Redpoll (lesser),Siskins and Goldfinch....
The first Redpoll to come to our feeder (that I have seen)
(http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/gallery/31490-230413004708.jpeg)
Redpolls definitely seem to be making more of an appearance this year.
Lucky you, of these three I only see goldfinches very occasionally.
We hadn't seen them until this year. We had 3 redpolls at one time last weekend. I was confusing them with siskins due to their size but when the siskins did come realised we had another type. It's lovely to see them all.
We get a flurry of goldfinches in the autumn. Sometimes as many as 20. They come for the seed heads. Dahlias are a favourite. Never seen the others.
We have now had 3 Redpolls at the same time, one male /female couple and a single male with them...
They are stunning little birds and though quite a bit smaller than the Goldfinches (who usually monopolise the feeder) I was surprised to see the male standing its ground (or is that perch) and telling the Goldfinch to find another eatery!
Alas, we have now run out of Niger seed..so they won't be around much longer for us to enjoy!
I get nyger seed from Wilkinsons. It seems quite reasonable from them & Home Bargains too but they don't seem to have it at ours very often.
Niger is the one that brings them in...we always marvel at the fact that the Goldies turn up and shortly thereafter the siskins and now the redpolls...we ran out of seed the other day and they all left, now we have some more, and its the goldies back first...I wonder if they tell each other...
Wilkos do Niger do they, interesting thanks for that Grannyjanny!
The greenfinch vanish from the front to the back garden if the feeder empties. In fact looking at it it will need filling very soon. We too wondered if they tell each other :icon_cheers:. Also I changed the niger feeders round & now they don't use the one at the front. Why are birds so choosy?
Why are they so weird?..no idea, but they deffo are in the really harsh snowy weather we put breast of lamb out for the buzzards who are usually mobbed by the local crows but though they are 'sitting' targets for the crows whilst feeding, the crows just left them alone completely...and all the little garden birds just went on as normal...go figure eh!