First Goldfinch

Now I know that its not the greatest shot, but this is the first Goldfinch I have seen here and I was determined to get a shot. Nowhere near as good as Scott's but I am still trying to entice them into my garden off a neighbours aerial! Spent at least 2 hour either freezing to dealth in the garden or waiting by an upstairs window trying to get a shot of a Bluetit that has now started to visit the garden. But did it show up........




Rubbish day for photography

it seemes somehow lonely and ...as if wanting to say: rubbish day for singing.

shame its the back of him, i have had to many to count today, but they all looked like drowned rats as its so wet here,

We had some pigeons today

Be patient they will turn up just have the camera handy, not like me today, a Wren attacking a Squirrel, Sparrow attacking a Robin and me with a spade in hand.

sorry your right it was terrible for photoing birds, but days like this is wnen the birds are most active i have lots of young blue tits, great tits, and goldfinches at the mo, and my garden is just hectic with birds,

The background, turned the back, looking into emptyness....that all makes it so "rubbish day". It makes the mood. I would say sometimes bad things all together start to play.
ok, its just my fantacy but there is a way for it.

What did you have with them? Green beans!

hope you dont mind Jeanette, if you do just say, i dont wanna pinch your post,
heres some pics from today.
[IMG]http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww272/scottthehat/SJB10570.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww272/scottthehat/SJB10628.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww272/scottthehat/SJB10624.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww272/scottthehat/SJB10319.jpg[/IMG]

See that stuff in Scotts feeders Jeanette? thats Niger seed, sometimes called Thistle seed, and Goldfinches love it, its not exactly cheap and you'll need a special feeder, but It will gaurantee the little buggers will be in your gearden within a few days of you putting it out the trick then is to get into a position you can snap them from.

I know its Niger Seed. The birds in my garden have Niger seed, sunflower hearts, mealworms, wild bird mix and suet balls to choose from The trouble is its the sparrows, robin (occassionally), starlings, magpies, crows and pigeons that eat it Although I may be having some success with a bluetit, which I have seen eating the sunflower hearts, but not managed to snap him/her yet

How far are the feeders from the location you are trying to shoot them PentaxBabe?

Amin,

I will be mostly taking shots from an upstairs bedroom window, so I guess the feeders will be between 15 and 2o foot away. If the bluetit gets used to the feeder I might try shotting from the garden again about 10-15 foot away.

I doubt its the other birds that are keeping them away, goldfinches are fiesty little things and quite capable of standing their ground against other small birds, as for the larger birds they shouldn't be able to get onto a niger seed dispenser anyway so it shouldn't be an issue.

In my own garden I had never seen a Goldfinch but I bought Niger seed to try and encourage tha odd greenfinch to visit more often, within a couple of days of putting it out I spotted Goldfinches tucking away, I also find that whilst other birds are easily scared off the Goldies are a little less spooked and will continue to feed. your Goldfinches must be wimps

Chesterfield is a funny place - so they have funny birds too! I have never lived anywhere like it. Its nice though despite everything