Seeds aplenty

On Thursday the 11th, not much luck getting good shots at the marsh, but I did notice a number of purple finches near the water's edge in the wooded area of the trail. I had been seeing these birds there over the past week or so, but was a little confused as to their identification. They all looked like female purple finches, as I wasn't seeing any purple ones. Then I discovered that in late summer, purple finches tend to form unisexual flocks, plus the males become duller in color. This bird was feeding on the seed stalk of a curled dock plant when I caught it.

Messy eater

This female Purple Finch was obviously enjoying a feed of rose hips in a multiflora rose bush this morning at the marsh. I must admit it looks a little macabre.

One bird in the bush

I'm almost certain this is a juvenile female Purple Finch. I also saw an adult female at the same location. These finches may migrate a short distance south of us, or they may remain here for the winter. They are especially fond of black oil sunflower seeds.