Monday 11 March 2013

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

I've had the odd goldfinch visit my garden on a few occasions, but they're never regular visitors and I could go months without seeing one. They're such lovely little birds, tiny and colourful, so it became my mission to attract them to the garden on a regular basis. I'd heard that goldfinches like niger seed above all else, though some people mentioned that in their experience, they tend to prefer sunflower hearts. I'd already got mixed seed and also sunflower hearts in feeders and they weren't tempting them, so I bought some niger seed. They're tiny seeds so they have to be held in a special feeder especially for them, the feeder has tiny slits in it. It had been hung for quite some time before I noticed a goldfinch on it last week. I've still only seen the one goldfinch at a time, he doesn't bring any friends with him, but he's been back every day since, and he sits on the feeder for ages having his fill. I'm hoping that in time, he'll tell his friends where a good meal can be found and bring them along with him. The sunflower hearts aren't wasted, I've got lots of chaffinches who visit and they seem to like them best, as well as a cheeky robin who has his fair share.

I didn't get anything done on the allotment this weekend. Hubby went down there and said there was standing water again due to all the rain. He's started digging out a trench ready to lay the extra drainage pipe through the middle of the allotment. This should help the water to run away in to the beck at the side of the site. He also covered the squash bed which has already been dug over. This should help keep the weeds down and also warm up the soil. It'll be some time yet before any squash are planted out, I haven't even sown the seeds yet, so this should help keep the bed in a decent state in the meantime. Last weekend he covered part of the legume bed with a cloche to warm the soil ready for the broad beans to be planted out. I'd hoped to have done that by now, but I'll hold back a while longer until the weather warms up a little.

I woke to a smattering of snow this morning, though it didn't look as though it would last long as the sun was shining. What a difference a few hours can make, the sky's now grey and it's snowing, in fact, we're forecast light snow showers all day. If only it was a bit warmer, it's was bitterly cold when I took Archie for his walk this morning.

26 comments:

  1. It is bitterly cold here in the south today and the snow is horizontal and coming from the north/ It will soon be spring!
    I hope you attract lots of goldfinches to cheer the place up,

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    1. It's very peculiar weather here today, blizzards one minute and sunshine the next. Roll on summer, I say.

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  2. I love goldfinches, they are very fiesty little birds. I get quite a large flock on my feeders both the sunflower & niger seed ones. Though I think they roost & nest fairly close by.

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    1. I was watching the goldfinch here today, the chaffinch wouldn't come anywhere near him whilst he was on the feeder, you can certainly tell who's boss.

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  3. Good luck with the goldfinches,now you have one I am sure more will follow.We have flocks of about 30 now,they sit in the tops of our silver birch trees grouping together before coming down to feed a beautiful site

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    1. No sooner as I'd written this post, then two goldfinches were on the feeder. I hope they bring their friends.

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  4. How strange just one goldfinch - I counted a dozen squabbling over the sunflower hearts this morning. We pop our niger seeds in a normal seed feeder and that seems OK too.

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    1. I've had two here today, let's hope more follow. I thought the niger seed would spill out of a normal feeder, it's good to know they don't.

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  5. Lovely birds which sadly I only see here very rarely.
    Not surprised about the lack of plotting as it was the same here after rain most of Thursday and Friday.
    It's been trying to snow here today on and off. Flighty xx

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    1. I'm hoping that the goldfinches become regular visitors as I rarely see them either. It was lovely being able to get to the plot last weekend, such a change again this weekend. We've had quite a bit of snow come down today, though it isn't laying, thank goodness.

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  6. By wrapping up warmly I managed to garden both Saturday and Sunday - I'm tidying and planting up a very shady overgrown corner in our community gardens. Reading your post, I consider myself very lucky that I don't have to contend with swamp like conditions. I do hope that the weather is better for you this year as your allotment sounds very challenging otherwise. Like you, I'm waiting until the weather gets warmer to start sowing and planting out; I'm sure the veg will soon catch up.

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    1. It's a rarity being able to get outside on both days of the weekend, lucky you. I'd be interested to know what you're planting your shady border with, I'll look out for a post on your blog about it. I think we're all hoping for better weather this year, challenging wasn't the word for last year.

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  7. They are lovely little birds. We get flocks (charms?) of them sometimes looking for seeds in the wilder bits of the garden. xx

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    1. I've noticed them in the past on seedheads in the border. They do seem to enjoy their seeds.

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  8. I love to see a little goldfinch and yours is gorgeous! I hope he brings all his friends around soon.

    We're having the same thing weather wise, it's snowing fine dry snow and is freezing but as you say, we see the odd bit of a blue sky. Time for some sun I think!!!xxxxx

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    1. Two seen together today, so that's an improvement, I'd love to see lots of them together though. I do wish the sun would shine, it would be a big improvement if the temperature would just increase a little.

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  9. I didn't get round to clearing the borders in the autumn, mostly because of the quagmire that the soil had turned into. For the first time this winter I've seen goldfinches, on the seed heads.

    Makes me think I ought to do the same again this year, or at least keep the old flower heads of selected plants.

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    1. I've noticed goldfinches on seedheads in the garden before, but not this year. I never get round to doing a good clear up before winter arrives, so there's usually something to be found in my borders.

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  10. I have never put niger seed out....now I'm thinking maybe I will.

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    1. It's definitely attracted the goldfinches here. I had two visit again today.

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  11. We've had a bit of snow this week and some frost. So ready for warmer weather.

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    1. I am too. I woke to snow this morning, but thankfully, it's all melted now. I'm itching to get on with things, but I don't think it's a good idea in this sort of weather.

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  12. Goldfinches are lovely little birds - they always seem a bit exotic to me. Hope the allotment dries out for you soon - won't be long before we will be impatient to get things going.

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    1. They do look exotic, nice and colourful. They make a change from the sparrows and starlings. I'm already impatient to get going, I just wish the weather would warm up a bit.

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  13. They are lovely birds aren't they, so bright and cheerful. Yes I didn't manage any time at the allotment at the weekend. Hope you get your drainage sorted out that must be frustrating.

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    1. I'm sure that laying the additional pipe will help the drainage problem. It hasn't helped being so wet over the last year, the ground just doesn't get a chance to dry out before there's more rainfall. Let's hope we're in for a better weekend than last.

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