Goldfinch ( Carduelis carduelis )

Unusually we had no work to do at the Lodge as the current guests were staying for a fortnight.  Much of the day was spent loading the caravan ready for our trip to Edinburgh.

I got a good chance of a "30 days wild" blip with this female Goldfinch perching in the Berberis.  I am suggesting it is female as the colour of the red "face" isn't as bright as I would expect if it was a male.  Also, The red doesn't extend beyond the eye which it would, just a little if the bird was male.

Goldfinch are doing fairly well, there are currently approaching five times as many as there were in the mid 80s.  Goldfinch are one of the species which normally only live a year or two and breed the year after they hatch.  However the record (proved by ringing) is 10 years 2 days.