Goldfinches

Lucky you! We've not seen any although we do have a regular Little Egret on the brook just down the track!

 

We have lots too, Woo! They seem to be taking over the Medway Towns. There was even one perched on a shop aerial in Chatham High Street the other day. At the same time the chaffinch population seems to be going down. It's rare for us to get one in the garden now, whereas a few years ago we saw them quite regularly.

 

Lots here too. I'm currently having to refill the feeder twice a day.
They're still little bullies though, always hogging the feed and starting fights with any other birds. Nice to hear the 'little' birds are still about.

 

Lovely pic as always, Mandy. I always used to think that goldfinches were nice, sociable little things ... until I hung a large niger seed feeder in the garden. There's plenty of room for half a dozen finches, but the first pair to reach the food turns really vicious if any others try to get to the seed. Actually that one on the bottom of your feeder looks as though he's telling another bird exactly where he can go.

 

Lots around here too, they don't come down on the feeders too often but there always in the trees along the adjacent footpath feeding on tree seeds along with greenfinches...

 

Waiting..............patiently for the ones I was promised

 

We've had plenty of Goldfinches in the garden this winter too. After the heavy snowfall last week, I noticed several searching out the seeds in some lavender and hyssop bushes which I never got around to deadheading in the autumn.
I couldn't help wondering what lavender and hyssop seeds tasted like, I know Goldfinches are enthusiastic seed eaters, but these must have been rather piquant to say the least!

We have an Egret where I work who turns up and stays for the winter every year.
Last week there were four of them, this made me wonder what a group of Egrets was called. Apparently it's a 'conference', although I think this should only be used if there are two Egrets, (because then it's a pair). :D

 

You couldn't get a sharper pic than that Mandy.
(I definitely couldn't)

 

Thanks strongylodon & wiseoldowl. We have our feeder hanging on our balcony. I was stood about 9ft away from them, in our lounge. It was shot through the glass door. As it's winter!
In summer I leave the door open, or sit on the balcony. They soon get used to me being there.

 

That photo's a real beauty Mandy - pin sharp!
We seldom got goldfinches in the garden until last year when we started feeding with niger seed. Now we see them just about every day and often four or five at a time. Like you say they are little bullies particularly with their own kind.

 

We get the Goldfinches on the trees at the back of the garden but they never come to the niger feeder!
We had a second visit from a Siskin but that too never stopped to feed, someone else has a better 'hotel' than us.

 

At last they have noticed the niger feeder.