Goldfinches Galore

This past month we have been seeing lots and lots of Goldfinches here in Seattle. They first emptied all of the black oil sunflower seeds out of out feeder al over the deck. We have now put up a feeder full of Niger seeds, and they seem to be much happier. Shot this morning.

We’ve also been getting nearly over-run with hummingbirds. We heard from a neighbor who also set up a feeder that there are at least 5 birds in the area. This one from yesterday is just finishing off the last of the nectar that was just put out a few days before.

Today the temperatures around here are a pleasant 65-70 or a little higher, where as yesterday we reached nearly 90. It was 84 on the second floor of our townhouse when the temps outside finally started dropping. Happy for the cooler day today while working from home.

Happy New Year!

As I get ready to go out for dinner to celebrate Wendy & my 11th Anniversary, I leave you with one last hummingbird picture for the year...

A Male Anna Hummingbird...

We bought a second hummingbird feeder, and set the other one up closer to the house, hoping to get more attention and more birds. We did see a pair posturing a bit, and since then there's been a male Anna's hummingbird hanging around, and letting me get pretty close. The color on his face is just amazing when he looks at you in the right way...

He didn't like the mirror at first, and spent some time trying to scare himself away. Sorry for the blur, but you can see how he's puffing his neck out...

Here's a good shot of him feeding...

Here he is sitting on the huckleberry bush as the snow is falling:

And finally, just about as close as I could get, maybe 4 feet? (Using a 70-200+doubler, so 400mm focal length.)

 

I cut about 150 frames down to 19, click here for a gallery of the 19.