What’s Up? – Rain and Suet Cakes

Rain and Suet Cakes

After so many days without rain, we finally had the rain that so much for…and more! We’ve had rain for four days in a row and if you see the weather forecast is calling for some more rainy days ahead. The temperature is always over 80º F , during the day.

Suet cakes

I’ve been trying a new brand of mix seeds for birds from Sam’s Club. They gave me 50 lbs. for trial. The birds eat them but are picking only what they like and attracts too many blackbirds. These, are destroying the peace and tranquility of my backyard, and making a mess everyday! Once I finish the new mix I’m testing, I’ll return to feeding my birds with the previous mix.

I’ve made a change on the feeding department. Instead of buying the suet from the store, I’ve opted for making my own. It works pretty well. It takes me only about 20 minutes to make 10 suet cakes (See photo).

There are more birds visiting my backyard this year, compared to last year’s. However, there’s less variety of species.

Photo Gallery

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

European Starlings

Downy Woodpecker

E. Starling (J)

Brown Thrasher

Blue Jay

Mourning Dove

Tags: birding, birds, Blue Jay, Brown Thrasher, Chipping Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, European Starling, Interesting information, Mourning Dove, photography, photos of birds, song sparrow, What's Up?

14 thoughts on “What’s Up? – Rain and Suet Cakes”

roachlpn on June 10, 2019 at 9:44 am said:

Your mix of backyard visitors looks like mine with the exception of the brown thrasher…I’ve yet to notice one. I’ve only made suet once and that was in winter. Is your recipe a no-melt suet? Would you mind sharing your recipe? Looks great!

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- H.J. for avian101 on June 10, 2019 at 5:25 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Rachel. I sent you the recipe via email. 🙂
  
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susanpoozan on June 10, 2019 at 11:35 am said:

What a splendid gallery of photographs you have posted. You are clever making your own suet cakes, lucky birds.

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- H.J. for avian101 on June 10, 2019 at 5:29 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much, Susan. It’s more appropriated for my birds. 🙂
  
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bayphotosbydonna on June 10, 2019 at 2:42 pm said:

Awesome shots, the Song Sparrow is my favorite, HJ! 🙂

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- H.J. for avian101 on June 10, 2019 at 5:38 pm said:
  
  Thank you, my friend. 🙂
  
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tootlepedal on June 10, 2019 at 6:49 pm said:

Home made suet sounds adventurous. I am glad that the birds enjoy it.

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- H.J. for avian101 on June 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Tom, 🙂
  
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Clare Pooley on June 11, 2019 at 2:30 am said:

It’s always good to try new things but they aren’t always an improvement! It is a pity the variety of birds in your yard is less at the moment but the gallery of shots of the ones you do have is wonderful!

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- H.J. for avian101 on June 11, 2019 at 4:56 pm said:
  
  The change has worked perfectly, Clare. Now, the new suet I make doesn’t have any corn as ingredient, which starlings go crazy for, so it’s less of these voracious birds and more of my regular local birds. Thanks my dear Clare. 🙂
  
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  - Clare Pooley on June 12, 2019 at 11:59 am said:
    
    🙂
Mags on June 11, 2019 at 3:20 pm said:

Amazing captures as always. I have been trying different seed mixes and have yet to find the one that works the best. Right now there are issues with mocking birds raking the food from the feeder. I never see them eating just raking the food out and they can empty a feeder in short order. Any suggestions for me? Hugs

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- H.J. for avian101 on June 11, 2019 at 5:37 pm said:
  
  They love seed mixes because the look for the peanuts, all other stuff they don’t care. Mockingbirds love wild berries and grubs and they eat only that if they are available. Peanuts, they love fondly as much as blue Jays do. perhaps you can put some peanuts (no shell) separately. Thank you ,Mags. 🙂
  
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  - Mags on June 11, 2019 at 8:01 pm said:
    
    Thank you, I will do that. Now I know why they are digging the seed out. The mix I am using has peanut pieces in it…they are looking for those peanuts. 🙂