Sometimes a bird which you see in a million other places can suddenly become a Mega rarity, and nothing is more sought after than a garden tick!
Before setting out for the day, i had a couple of hours to watch the feeders at my leasure, and dont you just love it when a cold front hits, birds flood to garden feeders like moths to a lighbulb!
It quickly became evident there was a few more Goldfinch today, with around 40c in the tree's and on the feeders, also in the tree's but unwilling to drop onto the feeders was a flock of 20c Greenfinch.
However, the main interest was around the 'scarcer' Finches.
4 female LESSER REDPOLL were visiting on and off throughout the morning, but 'our' male didnt land on the feeders (he was seen in the tree though)
However, one of my favorite Finches was about to make a comeback into the garden after a no-show all winter so far.
A female SISKIN dropped onto the seed feeder. The camera quickly came out and i was soon filming the bird.
However nice a female Siskin is, i still had that moment of exitement when the stunning adult male SISKIN dropped onto the feeders! What a Finch!
The bird spent some time on the niger feeder, accompanied by a female Lesserpoll.
However, the (By Far) highlight was a garden first! I was filming the above video, when an 'odd' finch dropped onto the fence, head on, 'odd face pattern i though'.It turned side on and flew onto one of the seed feeders.
LINNET!
female Linnet in the garden!
The white Pannel in the wing standing out like a sore thumb!
Linnet!
Bloody Linnet!
My dad quickly came in and saw the bird as it flew off the feeder, having only taken one seed. Despite being heard again a few times, i did not see the bird again, and am only left with memories of this first!
But that got me thinking, why is it we ignore birds in one place, and watch them intently at others?
Rarity value? a Linnet may be common on farmland, therefore undesirable, but quite hard to get in a garden context, therefore reaching a higer value?
