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Ian Rendall
Wednesday 11th December 2002, 16:18
For the past three winters, members of Grampian Ringing Group have been colour-ringing goldfinches as part of a study into the movements of these lovely but enigmatic little finches. Many of the goldfinches were caught as part of winter flocks around Aberdeen (North-East Scotland), feeding in various crops such as unharvested linseed, rape, stubble, weedy turnip fields etc. Increasingly though, goldfinches are coming to garden feeding stations and, there too, we have been colour-ringing them.
This is a request for all of you out there to keep an eye open please for any colour-ringed goldfinches you see. If you do see one, please contact me with date, location, colour(s) of rings and on which legs rings are on.
Results thus far are showing that our goldfinches are largely sedentary, forming flocks in the winter and breeding locally in the summer. One unconfirmed report of a colour-ringed goldfinch in Holland though suggest that there could be a continental element in our winter birds.
Thanks.

IanF
Wednesday 11th December 2002, 19:18
We get plenty of them in the garden and this year there are still plenty of them around at my local reserve. They were the commonest birds on the feeders there yesterday. I'll let you know if any colour banded ones turn up.

burhinus
Friday 27th December 2002, 22:55
Will keep an eye out Ian. We do get some very impressive Goldfinch flocks on thre brecks of Norfolk though I strongly suspect It is a bit far away.

Some of our local guys are starting a Corn Bunting colour ringing project in the New Year. Will keep you all posted.

burhinus