WATCH THE BIRDIE - GOLD FINCH

Greenfinches are reckoned to be in decline due to disease so we are really pleased to see more this year than usual visiting our feeder.

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That's interesting, Armandii. It confirms what GC members have been saying for a while - goldfinches are taking over the world! Unfortunately, as you say, chaffinches seem to be down in numbers. I wonder whether it's because they're more susceptible to disease. A while ago the RSPB was warning of an illness which was spread through saliva and urging people to keep bird feeders etc clean. (I use a disinfectant spray, which makes the job fairly easy.)

I have many more starlings in the garden now that I've put out suet feeders. They're greedy things and will stuff themselves until most of the food is gone. No sign of any mistle thrushes, though. They used to be regulars in the garden when the ivy was full of berries - but alas, no more.

 

ive not been doing much bird watching,i know i have 3 wood pigeons that are regulars and sparrows & robins...no sign of the swallows yet but ive notice small black & white ones,very cute starlings..in abundance but i find them great,they clear the backlog of bread and peck the dead edges of the geraniums away as i throw my lard/oils/fat from grilled bacon ect on them saves me trimming the geraniums up claralou x

 

I had two mistle thrushes that appeared the weeks before the survey and vanished the week after the survey, not being here before ?

Blackbirds birth explosion, gone from three daily to seven both male and female
Sparrows vanished in October, but still get a few Dunnocks

This week first time everr visitor a chaffinch

Daughters down the road first time ever a Woodpecker with a red tail, apparently it is very annoying with its tap tap tap ?

Jack McHammocklashing

 

Yes, it has been noticed that we have had our first ever pair of Goldfinches feeding regularly in our garden......so pleased about that....AND we have six regular chaffinches feeding every day too........I think it's the sunflower seeds.

 

We have been here for four months now and fortunately we get, apart from the Goldfinches, up to four Chaffinches most days along with the 6/8 sparrows, Dunnocks, Robin, occasional wren and Thrush and a pair of Blue Tits. The two that we have only seen once are Greefinch and Great Tit.
Lots of Starlings around but hardly come to the table or feeders, good job too as they would empty them in minutes.
The Blackbirds are messy and knock seed of of the table which is hoovered up by the Woodies, Feral Pigeon and Collared Doves.
It is sad to see some species declining so rapidly in towns as well as farmland.

 

First time we've had chaffinches in the gardenGoldfinches galore too....last year they nested in the garden but couldn't fathom where....we only realised when one of my chooks was running around with a fledgling in its beak....got it off her but it was too late for the poor little thing....this happened 3 times within minutesThe chooks got locked in thier run for a couple of days to give the chicks a chance to get away.....we'll have to be more vigilant this year....

 

Back in Cheshire my mum's garden has regularly been visited by Goldfinches for over 15 years, she now gets as many as 20-25 at a time, along with Bullfinches, Goldcrests, Coal Tits, Greenfinches and the usual more common garden visitors such as Sparrows, Blackbirds, Blue & Great Tits, Robins, Wrens, Starlings etc..

Here in our garden Sparrows are the most common by far, followed by Starlings, Collared Doves, Wood & Feral Pigeons & Blackbirds, but we also get Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks, Long Tailed Tits, occasionally Goldfinches, Chaffinches and Greenfinches.

Although strictly speaking not in our garden I see a Green Woodpecker every day on the field over the otherside of our fence; stunning birds..

 

There were 6/8 Goldfinches earlier in the year but now it is just a pair.
We have had 20 species visit so far but not as many as our previous garden which was nearer to the migration arrival/departure point (Portland) No Long Tailed or Coal Tits, yet!

 

We recently bought a niger seed feeder and seed. I have NEVER seen any goldfinches before we bought this. However, we now have 4 goldfinches who are gobbling the seed up. What gorgeous birds.

 

Congratulations. I know they are on the increase but I don't think their increase in numbers has caused the shortfall in others. I adore them and their squeaky,twittering song. The males are looking seriously smart just now too.
Jenny namaste

 

I love the way they twitter away and then do that wheezy noise as though they're catching their breath.

 

PS How do you tell the males from the females?