Topic: Goldfinch

[Palustris]

Got this one today. Think I am right.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Gorgeous birds; you can't mistake them or the sound they make for anything else.

[Paulines7]

A few more here.

[Yellow Petals]

Wow!  :o

[Tulipa]

Pauline what kind of seed have you in those feeders?  Are they nyjer seeds?  I have wondered whether to put some in one of my feeders to encourage different birds.

[Paulines7]

Two of the feeders are filled with nyjer seeds.  They are special feeders with very tiny holes in them.  For every seed they eat they probably drop half a dozen on the ground.  It doesn't go to waste though, for the finches that cannot get on the feeders eat off the ground.  When I took this photo there were about 7 feeding on the ground and another half a dozen waiting for their turn.

[Tulipa]

I will try and get to get some today, thank you, I have wondered if it was worth having a Nyjer seed feeder, now I have seen your photo it definitely is!

[eileen]

Brilliant piccies.  ;D Must remember to try and get a shot of my Long Tailed Tits.

[Gardengirl]

Great photo of the goldfinch Eric :)

Pauline, what a great bunch - I count myself lucky if I get two at a time :)

[Paulines7]

Tulippa and anyone else who is interested, the RSPB sell Nyjer feeders.  I bought my one from them.  I have the plastic feeder.

http://www.rspbshop.co.uk/products/birds_wildlife/bird_feeders/1/nyjer_seed_feeders/2

[Mrs Ava]

Brilliants photos!

[Paulines7]

I heard a thud this morning and discovered a goldfinch had flown into my patio door.  It didn't look too good; infact I thought it was dead.  :-[  I brought it indoors to see what damage had been done and was glad to see it was alive and all in one piece.  :)  I got some pics of it in my hand and then took it into the bedroom where I knew my cat and dog couldn't get at it and sat it by the window.  It then flew off around the room and landed on the bed.  At least I knew then that it was able to fly all right so I opened the window for it to go out.  After a few minutes of exploring the curtain track and the top of the wardrobe, it found its way out of the window and onto a nearby elder branch.  Five minutes later it flew away.   ;D  ;D  Here are some pics.

[lorna]

Pauline  So glad it was a happy ending!!! Cracking photos.

[Rosa_Mundi]

Glad it was fine. If one knocks itself out, put it in a dark spot (e.g., a cardboard box covered with a towel) and keep it warm. You should hear it starting to move around in 20-40 minutes, at which stage you can think about letting it go. If they start flying before they're fully "with it", they can panic and injure themselves further by crashing into things.
Have you thought of putting some window stickers on your window to stop further accidents? They're glue-free, and don't leave any stain or residue:
http://www.rspbshop.co.uk/shared/search/viewresults.asp?p=1#

[Paulines7]

Thanks Rosa_mundi for that tip.  I suppose I panicked a bit because it opened its eyes when I picked it up.  My next thought was to get it somewhere away from the cat and dog.  I will need to get some window stickers.