Goldfinches and flowers

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Goldfinches and flowers

July 8, 2022 by Mike Powell

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.

Posted in Birds, Flowers, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, American Goldfinch, Canon 50D, goldfinch, goldfinches, green spring gardens, Spinus tristis, Tamron 180mm | 13 Comments

13 Responses

on July 8, 2022 at 6:07 am | Reply Ms. Liz

Lucky you to get to enjoy pretty birds *and* flowers! They’re lovely!
- on July 8, 2022 at 6:19 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Liz. I love it when there is a “riot of color”–a term that I rarely get to use. 🙂
on July 8, 2022 at 6:43 am | Reply nliakos

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!
on July 8, 2022 at 7:03 am | Reply Mitzy Bricker

Lovely pics of wonderful bird!

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on July 8, 2022 at 7:51 am | Reply Patricia M Osborne

Absolutely gorgeous, Mike. Thank you for sharing.
on July 8, 2022 at 9:43 am | Reply TasView (Tone)

Lovely series of shots Mike! Very colourful 😀
on July 8, 2022 at 1:23 pm | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

Great use of complementary colours to really make that yellow plumage pop.
on July 8, 2022 at 5:37 pm | Reply Ellen Jennings

Beautiful captures, Mike, and a very happy feel indeed!
on July 9, 2022 at 7:11 pm | Reply Dan Antion

Beautiful photos, Mike.
on July 9, 2022 at 9:35 pm | Reply merrylbethelhouse

Lovely! Also thought you might enjoy this post…. naturetime, Nature Photography by Pam & Richard.
- on July 9, 2022 at 10:03 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I was able to find that blog and am now following it. They had some awesome dragonfly shots in today’s posting.
on July 11, 2022 at 5:19 am | Reply kewtiebird

Blooms AND bright birds! A feast for the eyes.
- on July 11, 2022 at 7:26 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I like your perfect characterization of the scene as “a feast for the eyes.”