Bird Catcher 94 Posted March 6, 2022 Report Share Posted March 6, 2022 What's the wild population like in your area ? Here in Hampshire they are very rare now, as a kid and young man every other Bush had a greenie or chaffinch nest in it. Now both are rare, goldfinch and bullfinch very very common. Also only half the amount of linnet about ( my favorite bird ) buntings and yellow hammer plentiful. Very few starlings and not so many house sparrow. Rakes of wood pigeon. When I was young if a woodie landed you'd see a mass of kids run off for an air rifle or catapult, now they're on your bird table eating bread !! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
grompz 703 Posted March 6, 2022 Report Share Posted March 6, 2022 How right you are bird catcher about the decline in green finch numbers, havent seen any for years, still see the occasional yellow wagtail, another bird that is fast declining round our way is the skylark, the moors used to be alive with curlews and lap wings, miss there haunting calls, whilst walking the high groundsin dead of winter, oystercatcher is another, sadly a sign of the times, with loss of habitat and predators, changing times indeed and not for the better. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnipper 5,945 Posted March 6, 2022 Report Share Posted March 6, 2022 The past few years here I've noticed an increase in greenies and siskins from hardly any to seeing them regular, slight decrease in goldies but there's still plenty about. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tatsblisters 7,923 Posted March 6, 2022 Report Share Posted March 6, 2022 Very rare i see a greenfinch these day's on my daily walks around the local woods in s.yorks and i would say the goldie and chaffinch are the most popular i see and often hear bullies piping. That winter watch on bbc said that the greenfinch was on the red list it was one of the commonest finches i remember seeing in the 70s around the parks and woods i grew up around in the late 60s and 70s. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BEARINATOR 2,825 Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Goldies and bully’s all over here but never see or hear greenfinches, so got a pair for the aviary to watch and learn about them Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Arry 18,568 Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 I'm absolutely mobbed with greenfinches here they empty two large feeders of sunflower heart by mid afternoon. Cheers Arry 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gilbey 1,408 Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Greenfinches are still a fairly regular visitor to the feeders etc, but not many about, that fat finch has reduced the numbers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnipper 5,945 Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 12 hours ago, BEARINATOR said: Goldies and bully’s all over here but never see or hear greenfinches, so got a pair for the aviary to watch and learn about them Never seen a bully here and I'm out in the countryside all day every day. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BEARINATOR 2,825 Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 13 minutes ago, gnipper said: Never seen a bully here and I'm out in the countryside all day every day. Only thing I like about moving to near the angel of the north is the wild bird life, if I get plenty of chicks between me and my pal I will send you some goldie and bullfinches mate as courier is cheap enough 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnipper 5,945 Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 I breed a few goldies myself mate but I'm mainly into muling. I'd like to try a steady pair of native bullies though. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gilbey 1,408 Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Bullfinches are very rare round here, where you'd expect to see them. More chance of seeing them on a litter filled bit next to Tesco's Quote Link to post Share on other sites
royboy 5 Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 In the 1970s there were lots of bird catchers ( dabbers ) around these parts. You could buy a fresh caught Goldie for about £1 and Redpolls and Siskins for 50p but Greenfinches couldnt be given away because they were so common and greedy. Now you are lucky to see any at all. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bangersanmash 2,370 Posted March 8, 2022 Report Share Posted March 8, 2022 At the moment I'd advice not to be putting any bird feeders up with the avian fluenza knocking about if you keep birds you don't want that on your door step. There's a few places over here in Yorkshire that have been rit off by the bird flu specially east yorkshire area. Great picture that tho that green hen looks a belta on the middle feeder on the right hand side all look in could fettle. It's a shame that they carry a killer disease too. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bangersanmash 2,370 Posted March 8, 2022 Report Share Posted March 8, 2022 20 hours ago, Gilbey said: Bullfinches are very rare round here, where you'd expect to see them. More chance of seeing them on a litter filled bit next to Tesco's 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BEARINATOR 2,825 Posted March 13, 2022 Report Share Posted March 13, 2022 Just got another exhibition greenie, massive compared to my others. Recovering from bumble foot so will keep to treatment till fully healed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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