Daily Visitors

 I am always amazed about the bird life in South Arica. After travelling to that part of the world and discovering how much joy birding can bring, I developed an eye for our indigenous birds as well.I always loved to look out for different kinds of birds here as well, though somehow I had the feeling that we see less and less birds nowadays. But ''twitching'' in South Africa opened my eyes again for birdlife in Germany as well. We have daily visitors on our balcony. Although we are living right in the middle of a huge city we have an astonishing diversity everywhere around us. I already introduced you to the Rose-ringed Parakeets (some of our exotic immigrants). Today I observed the European Greenfinch, or just Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris).They visit our bird-bath each day. They are pretty audibly, so you can hear them long  before you actually discover them foraging amongst the plants. 

Here are some facts I found at wikipedia.org: 

''Is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. The genus Carduelis might be split up and in this case, the greenfinches would be separated in their old genus Chloris again.This bird is widespread throughout Europe, north Africa and south west Asia. It is mainly resident, but some northernmost populations migrate further south. The Greenfinch has also been introduced into New Zealand.Woodland edges, farmland hedges and gardens with relatively thick vegetation are favoured for breeding. It nests in trees or bushes, laying 3-8 eggs.This species can form large flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixing with other finches and buntings. They feed largely on seeds, but also feed their young insects.

The Greenfinch is 14-16 cm in length and is similar in size and shape to a Chaffinch, but is mainly green, with yellow in the wings and tail. The female and young birds are duller and have brown tones on the back. The bill is thick and conical. The song contains wheezes and twitters, and the male has a "butterfly" display flight.''

They are always nice to observe.

(All photos were taken on our balcony,through the closed window)

You will be able to encounter more of our local feathered friends next time

• 12/12/2009 21:20 - Recharging the batteries…. Katja and Edith in KTP November 2009.
• 08/10/2008 11:41 - Flickr Bird of the Week
• 01/10/2008 09:30 - Flickr Bird of the Week
• 22/09/2008 09:14 - Birds Change Songs to Suit Urban Life
• 10/09/2008 20:55 - Flickr Bird of the Week
• 10/08/2008 21:40 - Germany's Bird of the Year 2008
• 02/08/2008 19:10 - Another Daily Visitor
• 26/06/2008 19:36 - Immigrants