Our feathered foragers need your help to feed

IT'S much easier to spot our winged friends at this time of year, given the lack of foliage that would otherwise shelter them.

- LYDIA GERMAN

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of watching a 'charm' of over 10 goldfinches sharing two bird feeders at my partner's mum's house - they looked like bright jewels flitting around an otherwise completely bare backdrop.

Goldfinches are highly social birds and live in large, loose social groups.

If you're lucky you will see several of them feeding in your garden at once, interacting with each other with their jumpy mannerisms and flitting back and forth.

They are highly adapted to access food that other birds can't, such as being able to dig out seeds from thistles and teasels thanks to their short and powerful beaks.

Another bright bird to look out for is of course our robin, which is a symbol synonymous with winter. I recently overheard what I assume was two males screeching at each other to guard their territory.