Goldfinch

They may be common for all I know, but I haven't knowingly seen a goldfinch before. He was hiding a way back, but his lovely yellow stripe and red head still caught the eye.

Apparently they're social, but I only saw one - I would have loved to say I saw a 'charm of goldfinches' (apparently from the old English c'irm, describing their twittering song).

Medieval paintings of the Madonna and Child often included goldfinches as a symbol of fertility and resurrection. Sadly, by Victorian times it was popular to trap and cage them - in fact, halting the subsequent decline was one of the first priorities of the newly-founded RSPB.

So while I'd have liked to get a better look at him, I was at least happy that he is wild and free.