Love stock doves - we used to see them on the farm as children but not so many about nowadays.
I'm chuffed The nest box on the fence which was used by a pair of bluetits last year was trashed by Doris ............... but today I saw a pair busily popping in and out of another nestbox we fixed onto the ash tree last year
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We used to get greenfinches quite regularly Dave - when I lived round the corner from here. I've not seen any in the four years I've been back. They seemed to go into decline in lots of places, and even in the garden I had in the time I was away from this area, they were rare, despite having loads of birds of all types.
I'l certainly give it a go. They looked a bit confused by the cage, and didn't actually go in, so a little feeder beside it with nyger seed might do the trick - till they get a bit bolder
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Once you have Goldfinches (they aren't Greenfinches) and keep them happy with nyger seeds they will reward you with regular visits. We had 2 the first year we were here, 4 the second year and 14 last year - two families - what a noise they made, but so lovely to see them.
I'd assumed Dave was talking about greenfinches GD, which is why I mentioned the lack of them - but perhaps he did mean goldfinches and it was a typo! I did wonder when he said the nyger attracted greenfinches.....
Goldies aren't common round here at all, and I don't have many plants which have seedheads, so perhaps I should look at changing that. It would be nice to have them visiting. I only saw a couple once or twice round the corner in all the years I was there, and, like the greenfinches, we didn't really get them at the last house either.
Lovely that you have so many. I'm hoping my nuthatches will be permanent fixtures. They weren't fazed by me working away outside today, and they were only about 12 -15 feet away
Last edited: 05 March 2017 18:04:53
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
East Anglian goldfinches seem to turn up their beaks at nyger seeds in preference for sunflower hearts. So many people I know have invested in the special feeders and seeds but the flocks of goldfinches in their gardens just ignore them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Fairy, I think your nuthatches will stay. Mine have, since last year and even come come up to the "cheese pot" at the back door. The pied wagtail is still coming to feed there too. The long-tailed tits and greater spotted woodpeckers are daily feeders too.
Are the new visiting bird populations due to the fact that we've had some milder winters?
I'd really love to have long tailed tits Joyce - we had them regularly round the corner and they're one of my favourites
They say nuthatches don't travel far from where they're born, so fingers crossed they'll hang about. They certainly seem right at home!
I'd heard people saying that about nyger seed in the past. I always add sunflower hearts to the mix I use, so perhaps a feeder with only that might be the way to go. Once they're in they might be brave enough to use the cage, and that makes it easier. They certainly aren't too big for it.
I was just so pleased to see a couple coming in. I really need to get out more...
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Love stock doves - we used to see them on the farm as children but not so many about nowadays.
I'm chuffed
The nest box on the fence which was used by a pair of bluetits last year was trashed by Doris ............... but today I saw a pair busily popping in and out of another nestbox we fixed onto the ash tree last year 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Walked into the bedroom a few minutes ago, just in time to see these visitors and catch a pic before they vanished....
Think I'll definitely go and get a niger seed feeder now
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Nice pic FG. Nyger Seeds is what encouraged Greenfinches into our garden after trying with everything else. Go for it!
Last edited: 05 March 2017 16:52:28
We used to get greenfinches quite regularly Dave - when I lived round the corner from here. I've not seen any in the four years I've been back. They seemed to go into decline in lots of places, and even in the garden I had in the time I was away from this area, they were rare, despite having loads of birds of all types.
I'l certainly give it a go. They looked a bit confused by the cage, and didn't actually go in, so a little feeder beside it with nyger seed might do the trick - till they get a bit bolder
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Once you have Goldfinches (they aren't Greenfinches) and keep them happy with nyger seeds they will reward you with regular visits. We had 2 the first year we were here, 4 the second year and 14 last year - two families - what a noise they made, but so lovely to see them.
I'd assumed Dave was talking about greenfinches GD, which is why I mentioned the lack of them - but perhaps he did mean goldfinches and it was a typo! I did wonder when he said the nyger attracted greenfinches.....
Goldies aren't common round here at all, and I don't have many plants which have seedheads, so perhaps I should look at changing that. It would be nice to have them visiting. I only saw a couple once or twice round the corner in all the years I was there, and, like the greenfinches, we didn't really get them at the last house either.
Lovely that you have so many. I'm hoping my nuthatches will be permanent fixtures. They weren't fazed by me working away outside today, and they were only about 12 -15 feet away
Last edited: 05 March 2017 18:04:53
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
East Anglian goldfinches seem to turn up their beaks at nyger seeds in preference for sunflower hearts. So many people I know have invested in the special feeders and seeds but the flocks of goldfinches in their gardens just ignore them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Same in Leics, Dove. Both goldfinches and greenfinches love the sunflower hearts I use in one of my feeders.
Fairy, I think your nuthatches will stay. Mine have, since last year and even come come up to the "cheese pot" at the back door. The pied wagtail is still coming to feed there too. The long-tailed tits and greater spotted woodpeckers are daily feeders too.
Are the new visiting bird populations due to the fact that we've had some milder winters?
I'd really love to have long tailed tits Joyce - we had them regularly round the corner and they're one of my favourites
They say nuthatches don't travel far from where they're born, so fingers crossed they'll hang about. They certainly seem right at home!
I'd heard people saying that about nyger seed in the past. I always add sunflower hearts to the mix I use, so perhaps a feeder with only that might be the way to go. Once they're in they might be brave enough to use the cage, and that makes it easier. They certainly aren't too big for it.
I was just so pleased to see a couple coming in. I really need to get out more...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...