Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

STATUS AT LONGHAM LAKES

Common breeding bird and resident.
Clearly Goldfinches reach a peak at Longham in autumn, where they feed on the knapweed and thistles by the side of Longham Reservoir North. Some of the October birds are probably migrants.

Maximum numbers on site:

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2002 5 20
2003 80 1
2004 4 35 10 10
2005 30 50
2006 1 12 8 1 4 50
2007 3 40 80 60 10 1
2008 10 22 80 12
2009 6 1 80 30 22 67 1
2010 10 2 40 40
2011 100 80
2012
2013
2014 5 2 8 2 24 12
2015 15  3

High counts of (presumed) migrants:
1. 21 flew N on 16th October 2005.
2. 35 W on 27th October 2006.
3. 67 on 6th November 2009.
4. 30 on 17th October 2011.

Breeding:
2010: Minimum of 3 singing males on-site.
2014: 2 territories, early April.

Goldfinch (Roger Peart)

Juvenile Goldfinch, Longham Lakes, August 2011 (Roger Peart)

Ringing:
2011: 5 ringed between 27th June and 16th September (Roger Peart).

Goldfinch (Roger Peart)

Goldfinch, Longham Lakes, June 2012 (Roger Peart)

2012: 6 ringed, including 2 in November.
2013: 2 ringed, in May and June.
2014: 16 ringed, 12 of them in July.