Charm of Goldfinches

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Watched around 100 Goldfinches in what seemed a frenzied feeding session (thistle seeds?) with impressive aerobatic manoeuvres as they moved across a field.

Edit: problem uploading photo.

Post edited at 10:04

 dread-i 08 Sep 2022
In reply to Climbing Pieman:

Good pic and I never knew the collective noun was a charm.

In reply to dread-i:

Nor did I know at the time of watching; I saw the RSPB had used that term on their sightings board when I was leaving their centre!

 Slackboot 08 Sep 2022
In reply to dread-i:

On the collective noun theme I like a Pstemtatopm of peafowl.

More to the point I also like your photo!

Post edited at 13:17
In reply to Climbing Pieman:

> Watched around 100 Goldfinches in what seemed a frenzied feeding session (thistle seeds?) with impressive aerobatic manoeuvres as they moved across a field.

> Edit: problem uploading photo.

They look like they could be teasels being feasted upon. A magnificent heathland plant which goldfinches particularly love. Bees also do when they flower.

I grew some in the garden this year for the GFs. Little did I know that in the bosom of a garden border, complete with fertile soil, they grow to massive proportions. Spiky as hell too.

I have used the spent inflorescence's as autumn decorations but I have been expressly forbidden from growing them in the garden next year (it isnt large enough really).

In reply to Slackboot:

That’s a new one to me too. I did a quick search for interest and all I found was ostentation, muster or pride of peacocks (peafowl) from https://birdfact.com/articles/what-is-a-group-of-peacocks-called .

In reply to TheDrunkenBakers:

Could well be.

It’s a field managed by the RSPB mainly for the benefit of bees and butterflies, though is used by meadow pipits and lapwings for nesting and a regular hunting area for a kestrel. Thistles are there but there is a wide range of species of plants present. Access to public is restricted for a lot of the year so didn’t get close to where the Goldfinches were.

Whatever it was the Goldfinches were feasting. What I found interesting is that they didn’t stay long, but quickly took to the wing, flew about for a few minutes and came back down for a further feed, repeatedly.

 AllanMac 08 Sep 2022
In reply to Climbing Pieman:

When just a single goldfinch lands on my feeders, I inwardly celebrate. They are beautiful.

To see so many is incredible! 

 Tony Buckley 08 Sep 2022
In reply to Slackboot:

> On the collective noun theme I like a Pstemtatopm of peafowl.

I've always thought a clutter of starlings to be, like charm for goldfinches, particularly appropriate.

T.

 The Lemming 08 Sep 2022
In reply to Climbing Pieman:

I almost daily get about up to 10 at a time. And only once or twice I've seen a flock close to one hundred in the fields at the end of my street.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/the1lemming/51886102794/in/dateposted/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/the1lemming/51884249824/in/photostream/

Post edited at 18:57
 Bottom Clinger 08 Sep 2022
In reply to Climbing Pieman:

Thistles I think, but think there is napweed in that field.  Two years ago, after the local farmer had not cultivated a huge area of farmland coz he’d been planning on selling it, I saw some huge charms: 300 minimum, with linnet mixed in. And your observations matches mine, flighty but return quickly. 
 

 Myfyr Tomos 08 Sep 2022
In reply to Climbing Pieman:

Super photo. They seem to be on the increase in North West Wales. Beautiful birds - called Nico in Welsh.

 magma 09 Sep 2022
In reply to Climbing Pieman:

lovely birds, shame about nest hygiene... https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=656802991079879&set=a.101567969936...


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