Great excitement in the Bramble houshold this morning. Whilst sitting on the sofa gazing out at the rain; my eagle eyed 13 yr old son said, Isn't that a Golfinch?
I was so excited I spilt my tea! It was not one, but two Goldfinches.
However as we have had nothing remotely finch like before there was nothing much to tempt them. So finally I get to the point. Do you think If i rush out and purchase a feeder and some niger seed they may pay me a return visit?
Extatic Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
I'm sure they will Sarah, they like sunflower seed also. We sarted with just a couple and have around 8-10 now. They seem to go around in groups. If you buy a feeder get one with at least 4 perchers on. We started with a two perch but they were fighting over the seed moved on to a four and now have a flocker. Ours never seem to go away, they are here all year. Good luck they are such pretty birds to have around.
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Great news Sarah, you lucky thing. This is another sore point for me that I only get visited by them occasionally.
However there are many on this site who do get them and some were like you, a brief visit and then hey presto they came in droves.
Good luck - hope they become a regular visitor.
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi Bramble67
Great news, I would buy some nijer seed just a small one to see if they return, I'm sure they will.
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!
Great news Sarah!
I too would say get some nyger and a feeder just in case. I have one and to be honest most of the time I wonder why I bother - but they do show up from time to time :o)
Hi Sarah,
Well done!!!!! No wonder you spilt your tea. Better that than choking on it!
I have sunflower heart feeders and nyjer feeders hanging together on my pole (2 of each). They take all these feeders over. I started last autumn with 2 goldies. They have increased in numbers and are with me most of the day ... and of course, they may bring along redpolls and siskins. Finches tend to flock together in winter.
Good luck.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
They might keep coming, and bring their friends too! A Niger feeder mnay tempt them even further though they also love sunflower hearts :-)
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Hi Sarah
A cheap alternative is to plant some Teasle seeds they only grow to about 6". If you plant in April, they will come through for Sept next year. We had our first plants last September and the Goldies just loved them natural seeds and no expense. You can buy the seeds at any good garden centre. We still use the feeders, but these are a natural alternative too. Best of both worlds
Well I have taken your advice and gone a purchased a nyger seed feeder and some seed. I have had sunflower hearts hanging for a while, but mixed them back in with mixed seed as nothing seemed to be eating them. Maybe they were while I was away and didn't know.
I have to say I do not have the have the patiennce to go out with the Tweezers to separate it out from the seed again.
I'll keep you posted.
Thanks for the suggestion re teasels, but my dog has long hair and once attached they are a .... to remove,
Sarah
I've had them happily eating black sunflower seeds from a feeder in my garden. Chaffinches and Dunnocks then invariably arrive to tidy-up underneath the feeder. Sunflower hearts make less mess that's for sure......
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
Hi bramble67 we get a lot of Goldfinch on sunflower hearts and probably just as good as teasels are evening primrose and leave the seed heads on all winter,they seem as if they open up slowly all winter and Goldfinch love them also won't stick to dog,one more great thing is that once you have a few they reseed themselves each year and you never have to sow again but they often seem to grow one year and flower and seed the next.