where are all the goldfinches?

[gardenrelaxer]

i know this will seem a very naive question...

we have been blessed this year in attracting lots of goldfinches and being able to watch them swarm around the njger seed feeder - but for the last 3 or so weeks the numbers coming to feed have dropped massively... we checked books/websites that show when birds should or shouldn't be in gardens and there seemed nothing to suggest that october is a time when goldfinches are less likely to be seen... is this just an oddity for us and our garden or has anyone else noticed this, indeed can anyone explain this?

thank you for your patience with what may seem a really silly question

[honeybee]

Goldfinches do not tend to stay in one place for long and will cover a fair range of areas looking for food. I occassionally get 2-4 in passing but they are never regular garden visitors. Makes them even more special to see. Long tailed tits act in a similar way. Keep the nyger seed, they'll be back some time.

[JonathanOrchids]

Hi Gardenrelaxer,

I think large numbers head for the coasts, because there's a dearth of seed at this time of year in our intensively farmed landscape. There's a lot of seed on them there saltmarshes! I was at Titchwell Marsh on Sunday and there was a big flock of Linnet & Twite doing the rounds. There were probably Goldfinch too but I had my eyes firmly trained on Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Shoveler, Avocet, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Diver... etc... need I go on?

Jonathan

[DuncanE]

I usually get a few Goldfinches in my garden, but come september - december they tend to be in my local patch or fields. I do hear them fly over but there is still an abundance of food in the habitat. But the food in my feeder is waiting until one or two want a take away.

[kiwi]

nothing in our garden likes niger seed not even the goldfinchs
anyone know why?

[DuncanE]

Originally Posted by kiwi

nothing in our garden likes niger seed not even the goldfinchs
anyone know why?

have you tried thistle seeds? the goldfinches here love niger seeds, maybe they are just being snotty?

[jcd123]

Hi

I know what you mean about niger seed we put it out for a while and it was never touched

John

[Chocobirder]

The nyger in my feeder has also remained untouched over the last couple of weeks. However whilst driving a country lane last week I came across a flock ( or is it 'charm'?) of Goldfinch on the roadside numbering 50+. I think they are all just hanging out together while there is still plenty of natural food about. I'm sure they will be back in our gardens soon enough.

[sleepinabox]

Well I still have my faithful half dozen or so on sunflower hearts - love the way the fight each other off the feeders!

Rose

[Bad bird watcher]

Me too. In fact there are sometimes too many for the ports on the sunflower hearts feeders that they some of them have actually started using the long neglected niger! They'll be back but put out sunflower hearts too, they love 'em