Birds in the garden

If you, like me, love to read blogs from people all around the world, you start to notice that the things that are very common to you might be very special to others. I'm not only talking about cultural differences, but also about our surroundings. The way houses are build, ways of transportation and , off course, nature.
So, I thought it would be fun to show you what birds are common visitors to our garden this winter.

European Robin/Robin Red-Breast (Erithacus rubecula)
In Dutch: Roodborst

Great tit (Parus major)
In Dutch: Koolmees

Blackbird (Turdus merula)
In Dutch: Merel

Blue tit (Cyanistes caerulus)
In Dutch: Pimpelmees

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
In Dutch: Huismus

European Magpie (Pica pica)
In Dutch: Ekster

The house sparrows live in the hedges near the chicken coops (and in the swallow nests in the barn in the winter). They love chicken food, especially grains, and eat together with our chickens. The great tits (well that's an awkward name,grin) and blue tits (even more awkward I think) love peanuts and fat balls (little balls made out of fat and grains). If you want them to really like you; give these birds a big jar of peanut butter. The robins eat insects, little seeds, berries and raisins.
I love the color the tits (can't stop grinning, sorry) and robins bring to the garden.
Blackbirds like bread crumbs and fruit. They sing beautifully. Makes you happy in an instant.
Magpies are trashcans with wings. They eat whatever they find and are very curious.

Our garden is covered with a thin snow blanket at the moment and it's been freezing for over a week, so I try to help the wild birds by feeding them twice a day.