Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

Goldfinches are one of the most frequent year-round birds in the garden. In the last 3 years there’s only 4 weeks where I did not record them at least once, usually during the May-June when their numbers are at their lowest. During September-October flocks. sometimes up to 100-strong, come to the silver birches around the garden. They are also consistently around in the winter visiting the birches and quite often the feeders for niger or sunflower hearts. Since January there have only been 3-5 around, but usually any day now at the end of March there is also a short-lived peak in numbers as the finches gather in pre-breeding flocks of 30-40 birds before separating to nest.