Thanks Eileen & Pauline. Still no sign of any finches and the niger seed doesn't seem to have gone any lower. In fact I am wondering if in the high winds we had somehow the feeder has been flicked about and lost some feed. Still I thoroughly enjoy watching the birds who visit. The sparrows sometimes number as many as 20 the starlings the same, causing havoc with their squabbling and I still have my blackbirds. I was pointing out the male and female blackbirds to daughter today.( He He I didn't know the difference until one of you told me

)
I have found that if I cut the apples up and put them out on the lawn for the blackbirds in the morning the starlings pinch most of them I now put the apples out in the afternoon and the blackbirds come along (Think the starlings are too full up from morning feed!!)
I do have sunflower seed so will try them on the bird table.
Best wishes Lorna.