Goldfinches

Knine wrote: »

This morning, I found 4 goldfinches in my back garden at my peanut feeder, Ive never seen them in the wild before and it made my day. I'm not a bird watcher as such but try to feed the birds in the garden in such bad weather.

So far Ive seen Robins, a thrush, blue and coal tits, collared doves, wood pigeons, Chaffinches along with the usual crows and starlings.

Ive seen hardly any sparrows

Any ideas on what foods I can put out for them other than the usual peanuts?

A good link with some tips:
http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Portals/0/pdfs/GBS_FeedingWildBirds.pdf
Goldfinches don't use peanut feeders much, if you want plenty of them around feed them nyger seeds. You have to get a nyger feeder. Here's a video of a nyger feeder:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0nKC6_p1io

Saw a goldfinch for the first time out my back garden over the weekend. Had only just put out the nyger seed and he was down for it. When I left the house this morning there were two goldfinches at the nyger feeder. Was nearly late for work watching them. Fabulous looking bird and their gold wing bars really stand out in flight. Have had one greenfinch out the garden too for the last few weeks. He's the boss of the whole garden by the looks of it. He chases everything away while he's at the feeder. I got my nyger seed from the local pet shop if thats any use OP. Also with regards starlings, I notice that the smaller birds have no problem eating side by side with them. The suet balls in my garden tend to occupy the starlings which leaves the feeders free so maybe try that OP.
I put out nyger seed, peanuts, sunflower seeds and suet balls and get coal tits, blue tits, great tits, house sparrows, dunnocks (i think), goldfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, robin and starlings. No crows and only the occasional collared dove. It's amazing the show you can get from them all for as little as a few euro worth of seed.

megadodge wrote: »

Well the ones around my place do!

Last winter a group of 12-14 completely dominated the feeding area for long stretches and they concentrated mainly on the peanut feeders.

This year they've been notable by their absence. Have seen 4 or 5 on rare occasions and am wondering why the drop in numbers and frequency?

I must have the posh Wicklow ones:D I have only once seen goldfinches use my peanut feeders ever.

ThunderCat wrote: »

Quick question - Im gonna start getting mealworm and leaving that out too. What birds will that attract? And do you just put in loose on the grass for them? Used to have a song thrush visit the garden in my old house. Wouldnt mind getting a few of them in again - lovely bird. Forgot to add to the above post that I also get the ocassional blackbird out the garden too.

Robins, thrushes, wrens, dunnocks and blackbirds, according to Fingal County Council's biodiversity website. Although nothing has touched the ones I've left out for them...