Very few chaffinches this year? (2 Viewers)

[Fred K]

Hello,

I have a small feeding station in Brussels. For the last 2 years, I remember counting at least 7-8 chaffinches on a few occasions on extra cold days. However, this year, I only have one female, probably a faithful one from last year.

Has anyone else noticed a decrease in chaffinches this year? I'm thinking that it might be linked to bad weather during the breeding season or a new virus?

Also had my first brambling today. So 1 chaffinch, 1 brambling.

 

[Ian Byrnes]

Hello,

I have a small feeding station in Brussels. For the last 2 years, I remember counting at least 7-8 chaffinches on a few occasions on extra cold days. However, this year, I only have one female, probably a faithful one from last year.

Has anyone else noticed a decrease in chaffinches this year? I'm thinking that it might be linked to bad weather during the breeding season or a new virus?

Also had my first brambling today. So 1 chaffinch, 1 brambling.

Hi Fred.... there seem to be average numbers in Worcestershire, UK in Alder trees moving down to the ground - but down on the massive flocks we had last year. I live in the countryside & numbers are usually determined by the winter cover crops used. Some crops attract good diverse flocks of Chaffinch, Linnet & Bramblings & last year had up to 2000 birds including Redwing, Fieldfare, Starlings & Meadow Pipit. This year we have winter greens for sheep feed - so are below 100 with a few Bramblings. They are transient & will flock determined by food source. I don't think there is a virus but just hope we see more next year if the local food supply is better.

 

[Kits]

We’ve not had many chaffinches, but five or six appeared this week.

 

[Ratal]

An absolute desert of Chaffinches, Green Finch, Gold Finch. Robin are also scarce on the ground too.

Mentioned it a couple of weeks back as it is really getting alarmingly noticeable around Moray Firth way.

 

[Julie50]

Many goldfinches - but precious few others.

 

[Euan Buchan]

Had a lot in my garden recently, saw lots on Tuesday during a Garden Birdwatch.

 

[Evan Atkinson]

Lots of goldfinches in my area, had 14 at my mums garden at once but never had a chaffinch or brambling visit either garden.

Edit: My uncle had a flock of 40 siskins visit his garden and the woods around him two days ago.

 

[Loud Green Man]

Spotted what I can only describe as a flock of chaffinches during a Boxing Day coastal walk to Saint Margaret's at Cliffe.

LGM

 

[JamesE]

Here in Central France we have good numbers of chaffinches at the moment as well as bramblings. Swarms of blue and great tits on the feeding stations with the occasional marsh tit as well.

 

[Richard D]

Very few finches or tits in my garden this year, but with the weather so mild I wasn't surprised.

 

[Evan Atkinson]

We have just started getting 2 woodpeckers in the garden and a pair of long tailed tits.

 

[Original PaulE]

Seems to be loads of chaffinches in the fields around where I work in Sussex, flock of 60+ and had a bigger flock at The Burgh last Saturday the most I've seen for years in both cases, anecdotal I know but perhaps the mild winter means there is no need for them to come into garden feeders yet with so much food in the wider countryside !!