Birds

[GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough]

Can anyone tell me what bird this is I spotted in my garden? Thanks

I believe it's a goldfinch.

Thank you 😀

They're lovely, aren't they - appropriate that their collective noun is a 'charm'.
I used to get nyjer seed for a special feeder for them, but they seem just as happy with shelled sunflowers which is my standard low-mess bird food.

I think there may be a nest somewhere close as there was a baby (small) one which appeared as well. I have loads of sun flower seeds so I will sort some out for them.

Goldfinches seem to have been doing really well in the last couple of years, I get babies too - apart from being a bit smaller and fluffier they don't have the red 'cap' when they're young.

We've seen a pair this year too, in our very urban area. Also more sparrows.

I love watching goldfinches on the feeders. They're so chilled compared to sparrows and bluetits that just grab the food and go. Goldfinches spend ages slowly eating the sunflower hearts, sometimes stop eating for a while and just sit there having a rest.

Yup - goldfinch. MUCH more common in recent years. www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34703580

We have loads locally but the bastards won't come to the special extra bird feeder I bought and stocked with niger seed for them.

Do you have a sunflower heart feeder as well? It really does seem to be good for getting a range of birds, I think they probably notice where others are going. And tbh I'm not sure why goldfinches would prefer fiddly little nyjer seeds to chunky sunflower hearts!

Try the hearts. They're more expensive but less waste and mess.

I used to put out nyger seeds as had heard that goldfinches liked them but they weren't interested. They all love the sunflower hearts. I buy the 20kg sacks from Amazon, much cheaper than buying small quantities.