An invasion of siskins (1 Viewer)

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Elizabeth Bigg

Addicted member

• Jan 31, 2004

• #1

A few days ago, I mentioned that the siskins were ignoring the red mesh bag of peanuts I had bought specially for them, and were enjoying the niger seed instead. They have obviously told their friends, because today I had eight of them on the two hanging feeders, the seed tray below and the ground underneath. My concern is that there might now be quarrels with the goldfinches, and I am thinking of adding another large niger feeder to the pole.

 

Last edited: Feb 1, 2004

Ruby

Well-known member

• Jan 31, 2004

• #2

Hi Elizabeth,

You're lucky.... we used to have Siskins visit our old house when we lived in Caterham - but not since we moved to Sanderstead.

Send some of them up my way......

 

Andrew

wibble wibble

• Jan 31, 2004

• #3

I had one or two at the most for a few weeks and a couple of days ago there was a minimum of five all of a sudden. Must be the cold weather.

 

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SimonG

Member

• Feb 1, 2004

• #4

I've never seen them in the garden before, then three arrived yesterday and again today!

 

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Elizabeth Bigg

Addicted member

• Feb 1, 2004

• #5

Siskin numbers have increased to 11 today, but there were only 9 goldfinches - I'm about to order another niger feeder!!

 

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Sleeper

Well-known member

• Feb 1, 2004

• #6

Elizabeth
If you don't mind me recommending a feeder i would say visit
www.jacobijayne.com

They seem to have one of the largest Niger feeder available. I have just ordered this recently and it has 4 levels of feeding as well as a good reserve of food at the top end.

The section is called bird lovers feeder. I find some of the other feeders are too small and you are forever filling them up.
PS Very envious of your Siskins. not had any this year which is quite sad really. I have them down as the commandos of small birds!!

 

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Elizabeth Bigg

Addicted member

• Feb 1, 2004

• #7

Sleeper said:

Elizabeth
If you don't mind me recommending a feeder i would say visit
www.jacobijayne.com

They seem to have one of the largest Niger feeder available. I have just ordered this recently and it has 4 levels of feeding as well as a good reserve of food at the top end.

The section is called bird lovers feeder. I find some of the other feeders are too small and you are forever filling them up.
PS Very envious of your Siskins. not had any this year which is quite sad really. I have them down as the commandos of small birds!!

Click to expand...

Don't mind at all, thanks Sleeper - I've just assembled my collection of 5 catalogues, so I'll have a look in theirs - but there is a limit to the size I can use, because it has to hang above the squirrel baffle on my (fairly) new feeder pole.

BTW - in previous years we've only had a couple of siskins, occasionally - it seems to be the niger seed that is bringing them in this year.

 

Reader

Well-known member

• Feb 1, 2004

• #8

I'm really envious of your siskins. Not only don't I ever get them in the garden but I haven't even seen one for nearly a year. We haven't any reported any where near to us either so I think that if I see one it will be more than likely a chance encounter as one flies past my face.

 

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songbird6666

Registered User

• Feb 3, 2004

• #9

Hi Elizabeth
I have had my pair of siskins here now since Saturday. They aren't touching the niger though, nothing is as usual! I bought a red net bag and hung it in the bush outside the kitchen window, and the male appeared the next day. So I thought, ha, they've been around all the time, just waiting for the right bag! In the same bush is a red plastic feeder and a green plastic feeder, but the pair have been eating from all of them, so doesn't seem to make any difference at all!

 

seb_seb

Well-known member

• Feb 3, 2004

• #10

Im missing my Nuthatches!!!!!

 

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jayhunter

Well-known member

• Feb 4, 2004

• #11

Hi Elizabeth, Still not had any Siskins but more to the point most birds seem to have disappeared. My next door neighbours did the RSPB survey in January (we were away) and logged one Blackbird and one Starling, all I have seen for the last couple of weeks is a pair of Blackbirds, where have all the Tits, Finches, Doves and Sparrows gone.

 

Kiki

Well-known member

• Feb 4, 2004

• #12

Hi Elizabeth, We've had a bit of a Siskin invasion as well in the last few days. We have had a male and female visiting all winter but, on Monday, I counted 10 birds. Luckily, I had the new camera to hand..... Our's seem to be going for the hard red nut feeders at present.

 

Steve G

RAINBIRDER

• Feb 4, 2004

• #13

Since the snow Siskins have returned to our feeders in good numbers -my wife counted 11 yesterday including a cracking male who has been around since last friday. They're even giving the Goldfinches grief at the Niger feeders.

 

Gerry Hooper

Certified User

• Feb 6, 2004

• #14

First Siskin of the season has just arrived on the peanuts!
Only had Green and Goldfinches so far. The Siskins seem a lot tamer than the other finches, I might even have a go with the camera.. usually it scatters everything within a mile radius, but the Siskins might be less camera shy.
Watch this space.

 

SimonC

Still listing - I'll capsize one day

• Feb 6, 2004

• #15

I don't have a very bird-friendly garden unfortunately, so can't report any for that, but I did see the biggest flock I've ever seen of them (200+!!!) at Lynford arboretum last Saturday!
A sight that will probably stay with me for a loooong time!

Cheers

 

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Elizabeth Bigg

Addicted member

• Feb 6, 2004

• #16

Gerry Hooper said:

First Siskin of the season has just arrived on the peanuts!
Only had Green and Goldfinches so far. The Siskins seem a lot tamer than the other finches, I might even have a go with the camera.. usually it scatters everything within a mile radius, but the Siskins might be less camera shy.
Watch this space.

Click to expand...

We had 14 siskins on the feeders this morning - when I went out to replenish them a great cloud of siskins and goldfinches fled to the trees. When I went out a little later with the rest of the birds' food, a solitary siskin let me get within a couple of yards before she flew off

 

Gerry Hooper

Certified User

• Feb 6, 2004

• #17

Hope that worked.
I was lucky enough to catch a flock of sheep migrating across the field in the background!

 

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Nina P

Nina

• Feb 6, 2004

• #18

You must have them all!! I haven't seen one this year, although I did spot a couple just when the weather turned bad last autumn, but not one appeared when the snow fell, and now it's too mild for them here, last three days temps 16C 15C 15.5C, not really surprising no go on the feeders! The birds are busy nest building here, and with all the fallen twigs and stuff from the gales lashing the area, spring is most definately sprung.I have flowers galore on the camellias today, none yesterday.

 

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Elizabeth Bigg

Addicted member

• Feb 6, 2004

• #19

Siskin number reached 19 some time after I had filled the feeders.

I'm wondering if they will stay here for long - I've always thought they were winter-only birds, but according to my Birdguides CDrom, there are parts of the UK where they are present throughout the year.

 

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Sleeper

Well-known member

• Feb 6, 2004

• #20

Elizabeth

It would be great to think that you may have a flock that could stay for breeding. What trees do you have locally? It seems they nest in coniferous plantations.

I bet you are really pleased to have such a great flock in the garden. BTW i have always found the Siskin to be very tough considering its small size. It generally takes over any feeder which it chooses to feed from.