I haven't taken any bird photos lately, but I found this series of Goldfinch shots from back in May.
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| The breeding plumage is so vibrant. |
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| Usually they feed at the nijer feeder, but they seem to enjoy the table feeder just as much. |
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| A chubby little fellow, isn't he? |
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| They eat the sunflower seeds and the millet. |
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| They are a real joy to see in the spring, like a mini yellow sun. |
Moving back to the present, one of the at least 3 frogs that hang out in our little pond was being especially cooperative today.
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| This is Rana pipiens, the Northern Leopard Frog. |
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| It was sitting on the edge of the slightly submerged stone bridge that is also a frequent spot for bird baths. |
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| A princely looking frog, just waiting for a kiss. |
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| A few hours later when I walked by the pond I saw a movement in the bushes. Can you see it? Right there in the center of the photo. |
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| The gold, black, and green make a pretty camouflage |
Today was perfect, high of 82F (28C), low humidity, a light breeze, and the very occasional puffy cloud. I managed to finish the path in the lower garden and weed the shade garden. Next week we may get low temps cold enough for a frost, so I also made time for some flower photos while they are still here.
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| A close up of a cluster of small blossoms on a begonia. Each blossom is barely a cm across. |
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| This is the showiest of the canna lily flowers I managed to overwinter. Each flower in the cluster of about 8 flowers is at least 5 inches across. This flame color is fabulous; it could warm you on a cold day. |
That Leopard Frog has beautiful markings Wilma. I can see how it got its name.
ReplyDeleteAnd your Goldfinches are real beauties. Such a vibrant colour.
Wow, you can get frosts in mid September?
ReplyDeleteKeith - it does immediately bring "leopard" to mind when you see one. The goldfinches are so bright that it is almost impossible to get a good photo when they are in direct sunlight! I never get tired of seeing them.
ReplyDeleteStu - yes, and as late as May, too. :-( Now you can see why I am heading to Belize.
cheers,
Wilma
Hi Wilma.
ReplyDeleteSuch a bright colour on your Goldfinches, I thought ours was bright.
Ours too feed on nijer seeds, but also prefer the Sunflower hearts. Great photo's.
Wilma,
ReplyDeleteWe have the same chance of frosts in Sept/May in the UK, even in the south where I live, only its not possible for me to wizz off to Belize. We've rarely got to 28 degrees all summer here and definitely won't now until next year.
Your Goldfinches are superb and the nearest we have to that in Europe, although bigger and rarely in Britain now, is the Golden Oriole.
The food that attracts all the finches here now, especially in the feeder tubes - is sunflower hearts -sunflower seeds with the outer husk already removed.
Wow the colours of the goldfinch is incredibly yellow ;-) Gorgeous shot of them you got, and the nice colors in the background and this yello, it really goes together....
ReplyDeleteKen - they are the brightest in spring for the breeding season, the color dims a little later on in summer, but is still relatively bright.
ReplyDeleteDerek - you and Ken really spoil your birds with the sunflower seed hearts! They are really expensive here and a little harder to find. Don't tell my birds I am holding out on them! ;-)
Chris - thank you. I did shift around to try for the plain green background. I took these through my double-paned window, so they are not as crisp as I would like, but that's the way it is!
thanks to all for visiting and commenting.
cheers,
Wilma
Hi Wilma
ReplyDeleteYour 3rd Leopard Frog photo has a great reflection of its throat pouch.
Cute and impressive Frog.
Nice flowers.
I am only familiar with European Goldfinches, which are quite different from that fellow. I like the black cap.
Cheers
Denis
Wilma,
ReplyDeleteHere, sunflower hearts can be bought from any birdfood supplier and cost me £30 for 20kg.
Denis - thanks for visiting and commenting. I am very fond of the frogs.
ReplyDeleteDerek - what a deal! Even the whole seeds cost more than that here.
cheers,
Wilma