Rain Catcher Wildlife Water Stake | A Little Bird Co

Name: Rain Catcher Wildlife Water Stake | A Little Bird Co
Brand: A Little Bird Co.
Price: 32.95 GBP
Availability: InStock

From £32.95 GBP

£32.95 GBP

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The eco bird food brand

The Rain Catcher is a handmade metal stake with a cupped head that collects rainwater, giving birds and insects a place to drink without the need for a traditional bird bath or water dish. Each one is welded by hand from mild steel, which means no two are identical, and the rust isn't a flaw, it's the finish. Left outside, the steel develops a warm, deep patina that looks better with every passing season.
Available in small (120mm), medium (150mm) and large (200mm), the Rain Catcher can be pushed into the soil in the border or a deep container. No setup, no maintenance, no need to remember to fill it unless it's very dry - rainfall does the job for you. The cupped head holds water at a height that's easy for small birds and insects to find, and the stake keeps it stable in borders, beds and pots.
To keep visiting birds healthy, the RSPB recommends changing the water in bird baths and water dishes daily and cleaning them thoroughly once a week using a non-toxic disinfectant or a mild bleach solution (5% sodium hypochlorite), rinsing well before refilling. The Rain Catcher cup is easy to rinse and wipe out, making this straightforward to stay on top of.
If you've been meaning to add a water source to your garden but don't want a bulky bird bath taking up space, this is the practical alternative that also happens to look beautiful. It earns its place.

Why we think you'll love the Rain Catcher:

Collects rainwater naturally with no filling required
Provides a drinking source for birds and insects
Handwelded, meaning each one is slightly unique
Develops a rich rust patina over time with no painting or treating needed
Push-in stake fits borders, beds and pots
No maintenance required - the raincatcher is built to live outside year-round
Available in small, medium, large and as a trio set

What's Included?

A steel rain catcher (arrives un-rusted).

How to Use

Push the pointed stem into the soil in your chosen spot — a border, a raised bed, a large pot. Make sure the cup sits level so it holds water rather than draining to one side. That's all there is to it.
Rain will fill the cup naturally. During dry spells, top it up with tap water. Following RSPB guidance, refresh the water daily and give the cup a thorough clean once a week — a rinse, a scrub with soapy water or non-toxic disinfectant, and a rinse again before refilling. Wear gloves when cleaning and wash your hands afterwards.
To speed up rusting: Spray with salt water over a few days and you'll see colour within a week. If you'd prefer yours sent already rusted, get in touch before ordering — allow an extra 7 days on the lead time.

Dimensions

The small has a 120mm cup and stands approximately 1m tall. The medium has a 150mm cup at the same height. The large has a 200mm cup, also approximately 1m tall. All three weigh around 0.5kg and are made from mild steel.

Care Instructions

The cup needs regular cleaning in line with RSPB guidance — daily water refresh and a thorough clean once a week using hot soapy water or a non-toxic disinfectant such as Ark-Klens, or a mild 5% bleach solution. Rinse well and allow to dry before refilling. Wear gloves and wash your hands after cleaning.
The stake itself needs nothing. The mild steel will rust progressively, developing an orange-brown patina that deepens with time. Do not paint, seal or treat it. If you want to clean mud off the stake, a rinse with water is fine.

Rain Catcher Wildlife Water Stake | A Little Bird Co

£32.95 GBP

Why we love this product

I always watch the goldfinches on the seedheads in our garden and felt it would be nice to add something similar in the flower beds so they could have a drink too. I wanted to add a water source but didn't fancy a traditional bird bath. The Rain Catcher solved that. It sits in the border, collects what falls from the sky and gives birds somewhere to drink, without asking anything of you in return.
What I like most is that it's genuinely pretty while being genuinely useful. A lot of garden products are one or the other. The rust finish means it looks more at home as it ages, not less, and that's exactly the kind of thing I want in my garden and on this site.

We choose our products carefully and stock no more than 25 items in our store, so every item earns its place. This ensures our range is thoughtfully curated, high quality, and genuinely useful for wildlife lovers.

A Gift That Nurtures Nature

Send more than a present - send a gift that supports the birds. Every order can be wrapped with a bird-themed greetings card and your personal message, making it a thoughtful, sustainable way to show you care.

Check out our greetings cards

Got questions?

We’re here to help. Check through our frequently asked questions, and feel free to call or send a WhatsApp message to 0208 0508548 if there’s anything we haven’t covered.

How quickly will I receive my order?

We post all orders within 1-2 working days (Monday - Friday during working hours). Our standard shipping takes 2-3 days to arrive. We also offer express shipping which should reach you more quickly.

Is there a warranty?

We’re committed to offering high-quality products we genuinely believe in, carefully selecting each one to ensure it’s well made and works as expected.

If you’re not happy with your purchase or it’s not what you expected, you can return it free of charge within 30 days—as long as it’s undamaged and in its original packaging.

If your product is faulty or needs a repair within the first six months, you have the right to request a repair or replacement under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

We kindly ask that you check your item as soon as it arrives and let us know straight away if there are any issues. If there’s a problem, please provide photos so we can resolve it quickly.

I want to send a product as a gift to someone else - how do I do this?

Bird food, nest boxes, and feeders make excellent sustainable gifts, and we often receive requests for them.

If you'd like to send a gift directly to your recipient, simply enter their name and address as the shipping address at checkout. Just be sure to use your own address for billing to ensure the payment is processed correctly.

Want to include a personal message? Let us know what you'd like us to write in the Notes section at checkout, and we’ll handwrite it on a postcard. If you’d prefer to add a greetings card, you can choose one from our selection—just let us know your message, and we’ll write it in your chosen card.

We love songbirds

Little birds were once a familiar sight in British gardens and countryside, but habitat loss and widespread pesticide use have caused their numbers to fall sharply. We started A Little Bird Co. to support these small songbirds - like robins, blue tits, blackbirds and wrens - with a carefully chosen blend of food and a range of feeders designed just for them. If you're hoping to welcome more birdlife and variety into your garden, you're in the right place.

Start a Bird Food subscription Shop Feeding Solutions

We’re best known for our bird food

Order a bag of our Seasonal Bird Food Blend, and we’ll deliver the perfect mix for your garden birds each month. A little business, for little birds! Learn more about our four seasonal blends below.

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

The Fledglings and Feathers Blend

In late summer, young birds leave the nest and adults moult their feathers, leaving them vulnerable to attack and hindering their flight. Although they may be less visible in your garden when they’re not in their feathered finest, they need our support more than ever, which is why our mix features sunflower hearts, chopped peanuts, oil-rich hemp seed for glossy feather regeneration, and a touch of suet pellets for extra energy.

Buy a bag of bird food Learn more about the blend

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Squirrels can be incredibly persistent, often depriving smaller species like blue tits, finches, and robins of their much-needed food. With the Squirrel Buster, you can finally enjoy a feeder that reliably deters those pesky squirrels.

Unlike cheaper options that often result in scattered seeds and a messy garden, our feeder is built from robust, high-quality materials that stand up to daily use while looking elegant in your garden. Its practical design means it's easy to fill, adjust, and maintain, so you can spend less time feeling frustrated and more time enjoying watching the little birds at your feeder.

The Squirrel Buster is the top seller for a reason – dependable squirrel deterrence, combined with practicality and a stylish addition to your garden.

Who’s eating the bird food in your garden?

We want to support all wildlife in our gardens—big, small, furry or feathered—even if it sometimes means sharing with a few bolder visitors. That said, when larger animals help themselves to your bird food, it can leave the little birds struggling for a bite to eat, which can feel frustrating. Read on for our bird feeding solutions.

How can I stop squirrels from eating all the bird food?

Anyone who’s had a squirrel visit knows just how ingenious they can be. They’re strong, clever and persistent – if they can’t eat from your feeder, they might just bring the whole thing down to chew it to pieces. We’ve carefully tested a range of feeders that tackle the squirrel problem. Whether you choose a chew-proof, weight-activated Squirrel Buster or a solid, sturdy guardian cage, you can ensure the little birds can eat in peace.

Shop Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders

How can I stop crows, jackdaws and magpies from eating all the bird food?

Corvids - crows, jackdaws and magpies - are clever and strong, and they can easily intimidate the smaller birds into forfeiting their meal. Our Simon King Medusa Feeder Defender is designed to keep these larger birds at bay with chains that create discomfort against their flight feathers. Alternatively, our weight-activated feeder senses when a hefty visitor lands and temporarily restricts access, giving the little birds a fairer share of the food.

Shop Corvid Proof Bird Feeders

How can I stop parakeets from eating all the bird food?

Once seen only in tropical climates, parakeets are now a common sight in London and steadily spreading further afield. These vibrant birds are interesting to watch, and they’re also assertive feeders. They can intimidate smaller birds and are brave enough to sit at the feeder for hours to get their fill. Our Simon King Medusa Bird Feeder Defender helps keep them in check by offering a controlled access point. The Starling Resistant Bird Feeder is also hard for them to access - although they can squeeze their heads through the lowest aperture to peck seeds from the tray, they can’t get enough for a worthwhile meal, which leaves them heading elsewhere to eat.

Shop Parakeet Proof Bird Feeders

How can I stop starlings from eating all the bird food?

Starlings are an endangered species and need our support, but they can empty a feeder in minutes if left unchecked. Our Starling Resistant Feeder Set is tailored to this challenge. Although starlings can squeeze their head into the bottom aperture to grab any dropped seeds, they soon find the space too limiting for a proper feed. This clever design helps keep starlings at bay, ensuring that smaller, more vulnerable birds aren’t left hungry.

Shop Starling Proof Bird feeders

How can I stop pigeons from eating all the bird food?

Pigeons can be persistent and may dominate your feeder if given the chance. To deter these determined visitors, you can choose from our range of solutions—be it the versatile Simon King Medusa Defender, the targeted Starling Resistant Feeder Set, or even the robust Squirrel Buster. Each option is designed to keep pigeons at bay, ensuring that your garden remains a welcoming haven for the little birds.

Shop Pigeon Proof Bird Feeders

How can I stop rodents from eating all the bird food?

Some people are quite happy for rodents to hoover up food from beneath the feeder, but other people are strongly against it. If you don't want to see rats and mice beneath the feeder, you can use a weight activated feeder (like the Squirrel Buster) or a caged feeder with a tray (like the Starling Resistant Feeder Set) to give them less access to the food.

Shop Rodent Proof Bird Feeders

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