Dawdon, County Durham: The huge flocks that assemble here are one of the most exhilarating sights of early autumn
A charm, the collective noun for a gathering of goldfinches, is nowhere near adequate to describe the flock of more than 100 that we followed along the cliffs near Hawthorn Dene this morning. Our experience of these little finches was one of pure elation.
They were feeding in thistles and knapweed, shredding seedheads, sending thistledown drifting out to sea. Their liquid, twittering calls brought to mind a schoolyard full of excited children at playtime. That sound rose to a crescendo when we came within 20 paces, before they rose into the air in a panic of whirring yellow-barred wings that flashed in the sunlight, then faded again as they settled back to earth.
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