First time actual sighting

old soldier · #1 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 10:02 PM

Having never seen one of these, highly chuffed to see it in my garden. Totally ignored niger seed, shared a feeder with a greenfinch.

Elean0r · #2 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 10:33 PM

Brilliant! They're gorgeous birds.

We've had them in our garden for the first time ever, they arrived just a few days after we put in a new feeder. It's one of those very tall ones, with green ports and is on a single pole. Suddenly we now have a pair of goldfinches at least once a day, it's absolute magic.

We don't know if it's the feeder or where it is, because it's the same seed mix as we were using before - peanuts, sunflower hearts and 'mixed seed'

We'd thought Niger seed would attract Goldfinches, but the feeder has been in the garden for a couple of years with only Greenfinches for company, even the blue/great/coal tits don't seem to ignore it.

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 04:48 AM

Recent figures released show how much Goldfinches have increased in gardens which use feeders over recent years.

They are lovely birds to watch + enjoy their song too.

RobinP · #4 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 01:53 PM

Their song is one I instantly recognize, no wonder they are popular as cage birds. Lovely to see in the wild though

k4t3 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 02:24 PM

Have always had goldfinches around and about, but never came to the feeders until I filled one up with niger seed...now I have around 3/4 pairs regularly visit, along with Great tits and House sparrows, all seem to be enjoying the niger seed...it seems to be hit and miss as to whether niger works in your garden

Love the Goldfinches, they look so exotic! They remind me strangely of little clowns with their bright colouring