GOLDFINCHES

[peregrine]

First Goldie chicks starting to arrive at the feeders.

[Placido]

Haven't seen one for a while but toady a goldie was feeding from the seedhead of a Lesser Knapweed one of the wild flowers I sowed last year (that's 2016 ) and has just now flowered . It is the only Lesser Knapweed to have struggled to see the light of day but is a very interesting plant.
https://www.habitataid.co.uk/lesser-kna ... urea-nigra

The write-up seems to suggest that everything which crawls, flies or swims simply loves this thing so I hope it seeds itself all over my garden .

[Jacksparrow]

I have a Knapweed . I not sure which but I've had it for years and it has never reseeded. I have never seen my Goldfinches taken an interest in it's seedheads but it is not in a direct line of sight from my windows which may explain it.
Good luck with yours Placi

[Placido]

Jacksparrow, d'you mean you've had the SAME plant for years 'n' years ?? I'd sekkle for that

[Placido]

A Charm of Goldfinches toady !! Must have been 10 of them - not feeding, just sort of rested in the rowan whilst passing through.
They were all facing west to face the biting wind. Wherever they were off to, hope it was warmer.

Don't get half as many goldies as I used to .

[nuthatch]

The goldfinches have been feeding on the lavender seeds in the garden

[Placido]

This year The Wee Glen is wall-to-wall with 4 lesser knapweeds
https://www.habitataid.co.uk/lesser-kna ... urea-nigra
None of them look remotely like flowering but this aft 3 goldies were busying themselves all over the plants. If they were getting anything I couldn't see what - maybe they were just practising for the bounty which will eventually be unleashed.

(The write-up of the pic is interesting - didn't know this plant was such a fave with, well, practically everything.)

[Jacksparrow]

I have a Knapweed but I can't remember whether it is Lesser or Greater or any other flavour. However like Placis' my knapweed has been slow to come into flower. In fact I'm still waiting for the first bloom of the year.

[Placido]

The goldies have arrived !! 4 today on the knapweed, that well-known goldfinch magnet .

[Jacksparrow]

The goldies have arrived !! 4 today on the knapweed, that well-known goldfinch magnet .

Hurrah for the Knapweed Mine looks miles away from supplying the goldfinch with a meal