Redpolls

cubix

Is it normally for the lesser to travel on its own. I have just had a single lad into the nijer feeder, heres hoping he tells his mates.
Not a great photo as the Ixus950 was at its max

Kess73

Not unusual at all, and if you start getting one on a daily basis then it usually sees many more arrive in time to the food source.


Some years back I got one lone redpoll and he was the only one for about two weeks. Then a second joined him and the numbers racked up from then.

Now every Late October to early November I have redpoll arrive in large numbers and they stay until mid to late spring.

Basically boils down to them becoming sure that there is a regular food source in an area to make it feasible for them to arrive enmasse.


Same thing happened with goldfinch and I. For years I had none at all despite having some very large charms within a mile or two of my land, then I started to get two on a daily basis and that continued for a good month to six weeks. Two became four, and then that became 7 regulars, and since the start of the summer I have been getting upwards of 50 goldfinch being in the main garden at the one time and have had to put up extra niger feeders to cope with both the goldfinch and redpoll numbers.


Have also stopped buying niger in 1.5kg and 3kg bags and have to get 12.75kg bags. Thankfully Amazon sells the 12.75kg bags and it works out far cheaper per kilo to get it there than any petshop I checked. Also Amazon have a discount for anyone who suscribes to buy the 12.75kg bags on a regular basis ( be it once a month, bi-monthly or once every six months).


Keep the faith with your lone redpoll and keep the seed fresh and he will reward you in time by swelling the ranks at that feeder for many winters to come. They are a fantastic bird (imo of course) to get in decent numbers as they are very gregarious in nature, and also a bird that can be very curious about what is in your garden. All in all they make for some great watching.

TechnoFreek

My parents only started using nyjer seed a few days ago. No red polls before that, and four arrive today at the same time!

cubix

Arrived with his mate on Sunday (sikan) but not sure if they have been around the yesterday/today as I am out most of the day

Appreciate the input;)

TechnoFreek

That's a very impressive seed feeder cubix. Any idea where you got it etc

KJ

I was looking at some pictures I took last week and noticed this Red Poll has a tag on it ankle. Any idea why?

Clap your handsay yeah

KJ wrote: »

I was looking at some pictures I took last week and noticed this Red Poll has a tag on it ankle. Any idea why?

I would be interesting in knowing this as well, I've noticed 2 different goldfinches, one with a white tag and another a red tag visit our feeder, there was some text printed on the tags also.

F.R.

KJ wrote: »

I was looking at some pictures I took last week and noticed this Red Poll has a tag on it ankle. Any idea why?

Birds are ringed regularly as part of surveys run by Birdwatch Ireland and the BTO. The information is used to monitor bird numbers, habitat use and movements among other things.