We use the fat tablets/slabs that you put into a gage that the birds peck through along with one of those tube things full of various seeds and can’t believe how fast these things disappear and need refilling. Also Meal Worms are used in Winter as the Robins and Blackbirds take a shine to those.
All bird feeding is suspended at this moment in time and has been for about 6 weeks because unfortunately feeding the birds also leads to feeding unwelcome guest with the like of Rats. This years new crop of Sparrows were not too happy about that but their making there own way now.
I have a few IP Cameras dotted around the garden so I can monitor/recordings of Rat activity 24/7 if I suspect the blighter’s are about but have not seen any now for a few weeks so the poison pasta I feed them is working a treat but the birds are capable of feeding themselves at the moment so won’t start feeding again until Autumn. BTW we do use proper Rat boxes for dealing with the Rats and along with the camera monitoring can be sure no other animals are harmed in any way and not even the Hedgehogs will go anywhere near the baiting boxes while they sniff themselves around every corner of the garden looking for their meals.
Better programming on my IP cameras than what comes from the likes of the BBC these days and all in Super HD at no extra charge. ?