After feeding birds for the last few years, I have never had goldfinches visit the garden. I have looked enviously at pictures of gardens with vast amounts of them on the forum. However, as I was gaily scattering suet pellets under the bushes this am- caught a flash of colour... 2 goldfinch-rushed for camera and got just one photo of them. They returned this evening too... at last!
Jayne
Well done Jayne where there's two there's more..get ready to take a bank loan out for sunflower hearts.
Regards Alan
My photos are on Flickr and Website
Now they have found you they should become regular visitors :)
Caroline in Jersey
Congratulations Jayne! Aren't they beautiful birds. It looks like you have a pair. The one on the left looks like a female. The one on the right is a male.
Cheers, Linda.
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I hope there will be more Alan - such beautiful birds. I have a niger feeder but I'm reluctant to rush and put it up as I do wonder if they were just passing over, as I never see goldfinch around the local area. If more come I'd better make an appointment with my bank manager as I'm having to top up 2-3 times a day at the moment-expensive hobby ,but worth every penny!
Oh what a treat!! Love goldfinches, they are a delight to hear as their tinkling call will soon come from all around the garden. Enjoy!!
Great photo of them by the way.
'In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks' John Muir.
Excuse wobbily dyslexic spelling!
The ones i get very rarely use the niger that's out,they all go for hearts which i'm topping up three times a day too..same as you say worth every penny or should that be pound.
Thanks Linda and Caroline. Male ,female....maybe some babies soon? I'd be so chuffed-I know they are regular birds for some on the forum, but eventually getting these after bird feeding for so long was a fantastic feeling
t looks like mixed seed in that feeder. If I were you I would put up one with just sunflower hearts in. I do provide nyjer because I also get redpolls (winter only) with the goldies. They seem to flock together. However, nothing has touched it for weeks so I have taken it down now for the summer.
I understand exactly how you feel. I waited 6 months for mine to arrive and was so delighted when two arrived I dropped a glass which smashed all over the kitchen floor. I was jumping up and down, and my husband almost sent for the men in white coats to take me away.
My personal experience with Goldies is that they are not interested in the niger seed until winter, they did not bother with it at all last summer preferring to queue up for the sunflower hearts.
Thanks for the feeding tips- I use RSPB sunflower mix and mix it with kibbled peanuts, suet pellets and a bit of mixed seed to cover all tastes ( spoilt I know)! I'll just use the sunflower mix on it's own tomorrow as it has a high proportion of sunflower seeds and see how it goes.
Hi Jayne, really pleased to hear you've got your longed for goldfinch! It's always a thrill when something new comes into the garden. I get up to four goldfinchs at any one time,, never more, but they initially came for the niger seed. Now they flit from one feeder to the other so seem to like a bit of both! Hope they become refulars for you. LIke doggie, I also spend a fortune on sunflower hearts mind!!
Excellent news and a lovely shot too! Always a pleasure to have these visit!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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