GALLERY: Garden Visitors

Photos by John McCauley

The Linnet can be seen in gardens at this time of the year along side Goldfinches. The male has a grey head and chestnut back. In the breeding season, he has a rosy-pink patch on his forehead and on breast. It changes in winter time.

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The Blackbird is familiar garden bird. The male has an all black plumage and yellow eyering and bill. The male is an excellent songster. Feeds on worms, insects, fruit and berries.

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The Bullfinch is an attractive looking bird. Often seen in pairs. The male has a rosy-pink face and breast, and a black cap and blue-grey back. Found in woodland scrub and mature gardens, it uses its stubby bill to feed on insects and seeds. It visits orchards to eat the flower buds of fruit trees.

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The Coal Tit likes to visit the feeding stands in your garden. It has black and white markings on its head with a white patch on top. The back and wings are slate grey with two white bars on the wings.

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The Siskin is a charming little Finch. It has a striking yellow and green plumage and black bib on forehead. It can be seen with Finches and Redpolls.

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The Great Tit is a common garden visitor. It loves garden feeders with peanuts. It has black and white markings on the head and a black bib forming a line running down the chest. Underparts are yellow and upper parts mainly greenish. It nests in early June.

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Another beautiful bird that visits our gardens is the Goldfinch, one of the most colourful birds, with bright yellow wingbars and a white rump. The adult has red and white on its face, a black cap extending down the sides of the neck, buffish back and white underparts. It likes wastegrounds and meadows. Usually seen in small flocks.

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The Long Tailed Tit is a charming bird. Its plumage can look black and white, but if you look closely, it has a pinkish underparts and a pinkish buff on its back. It has a small bill and a long tail.

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The Robin is the familiar red-breasted bird of gardens and woodlands. A highly territorial bird, it can be seen in most gardens looking for worms.