I tried planting out Sunflowers (large variety) this year and had immediate
success.
Now apart from the natural beauty of them I was hoping that a number of the
birds I get in the garden would really relish them having been told by other
growers how the sky has darkened as flocks descended on theirs.

But I can't get the birds interested in them, I have even cut the head off
one and fastened it up on my bird table and apart from the rare bird that
has taken seeds, the others much prefer other items of food.
One strange thing that has happened though, is that although the seeds are
still there, something seems to be attacking the head of the plant and
devouring it instead of the seeds!

The seed eating birds I get - Greenfinches ; Robins ; Blue and Great tits ;
Goldfinches ; Bull finches.

As anyone any wisdom to shed on the situation?