Mr Blackbird was keeping hold of this mouthful for ages. I'm wondering if the presence of a nearby Magpie made him stay away from the nest so as not to give it's location away. The Magpie was definitely stalking him thinking the food was for chicks somewhere and they are well known as nest raiders
Thank you for the comments, on my Robin today. There is a trick to get Robins and other things to use your spade handles. Sometimes it works straight away, I have had them use something within seconds on occasion, other times a few weeks. Watch your Robins, or other target, its easier when its very cold, or now when they are feeding young. You should find they tend to use favourite perches, or emerge from the same natural cover.
Find somewhere to sit nearby, that will give you nice lighting, and a clear background, position your handle, if necessary, fasten it to something to raise it. You are only photographing the top.
Then the clever bit, between you and the handle place a food source, nothing fancy, I've got some sections of tree trunks I move around, but an upturned bucket with a saucer on would do.
With luck, you will find that very often, they fly from favourite perch or cover, and pause on the handle, to check the coast is clear, then down to the food. It's not infallible, but does give you a better chance.
You don't have to use it as a regular feeding station, but it does help if you do use it now and again, so they learn to check it out.
Good luck.
Find somewhere to sit nearby, that will give you nice lighting, and a clear background, position your handle, if necessary, fasten it to something to raise it. You are only photographing the top.
Then the clever bit, between you and the handle place a food source, nothing fancy, I've got some sections of tree trunks I move around, but an upturned bucket with a saucer on would do.
With luck, you will find that very often, they fly from favourite perch or cover, and pause on the handle, to check the coast is clear, then down to the food. It's not infallible, but does give you a better chance.
You don't have to use it as a regular feeding station, but it does help if you do use it now and again, so they learn to check it out.
Good luck.