[Leica] IMG: Lesser Goldfinch

[Doug Herr]

Going on the theory that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, I've been spending more time watching the bird feeders in my yard.  One species I'd had limited success with is the Lesser Goldfinch, a fairly common bird in my area.  Goldfinches like thistle seed and favor hanging feeders so I found my old plastic tube feeder, filled it with thistle seed and hung it near my blind.

I have only a vague idea how old the tube feeder is but in the time I've had it I've had the good fortune to lose two of the four dowels that serve as perches.  Being the cheapskate I am I found a couple of twigs to replace the dowels; this is a good thing because the twigs are long enough that depending on where the birds stand I can crop the feeder out and the photo looks like it was made in the wild.

The female Lesser Goldfinch:

http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/fringillidae/spinus/legold03.html
http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/fringillidae/spinus/legold04.html

the male Lesser Goldfinch:

http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/fringillidae/spinus/legold05.html
http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/fringillidae/spinus/legold06.html

all photos: R8/DMR, 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R, tripod & blind.  All comments welcome.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com