Five weeks ago I had never had a goldfinch in my garden, then a lone one arrived and I was so excited. He was soon joined by 4 others. These 5 came every day, several times a day, for about 3 weeks, and stayed on the nyjer and sunflower heart feeders a long time on each visit. They saw off the sparrows and weren't bothered by the starlings or bigger birds such as pigeons. Then we had one night of heavy frost, and since then only one comes infrequently and doesn't stay long. Those of you who get Goldfinches, can you tell me if this is normal? I am getting worried about them!
Cheers, Linda.
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Goldfinches are a mobile species. Ones you see in January probably aren't the same individuals in July. Ones one year, possibly aren't the same the next. For 2024, if they aren't nesting in your area, then that would explain their absence. I'm not a fan of house sparrows.....they have been hacking at the runner bean flowers in the last couple of weeks or so.....but having them in the garden won't affect goldfinches.
Hello J, the same has happened to me this year. I've lived in my house for four years and up to 8 goldfinches have been almost constant visitors to my feeders, until this past summer when they suddenly disappeared. Sparrows have also been around the entire time and they are still here. Starlings likewise but only the odd one or two now, much fewer than in the past. Blue, great and coal tits are still regulars, as is the odd nuthatch. The usual ground feeders: robin, dunnock, blackbrid, magpie, woodpigeon, collared dove seem unaffected. I'm hoping I didn't poison the goldfinches!