Hostafan- I had a verbena B years ago, but haven't planted one since - will definitely get one this year now, as I'd love to see them feeding from that!
Alan- could be where you love is too cold? I read on the rspb site (nerd) that although goldfinches are uk natives, they can migrate to Southern Europe in winter if it's too cold over here. I'm in London, where bar a few cold snaps, it has been a mild winter again.
Dorset, your set up sounds very organised! I only have a bog standard hanging feeder in my little garden. Am getting bird table/feeder envy, looking at One's set up!
Jess - I'm not sure. It may have something to do with the cat next door, it had taken to sitting on the fence until I put up a cat scarer. Maybe the Goldfinches just need time to come back (yes, the scarer does seem to work). Something else I wondered about is that although I know they don't migrate, do they fly down South where it's a bit warmer in winter? I know someone who lives in Cornwall and she has said that she sees more Goldfinches in winter, whilst we seem to have less (probably daft, but just a thought).
It isn't daft at all - I read on the RSPB site that they WILL migrate South, usually places like Spain, when our Winters get too cold. In London it's so mild they have no need to leave. Whereabouts are you?
Glad to hear that someone has had luck with the cat scarer...I have one that is a 2D metal cutout of a moggy, with scary looking glass eyes. I put it out months ago and found that the local moggy Alpha male had considerately pooed right over it
Thanks for the reply Jess. We're in Yorkshire, it's freezing here.
The cat scarer is one of those battery operated ones that works on a motion sensor. I have to be honest, I think it's quite odd, because although ours seems to be working, my hubby put up two in my daughter's garden (her neighbour had 3 cats) and those don't seem to be working at all.
Ah I see Mine was one of those really silly purchases one later regrets within about 5 minutes of opening the box, usually....
if it's freezing in Yorkshire, it could be why the goldfinches have gone. Maybe they'll return if you lay out some goodies for them, come spring! Have a look at this- love the short video of them singing
Thanks Jess - they really are pretty birds. When they are around, I often hear them singing. They usually sit on the telephone wires just outside my friend's house, a couple of doors from me.
oh the goldfinches - we've been inundated with them for years, nesting in the wisteria, feeding from teasel heads in autumn and nyger feeders in winter, but despite it not being all that cold we've only seen the occasional solitary one this year. Loads of blackbirds, and surprisingly house sparrows increasing year on year. What I have noticed this year that we have fewer birds on the feeders, but many more in trees and shrubs, and eating the fallen apples I left on the ground. My theory is that there are more insects surving and seeds and berries remaining so they don't actually need the feeders....yet.
Our greatest pleasure this years has come from seeing two tree creepers on the apple tree last weekend and i can't recall ever seeing them in the garden before - but then they are secretive little birds so perhaps we just missed seeing them.
Hi Jess, I'm in N E Hants, it's been as low as -8 on a couple of occasions, so I'm hoping they have gone to the Costas, and will return later in the year.
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Hostafan- I had a verbena B years ago, but haven't planted one since - will definitely get one this year now, as I'd love to see them feeding from that!
Alan- could be where you love is too cold? I read on the rspb site (nerd) that although goldfinches are uk natives, they can migrate to Southern Europe in winter if it's too cold over here. I'm in London, where bar a few cold snaps, it has been a mild winter again.
Oneofseven - what a lovely photo.The Goldfinches have all but deserted us. They're my favourites too.
I wonder why Susan?
Dorset, your set up sounds very organised! I only have a bog standard hanging feeder in my little garden. Am getting bird table/feeder envy, looking at One's set up!
Jess - I'm not sure. It may have something to do with the cat next door, it had taken to sitting on the fence until I put up a cat scarer. Maybe the Goldfinches just need time to come back (yes, the scarer does seem to work). Something else I wondered about is that although I know they don't migrate, do they fly down South where it's a bit warmer in winter? I know someone who lives in Cornwall and she has said that she sees more Goldfinches in winter, whilst we seem to have less (probably daft, but just a thought).
It isn't daft at all - I read on the RSPB site that they WILL migrate South, usually places like Spain, when our Winters get too cold. In London it's so mild they have no need to leave. Whereabouts are you?
Glad to hear that someone has had luck with the cat scarer...I have one that is a 2D metal cutout of a moggy, with scary looking glass eyes. I put it out months ago and found that the local moggy Alpha male had considerately pooed right over it
Thanks for the reply Jess. We're in Yorkshire, it's freezing here.
The cat scarer is one of those battery operated ones that works on a motion sensor. I have to be honest, I think it's quite odd, because although ours seems to be working, my hubby put up two in my daughter's garden (her neighbour had 3 cats) and those don't seem to be working at all.
Ah I see
Mine was one of those really silly purchases one later regrets within about 5 minutes of opening the box, usually....
if it's freezing in Yorkshire, it could be why the goldfinches have gone. Maybe they'll return if you lay out some goodies for them, come spring! Have a look at this- love the short video of them singing
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/g/goldfinch/
Thanks Jess - they really are pretty birds. When they are around, I often hear them singing. They usually sit on the telephone wires just outside my friend's house, a couple of doors from me.
oh the goldfinches - we've been inundated with them for years, nesting in the wisteria, feeding from teasel heads in autumn and nyger feeders in winter, but despite it not being all that cold we've only seen the occasional solitary one this year. Loads of blackbirds, and surprisingly house sparrows increasing year on year. What I have noticed this year that we have fewer birds on the feeders, but many more in trees and shrubs, and eating the fallen apples I left on the ground. My theory is that there are more insects surving and seeds and berries remaining so they don't actually need the feeders....yet.
Our greatest pleasure this years has come from seeing two tree creepers on the apple tree last weekend and i can't recall ever seeing them in the garden before - but then they are secretive little birds so perhaps we just missed seeing them.
Hi Jess, I'm in N E Hants, it's been as low as -8 on a couple of occasions, so I'm hoping they have gone to the Costas, and will return later in the year.