Fun with Finches

[wyevilla]

Since last winter's success with the niger seed attracting both goldies and siskins, I've been experimenting with with different feeders and a niger/millett mix.

Last week we had 25 goldfinches at one time - a record for my small garden. They are now emptying my feeders on a daily basis.

The siskins (max 2 at a time) came back yesterday (hurrah).

Today we had 2 Bramblings - a first for me and the garden (double hurrah).

At one stage we had on one chaffinch (female), one goldfinch, one siskin and one brambling all on the same branch. How cool is that!

My only problem is that the greenfinches seem less numerous this winter. I still have the peanuts and sunflower seeds but the greenies only come in ones or twos. I wonder if they are they being crowded out by the (very) argumentative goldfinches.

[naturelover]

you are lucky to have all those different birds visit your garden,i just get the norm pidgeon,robin,starling,blackbird,wren,sparrow,and collard doves never seen a finch of any sort,and i feed niger,sunflower hearts,finch seed,crushed peanuts,and make my own fat balls,what am i doing wrong ?

[barquar]

Originally Posted by naturelover

you are lucky to have all those different birds visit your garden,i just get the norm pidgeon,robin,starling,blackbird,wren,sparrow,and collard doves never seen a finch of any sort,and i feed niger,sunflower hearts,finch seed,crushed peanuts,and make my own fat balls,what am i doing wrong ?

Same here Nturelover only had 1 greenfinch all winter no other finches yet they are in the wood just 500yds away so they must be getting enough food there.Bu t I love my sparrows robin dunock bluetits and coal tit and robin and wren.
Barquar

[Roxy]

Originally Posted by wyevilla

My only problem is that the greenfinches seem less numerous this winter.

In my garden I don't get any goldfinches just lots of greenfinches. Maybe they came over to my garden

[dmclean2]

Well done Wyevilla,
I hope they keep comming back , I get at least 2 Goldfinches most days, 3 chaffinches, 2 blue tits and 2 great tits, as regulars, robin and 2 dunnocks as well as collared doves and 3 woodpigeons, Oh yea! and lots of starlings,
Keep watching....
Duncan.

[VinceS]

Nice selection of birds. we get quite a lot of goldfinches in our garden at certain times of the year. However, since Xmas only Chaffinch, robin and the occassional bluetit. There must just be plenty of natural food around.