The Lincolnshire Bird Club

First lesser redpoll of the winter on my feeders this morning. Wonder if I will get as many as i did earlier this year?

My record stands at an overwhelmingly enormous...... 2.

** Leaves by back door **

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On the 15th of Feb I counted 61 - so who knows what is yet to come Katherine

Is niger seed what attracts them to the feeders? If so, do they have to compete with goldfinches?

Do they also like mixed seeds?

Would be grateful for advice on this because lesser redpolls are one of my target species for the garden this winter.

It is nyger seed that they love from my experience. My non nyger feeders do contain a small quantity of nyger and so they do go on to these from time to time. As they seem to spill as much seed on to the ground (ruining the grass) as they eat they also spend a fair bit of time on the ground. Last winter (Nov, Dec) it was mainly goldfinch initially with just the odd redpoll so they didn't really compete but as numbers built up after Christmas the goldfinch numbers declined. No redpolls today that I saw but up to 16 goldfinch and 5 greenfinch. All the various birds were bolshy with each other as a bird encroached the dining areas.
I have to add that the area is very small just a small flowering cherry tree - though they do also feed on a neighbours tree when they have seed in their feeders

Thanks Chris - that's very helpful.