King Harry

This is a male Goldfinch, which my Father always referred to as a King Harry, I never quite knew why until I read an article in the Country Life magazine which explained it. Quote: 'The cheerily pretty songbird, known also as a recap and in East Anglia, as a King Harry (Henry VIII) due to its dapper form, was much persecuted in the 19th century and was one of the RSPB's first causes; it now represents one of the healthiest of avian species'. That's another of my life's mysteries solved! The Lavender seems to be a favourite of theirs and I saw them on the seeds of the Evening Primrose recently. They also favour the sunflower hearts too.