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attracting hawfinches to feeders (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter davidw
- Start date
Brian Stone
A Stone chatting
The only "garden" I have heard of them visiting regularly around here is one that resembles a broad hedge and is on the edge of a golf course. The garden has a small stand of fairly mature field maples and the Hawfinches spent a great deal of time feeding on the keys on the ground.
Unfeasibly loud and abrupt "spick" is how I would describe it. I've not seen many and they never fail to surprise me with how loud the call is.
pauco
Старлин&
Hi Davidw.
this your first post, so a big welcome to a great forum, you really are a lucky person just to have a Hawfinch fly over your garden!! I would dearly love to get a good view of one! there is some woodland near blackburn thats supposed to have a small flock
of these beautiful finches. they are a great lover
of fruit trees,especially cherries, they like to crack the kernels as they have a powerful bill. they also
take insects, they are very shy & wary, spending
most of their time in the canopy of deciduous woodland. so good luck with further sightings.
bert.
this your first post, so a big welcome to a great forum, you really are a lucky person just to have a Hawfinch fly over your garden!! I would dearly love to get a good view of one! there is some woodland near blackburn thats supposed to have a small flock
of these beautiful finches. they are a great lover
of fruit trees,especially cherries, they like to crack the kernels as they have a powerful bill. they also
take insects, they are very shy & wary, spending
most of their time in the canopy of deciduous woodland. so good luck with further sightings.
bert.
Steve Jones
Well-known member
I saw one near Nelson (Burnley way) last Winter in a very tall hornbeam (I believe this is their fav. tree) and was told there used to be some in the north of preston several years ago (i've checked out the location - big hornbeams, but sadly no Hawfinches).
So, to get them in your garden, plant hornbeams and wait 2-300 years!!
Steve.
So, to get them in your garden, plant hornbeams and wait 2-300 years!!
Steve.
scampo
Steve Campsall
I tell you what - I was once sold some hornbeam along with beech hedging. You won't need to wait that long - it grows at an amazing rate.
I think hawfinches are declining along with many other species. Over the years, when I ask around, there seem to be fewer each time I ask!
I think hawfinches are declining along with many other species. Over the years, when I ask around, there seem to be fewer each time I ask!
Adey Baker
Member
I planted a few hornbeams about 25 years ago - still waiting!
And, yes, they are often sold as hedging plants because, like beech, they hold their leaves thro' the winter. So you can often pick them up quite cheaply.
And, yes, they are often sold as hedging plants because, like beech, they hold their leaves thro' the winter. So you can often pick them up quite cheaply.
Adey Baker
Member
Hi Steve
The nearest one that I've seen was at Broughton Astley about 1989 I think - just happen to have a shot of it on the computer now (scanned from a slide) - see attached
It was that tame that the woman who's garden it was in apparently photographed it with her pocket instamatic camera!
The nearest one that I've seen was at Broughton Astley about 1989 I think - just happen to have a shot of it on the computer now (scanned from a slide) - see attached
It was that tame that the woman who's garden it was in apparently photographed it with her pocket instamatic camera!
Attachments
Michael Frankis
conehead
Getting back to Hawfinches . . . 
The best habitat for them is very high species diversity open woodland - i.e., a botanical garden or an arboretum. They like diversity of food sources more than any single species (BWP lists 57 different genera of trees & shrubs used for food!).
There's actually no evidence that Hawfinches ever bred in Britain at all before the start of extensive exotic tree planting toward the end of the 18th century. British native woodlands just don't have the species diversity they require.
Michael
The best habitat for them is very high species diversity open woodland - i.e., a botanical garden or an arboretum. They like diversity of food sources more than any single species (BWP lists 57 different genera of trees & shrubs used for food!).
There's actually no evidence that Hawfinches ever bred in Britain at all before the start of extensive exotic tree planting toward the end of the 18th century. British native woodlands just don't have the species diversity they require.
Michael
Adey Baker
Member
Steve
There was one (last year, I think) very briefly in the Barwell/Earl Shilton area but few saw it.
Incidentally, just a year or so before the Broughton waxwing there were a couple of hawfinches in a garden in Stoney Stanton - a long while ago, I know, but I heard a rumour (as you do) that a pair had been seen in the same area just a year or so ago. I've not been able to pin it down yet but I'm still 'on the case!'
There was one (last year, I think) very briefly in the Barwell/Earl Shilton area but few saw it.
Incidentally, just a year or so before the Broughton waxwing there were a couple of hawfinches in a garden in Stoney Stanton - a long while ago, I know, but I heard a rumour (as you do) that a pair had been seen in the same area just a year or so ago. I've not been able to pin it down yet but I'm still 'on the case!'
scampo
Steve Campsall
That's fascinating what you say about food requirements, Michael - I never knew that. I imagine that's why they like the large parklands that were first planted a couple or more centuries ago more for ornamental purposes (e.g. Clumber Park in Nottingham).
There are two waxwings in Leicester at the moment Adey - I have to go there tomorrow so might drive by.
There are two waxwings in Leicester at the moment Adey - I have to go there tomorrow so might drive by.
Brian Stone
A Stone chatting
Michael Frankis said:Getting back to Hawfinches . . .
The best habitat for them is very high species diversity open woodland - i.e., a botanical garden or an arboretum. They like diversity of food sources more than any single species (BWP lists 57 different genera of trees & shrubs used for food!).
There's actually no evidence that Hawfinches ever bred in Britain at all before the start of extensive exotic tree planting toward the end of the 18th century. British native woodlands just don't have the species diversity they require.
Michael
They are a bit less fussy in the winter. Provided they are around in the first place (so there would need to be a suitably diverse arboretum or similar nearby) they will move to adjacent habitats. Our Hawfinches "vanish" in summer but in winter the relatively young trees along a railway line or around housing estates often attracts them. Again there is quite a variety of tree species but it is a more managable area in terms of locating the birds. At these times they seem to show a preference for Yew, Cherry and Field Maple.
With such a wide variety of food plants you would presumably stand a slim chance of getting them in the garden provided you had a few reasonably mature trees.
Alastair Rae
London birder
I've seen Hawfinchs take peanuts from a feeder in Hungary. I think it is more to do with how common a species is: there just aren't enough of them in Britain for one of them to happen across your feeder.
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