Lots of American Goldfinches this winter

[HelenB]

Hi everyone,
I've been offline for a few weeks, as I needed to have some surgery, but I'm now recuperating well and enjoying watching my backyard (garden) birds. Over the last 4 weeks we have been getting large numbers of American Goldfinches in the area. My husband reckoned on at least a 100 in a flock working over the rough on the edge of the golfcourse behind our house. Lots have been visiting my niger seed feeder, and I snapped the photo below the other day. The goldfinches (Carduelis tristis) have a rather drab winter plummage, but this male is just beginning to get his lovely yellow summer plummage. He will become yellow all over with a black cap and will keep the black wings.
Enjoy...

[Marysan]

That's an excellent photo as always, HelenB. Welcome back and I wish you a speedy recovery.

[IanF]

Great photo Helen, I've missed your postings. You managed to capture the detail and some lovely bright colours.

[paula]

Gorgeous picture, Helen. Loved looking at it.

[steve_nova]

Yes, a really lovely shot of as Tony says, a truly Gold Finch.

[HelenB]

If the goldfinches stay around a bit longer, I'll try to get some more photos as they molt into the brighter breeding plumage. Hope they don't leave too soon for more northern areas. Thanks for the compliments on the photo - always have my Olympus C700 with the 10x optical zoom ready by the kitchen window!

[Tero]

Goldfinches are all over the place now. Saw the first fledgeling for this summer. It looked like first day out of the nest, with male parent nearby.