Basil Thornton took this lovely picture of a Goldfinch on the feeders with others of its kind last week. Only afterwards did he notice the lilac band on its left leg. Sometimes birds get colour ringed as part of a scientific survey and these ring combinations make it easier to trace where they have come from and been to but there is always a metal ring on one of the legs that tells you which country the bird was ringed in and a unique number supplies all the extra info. Do you remember the Norfolk Stonechat from last winter?
Anyway, being a closed ring (no join) means that it was put on while the bird was a tiny nestling and the lack of a BTO metal ring suggests that it is in fact an escapee from a aviary. Seems quite happy with its wild brethren though!
21-10-12
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer