What do wild Linnets eat?

[Deb London]

Thank you snake for the kind offer. I would love to see them if I'm ever your way. And thanks for the detailed information. Very interesting. Sounds like you do a lot of good for the finches and other birds.

I'm starting to gather a list of plants that I might grow and that are beneficial to what little wildlife I seem to be able to attract here. Burdock will do nicely.

[Deb London]

This is a field that I sometimes watch for them.



It has thistles (just about visible on this image, taken from a phone). I chose to watch this yesterday because it was in full sun at daybreak. The rest of the area is a valley and that was largely shaded or in the mist, where the ground was frozen. It's almost a military campaign, planning my strategy, which is part of the fun. BUT STILL NO LINNETS.

I am wondering if this area is simply too clean and weed-free. Maybe I should try somewhere else.

Btw, I am familiar with Linnets and have no trouble spotting them in Kent and places like that.

[Acipiter]

I am no expert on linnets Deb, but I always seem to see them along the country lane near to where I live, this lane has open fields on each side, maybe you have somewhere similar you could try.

[Acipiter]

I forgot to add deb, linnets are easily flushed, maybe the sit and wait approach would be the way to go.

[Deb London]

Thanks A, Will have a look. Less optimistic at the moment after being advised that they don't actually tend to land round here. I should learn their call. And apparently the best way to learn all these confusing calls is to get involved in recording/surveying work. So it's not quite so straightforward to see them around my area as I had hoped.

[aeshna5]

I find generally more disturbed ground with lots of ruderal weeds are better for Linnets.

[Acipiter]

I don't know if your anywhere near the lee valley park deb, but I did see a few at the Waltham abbey end, the (railway track side). If anyone would like some good views of jays there's loads this year.

[Dogghound]

The area is unlikely to be too productive for linnets, it looks like improved pasture with tussocks and some stands of ruderal vegetation, it is also surrounded by trees. Areas of lowlying scrub and open arable farmland are much better. From a linnets perspective this site offers no breeding opportunities and poor forageing (unless there is different habitat that is off the photo). They also tend to avoid urban/sub-urban areas, although there are always exceptions.

I would become familiar with the call, flocks are very easy to locate in flight a mobile approach would be better than waiting in this field, especially in arable, wasteland etc, more open areas.

[Deb London]

Thanks all. I had assumed reports of Linnets were of birds on the ground and never imagined people were identifying them in flight. But they probably were.