Here are a few shots I've taken over the past two weeks that haven't made it on here yet.
Red-headed Woodpecker
American Goldfinch
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-headed Woodpecker
American Goldfinch
White-crowned Sparrow
Showing posts with label american goldfinch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label american goldfinch. Show all posts
Monday, December 20, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
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Finding Birds
8:28 PM
Ryan Ankeny
I have found the best way for me to find birds to photograph is to find the food they love to eat. Out at the landfill that means different things at different times of the year. It seems many times out there it is a boom or bust kind of situation. There have been many times when I have seen hundreds of American Goldfinches feeding on unknown weeds or Common Sunflowers. Other times warblers and others descend in droves on the dogwood berries during fall migration. During the summer there was a lot of construction at the landfill, and subsequently, a lot of recently planted wheat. Wheat is often planted and covered with straw to prevent soil erosion, it grows quickly and can withstand cold better than most other ground covers. All that wheat on the ground has attracted more Mourning Doves than usual and a nice group of Horned Larks as well.
Mourning Dove
Right now it seems the birds are devouring the Japanese Honeysuckle berries as fast as they can. The stuff grows profusely along the woodland edges at the landfill. Japanese Honeysuckle is one of the most invasive species there is, nonetheless, the birds seem to enjoy the berries it produces. I have heard before that Japanese Honeysuckle berries are an "ecological trap", meaning that the berries are attractive to the birds but offer little in the way of actual nutrition. Even if this is true the birds do not seem to notice because they guard their patch of honeysuckle fervently, especially the Northern Mockingbirds. Here is a short list of birds I have found in the honeysuckle patch yesterday: Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, White-throated Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Golfinch, House Finch, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Rusty Blackbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler and of course American Robins. The berries are going quick so I may have to find a new spot to photograph birds soon.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Chickadee
American Goldfinch
Mourning Dove
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Chickadee
American Goldfinch
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
1
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Goldfinch Bonanaza
11:17 PM
Ryan Ankeny
Yesterday the goldfinches were present by the gross. A conservative estimate would be around 500 birds. They were feeding on the Common Sunflowers and whatever the weed is below. Any idea what it is? They love the stuff and it must have just gone to seed because they were EVERYWHERE.
A few were patient enough to let me get some decent pictures. With so many birds around it wasn't too difficult to get a shot.
This little guy took flight just as I was closing the shutter.
A few were patient enough to let me get some decent pictures. With so many birds around it wasn't too difficult to get a shot.
This little guy took flight just as I was closing the shutter.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
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Migrants Arrive
4:38 PM
Ryan Ankeny
Finally some spring activity at the landfill. Things have been very quiet but today started off well. I got my first Palm Warbler and Common Yellowthroat of the season today, along with a pretty male American Goldfinch. Sure the goldfinches aren't migrants, but when they are so bright and pretty and pose so well, it is hard to not take a quick pic.
Palm Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Goldfinch
Since it seems things are beginning to get exciting I will have my camera at the ready and the battery charged. Check often as I will be updating regularly throughout the spring season.
Palm Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American GoldfinchSince it seems things are beginning to get exciting I will have my camera at the ready and the battery charged. Check often as I will be updating regularly throughout the spring season.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
