 Re: No sign of those finches.
I don't doubt they're not visiting your garden, but I still find it difficult to believe they are not in the general area as I've birded all round the London area for over 30 years + apart from the most built-up areas hardly ever fail to find at least a couple of species of finch. Sometimes listening to a tape is very different to picking up flight calls in the field.
Perhaps if you go out with a more experienced birder from maybe a local RSPB group they might help locate some for you. |