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22/07/2008



GOLDFINCH

These chatty little birds have been down to the birdbath again this morning, the slightest movement from her indoors and they are off again!

I first noticed these small, bright and colourful birds around the garden a couple of years back, I can't say I had ever noticed them before. I first became aware of their song, almost a twinkle and very distinctive, and seemingly using our television aerial as a prominent perch.

These birds migrate to southern Europe, but many now stay due to our milder climate. I suspect my resident birds have nested in a neighbour's hawthorn tree, on numerous occasions seeing them flit in and out.

Their long thin beaks are perfect for extracting seed; thistle, teasel, dandelion and burdock, and in the summer months will also pick off small insects.



The goldfinches are loving the thistle seed, and have it all to themselves. For many months the feeder hung in a less manicured part of my garden, untouched, but is now two-thirds empty and will need a top-up soon.

A group of goldfinches is known as a charm and they certainly don't fail to live up to their collective noun.

12 comments:

Celia Hart said...

As well as thistle seed heads the goldfinches love to feed on Forget-me-not seeds and Lavender seeds, so don't tydy up leave the seed heads and attract flocks of goldfinches to the garden.

Celia

BumbleVee said...

wow...such bright colouration... and a rather strange pattern isn't it? 'specially on the head.

Never seen one of these before...

I have some little house finches around now and love their songs..

Crafty Green Poet said...

I love goldfinches, one of my favourite birds,

funny I had never realised that so many of them migrated away in the winter....

Anonymous said...

I'd love to see some of these on the plot! xx

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Lovely photo, and lovely goldfinch. We have goldfinches here in late winter and spring. Ours, unfortunately, do not have the wonderful orange color that yours do. They are just yellow and black. I did find this year that they loved the hot meats seed I put out. We would have 10 or 12 of them on a feeder. So pretty!

sheila said...

Oh, now that is one lovely bird! Gorgeous. I don't think we get those here.

Suzanne said...

Oh my gosh he is such a beautiful bird. I love your photo of him/her.

Christy Amular said...

Lovely birdy! I love that its both red ad yellow! BTW, you have a blog award waiting for you in my blog. :)

HAWTHORN HALL said...

What a beautiful bird and great photograph. I am catching up as I have been away and you have so many wonderful photographs...the one of shadows is really interesting!

Gillian

Rhondi said...

Your goldfinches are beautiful. Here in the US they are all yellow with black wings.

Lavinia said...

What beautiful markings...I wish I could see these in my garden.....

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful bird. I have never seen one close up. Sara from farmingfriends