I heard a bird...

[Gaina]

This afternoon I hear a bird in my buddlea that sounded very mournful, like a rusty tap being turned slowly. It's one of those sounds I've heard before and know I should recognise it but I can't quite get it to the front of my brain.

The only thing I can tell you is that when it flew across the garden it was about the size of a green finch, and flew very 'directly'.

Not a lot to go on, I know!

[Jez]

Ringed neck ouzel

[Gaina]

Originally Posted by Jez

Ringed neck ouzel

Nope, it was much smaller than that .

[Gaina]

GOT IT!! It was a Bull Finch I remembered where I'd heard the sample Radio 4 Science.

I'm chuffed about that , the biggest colonies I've seen down here are up in the hills just past Blagdon.

[Chiffchaff]

Bullfinch has a very distinctive call, once heard never forgotten. Quite melancholy. Lucky to get one in your garden

[Gaina]

Yes, they are always a lovely treat to see. Now the breeding season is all but done I'm going to start putting the nuts and what-have-you out again (we've been putting out 'baby food' while the birds were rearing chicks).

Do Bullfinches go for Niger seeds like Gold finches do, or do they have a particular liking for something else?

[Chiffchaff]

I'm sure Bullfinch would go for Niger seed, but they are a very rare bird in my garden. They seem to prefer well wooded areas and dense hedgerows. I've only had them passing thru or visiting in severe winter weather.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Chiffchaff

I'm sure Bullfinch would go for Niger seed, but they are a very rare bird in my garden. They seem to prefer well wooded areas and dense hedgerows. I've only had them passing thru or visiting in severe winter weather.

We're the same, only had them passing through in a cold spell two years ago. They stopped for about 2 minutes, having a quick feed on some honeysuckle then were gone, never to be seen again!

[Jez]

I'm giving up on niger as i've put it out all summer for the goldfinches and they along with the bullfinches have only made a b-line for the sunflower kernels only to find the niger deposited on the ground in large quanities! I have thistle in the garden maybe they'll go for that come Autumn?

[Gaina]

I think I'll try some sunflower kernels . I'm lucky to have a lot of dense hedging in most of my garden and there's a wood on the hill behind my house.

I'm actually glad we're getting more towards Autumn and Winter because that's the time of year I find most interesting, I don't know if anyone else feels like that too...