The Bigg Bird Forum

[sammi]

Hi there
Just had to share my excitement at having seen my first siskin (a pair in fact). They were feeding alongside a few greenfinches and goldfinches. I too have bullfinches around. Such a lovely sight. I have been feeding sunflower hearts and these seem to be the all time favourite.

[minijoan]

Hi Sammi

Yes sunflowerhearts certainly bring the birds into the garden. I've never seen a Siskin (lucky you) although I have a pair of Bullfinches who last year bought their three youngdster into the garden to feed.

The only downside to feeding hearts is they only seem to eat a small amount and the rest falls to the ground and leaves a terrible mess and during this wet weather I have also noticed a yeast like smell so had to use a watering can (can you believe) to try and wash the remains away.

I suppose this is something we have to put up with if we encourage the birds into the garden.

Joan

[ChrisB]

Hi Sammi, I very rarely get siskins but had one visit my garden for the first time in months yesterday too. I wonder if the rain is bringing different visitors into the garden. When it snowed much earlier in the year I had a yellowhammer for the very first time. It came every day for a week or so and then disappeared, but now a couple of months later I have a pair of them appear several times each day. Just beautiful - little rays of sunshine!

Hope your siskin pair keep coming back for you.

[sammi]

Yes I think this strange weather does affect them. I think maybe they are birds coming over from the continent to breed here and going off course with the bad weather. I could have sworn I saw a Twite with a flock of finches but as it was only a fleeting visit I couldn't get a picture and some experts say that it would be almost impossible I have never seen a yellow hammer. Lucky you