Bullfinch eating Dog-violet seed-heads in a Sussex garden.

For a couple of days now a male Bullfinch has perched on the telephone wire to my home.
This morning its attraction to the garden was revealed.  Feeding in a shady flower border the photo's show that it was eating the seed-heads of dog-violets.

 This border contains Dog-violets, Lily of the valley, Primula denticulata, lots of self-sown Lady's smock, Hollyhocks, Foxgloves, Celandine, a Rose, etc..

 The area where it was feeding seems devoid of violet seed-heads.

A metre away there were plenty of uneaten seed-heads.  Bullfinches eat various tree buds and seeds to which dog-violets can now be added.

The RSPB Handbook of British Birds (https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/rspb-handbook-of-british-birds-9781408110577/) states a "rapid decline of over 40% over the last 25 years especially in the south of England"   How very pleasing then that this one chose to feed in my garden.

Then, in the evenning of 22nd June 2018, the male is still around and is joined by a female -- both feeding on Amelanchier canadensis berries.

These berries are eaten by finches, blackbirds, thrushes and pigeons.  I like to eat them too if the birds leave any.  Click on any picture to expand it.

The implications of allowing a formal garden to drift into a nature reserve are just delightful for any nature lover.  Please see also http://www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk/page19.html