Male American Goldfinch perched on a sunflower, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahMale American Goldfinch perched on a Sunflower – Nikon D810, f71.1, 1/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I’ve missed posting my images and the stories behind them here. As some of you may have noticed there have been times my blog has been down for long periods of time. I believe I found the biggest issues and have fixed them.

I did get out to photograph a few days ago and although the raptors were being rather elusive some of the smaller songbirds weren’t. I was seeing finches and sparrows all over the place and I photographed some of them while they were eating seeds from Common Sunflowers.

American Goldfinch eating a sunflower seed, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahAmerican Goldfinch eating a sunflower seed – Nikon D810, f71.1, 1/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

American Goldfinches have a soft flight call that my ears instantly recognize. Listen to the fourth call down on the list on Audubon’s site, that is the one I hear most often. Because of their call I often know they are around before I even see flashes of gold. Even though the American Goldfinches are in their non-breeding plumage now I still think of them as gold.

Nonbreeding male American Goldfinch, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahNonbreeding male American Goldfinch – Nikon D810, f71.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I always have to smile when I see or hear an American Goldfinch because they bring back memories of me sitting in my hidden garden watching flocks of them feed on the niger seed I had put out for them and the other songbirds along with suet for the woodpeckers and flying squirrels.

I’m so glad I get to see American Goldfinches here in Utah too.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my American Goldfinch photos plus facts and information about this species.