Three or four little birds arrived with 12 goldfinches this morning. They were sitting on the feeding station arms looking to see what there was. At first I thought "what scruffy goldfinches" but then I saw they were something else entirely. They had a red head, and the one I caught briefly in my binoculars DEFINITELY had the makings of a pinky/red chest. Unless I'm imagining it all, I think they had brown streaked tops. Sadly, something disturbed them and every bird in the garden disappeared, so no photos I'm afraid. They were not chaffinches. They were with the goldies in a small flock.
I would appreciate any help with this, and if they come back I'll try for a photo. I have never seen them before.
Cheers, Linda.
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Shame no photo's do you have a birch treee in your garden, its said this is they favourite winter food.
Hey farmer, farmer, put away the D.D.T now. Give me spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees, please!
Wow! Good for you Sparrow! They certainly sound like redpolls! Hope that they return!
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Hi Sparrow
Sound very like lesser redpolls. Can you identify them from this photo. I had them on my nyger seed feeder about a week ago. Still no reed buntings??
Tony
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Thanks everyone for your replies.
Janet - absolutely no trees whatsoever. Just 6 to 7 foot high, thick evergreen hedging, although neighbours have trees, but I have no idea what they are. I'm not at all good at tree ID.
MarJus - I hope you are right! I found an earlier thread on which Buzzard had put a link to a redpoll ID site, and I do think it is a high possibility.
TJ - they certainly could be like yours. The crown was very red, and the breast was dusky pink and looked like it was just coming through. I have a nyjer feeder and sunflower hearts on this feeding station, which is why the goldies were there. I'm pleased to see them on your nyjer as mine may now come back. Have yours been back TJ? No, still no reed buntings.
The problem is you get a thought in your head, look at images and end up fitting your birds to the images, rather than fitting different images to your birds. If you see what I mean!
Susan H said:TJ - they certainly could be like yours. The crown was very red, and the breast was dusky pink and looked like it was just coming through. I have a nyjer feeder and sunflower hearts on this feeding station, which is why the goldies were there. I'm pleased to see them on your nyjer as mine may now come back. Have yours been back TJ? No, still no reed buntings
Here's another one facing front on so you can see its pink breast clearly. I did get one further brief visit to the bird table from the reed bunting.
Fabulous photos TJ. Sparrow, I will keep my fingers crossed as it certainly does sound as though they were Redpolls.... I feel another of my "I want one of those" moments coming on!
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Well done Sparrow
I'm envious because I have only been having one goldfinch visit my niger seed feeder ever since I put a pic of them in these forums. I think someone else must have something better that they currently like.
I have definitely never seen a redpoll visit my garden.
I must try harder!
Best wishes Chris
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That's what I saw TJ. Thank you for these photos.
I am now over the moon, especially as I also had my first (healthy) greenfinch about 5 minutes ago. He also arrived with the goldies and shared the sunflower hearts. And last as well as least, my second ever wood pigeon. What a day, considering we have driving rain and a bitterly cold wind. Normally the garden is quiet in the rain.
Susan H said: That's what I saw TJ. Thank you for these photos. I am now over the moon, especially as I also had my first (healthy) greenfinch about 5 minutes ago. He also arrived with the goldies and shared the sunflower hearts. And last as well as least, my second ever wood pigeon.
I am now over the moon, especially as I also had my first (healthy) greenfinch about 5 minutes ago. He also arrived with the goldies and shared the sunflower hearts. And last as well as least, my second ever wood pigeon.
I'm pleased for you Sparrow. They are such pretty little birds. If this cold weather continues I'll bet they'll be back, so keep watching.
Would you like some of my wood pigeons? They have decimated my purple sprouting broccoli plants. I had netting over them but the dunnocks kept getting themselves trapped so I had to remove it. Oh well, even pigeons need their five a day!
Wow they are lovely photo's
Hi Sparrow, seem like every one has some woodpigeons you can have. lol