Re: Ringed goldfinch

Hi folks,

I just thought I would share my latest goldfinch picture with you. Taken today in my garden. He has been ringed, and Buzzard tells me if I can read the number I can report it to the BTO. Some chance of that!! Buzzard says it is more than likely he was ringed local to me, but a goldie he knows of was found 200 miles from where he was ringed.

Can anyone see what colour his nasal hairs are???!!!

Keep an eye out for him! I've managed to ID a racing pigeon in the garden by piecing together info from various views of his leg band, so maybe you'll be able to do the same :)

Well done Sparrow, another lovely shot....................yawn are you going to take a photo of something else soon? (big big, huge smile!)

Kezmo

....................yawn are you going to take a photo of something else soon? (big big, huge smile!)

Hi Kezmo,

I just like rubbing it in that I have a small charm of goldies!!! (More like because they are more photogenic than most of my other regulars, and also because once they start eating they don't stop for anything - starlings, pigeons, jackdaws, dogs - so they tend to stay still for longer than the others!!)

However, I see you also had one visiting, possibly on loan from Janet or Buzzard. Well done - get the bluetack down on the perches!!

LOL Sparrow, you know I'm only kidding - but as to traps, good idea on the bluetack I'm also busily mixing the cement to put in the bird bath!!!

WOW! Brilliant photo Sparrow! Try photographing the starlings. Their feathers have the most beautiful colours - especially if you can catch them with the sun shining on them.

Squirrel

WOW! Brilliant photo Sparrow! Try photographing the starlings. Their feathers have the most beautiful colours - especially if you can catch them with the sun shining on them.

while you are at it get some of a magpie the blue/black and white is lovely.

Lovely pics Sparrow!! Squirrel and Janet are right! Starlings and magpies (all of the Corvids actually) are quite beautiful caught in the sunshine!!

Thanks everyone. This is really a hit and miss occupation, isn't it!!

I will take some more of my starlings when the sun comes out (next summer!!)

I don't get magpies landing in my garden, but here are 2 of my jackdaws with beaks full of peanuts. The trouble with the zoom is that it shows up all the bird poo on the fence, and the seed tossed out by the starlings. It really isn't as unkempt as it looks!! It was raining when I took this.

Excellent photos Sparrow - and don't worry about the surroundings. I think we all know that where you get birds you get mess - of one sort or another!!!!!

You are just getting too good now - keep them coming.

Hi Sparrow

Love the shot of your Jackdaws - How many more can he get in his mouth?

Hi sparrow

you have a right pair there, looks like they will keep you runing trying to keep it filled up!

Nice work, Sparrow!

It's interesting that the ring is on its left leg. Most UK ringers put it on the right leg because it's easier (when you're holding the bird in your left hand).

Maybe a left-handed ringer caught this one, or it's from Europe! Ringers on the continent do things slightly differently and often ring on the right leg. But as you mention, unless you can read the ring number we're not going to find out...

The rings that goldfinches take are really very small (the second-smallest size available) and pretty tricky to read, even when you're holding one in your hand! But do keep trying to get that photo...

A goldfinch ringed near Sandy, Bedfordshire, a few years ago was later found in North Yorkshire, so it goes to show that these garden birds do move around more than you'd think...

Katie

(ringing trainee)

That's interesting Katie! Never gave a thought about which legs the rings were on! Will take better note in future! Good luck with the ringing!