Goldfinches, Goldfinches, and more Goldfinches

beyond the blue

beyond the blue

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Neil
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For the last few months l've noticed a large increase in Goldfinches on my feeders, but today takes the biscuit, there are literally dozens upon dozens of them. They have taken over the surrounding conifers chasing off all the other birds, they have even started to attack the inevitable pigeons that feed off their messy eating habits. It's costing a fortune in food.
 
Goldfinches have been one of the success stories in UK birds over the last few years. Here in east London, we saw about half a dozen for a few weeks in Jan/Feb each year. About 6 years ago they stayed and since then have increased in number. Now they are the most numerous birds in the garden by a very large margin. Almost any time I look at the feeder there will be between 2 and 20 goldfinches around. Great to see these delightful birds, but yes, that many don't half eat a lot.

Dave
 
Just be thankful its not Starlings, up until we move a couple of years ago they used to dominate our feeders. they basically lived in the trees at the bottom of the garden and went between them and the feeders normally about 20 but on really bad days there could be up to 50. they just drove everything else off, I even tried starling proofing some of the feeders but its amazing how small a hole they can get through.
 
Get a few Blackcaps, they will chase anything off :)
 
Yes, Goldie's have taken over. I think it has been about 6 years since had similar sized flocks of Bluetits.

They demolish the sunflower hearts we put out............to see them queuing up in the branches and then the "pecking order" as they spat & argue about the feeding perches adds to the watching experience :)
 
We seem to have a good variety here: blue, great, long tailed and cole tits, as well as the goldies. Agree the goldfinches drop more than they eat though, for which the dunnocks are grateful.
 
Total opposite for me. I have spent a small fortune on niger seed, sunflower hearts, seeds etc......... and have only managed to see one in my garden in the last fourteen months or so, since taking a interest in bird photography.

Was thinking of planting some Teasel plants this year to encourage them.
 
Greenfinches and Chaffinches this week in numbers
 
Swanseajack said:
Total opposite for me. I have spent a small fortune on niger seed, sunflower hearts, seeds etc......... and have only managed to see one in my garden in the last fourteen months or so, since taking a interest in bird photography.

Was thinking of planting some Teasel plants this year to encourage them.
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Same as Simon.

The times I have seen Goldfinches on the feeders in the last 18 months or so, I can count on one hand. That's with niger seed, sunflower hearts, etc.

Now Sparrows and Starlings? I counted 32 Sparrows at the most and 39 Starlings last spring, what a sight to see the garden covered in them!
 
I often get upwards of 20 goldfinches devouring the sunflower hearts I put out. That is until yesterday when I sat down to do the RSPB Garden Birdwatch and just saw 3 of the buggers!
 
That's great. I saw them as being common when I was a kid but have only seen one or two over the last 20 years or so. We be fab to see some images!
 
All the birds have gone! Me and my neighbour always get loads of tits,gold finches, the odd black cap! And they've all gone not been about for about 4 weeks! Apart from the odd 1. Any reason for this??
 
mjb123 said:
All the birds have gone! Me and my neighbour always get loads of tits,gold finches, the odd black cap! And they've all gone not been about for about 4 weeks! Apart from the odd 1. Any reason for this??
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They've all moved to Neil's ??
 
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