Definitely a European Goldfinch. We’ve spent a lot of time out in the garden today, not gardening, just enjoying being outside. The weather has been magnificent. I really should have gone for a walk, but we had things on, and I didn’t have time. Tomorrow.
When we first moved in to this house, we were disappointed by the complete absence of birds. Nothing, no one would come near us. Even when I bought a birdtable and put food out – in the winter, nobody came. Until last year. We are now at the stage where wherever we sit in the garden, the starlings will visit the other bird table. The Sparrows are voracious eaters, i have to top our feeders up most days. Today, the blackbird was about 6 feet away from me, it’s beak stuffed with worms and still making a mess of what we are trying to turn into our wild patch. It’s likely we will have to re-seed and put some netting over. Once it’s established, it can do what it wants.
The last few days we have seen the wagtails (I thought they were yellow, but it looks like they are Grey). They have both been with us through much of the winter. How we have laughed at their bobbing, worried when they don’t show up, and said with relief “The Wagtails are back.”
The Goldfinch in the picture has been with us for a couple of days now. I’m told it does come down for food. I’ve been watching it this afternoon. It would come from one direction, sit in the tree for five minutes or so, making an extremely loud but very musical racket, and then fly off pretty much at 90 degrees to it’s arrival path. A few minutes later it would be back again.
I must admit that I thought that it was announcing and defending it’s territory. But it appears that Goldfinches are not Territorial, which is, presumably why they were both content to sit in the tree, close to each other (at least, I think they are both males). They are welcome to come down, there’s plenty of food.
Last night on Facebook, I jokingly commented that watching the bird table is more entertaining than what’s on television. Actually, it’s watching the birds – the tables are incidental. i notice though, that they need topping up. They’ve certainly had their fill today, and we have definitely had the pleasure of their company. Quite simply beautiful.
Bills Posts 