Good Reason not to Clear up Fallen Apples

[Billhook]

We had such an abundance of fruit this year that we just let the apples fall, having given so many away that nobody wanted any more.  However it was very important for these birds in this recent cold spell.

 

 

Edited December 22, 2022 by Billhook

[Stere]

I left 1000's on the ground which attracted a load of pheasants who  pecked holes in them all.  Then they all rotted to a brown mush in the warm autum weather fairly fast.

 

Being throwing a few "fresh" ones down from storage for the blackbirds to eat.

[Billhook]

Sort of “spot the birdie” Christmas Quiz!

Fieldfares, Redwings, Mistle Thrushes to name a few

[GarethM]

Whilst I do feed the birds sunflowers and peanuts, I probably get an equal amount feasting off the bugs on the woodchip pile.

 

Robins in particular seem drawn to bug hunting around the chopping pile.

[Paul in the woods]

51 minutes ago, Stere said:

Being throwing a few "fresh" ones down from storage for the blackbirds to eat.

We did the same, went through our stored apples and picked out quite a few that were a bit past it and put them out for the birds. Had to chop them up as we had a thuggish fieldfare that kept fighting off the blackbirds from his patch. 

[nepia]

@Billhook that's some gathering of thrushes; very impressive

[AJStrees]

Hard to tell what they are but seems like it could be redwings in those numbers. 

[Patrick goulding]

3 hours ago, Billhook said:

We had such an abundance of fruit this year that we just let the apples fall, having given so many away that nobody wanted any more.  However it was very important for these birds in this recent cold spell.

 

 

What are they field fare and red wings? It’s good though nice to see. They semt late this year we usually see them on the hawthorn berry’s. Great to see 👍 

[Peasgood]

Had thousands of them in my orchards. I thought they were late arriving this year but they turned up in big numbers eventually.

Not so many around now the weather has warmed up but some still about. They haven't eaten all the apples yet.

Them turning up in the autumn and the swallows turning up in spring really brightens my day.

[petercb]

My better half has been 'seeding' our woodland edges, which are a bit sparse with fair bit of dead elm, with crab apples, noticeably all have disappeared smartish whereas usually hang around for ages.