Female American Goldfinch in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday while I was up in the Wasatch Mountains photographing birds I heard something I had never heard before and I wanted to share that experience here this morning.
I was in a canyon in the mountains where there was only a light breeze and I could easily hear the bird songs around me. I was taking photos of a Willow Flycatcher, a male Broad-tailed Hummingbird, various bees pollinating wildflowers, and Yellow Warblers that were flying in and out of the willows below me. I also watched a male Western Tanager hawking insects from the tops of some willows but couldn’t photograph him because he was too far behind me and I was using a vehicle as a mobile blind which restricted my movements.
What amazed me was that I heard flocks of American Goldfinches flying overhead for minutes at a time. The calls would slow down for a minute or so and then start back up again. I’d say I listened to the finches flying overhead for at least 25 minutes and when I thought about the sheer number of American Goldfinches on the move I was definitely astounded.
I photographed this female American Goldfinch yesterday as I listened to all of her kin heading north.
There were times when I could see the flocks of goldfinches above the mountain tops flying in a northerly direction and other times that I could hear them but couldn’t see them. Those finches were most likely flying behind me over the mountain tops to the east and because of the roof of the vehicle I was in I could not see them.
American Goldfinches are year round residents here in northern Utah so I wondered if the American Goldfinches I heard yesterday flying over my head and the tops of the mountains were birds that spend their winter in the far south and were migrating to places much farther north.
I have never heard so many American Goldfinches flying overhead for such a long period of time and I was in awe. I still am.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my American Goldfinch photos plus facts and information about this species.
We have had large flocks in the gully behind my house in Salt Lake.
What an absolutely amazing experience.
Awe (and wonder) are entirely appropriate. And over here? A smidge of jealousy.
I have goosebumps imagining them — excellent, evocative description! I may have seen one on our fence yesterday, but it flew off before I could get a good look. I hope I get another chance!
I have often wondered about Goldfinches migration. We have them year around here in the Ozarks. My question is are they the same birds? Seems a times there are a lot then fewer then a lot again. Just wonder if ours migrant and then the ones that wintered farther south are here now ? And the ones that were north in the summer are here in the winter and ours move on south? Need radio tracking devices to know for sure.
I think I would have been in awe too. What a wonderful experience you had.
Beautiful little birds.