The Lincolnshire Bird Club

A bit of a finch fest in my Lincoln garden this morning (26/02) with the following (all present at the same time):

Brambling - 1m
Siskin - 2f
Redpoll - 16
Goldfinch - 3
Chaffinch - 6

The male Brambling was first seen on 13th February and follows hot on the heels of a female which visited between 4th and 10th February.

In contrast to Redpoll (numbers of which have been fairly stable since the New Year), Siskin has (finally) made its first appearance of the winter only this month. The birds today, however, are the first females seen and follow 2 males on 9th and a single on 12th and 22nd. Despite flocks of up to 30 or so Siskin being seen in nearby Hartsholme Park over the winter they seem to be reluctant garden visitors compared to the Redpolls. A trend mirrored over the last few winters.

Matthew

Interesting Matthew,

Here at Woodhall I've had similar finch records in my garden but siskins have been more or less daily visitors for five consecutive weeks, with a maximum of 8.
I too have had a male and a female brambling on separate occasions in February but only 1 pair of redpolls on one day.
Goldfinches chaffinches and greenfinches are constantly at the sunflower hearts, with maxima this month of 6,5 and 7 respectively.
I also had 2 bullfinches in January, only my second garden record here in six and a half years.

Regards,

John