Goldfinch on the rhus tree

It has been, and still is, such a wet Sunday.  I filled the sunflower bird feeder at about 8am and by lunchtime it was almost empty.  The small birds have been swarming around the rhus tree where the various feeders hang and sometimes there must have been twenty birds in the tree at once. I spotted the woodpecker several times when I looked out from the house.

As I couldn't imagine any sunshine appearing later in the day nor any other tempting subjects I took my camera out to the cabin to see if I could get some birds in flight around the feeder.  They were all there, and even a small mottled brown bird which I didn't recognise.  The woodpecker flew under the canopy and on to the tree trunk, then took fright when it saw me and headed straight back down the garden.  It was back again a few minutes later but didn't stay much longer. The little tits were as adventurous and fearless as always, but did make way for the nuthatch and the pari of adult bullfinches. 

I was very pleased when this lone goldfinch appeared, as I fear it may be the only one that has survived the winter and spring.  Normally there is a sizeable 'charm' of goldfinches around our garden, so it has been very quiet without their lovely chirruping singing as they flew about the garden and valleys behind our gardens. I have to feature this one as he perched to get ready to fly down a few feet to the sunflowers for a good feed.