Your Autumn Garden Bird Checklist

1. Keep Feeders Full for the Autumn Rush

Now is the time to make sure your feeders are working hard.

Sunflower hearts are one of the best foods to keep topped up through October, providing a concentrated source of energy without the waste of husks.

Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Tits and Sparrows will all make regular visits, and as autumn flocks grow, you may find your feeders busier than ever.

2. Fuel Birds Through Colder Nights with High-Energy Foods

October is also a great month for high-energy foods such as suet balls, suet pellets and mealworms.

As temperatures drop, birds need more energy to maintain their body temperature, particularly overnight. Suet provides a quick, calorie-rich source of energy, while mealworms are packed with protein and can attract Robins, Blackbirds, Wrens and other insect-eating garden visitors.

Keeping a variety of foods available means you can support a much wider range of species.

3. Welcome Winter Visitors

The first winter visitors are also making their way into the UK.

Redwings and Fieldfares arrive from Scandinavia, often appearing in gardens as they search for berries and other food. Keep an eye out for these beautiful thrushes, particularly after cold or stormy weather.

Suet pellets and suet fat balls can provide a welcome source of energy when natural food is scarce.

4. Look Out for Busy Feeding Flocks

You may also notice that your regular garden birds are becoming much more numerous.

Tits often gather into large mixed flocks during autumn, moving through gardens together as they search for food. Goldfinches can form impressive feeding groups too, particularly where sunflower hearts are available.

Keeping feeders well stocked gives these busy flocks a reliable place to refuel throughout the colder months.

5. Keep Feeders Fresh & Hygienic

October is an important month for garden hygiene too. Cooler, damper weather means uneaten food, seed husks and debris can quickly become wet and mouldy.

Clean feeders regularly and remove any old or damp food before refilling. Moving feeders around slightly can also help prevent a build-up of food waste and droppings on the ground beneath them.

A bird-safe feeder disinfectant makes regular cleaning quick and effective.

6. Keep Fresh Water Available

Don't forget to provide water. Birds still need somewhere clean to drink and bathe as temperatures fall, so keep bird baths and water dishes topped up with fresh water.

Clean bird baths and water dishes daily to prevent algae and bacteria building up, particularly during wet autumn weather.

7. Get Your Nest Box Winter-Ready

If you're planning to add a nest box, October is still a good time to put one up.

Birds may investigate boxes during autumn and winter, and Wrens and other small birds can use them as sheltered roosting spots on cold nights.

Position your box somewhere quiet and sheltered, and give birds plenty of time to discover it before spring.