I find it really difficult to photograph the goldfinches in the wild, as they are very wary of people. However, this morning I was able to get fairly close to this male as he was plucking seeds out of the head of a yellow goat's-beard (Tragopogon pratensis). Apparently this plant is one of the favorites of goldfinches. When the blossom is open (it closes at midday) it resembles a dandelion.
Goldfinches are just entering their breeding season, the latest of our songbirds to breed. Shrubby wetlands are popular nesting areas.
Yesterday there were still puddles on the trail, and I happened on this American goldfinch making good use of one of them, as you can see from these shots. It certainly looked like it could have used a blow dryer when it finished!
I came across a small flock of American Goldfinches plus a few Common Redpolls in the top of a gray birch this morning at the marsh. Ordinarily the goldfinches fly off when I get close, but today they were intent on feeding on the catkins. This male goldfinch had just taken a bite out of one of the catkins in front of him. Chickadees and Pine Siskins are also fond of birch catkins. After the snow comes, the ground under birch trees can be seen sprinkled with their seeds.
The Canada Thistle at the marsh is fast going to seed, and we all know the iconic thistle seed-eater - the American Goldfinch. However, they are almost impossible to catch in a photo, as they swoop off at the first sign of movement. Luck was with me this morning. Not only did I see one that wasn't too far away, but it was perched on a thistle plant, busily pulling at the downy tufts and eating the attached seeds.
