Goldfinch photographed at Pleinmont [PLE] on 10/5/2022 Photo: © Wayne Turner (visit site)

Goldfinch numbers have undergone a number of fluctuations in the Bailiwick since Smith's time. Smith describes the Goldfinch to be plentiful but appends this with a mention that he had been informed it had been more numerous in previous years but that the bird catchers had taken great numbers. In 1939, a note in the Transactions says that despite being at one time rare, or absent, numbers of Goldfinches were increasing especially in autumn. Dobson found them to be common in 1946, occurring in mixed flocks in autumn and winter. There is a similar pattern in Alderney, with a decline in the early part of the 20th century; it was described in 1921 as being resident in small numbers with a fair migration in spring and autumn. There is little historical information from Sark.

The current status of Goldfinch has probably changed little since Smith's time although there probably has been a decline in numbers over the past 50 years. Agricultrual changes are unlikely to have benefited this species which relies on small weed seeds and the change from a mixed to almost pure dairy farming system will have removed it from much of the agricultural landscape. Goldfinches are now almost entirely restricted to breeding in gardens, parks and in the scrubby habitats of the coastal fringe and escarpment. In autumn, ringing recoveries indicate that many birds many birds pass throgh the islands to winter in southern Europe and bird catchers in Spain and Portugal have trapped many ringed birds. Trapping for cage birds was a very strong traditional activity, at least on Guernsey, and small numbers may still be occasionally trapped on the island. It was recorded at Petit Bot in the 1980s and small numbers may be trapped now.