What birds (are you/have you been) watching? What birds have been watching you?

[Don Petter]

It would be interesting to know if anyone has attracted Goldfinches with a Nyger dispenser having never had them before... obvs, if there's no local population the Nyger has nothing to attract! I put mine up because I'd seen Goldies a few times, mostly singing in the treetops. Within 48 hours 4 or 5 were coming regularly to the 2 dispensers (£2 each!) and last winter there were up to 10 at a time, with many more up in the trees.

I don't know how localised a population has to be. Certainly the niger feeder at our rifle range (three miles from here as the goldfinch might fly) gets emptied pretty quickly. Perhaps, a la 'Babes in the Wood', I should lay a trail home next shooting night!

[Bryn]

As I have mentioned previously, Red Kites are a fairly common sight around Windsor these days. I have even seen one flying along above the High Street/Thames Street, circle over the castle and then head off across the river towards Eton and Slough. I've seen as many as eight at time over Southlea Farm's meadow, across the road from the Windsor Farm Shop (Brenda Windsor, prop.).

[amateur51]

Nyger seeds arrived yesterday so I mixed as suggested with usual food and filled up the seed feeders. I've got two regular goldfinches now (yay!) and we're up to five sparrers and two great tits - lots of interest. The nyger seeds seem to have done the trick so thanks all

[Lento]

Two young robins this morning, going around together and already learning to be bellicose with each other!

[amateur51]

Two young robins this morning, going around together and already learning to be bellicose with each other!

Grand, Lento

I have an adult and a junior robin who pop up from time to time. junior is very keen, despite all guidance to the contrary from the adult, to feed on the fat balls which requires quite a lot of hanging on.

[Dave2002]

Nyger seeds arrived yesterday so I mixed as suggested with usual food and filled up the seed feeders. I've got two regular goldfinches now (yay!) and we're up to five sparrers and two great tits - lots of interest. The nyger seeds seem to have done the trick so thanks all

I maybe missed something here. Is the idea to simply mix in nyger seeds with normal seeds, and put the mix in a conventional feeder, and then see what happens? Otherwise buying yet another specialist feeder seems a more expensive option, with no guarantee of success.

[jayne lee wilson]

I maybe missed something here. Is the idea to simply mix in nyger seeds with normal seeds, and put the mix in a conventional feeder, and then see what happens? Otherwise buying yet another specialist feeder seems a more expensive option, with no guarantee of success.

I think you missed my posts 182 and 193 Dave!

[Dave2002]

I think you missed my posts 182 and 193 Dave!

Not totally - it looks as though ams might not have used a nyger feeder, and if not then I might be inclined to try that too.

[amateur51]

Not totally - it looks as though ams might not have used a nyger feeder, and if not then I might be inclined to try that too.

I'm using my usual seed feeders filled with a general seed mix generously mixed in with nyger seeds. Sparrers and goldfinches and great tits seem very happy with it

[jayne lee wilson]

I'm using my usual seed feeders filled with a general seed mix generously mixed in with nyger seeds. Sparrers and goldfinches and great tits seem very happy with it

Do they have little platforms Ams., to catch the stray Nyger etc.? Doesn't it spill, or come out too quick or...?

I think the Goldfinches are moving the Goldposts...

[amateur51]

Do they have little platforms Ams., to catch the stray Nyger etc.? Doesn't it spill, or come out too quick or...?

I think the Goldfinches are moving the Goldposts...

Any spillage falls on my hebes so goodness knows jlw. The goldies seem to be spttinmg a lot out.

Do birds spit?

And how do they sup water when their mouths (beaks) are rigid?

That'll set our ornithologists off, I reckon.

[jayne lee wilson]

Pigeons and doves are the only birds that can suck, and then swallow, water, The others simply have to take in in their bills and tilt their heads back (just try it - no swallowing!).

Further points about Goldfinches - whilst they do indeed share other seed dispensers with other birds, a Nyger Dispenser allows them to feed almost undisturbed, usually bringing more in. The only other birds to use them regularly are Tits. A very welcome bonus here, drawn in and staying on the Nyger-only for some hours, were Redpolls and Siskins.

Bear in mind too that in the breeding season most finches don't flock much, until you see the youngsters trying to feed themselves, or cajoling their parents at the dispensers. I do find Goldfinches become more abundant at the feeders in late summer, but especially October on. Trying a Nyger dispenser in cold weather may have a better result.

[amateur51]

Pigeons and doves are the only birds that can suck, and then swallow, water, The others simply have to take in in their bills and tilt their heads back (just try it - no swallowing!).

Further points about Goldfinches - whilst they do indeed share other seed dispensers with other birds, a Nyger Dispenser allows them to feed almost undisturbed, usually bringing more in. The only other birds to use them regularly are Tits. A very welcome bonus here, drawn in and staying on the Nyger-only for some hours, were Redpolls and Siskins.

Bear in mind too that in the breeding season most finches don't flock much, until you see the youngsters trying to feed themselves, or cajoling their parents at the dispensers. I do find Goldfinches become more abundant at the feeders in late summer, but especially October on. Trying a Nyger dispenser in cold weather may have a better result.

Trust pigeons to have it sorted

Great advice jlw, many thanks.

[Padraig]

I think the Goldfinches are moving the Goldposts...

They could well be finching in that direction... jlw.

However, I visited a woman today in a different county and I proposed a plan for her to attract any goldfinches about the area. It involved only nyjer feeders and seeds, and contained many wise words of encouragement, including 'first spot your goldfinch' etc etc. and ended with a cast iron guarantee of success. I accepted the praise due to an expert but neglected to mention who the expert was. An older brother has to keep up appearances.

For my part I am still finding the sunflower hearts very acceptable, and so are the goldfinches. Yesterday I had the sort of numbers you mentioned as well as other finches in seemingly greater numbers than usual. But I am sorely tempted to try 'your' plan.

especially as I have just read #207

[Don Petter]

I'm using my usual seed feeders filled with a general seed mix generously mixed in with nyger seeds. Sparrers and goldfinches and great tits seem very happy with it

We have had problems with mixed seed in feeders. When we used a commercial 'wild bird mix' certain birds would just rapidly pull out all the other seed types onto the ground just to get to the sunflower seeds, which was very wasteful. We switched to a 'plain corn' filling which stopped the problem, though the visitors were maybe less exciting. It's difficult to remember now as for some time we have stuck to peanut feeders, which don't have such a drawback.