Caught in the cross hairs

[British Red]

Rubbish photo, pretty bird - made me smile though

 

[Globetrotter.uk]

what bird is it?

 

[seany boy]

Thats great


Globetrotter,
it's a Goldfinch.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/goldfinch/index.asp

 

[British Red]

Its a goldfinch - lovely looking things huh? I saw this one perching on the fence round one of the local vineyards.

I'm forever grateful to JonnyP for teaching me how to get them to come into the garden (nyjer seed is the trick)

Red

 

[British Red]

sb beat me to it

 

[-Switch-]

Am I seeing things or did you manage to capture it chasing some type of insect?

 

[British Red]

I wondered the same thing Switch - there's certainly something there. I am used to seeing finches eating seed so it could be pure coincidence

Red

 

[JonnyP]

Am I seeing things or did you manage to capture it chasing some type of insect?

I doubt it, they are seed eaters. Looks like an insect though, doesn't it..
I was watching one outside the kitchen door pulling all the seeds out of a dandelion a few days ago..
Interesting shot that Red. Its good to see the gold of the wings. Often only seen as a quick glance as they fly past...

 

[hedgepig]

AH, I love seeing goldfinches! Cheers Red!

 

[Matt Weir]

That's pretty cool

 

[-Switch-]

I doubt it, they are seed eaters...

I was thinking the same thing. And he doesn't look as 'focused' as you would expect if he were chasing an insect.
I'm fairly sure a Goldfinch wouldn't have any need or desire to chase an insect but an interesting pic none the less.

I'm always impressed with your pics Red

 

[Mesquite]

Great pic Red, just as all your others have been. I do enjoy looking at them when you post a pic up.

I doubt it, they are seed eaters. Looks like an insect though, doesn't it..

Don't forget that a lot of birds, including those that are seed eaters, do chase down insects and the like this time of year as food for their nestlings. A place where I used to live had a hedge that every year in spring became infested with catepillars and I regularly saw goldfinches and other birds gathering them up in their bills and flying off with them.

 

[firecrest]

I used to have a pet goldfinch. I know thats illegal but I found it on the road along with its dead nest mates. It was still bald and pink. I was suprised it survived me taking it home on my bike and even more surprised when it turned into a goldfinch, I had thought it was a sparrow. It lived eight years,from me being 14 to 22, unfortunatly i could never release it because one of its legs were crippled. They sing a beautiful liquid trilling and it had a noise for people entering the room and a slightly altered noise for people leaving.
Thought you might all like that story

 

[Kepis]

Great picture Red

The only thing that's been in my crosshairs this afternoon were a couple of nice fat woodies, it's gonna be a great bank holiday dinner, cooked up with a little rosemary i think

 

[mayfly]

Beautiful birds they are indeed! Nice pic