Allow me to show you our new garden….. the stubble field! No, wait, it’s still just a suburban garden in the middle of a housing estate – it’s the birds who think its a stubble field 🙂
I can honestly say I’ve never seen so many birds in our garden at any one time! We have a huge (70+) mixed flock of Linnets, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches and Redpolls (maybe Lesser, I’m not sure!).
It’s brilliant 🙂
The down side is that I’ve had to buy more feeders, more sunflower seeds and more nyger seed – but I’m sure I’ll cope 🙂
We’ve made our own nyger seed feeder out of an old plastic feeder and it seems to be going down a treat.
I actually feel sorry for the House Sparrows & Starlings as they don’t seem to be getting a look in, but I’m making sure they also have plenty of peanuts and normal mixed seed to keep them going!
The other bit of good news is that the Brambling is still around. It came down with the Chaffinches this morning (unfortunately no photo though).
The last 2 days have been miserable… grey… wet & downright dreary so the mixed flock have lifted our spirits and certainly brought colour to the otherwise dull days 🙂
What a brilliant mix of birds Shaz. To get Linnets at a garden feeder is quite extraordinary, well done 🙂
Fantastic! That would lift my spirit too. I was just feeling smug about getting my first single Lesser Redpoll in the garden today for about three years. Never had a Linnet though.
WOW! Linnets and Redpolls in the garden? I think I need to move to Ireland Sharon, that is just amazing! Envious, me? No, of course not 😉
Very cleverly adapted feeder too and what about the colour coordinated washing line 🙂
Thanks for the comments guys (& gal!) 🙂
Certainly was a surprise to see so many Linnets on the lawn! Forgot to mention that there is a Blue Tit hanging around the garden now too – thinking of putting a “To Let” sign in front of the nest box so it knows it’s vacant 😉
A great selection of birds there. It seems Linnets are now taking to feeders at some locations…saw a flock at a feeder near Clontarf in Dublin this winter. The Redpolls are, as you rightly guessed, Lesser Redpolls. They are the typicial buff-coloured birds you would expect for Lesser Polls. At this time of year the birds are beginning to moult and show that beautiful red wash across the breast.
Love the last photo of the Goldfinch with the splash of yellow being the same colour as your washing line!
Thanks Eric & Siobhan!
I hadn’t even noticed the wash line to be honest – you can see why we don’t use it for hanging clothes on 🙂
Well I got a waxwing in the garden, but you got many species. It is getting very well for you and congrats for the linnet…. With patience you know 😉
Thanks Chris – still wouldn’t mind your Waxwing though!
Glad to hear you’re feeling better 🙂