I was absolutely thrilled on Wednesday when I streaks of bright yellow flashed in front of my eyes while walking among the flowers at Green Spring Gardens—goldfinches were present. Few other birds in my area can match the brilliant yellow color of the male American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) in breeding plumage. It is easy to spot these birds, but it is a challenge to photograph them, because they are small, fast, and skittish.
My camera was equipped with my 180mm macro, which can also serve as a short telephoto lens, so I had to use all of my stalking skills to get as close as possible. Fortunately, the goldfinches were preoccupied with feeding and I was able to capture these images. I had to be quite patient, though, because the goldfinches spent most of their time with their heads buried in the flowers and only rarely gave me a good view of their faces
Together with the goldfinches, the abundance of blooming flowers helped me to create images that have a happy feel to them, a welcome antidote to the gloom of these troubled times.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Lucky you to get to enjoy pretty birds *and* flowers! They’re lovely!
Thanks, Liz. I love it when there is a “riot of color”–a term that I rarely get to use. 🙂
Lovely, Mike. We have a Niger seed “sock” in our front yard which attracts goldfinches even in the summer when we don’t feed the other birds. We love to see them, so small and dainty and colorful. These images capture that beauty so well. And the flowers are gorgeous!
Lovely pics of wonderful bird!
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Absolutely gorgeous, Mike. Thank you for sharing.
Lovely series of shots Mike! Very colourful 😀
Great use of complementary colours to really make that yellow plumage pop.
Beautiful captures, Mike, and a very happy feel indeed!
Beautiful photos, Mike.
Lovely! Also thought you might enjoy this post…. naturetime, Nature Photography by Pam & Richard.
I was able to find that blog and am now following it. They had some awesome dragonfly shots in today’s posting.
Blooms AND bright birds! A feast for the eyes.
Thanks. I like your perfect characterization of the scene as “a feast for the eyes.”