Redpolls, Siskins and Blue Tits!

The back garden at Foxglove is always teeming with small birds. At this time of year large flocks of Redpoll visit to feed on the nyger seed feeders (where they hang upside down) and on the ground underneath the large wooden hoppers. A female ringed in August 2020 was controlled (caught by another ringing group) in October 2020 in Sheffield. It had flown a distance of 116km in 72 days. This bonny looking adult male was ringed recently.

Siskins also frequent the nyger seed feeders and can appear in large numbers during the winter months. The males are very bright and have a dark head.

Whereas the crown of the females is grey-green in comparison. A Siskin that was ringed at the reserve in April 2019 was captured by a ringer on the 14th February this year in West Berksire. This bird had therefore travelled a distance of 334km during a period of 680 days!

Alongside these colourful finches are the usual garden birds such as Coal Tits, Great Tits, Robins, Chaffinches, Bullfinches and of course a real favourite Blue Tits!