Tag Archives: American Goldfinch

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Perry Hoffman wrote, “I caught this American Goldfinch eating thistle today at Mill Bend.”

American Goldfinches breed later than most birds, waiting to nest until June or July when milkweed, thistle, and other plants have produced their fibrous seeds, which they weave into their nests, and also feed their young.

Fun Fact: American Goldfinches are considered some of the strictest vegetarians in the bird world. They may swallow the occasional insect but it’s apparently inadvertent.

Thanks to Perry for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see more of Perry's nature photography, here is the link to his website: https://magentaraven.com/

Fog out over the ocean, and perhaps the immediate coast in places, mid-70's and sunny at my place in Anchor Bay.

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We've seen several leucistic - nearly or partially white - birds this spring. Gary Larson found another one at his  bird feeder in Gualala. Diane Hichwa identified it as an American Goldfinch. Even the beak of this bird appears lighter.

Here is a photo of a normal-colored Goldfinch, taken by Ron Bolander this past week.

Quite a difference between the two birds!

Thanks to Gary and Ron for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It's a beautiful, breezy, sunny spring day here today. And it is supposed to be warmer tomorrow.

 

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Michael Reinhart saw this female Common Merganser at the Gualala River and the merganser had caught her lunch!

Mike also photographed an American Goldfinch feeding on thistle.

And Marbled Godwits at Manchester State Beach. You can also see the Bull Kelp tossed up on the beach by the ocean waves.

Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

It's about 20 degrees cooler today, with a big fog bank back over the Pacific Ocean. It really feels like Autumn today. I found King Boletes, a Queen Bolete, and a Shrimp Russula late yesterday afternoon. Lots of mushrooms are popping up now.

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American Goldfinches nest later in the year than most birds as their favorite food source, thistle seeds, appears later. Rozanne Rapozo recently captured this beautiful photo of a young Goldfinch in flight. "Look, Ma...I'm flying!"

Thanks to Rozanne for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Clouds drifted up from the hurricane far to our north. A few raindrops gently fell this morning. Sunshine is peeking out between clouds this afternoon and it's very mild, near 70 degrees.

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Michele Melio saw this male, who is molting out of his breeding plumage. Two of his chicks were begging to be fed, but he temporarily ignores them while he preens.

Thanks to Michele for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Fog over the ocean with high clouds overhead - nice!