Goldfinch

I was sitting on the grass waiting patiently for a Dunnock to return to its nest area when this little Goldfinch landed a few feet away and started to pull a Dandelion Clock apart.

Not a regular to the garden so was pleased to be able to take his photo.

Then I noticed it has a ring on its leg!

A quick Google returned:

Ringing generates information on the survival, productivity and movements of birds, helping us to understand why populations are changing. ... Placing a lightweight, uniquely numbered, metal ring around a bird's leg provides a reliable and harmless method of identifying birds as individuals.


Interesting.