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Watch for goldfinches visiting the fruit heads of dead teasels. With longer and narrower bills than other finches goldfinches are able to get at the seeds. An area of teasels can act as and important feeding resource for a flock throughout the winter. An abundance of seed along the farm trail encourages finches to abandon their territory and form mixed flocks. Usually these contain a few hundred birds but if conditions worsen these flocks can collect together resulting in enormous flocks, which move over several good feeding areas. The abundance of beech mast this year will delight chaffinches and the occasional brambling. Buntings sometimes feed together in large groups, but usually join flocks of finches. Because there are so many pairs of eyes watching for danger, feeding in a flock is safer than foraging alone.
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