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Where do all the fledgling Goldfinch's go?
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Author:  Mark Martin [ Tue May 22, 2007 5:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Where do all the fledgling Goldfinch's go?
Fledglings currently being nurtured in and around the garden include...
Pied Wagtail, Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch.

Expected imminently judging by frantic behaviour at nest sites ...
Jackdaw, Wren, Swallow, Barn Owl.

Down on West Fen Drain (Boston end) is a pair of Swan with eight little'uns on tow!

But where are the Goldfinch young? Is it too soon/too late? We have dozens of regular feeders but no sightings of any fledglings amongst them.

While I am here nattering, anybody recognise this young one - my guess is a Mistle Thrush?
Image
Author:  Katherine Birkett [ Tue May 22, 2007 6:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Where do all the fledgling Goldfinch's go?
Mark Martin wrote:
But where are the Goldfinch young?

In my garden - two fledglings present today! :wink:
Author:  Andy Sims [ Tue May 22, 2007 7:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hi Mick,

Looks like a young Dunnock, unless it really is as big as a Mistle Thrush!
Author:  Mark Martin [ Tue May 22, 2007 11:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Katherine, that is good news, I will keep my eyes peeled in case we get any new arrivals at the feeding station! My guide shows that they are very similar to parents but without the head markings/colour, is that right?

Andy, I think you are absolutely right - he is about the right size and cross checking my other photos with my field guide shows he has all the Dunnock characteristics - thank you :-) This one was sun-drying and pruning himself after a lovely bath so was quite disheveled

PS - we have had a pair of Mistle Thrush trying unsuccessfully to build nests in the Ash trees around the garden, and never having seen a young one I didn't know what size/shape/colour they appeared out of the nest!
Author:  Katherine Birkett [ Tue May 22, 2007 11:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
Mark Martin wrote:
Katherine, that is good news, I will keep my eyes peeled in case we get any new arrivals at the feeding station! My guide shows that they are very similar to parents but without the head markings/colour, is that right?

Yep - totally correct..... do a Google image search for 'juvenile goldfinch' and you'll get pics....
Author:  Stuart Britton [ Sat May 26, 2007 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Goldfinches
Just to put your mind at rest, Golfinches like other finches are quite late breeders so the first young will have barely fledged. However they have two/three broods annually so you will be getting juveniles well into August. For a new birdwatcher they can be confusing as they do not have red and black on their heads until they commence their post juvenile moult (Another facet to the hobby!!). The photo is a young Dunnock.
Hope that helps,
Stuart
Author:  Mark Martin [ Sat May 26, 2007 1:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Stuart - I look forward to seeing the young around this Summer - not sure if I have the right habitat here though for nesting Goldies, am seeing strange behaviour though as a pair were/are very interested in the eaves of the barn where the tiles meet the side wall (popular area with the Robin and the Sparrow), maybe just looking for insects but could possibly be looking for nesting sites?

I thought that the Swallows had young as the parents (two pairs) are frantically taking insects from the lawn area but they are still taking mud up to the rafters (I keep a small area of ground wetted just for them!) which would suggest they are still nest building, or perhaps putting up extensions for a growing brood :-)

The poor little Dunnock in the photo was all on his own, no parent in sight, he had just finished a long and energetic bath and was pruning himself in the sun. The Chaffinch's on the other hand are still feeding the fledglings.... on this occasion they are being treated to the Nijer seeds that heve dropped down from the feeder above...
Image
Author:  Mark Martin [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
Niger feeder had been out of seed for past couple of days so hadn't seen usual numbers of Goldies around the garden - last night's seed refill rewarded me this lunchtime with two fledglings accompanying one adult - they didn't approach the feeder, prefering to stay in the cover of the plum trees and wait for parent to feed them - well pleased, another first for me :-)
Author:  Stuart Britton [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
You will know when your Swallows have hatched by the increasing amount of droppings beneath the nest!
Author:  Mark Martin [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
... one other thing, nobody warned me about the constant chattering these little'uns make, I thought the parents squabbling was bad enough but the fledgling goldies just don't give up for one second - thankfully I only have the two around at the moment he-he
Author:  Katherine Birkett [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
There's one on my feeder at the moment, hoovering up the sunflower hearts....
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