First fledgling in the garden

[simon624]

This Greenfinch fledgling appeard this morning and has stayed near the feeders all day. There was no sign of any attentive parent birds, but it did sucessfully negotiate the sunflower seed feeder. Otherwise, like many young birds, it seemed a little inept and also fearless. I was little more than an arms length away when I took these photos. A lot of the time it was just sitting on the ground and resting its head back on its wing with its eyes half closed. You really fear for young birds like this should a cat come round the corner, or a Magpie spots it.

[Little Sparrow]

Splendid photo's, Simon!

[clydebirder]

Hi Simon

That's an adult Greenfinch, juveniles are browner with streaking on the chest and belly

cheers, John

[Twitcheruth]

Nice images Simon!

[simon624]

Originally Posted by clydebirder

Hi Simon

That's an adult Greenfinch, juveniles are browner with streaking on the chest and belly

cheers, John

Hi John,
I'm sure you're right; it does look like an adult. I based my assertion on its behaviour rather than its colouring. It certainly didn't behave like an adult in its general awareness and certainly not in letting me get as close as I did. My only other suggestion would be that the bird was sick or injured to behave in this manner, but then again it didn't fly like an adult either - short inefficient parabolic flights, and not necessarily to cover.
Here's another couple that I took at the same time:

[clydebirder]

It is definately an adult, I think it may well be ill as the eyes don't look as bright and alert as they should.

cheers, John