The return of the cold weather has increased my redpoll numbers today! I've always had a good sized flock but today I counted 70+! I had to take the photos so I could count them - there was a real frenzy on the lawn. I have three feeders up and they were full, and the black on the lawn is all the spilt nyger seed. I leave it there because all the redpolls that don't fit on the feeders, feed off the lawn.
The blackbirds were a bit of a pain mind - jealous of them having so much to eat I think - they kept dive bombing them and sending them all flying!
So - this is what my lawn looked like at lunchtime! Not the best photos but gives an idea of numbers - these are just the overspill from the feeders!
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They are lovely little birds and you certainly have a lot there, little nyger vacumn cleaners in action.
Regards Shane
My Photos in Flickr.
Wowzers Chris, that's one feeding bill your gonna have. We rarely see them here, local reserve has a few, but not in the numbers you have. Happy days.
Take care all, Stich.
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Wow that's a sight!!! You've got loads lol.... Hope they scoop up all the nyger seeds!!
Cheers, Jason
Thanks all! Alan - one or two of my redpolls have been ringed I notice. I have a friend who lives three or four miles away from me who rings birds and she has re-caught some of the redpolls in her garden and says they have come from Norway! Interesting isn't it? I would love to know where mine come from but don't really want my friend here with her nets - I'd rather leave them in peace.
You know what, I'm flabbergasted! I was about to post about how I have just had a record number of redpolls in my garden (five!) but I won't now :)
John
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."
Hi Mr Q - you might be back posting another day then - I started with one, then two, then four - you get the idea and it just built from there!
Not sure I can afford to keep up with demand for nyjer seed! it's great to see so many birds though - I have a very small garden (about 12x14ft) and regularly get a wide variety of birds (tits, finches, robins, sparrows, blackbirds etc). Will definitely keep my eyes peeled for flocks of redpolls!
Crikey, Christine, I reckon you've cornered the market. I wondered where my two had gone.
I wonder what is the collective name for Redpolls. Perhaps a Red Nose Day of Redpolls seeing as we are coming to that time of year again.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
That's a nice sized flock of redpolls!
All look like Lesser Redpolls, with the possible exception of the pale one half out of shot on the left side of the second photo - that one could be a Mealy, but might just be a very pale, worn Lesser.
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What a sight that is Christine, we don't seem to get any here but I don't do the nyger any more as the goldies seem to be happy with sunflower hearts, maybe I should try the little black seed again.
Lot to learn