to several pots which I imagine give a bit of
>>>> shelter. I have seen about ten sparrows fighting to play in it, and
>>>> the blackbirds love it. Not sure whether it is the proximity to the
>>>> ground or the bird feeders that is the attraction.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I tried near the bird feeders.  Mind you, they (the feeders) are hung
>>> in trees, so maybe the birds didn't like that.
>>
>> How long did you leave it?  Some birds seem conservative and don't adapt
>> to changes quickly.
>
> Some months.
>
>>
>> We put up a nyjer seed feeder and not a single bird went near it for
>> ages, so when the seed in it went 'off' we retired the feeder.
>> Some time later we tried again, and after a few months it attracted a
>> steady clientele.
>>
> Good tip. I'll bear this in mind in my new garden.
>
>> P.S. Blackbirds are enthusiastic bathers.  You may have to top up the
>> bathwater quite often,
>
>
> if it doesn't rain enough.
>
> Hah! In my dreams. Seriously, only in my dreamworld does it not rain
> enough, because that would mean they could finish the outside work on my
> new residence.
>
>
>

You’ve trained your local bird population to do building work for you ? - I
thought they only built nests!

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

On Sun, 7 Apr 2024 08:38:07 +0100, Jane Vernon
<spam@nopotteratthisaddress.co.uk> wrote:

>On 07/04/2024 00:34, Joe Kerr wrote:
>
>>>
>> The RSPB have this to say about birdbaths:
>> https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/page/bird-baths
>>
>> And there is more near the bottom of:
>> https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/bird-feeders-boxes-tables/bird-baths
>>
>
>Thank you very much, both very useful pages now bookmarked.

I'd forgotten this and lost the link, thanks. So nice to read them.
But my almost Sacher torte is not there :( I'm sure I gave UMRA
that.Had forgotten the ones of miine I saw. The days I used to make my
own yoghurt! Had a proper airing cupboard then and more
energy,Changing bed, doing wash, hanging wash, putting fresh sheets on
bed and going for a walk to keep the bones healthy has finished me
off. The wind is so strong here it almost blew me over.