Thursday 24th January - goldfinch nest

I forgot to tell you about the goldfinch nest...

We have 2 almond trees in our garden. They had lovely pink blossom in the early springtime in September when we moved in to our house. They are now loaded with almonds which are ripening. I am looking forward to harvesting them!!!

Anyway a few weeks ago, I noticed there was a nest in each tree and a goldfinch was sitting on one nest. It has since disappeared so its brood must have moved on.

To those ornithologists out there, we have lots of 'British' (in the geographic non political sense) birds in New Zealand. We have chaffinches, goldfinches, sparrows, yellowhammers, warblers, thrushes, kingfishers, blackbirds and swallows. Yes swallows... I have not figured out where they go in the winter... there is not much need for them to migrate as our winter days are usually warmer than northern irelander summer days!

We have loads of nests in the shrubs and trees in our garden.

By the way Anne you are very welcome anytime in Hawkes Bay. We are not that far away!