How Many Bullfinches?

Having been birdwatching for many years, I have learnt from experience that there is an incredible amount of bird movement. This movement does not just apply to the autumn and spring migration that we are all aware of, but movement throughout the year within the country, our county, our towns, villages, right down to our gardens. Such movements are mainly influenced by food availability and weather patterns.


Knowing this, I was still very surprised at the events that unfolded in our bird-friendly garden in June/July this year. My son, Steve, after years of thorough training by experienced bird ringers, was granted a permit by the British Trust for Ornithology and started to ring birds in our garden.

For some time we were having regular visits to our black sunflower seed feeders from Bullfinches – always a treat. We assumed there were two pairs visiting. How wrong we were! During a couple of weeks Steve caught and ringed 28 Bullfinches in our front garden (male, female and young).

These birds were obviously visiting other gardens in the area, as was confirmed by reports of ‘ringed bullfinches’ from neighbours. Amongst 250 birds ringed during the same period were 103 Greenfinches. How encouraging it is to be able to record such numbers – a very pleasant surprise, and certainly a talking point amongst local birders and Steve’s fellow ringers in the Axe Estuary Ringing Group.